Surf Perch fishing aound Manresa Beach, CA???

[BumpBailey]

Staying with the wife and kids at a local camp ground and thought i might give some surf fishing a shot. Couple of questions. Is that area even worth trying?? i presume earlier in the morning.... before any crowds???

Which set up do I use?? I have a 10' 7 wt with everything from floating lines, medium sink and fast sinking..... or shoudl i go with my 9wt striper set up? Leader length? What kind of flies?

Any info would be appreciated!!!

Thanks

[Darian]

Manresa beach is a good place to surf fish provided conditions (surf size, tide, water clarity, etc.) are suitable. Here's a link to a website that is not currently updated but still contains a lot of good info on surf fly fishing and flies for Monterey Bay:

http://www.zenflyfishing.com

There are others on this BB who have info on Monterey Bay. Maybe they'll chime in here. :cool:

[Baja Fly Fisher]

Manressa is a great place to fish, especially this time of year. Just right down the road is Sunset Beach and Palm Beach. I prefer to fish palm beach. Check the tides, I like fishing an early incoming tide, a minus tide going to a flooding tide would be great. On the low end, you'd be able to see the troughs, depressions and what the bottom looks like.
A 7 wt is a good rod to use. I usually fish a type 3 sinking line with a double fly rig.
Stop and watch what's happening in front of you. Learn and read the waters, you'll be more productive

Good Luck

Jay

[Jimmie]

Heed what Jay says! He along with Ken Hanley are the "Yodas" of surf perch fishing with a fly. Good Luck.

[BumpBailey]

Thank you guys for chiming in. My buddy Tom introduced me to Jay at the Pleasanton Fly Fishing Expo this past February and said the same thing!

[dsfj40]

Make sure to wear flotation device. People on here are eager to give advice but I never see any regarding safety. The most important is having a backup plan if things go wrong.
Dave