UTERSurfperch fishing in Central California Coast
In Central California Coast, surfperch peak December–April and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Barred perch on the Monterey and Half Moon Bay beaches.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Surfperch in Central California Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakBarred perch on the Monterey and Half Moon Bay beaches.
- FebruaryPeakSturgeon peak; surf perch; stripers up in the Delta. Carquinez Strait and the Benicia channel edges for sturgeon; perch on the incoming tide.
- MarchPeakPerch peak before they drop; the last sturgeon. Perch troughs at Pacifica and Monterey; stripers start moving down the Bay.
- AprilPeakLast of the spring peak.
- MayLeaving
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberArrivingPre-spawn lingcod; sturgeon return with the rain; perch in the surf. Lings shallow and aggressive before the winter closure; first sturgeon in San Pablo Bay after the rain.
- DecemberPeakPeak again.
Where to fish surfperch near Morro Bay, Monterey, Santa Cruz
A rugged, cold coast of kelp and granite — Big Sur, Monterey Bay's submarine canyon, Half Moon Bay, the Farallones — and San Francisco Bay, San Pablo and Suisun Bays running up into the Delta.
What to use for surfperch
- Sand crabs (Pacific mole crabs)A soft-shell sand crab on a #4 to #2 hook, Carolina rig, cast just behind the first break — the corbina and barred surfperch bait.
- Ghost shrimpThreaded on a #4 to 1/0 baitholder hook on a Carolina rig in the surf or the bay — the surfperch, corbina and sturgeon bait.
- Leader15–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–2/0
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 50–66°F water, best at 54–62°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch surfperch in Central California Coast?
Peak season is December–April. Surfperch are here year-round. January: Barred perch on the Monterey and Half Moon Bay beaches.
Where do surfperch hold in Central California Coast?
Look on beach / surf, fishing pier, dock / pilings, pass / inlet — around Morro Bay, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Berkeley.
What is the best bait for surfperch in Central California Coast?
Live bait: sand crabs (pacific mole crabs), ghost shrimp. Sand crabs (Pacific mole crabs): A soft-shell sand crab on a #4 to #2 hook, Carolina rig, cast just behind the first break — the corbina and barred surfperch bait. Tackle: leader 15–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–2/0, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for surfperch in Central California Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.
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