Fish Reports, News, Discussion and Information about Fishing in Southern California. Freshwater and Saltwater fishing reports.
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Perch killer wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 3:09 pm Over the past 10+ years fishing Mission & PB beaches, never caught or seen one caught from the surf until the past 6 months or so. Perhaps the warmer than usual winter water temps ? Anyone care to opine ?? Thanks for sharing also !
I caught one fishing with you Bill.Perch killer wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 3:09 pm Over the past 10+ years fishing Mission & PB beaches, never caught or seen one caught from the surf until the past 6 months or so. Perhaps the warmer than usual winter water temps ? Anyone care to opine ?? Thanks for sharing also !
Yes Tom, I remember. Believe it was last December, my last session before knocking off for the winter.Jusbigguns wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 8:05 pmI caught one fishing with you Bill.Perch killer wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 3:09 pm Over the past 10+ years fishing Mission & PB beaches, never caught or seen one caught from the surf until the past 6 months or so. Perhaps the warmer than usual winter water temps ? Anyone care to opine ?? Thanks for sharing also !
I don't have the extensive surf fishing experience that many others here do, but the handful of jacksmelt I've caught this winter have all been on days with little to no wave action and minimal swells. My crackpot theory is that this tricks fish into coming in my closer than they otherwise would, or perhaps they have more room to "run" from larger predators.kastmaster wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 5:50 pm Jacksmelt was not among my initial guesses when it hit! Decent fight. Maybe they are more common than we think (?) but the strategies / baits / lures surf fishermen normally throw at them doesn't result in many catches? They do occur in the diets of CA sea lions at the Channel Islands, though in relatively small numbers compared to squid, anchovies, sardines.Perch killer wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 3:09 pm Over the past 10+ years fishing Mission & PB beaches, never caught or seen one caught from the surf until the past 6 months or so. Perhaps the warmer than usual winter water temps ? Anyone care to opine ?? Thanks for sharing also !
.... I have caught them as far north as Pismo Beach... They fight pretty decent, but flop around like a mackerel when they hit the beach..I haven't eaten one, but I, like you, heard both ways on taste...jwacky wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2026 8:48 am
Added bonus, they're quite tasty! In my opinion, anyway. The internet seems divided on that one
jwacky wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2026 8:48 amI don't have the extensive surf fishing experience that many others here do, but the handful of jacksmelt I've caught this winter have all been on days with little to no wave action and minimal swells. My crackpot theory is that this tricks fish into coming in my closer than they otherwise would, or perhaps they have more room to "run" from larger predators.kastmaster wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 5:50 pm Jacksmelt was not among my initial guesses when it hit! Decent fight. Maybe they are more common than we think (?) but the strategies / baits / lures surf fishermen normally throw at them doesn't result in many catches? They do occur in the diets of CA sea lions at the Channel Islands, though in relatively small numbers compared to squid, anchovies, sardines.Perch killer wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 3:09 pm Over the past 10+ years fishing Mission & PB beaches, never caught or seen one caught from the surf until the past 6 months or so. Perhaps the warmer than usual winter water temps ? Anyone care to opine ?? Thanks for sharing also !
They're a fun fight. Harder than a large perch but not quite the strength of a corbina, and obviously not the weight. I was surprised the first time I caught one because it wasn't on my radar as a possibility at all.
Added bonus, they're quite tasty! In my opinion, anyway. The internet seems divided on that one
Perch killer wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 10:17 pmYes Tom, I remember. Believe it was last December, my last session before knocking off for the winter.You mean before you entered the PGA?Jusbigguns wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 8:05 pmI caught one fishing with you Bill.Perch killer wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 3:09 pm Over the past 10+ years fishing Mission & PB beaches, never caught or seen one caught from the surf until the past 6 months or so. Perhaps the warmer than usual winter water temps ? Anyone care to opine ?? Thanks for sharing also !