San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Hey guys I'm new to surf fishing and going to take my daughter for her first time anybody know we're the surf perch are biting? Don't really care if there big ones I just want to at least get some bites, I got some Berkely sand worm and was going to use 6 lb with fish finder rigs. Let me know if I'm on track and if you guys know a good beach to start at thanks guys.

My go-to is a Carolina rig with +\-1/4 oz sliding egg sinker and a #8 or #6 owner mosquito hook. This time of year sand crabs are your best bait, and they’re free with very little work involved. Second best is ghost shrimp, lots more work involved, and third I like the gulp sand worms, very easy to use. Gulp worms are really good for surf perch and you can likely use and re-use one worm for the day fishing. I’ve had good luck around Avalanche jetty in OB, and from south mission beach at the north jetty all the way up to just north of crystal pier. You’ll have to be careful fishing north of the pier because the protected boundary starts not too far north of there.

I'm three months new so I'll share. Like the previous poster said, Carolina rig. It's been the most productive for me. I've caught my 100th fish last weekend. I'm addicted.

Learn to cast a carolina rig. It's more of a lob instead of a whipping action to help avoid tangles. When it hits the water after casting reel a bit immediately.. seems to help prevent the leader from tangling over the main line.

Use sand crabs. theyre all over the place right now. PM me for a good spot. I won't post it here.

For now, dont trouble yourself with conditions, tides, etc. Just get out on the water and put time in. The videos will show you technique but nothing replaces experience.

Look at youtube videos from benjiekim, hook2cook, and surffishinginsocal. Those three video creators have turned me from skunk master during my first two weeks to now, when I don't catch something, I'm surprised.

Ok thank you guys, I'll try the Carolina rig we're heading out today to try mission beach. I'll post later how we did I just hope we don't get skunked lol

You should be good at MB. Looking forward to hearing

Hey guys we went yesterday from like 5 to 730 and we got skunked lol, there were a lot of people in the water so it was hard to find places to cast out and got a lot of seaweed for some reason... There were a lot of sand crabs though. I'll try really early next time before people get out to the beach. Thanks for the tips guys I'm sure I'll catch some next time if we can go up and down the beach and cast.

I recommend getting there at sunrise. You’ll have a good couple of hours before crowds fill in. Weekdays would be even better.

I know many people favor Carolina rigs, but I like a single, or double hook gangion with a 1 ounce weight on the bottom. Cast over the shorebreak, keep the line tight and adjust if it moves with the current. It is less prone to tangles and doesn't collect as many weeds.

At my local beach, soft shell crabs are king and when I'm lucky enough to find one, the summertime fish will find a baited soft shell in a few minutes.

Curltailgrub41480 wrote: Thu Jul 27, 2023 4:22 pm Hey guys we went yesterday from like 5 to 730 and we got skunked lol, there were a lot of people in the water so it was hard to find places to cast out and got a lot of seaweed for some reason... There were a lot of sand crabs though. I'll try really early next time before people get out to the beach. Thanks for the tips guys I'm sure I'll catch some next time if we can go up and down the beach and cast.

I get to the beach shortly after greylight and leave by 9:00 or so, people are never a problem

BestFishes wrote: Thu Jul 27, 2023 9:05 pm I recommend getting there at sunrise. You’ll have a good couple of hours before crowds fill in. Weekdays would be even better.

X2, solid advice

I used a single hook gangion and small soft shells to catch these guys at RAT Beach this morning.

Solid ! Pre storm dinner bell must have gone off. Not so yesterday in SD; surprisingly dead. No interest in feeding.

Mike M wrote: Sun Aug 20, 2023 1:01 pm I used a single hook gangion and small soft shells to catch these guys at RAT Beach this morning. IMG_5218.jpeg

Nice Mike... Thanks for the heads up on the forum coming back... I finally got a chance to sign up this am....
Butch

Midnightpass wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 8:35 am

Mike M wrote: Sun Aug 20, 2023 1:01 pm I used a single hook gangion and small soft shells to catch these guys at RAT Beach this morning. IMG_5218.jpeg

Nice Mike... Thanks for the heads up on the forum coming back... I finally got a chance to sign up this am....
Butch

Hello Butch

vdisney wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2023 7:49 am

Midnightpass wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 8:35 am

Mike M wrote: Sun Aug 20, 2023 1:01 pm I used a single hook gangion and small soft shells to catch these guys at RAT Beach this morning. IMG_5218.jpeg

Nice Mike... Thanks for the heads up on the forum coming back... I finally got a chance to sign up this am....
Butch

Hello Butch

Howdy Verne.... How are you and your Pops doing?... Ive seen a few of your post in Facebook... I don't say much in there, as it can get a bit too crazy for me...
Butch

Carolina rig with really short leader helps with tangles.

Start at low tide if possible so you can walk the area and find the low spots where the water is funneling. You want your bait to get dragged into a hole by the rip current, that's where the fish stack up and wait for bait to be delivered.