Reel Repair by Alan Tani

So far I've met a few people who were netting huge mullet near where i was fishing. I talked to them a bit and the consistent answer is that to them mullet taste better than any predatory fish. One fella went as far as to say that he's a commercial fisherman and can eat whatever fish he wants, but he prefers mullet over any fish in the Gulf.

But then I also know a fella who targets crevalle jacks to eat and will throw back slot snook or reds because he doesn't like the taste.

So clearly some of it is just personal preference.

Quote from: Jenx on February 14, 2023, 10:02:41 PMEventually as you spend enough time fishing different spots you will start to understand the surf better and notice what spots produce more than others.

That's good advice.  You have to cover some ground.  Sometimes moving 50' will fill the cooler. 

Some of the burrowing food sources colonize certain stretches or prefer a unique environment.  Sand fleas like to stay in bunches, for example.  You can buy or make a basket to "dredge" these from the edges.  Some invertebrates attach bits of shell to their "tubes" and remnants wash up to give you a clue that somebody has been feeding on them.  Evidence of eating washes up regularly.  I've seen large fish with crescent chunks missing or bitten in half...guess what did that!  If those fish are fresh, I'm tossing lines out. 

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on February 15, 2023, 03:52:21 PMthe consistent answer is that to them mullet taste better than any predatory fish. One fella went as far as to say that he's a commercial fisherman and can eat whatever fish he wants, but he prefers mullet over any

You know, sometimes you can't make yourself eat certain things.  Some will not eat an oyster.  Mullet is one of those things for me.  I've cut too many of 'em open and seen what's inside.  Maybe I should just man up, get past it and try it.  We can be so wimpy sometimes!

So, I'm gonna go tomorrow unless it's stormy.  I'll try to get some pics of varying shorelines and other conditions.  I realize that my area isn't the same as the rest of the world, but the principles of current and structure are constants, IMO.

If I don't catch fish, I'll likely find a few shells.

Quote from: Shellbelly on February 15, 2023, 03:01:51 PMI'd like to see a picture of a surf perch.  Are they soft and mushy after freezing or when fresh?

Here's a picture of a barred serf perch. You might recognize the guy holding it.

They are mushy when fresh or frozen. Barred surf perch are the most common species, at least here in southern California. The are usually small in size, but during spawning season the females can get at least a couple of pounds in size. What is interesting is they give live birth, so often times the females are dropping babies as you are quickly trying to unhook them.

I heard a story of a guy keeping some perch he caught in a bucket. When Fish and Game came by to check on his catches he noticed one of the perch he caught had given berth to a bunch of babies. The Fish and Game officer counted each baby towards his bag limit, and fined him for going over the limit.

No clue if that story was true, or just another tall fishing tale.

Quote from: Bryan Young on February 15, 2023, 01:32:00 AM@Jenx I agree, surf perch is mushy.  I like catching them and eating them as they are tasty.  I'm trying to figure out how to firm up their flesh...salt?  Wait a day or two to dry them out a bit?  I don't know.

I smoked some surf perch once, and that helped firm the meat up.

some beaches(So. Calif) have sand so dense and hard packed you can drive a vehicle on it. Other beaches, the sand is so soft and loose your feet sink into it and its hard to walk.Some are really fine grain particles and some are large grain and almost gravel. Does it make a difference?

Quote from: Jenx on February 15, 2023, 05:18:17 PMI smoked some surf perch once, and that helped firm the meat up.

How do you keep it lit?

Quote from: Jenx on February 15, 2023, 05:14:09 PMHere's a picture of a barred serf perch. You might recognize the guy holding it.

Allright!  Looks like a fun fish to hook regardless.  Perch types can get erratic and make you grin a lot.

I've seen that guy before!  Give him a wide berth when he slings those jigs.

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on February 15, 2023, 06:21:45 PMHow do you keep it lit?

LMBO!!

Quote from: funhog on February 15, 2023, 05:33:57 PMsome beaches(So. Calif) have sand so dense and hard packed you can drive a vehicle on it. Other beaches, the sand is so soft and loose your feet sink into it and its hard to walk.Some are really fine grain particles and some are large grain and almost gravel. Does it make a difference?

I would think a compacted gravel bottom would be stable and any structural formations would be more permanent...less susceptible to routine currents.  If true, then the ambush points will be consistent with less need to read the surf to discover them. 

The finer the material, the more likely it will shift in the water.  Sand has very little adhesion when dry or somewhat soaked.  Wet sand near the tide line can be pretty firm and also out in the water....until you agitate it....or current stirs it.  Wading the surf usually doesn't allow much "standing still" by the fisherman.  It's nearly impossible in moving water.

Whatever the beach is made of, there will be unique properties that are influenced by currents...long or short-term.  Also, the type of material will be home to things adapted to it and that's part of the discovery the fisherman has to undertake.  Not only for the game but for the tackle tailored for the conditions.  And about tackle, don't let yourself become boxed in by certain standards or opinions.  Make what you think will mimic a good bait action if your store-bought stuff doesn't cut it for you.  If you want to drag a red necktie with a hook on it...it's your world.

Kinda looks like Allan's using a polychaete(sea worm?). He and his Brother prolly got some good PAC. Coast tips for the Surfpearch.

An interesting thread!

https://marinespecies.wildlife.ca.gov/barred-surfperch-and-redtail-surfperch/true/

I think that the primary food for these guys is the mole crab (AKA sand flea).  They dig into the sand, so they probably don't like too hard of a bottom.  You also want some churn in the surf.  SoCal beaches can be a bit on the calm side.

I suck at reading the surf.  The surfers laugh at me.  But  I can read the science

Reading up on mole crabs tells you a lot about why the best pacific surf perch fishermen are successful.  In the winter months, the surf is roiled up and the crabs are dispersed.  Spring to summer, the crabs mate (spawn?) frequently and tend to aggregate in bunches,  They feed by filtering, so they want some wash, but not enough to dislodge  them.  And they continually move around to stay in prime feeding conditions.

The more successful surf perch guys tend to cast/move/cast/move, working those rubber grubs or pile worms until they hook a fish, and then work the spot for awhile.  I think that what they are doing is locating  mole crab concentrations.  Casting at an angle can cover more useful water than bombing out a long cast past where the mole crab are hanging out.  I have hooked plenty of surf perch in knee deep water when I got distracted  while  my fly drifted behind me, back towards the beach.

I think that the perch tend to hang out in the troughs next to the shallow beds, and will move in after a wave to pick off any exposed crabs. Then back into a holding pattern in the trough.

-J

The "live birth" thing about these fish is mind-blowing.  Think of the feeding frenzy!

Quote from: jurelometer on February 15, 2023, 08:36:45 PMI suck at reading the surf.  The surfers laugh at me.  But  I can read the science

You can do it.  Just don't try to "read" the whole elephant at first glance.  Start by picking a spot that's 50' X 50'.  Move your gaze over, out, in, whatever and compare.  If something is different, figure out why.  Repeat.  You'll start to see patterns.  You have to get into the "Z axis" of that world.  X  and Y are just clues, nothing more.

The guys in FL use sand fleas for Pompano.  Those guys are SERIOUS about Pompano!  There's a video showing how to catch and cook those little things, too.  I don't know, man....that's out there like eating bugs or something. 

If my wife saw those crawling around, and one got on her foot, she'd lock herself in the truck. I'd die laughing...and get called vile names.

Sand fleas.  I think I've seen these attached to redfish.  Also, I think I've seen a massive hatch of them as well.  I'm talking about thousands of tiny "bugs" suspended just inside the tide line.  Whatever they were, they attached to my ankles and were pretty irritating.  They weren't biting, just hanging on, and were itchy.  I had to take my shoes off cause they were getting in there too.  The sandpipers were having a feast. This was in the summer and looking back, I was so irritated that I didn't think about "rigging for the food chain".  Instead, I went out there barefoot and risked getting stabbed by big flat sea monsters.  Go figure.