Treasures of the surf - surf-fish in California coast

San Francisco Peninsula: Baker Beach in Golden Gate National Recreation Area (striped bass, salmon in summer); Sharp Park S.B. at Pacifica (occasional striped bass, starry flounder); Montara S.B. (silver, redtail perch); Half Moon Bay State Beaches (calico, silver).

Monterey Bay: Twin Lakes S.B. at Santa Cruz; New Brighton, Seacliff, Sunset, and Moss Landing state beaches. Just south of Carmel: Carmel River S.B.

San Luis Obispo County: Hearst Memorial S.B. at San Simeon; Pismo S.B. (barred and calico perch, jacksmelt).

South Coast. Santa Barbara County: Jalama Beach County Park, north of Point Conception via Jalama Road (barred, silver, walleye perch); Gaviota S.P. (halibut in spring, summer); El Capitan S.B. (barred and rubberlip perch); Carpinteria S.B.

Ventura County: San Buenaventura S.B. northwest of Ventura Harbor; Point Mugu S.P. (barred and walleye perch, halibut, croakers).

Santa Monica Bay: Zuma Beach County Park (barred perch, occasional halibut, croakers); Dockweiler S.B., west of LAX; Manhattan S.B.; Hermosa Beach (barred perch, corbina); Redondo S.B. (same as Hermosa).

Orange County: Bolsa Chica S.B. (barred perch, corbina); Huntington S.B.; Balboa Peninsula beaches west of Newport Bay.

San Diego County: San Onofre S.B. North (corbina, spotfin and yellowfin croakers); South Carlsbad S.B.; Leucadia S.B.; north end of Torrey Pines S.B., north of La Jolla (corbina); Silver Strand S.B., south of Coronado (corbina, croakers).

Photo: Redtail surfperch. Half Moon Bay to Oregon; reddish tail and fins. Averages 1/2 to 1 pound. Bait #6 hook with bloodworm, soft-shelled sand crab, or mussel

Photo: Walleye surfperch. Baja to Oregon; very large eyes, compressed body. Averages 4 to 6 inches, 1/4 pound. Bait #6 hook with bloodworm, sand crab, shrimp, or mussel

Photo: Striped bass. Best chance Pacifica to Point Reyes; 6 to 9 black stripes. Legal minimum length is 18 inches; weight usually less than 10 pounds. Bait #1/0 or #1 hook with anchovy or sardine

Photo: California halibut. Baja California to Oregon; eyed side is mottled brown (blind side usually white). Legal minimum length is 22 inches; average weight is 6 to 7 pounds. Use #2 hook with anchovy or cut bait

Photo: Barred surfperch. Baja to Half Moon Bay; rust-colored bars on flanks. Reaches 1 foot, 1 to 2 pounds. Bait #6 hook as for surfperch above

Photo: Spotfin croaker. Baja to Point Conception; black spot at base of pectoral fin. Reaches 27 inches, 10 pounds. Bait #2 or #1 hook with bloodworm, sand crab, or shrimp

Photo: California corbina. Baja to Point Conception (best south of Long Beach); short barbel on chin. Reaches 2 1/2 feet; averages 3 to 4 pounds. Bait #2 hook with sand crab, ghost shrimp, bloodworm, or mussel

Photo: Sand crab came from burrow in beach surf line. Some bait shops sell a wire-mesh trap (about $20) for scooping them out of sand

Photo: Wiggly Maine bloodworm is good surfperch bait when cut into 1/2-inch or longer bits. Beware its pincers: they can nip your fingers