Treasures of the surf - surf-fish in California coast

Sunset, August, 1984

Treasures of the surf

Why do they go down to the sea in boots and waders, carrying 12-foot poles to cast worms into the surf?

We can't improve on marine biologist John L. Baxter's observation: "One of the most contented persons I ever met was an angler at the seashore, rod in hand, gazing into the distance. When asked why he didn't reel in and check the bait, he shrugged his shoulders. "It really doesn't matter if I catch anything. I enjoy the relaxation and peace of mind.''

So may you--and you could catch supper, too. Late summer ushers in some of the best surf-fishing on the California coast. From the Silver Strand of Coronado all the way north to the sandspits guarding Humboldt Bay and beyond, scores of beaches are well suited to wetting a line in the surf.

The beach you'll seek will be mostly sandy, where waves roll up unchecked by rocks or manmade breakwaters. Surffishing simply involves casting a natural bait from shore, hooking the fish, and playing it through the surf.

What might you catch? What will you need? Where should you go? This report aims to answer those questions.

California surf fish

Whether you angle south or north of Point Conception (see map, page 76) makes a difference in the kinds of fish you'll catch. For the point is an oceanographic dividing line: south of it, mid-summer surface temperatures may reach 70|; north of it, they're usually in the mid-50s to low 60s. (Last season's El Nino current abnormally warmed coastal water and disturbed fishing. This summer, temperatures are back to normal and sportfishing should be improved.)

Along the coast, the most commonly caught fish in the surf zone is the surfperch. Species vary regionally: in Southern California, the barred surfperch is the prize; north of the Golden Gate, the redtail predominates. Depending on where you angle, you may also hook such surfperch as rubberlip, walleye, silver, and calico. Perch fishing picks up in late summer and usually peaks in early winter. The drawings on page 76 introduce you to some of these species and others, as well as their preferred baits.

One of the mysteries of surf-fishing is never knowing just what might be lurking out there. Incidental catches can include small sharks and dogfish, skates and rays, jacksmelt, white croakers or kingfish (from Baja California to the Golden Gate), starry flounder (Santa Barbara to Oregon), or more rarely chinook salmon (Pacifica north). Then, too, you might also reel in a bait-stealing crab or snag a hulking whip of uprooted kelp.

All the surfperch and the fish we show make tasty table fare. Corbina is Southern California's "cook's prize of the surf.' Striped bass is the San Francisco Bay Area's gourmet game fish.

Surf-fishing strategies

As waves sweep toward the beach, they begin to break. Between the cresting waves, troughs of surfy water form--your primary casting targets. A more steeply sloping beach usually has deeper near-shore troughs. If you have time, it's wise to reconnoiter a beach at low tide. Look for holes and channels: when the tide floods in, these become aquatic byways for surf fish.

Many anglers schedule their fishing forays to coincide with the rising tide: they start a couple of hours before high tide and continue an hour or two after the peak. Coastal tackle shops often have free copies of tide tables. Many daily newspapers print predicted times of high and low tides for various points.

To begin, rear back and make a two-handed cast into the farthest through you can. If you don't get a bite in a few minutes, reel the bait into the nearest slough and wait again. If action is slow, work your way down the beach or try or a different bait.

It never hurts to take along a dozen blood-worms (imported live from Maine); if they're not available, use pile worms. Soft-shelled sand crabs are another good bet; savvy surf anglers catch their own. If bait shops don't have frozen anchovy, use sardine; or cut your own strip bait from a freshly caught fish.

A few caveats: Don't wade into breaking surf. Keep an eye out for "rogue' waves that could wash your gear--and you-- into the sea. If heavy surf is up or strong riptides are working, postpone your fishing. Surfers and surf-casters don't mix; if you see their boards, fish elsewhere.

Gearing up for surf-casting

While you'll see anglers using poles from 8 to 15 feet long, a 10- or 12-foot, two-piece spinning rod is the best all-around choice. These tubular fiberglass rods cost $30 to $70. You'll want a fairly limber-tipped rod with a butt grip that feels comfortable. Ask to take a few practice casts outside the tackle shop.

Match the rod with an open-face salt-water spinning reel ($25 to $50). The reel should hold 200 to 250 yards of 15- to 30-pound-test monofilament line.

Some traditionalists prefer conventional one-piece rods of comparable lengths and cost, paired with level-wind bait-casting reels. These anglers know how to apply just enough thumb pressure on the revolving spool to avoid line-tangling backlashes.