How to catch Sand perch in Florida

Sand perch feed in 62–86°F water and bite best at 68–80°F.

3 pts · trophy at 10"Feeds 62–86°FBest 68–80°FIn season nowLedge / hard bottomArtificial reefChannel edgeGrass flat

About

The squirrelfish: a striped little sea bass on the sand and the hard bottom in 20 to 100 feet that eats every bait meant for a grouper, and is itself the grouper bait the old-timers keep.

How to fish it

You'll catch them bottom fishing whether you want to or not; a small hook and squid on the sand. Keep a few live for the grouper.

What it eats

squidshrimpcut bait

Live bait for it

SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.

Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.