San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Son and I hit up Mission/Pacific Beach Saturday afternoon and things were far more “normal” than they’ve been over my past few weekends of fishing. The tide was in, but heading out.

We got to Mission Blvd and turned right, deciding we’d fish where we found a spot and were, I think, technically in MB (I didn’t see a lifeguard tower? Typically around where I’d place T-21). The currents were still somewhat strong to the south though not quite as bad as they’ve been recently, and there was some grass but it was manageable. We caught five perch over a couple hours on a variety of baits. Clam, gulp sandworm, and real life sand crabs all brought in fish.

The sand crabs were around though not in huge numbers, and I couldn’t find any with roe. I really didn’t use them much but tossed a few on my hook for my “last cast” and pulled in a keeper perch.

Nothing too exciting but it was definitely nice to have a bit of a bounce back session after a couple rough weekends!!

Nice to get out with your son. With some fish, all that much better..
Butch

Midnightpass wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 6:18 am Nice to get out with your son. With some fish, all that much better..
Butch

Thanks, Butch. Yes, always nice to get some quality time in with him! Both just in spending time with him as he gets older, and also it lets us have a couple lines in the water at once to try different things.

Our early, albeit small sample size, returns on the salted clams have been strong bites but no takers. Not sure if it’s because the the pieces are a little too big and since they’re somewhat solid, the fish have an easier time picking at them without needing to commit to an entire bite? I don’t think they’re too big. And it’s funny because you bring fish in and it doesn’t seem possible that they can nibble as good as they’re able!

jwacky wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 6:27 am

Midnightpass wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 6:18 am Nice to get out with your son. With some fish, all that much better..
Butch

Thanks, Butch. Yes, always nice to get some quality time in with him! Both just in spending time with him as he gets older, and also it lets us have a couple lines in the water at once to try different things.

Our early, albeit small sample size, returns on the salted clams have been strong bites but no takers. Not sure if it’s because the the pieces are a little too big and since they’re somewhat solid, the fish have an easier time picking at them without needing to commit to an entire bite? I don’t think they’re too big. And it’s funny because you bring fish in and it doesn’t seem possible that they can nibble as good as they’re able!

Thanks for that review on the clams... It definitely is going in to my repertoire...
Butch

Love it when the condition play nice for the youth! You say keeper perch? I'm curious on people's perch recipes. I'm not super inclined to eat them but when I inevitably gut or gill hook one I'd rather put it to use rather than send back a floater.

Jteo wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 10:14 am Love it when the condition play nice for the youth! You say keeper perch? I'm curious on people's perch recipes. I'm not super inclined to eat them but when I inevitably gut or gill hook one I'd rather put it to use rather than send back a floater.

Yeah, if they’re big enough I’ll take one or two home for lunch. They can be bony and the smaller ones aren’t worth the effort but you get some of those chunky 10”+

I’ve cooked them a couple different ways, both in hot oil; fry them whole, and filleted and fried in Japanese panko bread crumbs. Flour, egg, panko. I typically turn the latter into a fish sandwich. I like perch a lot, I’m just not trying to bring home 5-6 of them to come up with enough meat to actually be filling.

Nice sounds like if I'm fortunate a couple may have to hit the traeger!

We used to get a lot of Big Surf Perch here in the Winter. Not so many now. My Mom would make Fish Cakes out of them. I used to get a lot of confused faces at School lunch breaking those out. A little tartar sauce topped it off. Good stuff!

Jteo wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 1:25 pm Nice sounds like if I'm fortunate a couple may have to hit the traeger!

I was at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market a couple weekends ago and they asked me how I was going to cook the mackerel I was buying. I said fried (I fry everything, ha!) and they recommended also trying smoking it. Been thinking of whole smoked fish ever since! Please share if you ever smoke a whole perch! Might have to look into this as well

Bendo wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 1:31 pm We used to get a lot of Big Surf Perch here in the Winter. Not so many now. My Mom would make Fish Cakes out of them. I used to get a lot of confused faces at School lunch breaking those out. A little tartar sauce topped it off. Good stuff!

This sounds delicious, too!! Now I also want fish cakes

jwacky wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 4:13 pm

Jteo wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 1:25 pm Nice sounds like if I'm fortunate a couple may have to hit the traeger!

I was at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market a couple weekends ago and they asked me how I was going to cook the mackerel I was buying. I said fried (I fry everything, ha!) and they recommended also trying smoking it. Been thinking of whole smoked fish ever since! Please share if you ever smoke a whole perch! Might have to look into this as well

It's recommended for all the oily and slimy types. Mack bonita skip all eels. But I grew up on smoked tuna once we encountered it at the ensenada fish markets. That and squid.... Oh lord I'm headed to HK