Rocket Red
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This weekend is the Annual Surfperch Derby in Long Beach. Me, and buddies Big Smooth and Bones will be in attendance. I have never fished in the Long Beach area for these fish so we might be the laughingstock of the derby, but we don't really have high hopes of winning, we just have arranged a day of shopping for our wives while we fish for a day.
So who has some insider tips for catching big surfperch?
I have caught them before, and have had some really good days too, mostly in the Westport area.
I have used flies or clam chunks before. But I might be missing the boat on some hot bait or touch to the rigging that will propel team Leaky Waders into the winners circle.
What are some good ways to fasten a sandshrimp to the hook so that they will take a beating in the surf (regular way for driftfishing?)?
What is a good rig up (weight swivel etc)? I just usually use a pyramid sinker like a drop shot with a short leader to whatever bait/lure I am using? What size hooks do you prefer?
Are there any beach features that I should be looking for? Long Beach has a lot of sand to cover, what is a good way to pinpoint fish in all that space?
Thanks in advance.
 
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"Painter of light, my a$$!"
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John_Curado
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smolt
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R.R. I just ran across this old post. Would like to know more about this perch fishing derby and would be glad to share my method of surf fishing with you if you think it will help. Thanks John
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John
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Rocket Red
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Here is the link:
Surf Perch Derby
This years has already gone by. I had to work that weekend so I didn't get to go. It was pretty fun. We competed in 2003 and summarily had our a$$es kicked. We had a lot of fun though and caught some nice perch. Some local experts had a definite edge. Keep an eye on the site I posted above to find out when next years is. They usually plan it on a good tide so the fishing is pretty good.
If you are in Long Beach over the summer maybe you can get in some practice rounds.
Good luck. Rocket. 
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"Painter of light, my a$$!"
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John_Curado
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smolt
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Dang, look's like I missed out on a lot of fun, but I will definately plan on next year's event! All I need to do is find one more team member. My wife and I usually surf fish along the Westport beaches. We have had moderate success.
I'm headed to San Diego end of the month to do a little yellow tail fishing, think I'll swing by Long Beach and try a day of surf fishing if time allows.
Rocket, thanks for all the info. Maybe I'll run into you at the derby next next year. John 
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John
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winterchrome
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Well, I'd like to bring this back into the realm of discussion.
The derby will be back next month, and I'm thinking about taking the family out to the beach for some fun in the hopeful sun. Anyone have any good all around suggestions for catching a few perch?
I think I have the jist of rigging up and bait, but what about where to chuck it. There is alot of beach at long beach, any help here would be appreciated.
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It has always been my private conviction that any man who pits his intelligence against a fish and loses has it coming. ~John Steinbeck
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Gooose
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Look for changes in the way the surf rolls into the beach. This usually indicates a change in the bottom. Try places like that....usually its simply a matter of moving a 100 feet or so up and down the beach to find a concentration of perch.
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Independent Advocate For The Fish
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Simple Solutions to Simple Problems
Simple Solutions to Complex Problems
There's lies, damned lies and then there are statistics......Mark Twain
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Rocket Red
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What we did was drive down the beach at low tide and pick out all the big depressions where the perch would hang out as the tide came back in. We marked each one on the GPS and kept driving. We logged which one was furthest out and which ones would be good as the tide came up on a piece of paper. Then we started fishing them and trying to follow our strategy. Well the first hole produced a few fish until it was too deep and the second produced just one fish. When we got to the 3rd trough there were already like five rods in it and they were yanking them out as fast as they could. We rifled up to the 4th and it had another team on it. Then back to our 5th hole and waited for the tide to cover it up. We got a couple more, but not nearly enough to win.
Here is the lesson: Pick your spots and then camp on the best one for at least an hour between bites. Don't go searchin' because they will all get filled up with fisherman as the tournament starts. Keep your lines in for the maximum exposure. The fish will move around the troughs so I would suggest to keep moving your casts around, but stay on the same "hole" for a while.
The winning rig was sand shrimp on double #6 hooks.
Well now you should win that you have our strategy for next time. I don't know if it will be this year or not. 
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"Painter of light, my a$$!"
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winterchrome
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Good stuff RR...It sounds like a fun time and definitely worth a shot. Thanks for the advice, doesn't sound like hard science, and for that I'm thankful.  
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It has always been my private conviction that any man who pits his intelligence against a fish and loses has it coming. ~John Steinbeck
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silverfly
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Something to try when the surf is fairly light is using a noodle rod with 4# test. You can cast half an ounce farther than you need to and fighting the little buggers on this gear is a hoot!
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Rocket Red
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Silverfly is right. Under light surf conditions, or anytime they get stacked up in a trough near where you are casting from you can get them in easy range. I have got quite a few on a 7wt with a sink-tip line and red and yellow "surfperchers". The key is finding calm areas where they will be in feeding close to shore. There also can't be any traffic in the spot to chase them out of the shallows. I usually get them on flies in water less than 2 feet deep. This usually occurs really early in the morning, like just after sunup.
One morning at Washaway Beach I came across a shoal feeding in a depression. I could cast all the way across it with my flyrod. It was one of those magic moments in fishing where everything came together. Strip, strip, strip, yank! Every cast for about 45 minutes. They are good fighters on light tackle. A curly tail or marabou jig works just as good in 1/4 to 1/2 ounce. Just bounce it back over the sand.
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"Painter of light, my a$$!"
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winterchrome
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Sounds like a blast all the way around...
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It has always been my private conviction that any man who pits his intelligence against a fish and loses has it coming. ~John Steinbeck
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FWC_Cliff
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dual red striper
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We are thinking of heading over to the Washington coast. Any suggestions on best places to fish and/or stay. We haven't decided yet if we want to RV it or stay someplace that is on the beach.
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street_dzigns
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work is for people who dont fish
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Reged: 11/11/05
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Loc: bothell
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anold method i used to just slay those surf perch on is a sabiki rig kinda like a big herring jig with a 1 oz sinker and live piling worms on half the hooks and fresh clams or squid on the other half its fun when you get 3 at a time on there 
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and god said let there be chumpies
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