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Thread: Ocean surf fishing

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
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    S. Lake Tahoe
    Posts
    68

    Default Ocean surf fishing

    Has anyone had any or any consistent luck fishing the beaches, Bodega or there abouts, for surf perch or any other fish ? Now is a good time for me to get over there. I've hit it maybe 5 times in the past and haven't had a single detected a grab. I even purchased a signed Ken Hanley book. Apparently, that's not enough.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
    Posts
    23,837

    Default

    I had a customer who use to fish the north end of Dillon Beach around some rocks.

    He liked the spring time but another friend says he gets them above Eureka year round.

    My customer said he tipped his flies with some small pieces of squid for new coming to the surf.



    Dungeness crab season now.
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    S. Lake Tahoe
    Posts
    68

    Default

    You've given me a starting point. Thank You Bill

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Seaside
    Posts
    5

    Default

    Here are some resources you may want to consider.

    Try this website, https://www.zenflyfishing.com. Unfortunately, this blog is no longer maintained but still has useful information.

    On You Tube, look for richtroxler to learn how to read a beach. They are long videos but informative.

    If you wish to take a class, call Geoff at Central Coast Fly Fishing in Carmel and inquire about his surf classes. Also, through CCFF, you can get in contact with Richard Gilliam who is now guiding around the Monterey Bay.

    Good luck

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Yuba City
    Posts
    135

    Default

    I've been fishing Stinson Beach a few times a year for about three years now and have been pretty consistent at catching fish in the surf. Surf fishing in general can be confusing with tides, waves, and etc. Here are a few pointers that I've learned along the way.

    I use a Teeny 250 that has a floating running line and sinking head that sinks at 6ips. I use a 5-7ft 12# flurocarbon leader with a clouser and a red shrimp pattern. A stripping basket is essential.

    I believe finding a good beach for fly fishing is important. A beach that is too steep can be dangerous and difficult to keep your flies in the zone especially when fighting waves. A beach that is too flat doesn't have enough structure and cover for fish to be comfortable in. It's gotta be just right, gradual slope with an average 3-4ft depth is what I look for. There has to be some wave action to get the food stirring and moving around.

    As for tides every beach is different but generally you want to fish an hour or two before high tide. These are the times when the fish will start rolling into the shore to feed. Cover water until you find fish. Perch are schooling fish so when you find them you find a bunch of them. Look for structure by observing breaks in waves. A soft spot along the breaks usually indicates a point of interest such as a hole. Be observant of your surroundings and keep safe, most of the time the fish are about 20-40ft in front of you no need to get too fair into the water and cast as far as you can.

    I usually do the best in the late spring and summer. Stripers are a higher possibility during warmer parts of the year and big redtail perch are more consistent during the winter. Evenings about 3 hours before sunset are usually when I've had the best fishing regardless of tide changes. Overcast days are good as well. Water clarity is also important. I've always gotten skunked when fishing dirty water. This summer there was a red tide event at Stinson and I didn't catch any fish... I did catch a ton of dungeness crab though so I guess you never know what you'll catch out on the surf.

    If all else fails it never hurts to try a light spinning rod with some gulp sandworms. Grubbing can be just as fun.
    Last edited by mattv-mcfly; 12-29-2020 at 10:20 PM.
    Keep Calm and Fly Fish
    https://keepcalmandflyfish.com/

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Petaluma
    Posts
    157

    Default

    Bodega Bay proper and the surrounding Doran Beach I do not consider particularly good beaches for surf perch as there is not a lot of structure. You would be better off trying at Dillon Beach which has more rocks at the north end and more holes as you head south towards the mouth of Tomales. I fish Dillon a lot and I do good there but I often get blanked there.

    Winter is good but spring is probably a little bit better as the ocean is less wicked and the days are longer. Fishing the surf is a numbers game. There will be many days when the period between wave sets is short, like 6 to 8 seconds or less and it will be hard to keep your fly fishing. Other times there will be so much kelp and eel grass from earlier storms and large surf that most casts will be fouled. Or the wind will be up.

    Best advice is to go get a good look at the beach on a low or minus tide and see where the flats, hole,troughs and rocks are. Next best is to understand where the rips are. Hanleys' book has good info on reading the surf and understanding where the currents and rips are.

    Early morning at first light the wind is usually down and the surf is generally calmer. I've done good at the top of the tide ad well as at the bottom of the tide fishing the holes.

    Keep at it and try to keep your fly in the water and fishing as efficiently as possible and eventually it will come together often with a big surprise.

    And lastly, be careful. Winter surf and the steeper winter beach profile can be especially dangerous.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Fremont when not out there
    Posts
    189

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    Steve makes good points. Look for moving water, stay away from dead zones where you will notice sand crab debris in the non current sections of the water. Understanding and breaking down the beach structure while looking for prime areas of moving water is essential. It is close as you will get to streamer fishing via the salt. Find the currents of moving water and you will find a higher probability of fish working the surf zone. I have seen anglers fish floating lines with long leaders be just as successful as those with sink tips or T300. For fun, I have fished with spin guys throwing jigs or motor oil grubs. Sometimes they can locate the fish faster if they understand the concept of moving water or you can show them where the fish are.

    Like everything, you have to put in your dues while in search mode. The water column is species specific as well. The higher in the water column you will encounter walleye perch while lower you will find barred perch. mackerel and stripers if they are in the area. One year I spotted a barracuda surrendering to the beach after getting beat up in the surf zone. If you don't get a grab, keep moving. Stick with it and you will find success. When you locate fish, remember the beach structure that provided the opportunity. Steep beach gradients normally associated with winter fishing will accelerate the back wash as it reenters the water. You think you are safe when the wave passes you only to be knocked down by the force of back wash. This is enough to wish you fished with a buddy. Know your limitations in this wild environ. I subscribe to Ken Hanley's mantra, "Be safe out there". You can never be too safe.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    S. Lake Tahoe
    Posts
    68

    Default

    Wow - that's a lot of great info. Thank you all for giving me a plan.

    Thanks, Tom

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
    Posts
    23,837

    Default

    Maybe next summer we can have a Forum Outing to fish Dillon Beach/Tomales Bay staying at Lawson's Landing campground?
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Petaluma
    Posts
    157

    Default

    Sounds good Bill. Give a shout next time you're staying out at Lawson's

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