About Redtail Surfperch
Redtail surfperch are the biggest-bodied of the California surfperch. They have a deep, oval, silvery body with red to pink tail and anal fins. CDFW says most landed fish run 1.5 to 2 lbs, and 3 lbs is not unusual.
This is a Northern California beach and pier fish. CDFW places them from Monterey Bay northward, and they are the surfperch caught most often north of Bodega Bay. Pier Fishing in California notes that north of San Francisco they replace the calico surfperch in the surf catch. In Southern California the surf species are barred and calico surfperch.
How to Catch
Sand crabs are the top bait, and fresh mussels, pile worms, bloodworms and clams also work. Surf anglers use light spinning gear with medium tackle and size 6 to 2 hooks. A high-low rig with two hooks about 12 inches apart above the sinker is a common setup. Heavier tackle suits a heavy surf, and light tackle with crab backs is preferred in Humboldt Bay.
Pier anglers in the North Coast fish Pacifica Pier, Del Norte Street Pier in Eureka, and the B Street Pier and Citizens Dock in Crescent City. In spring and early summer the fish gather in sheltered bays and estuaries before spawning, and hundreds can school in a small area, which makes a limit easy.
Eating Profile
We found no sourced table-quality notes for redtail, so we do not rate it here. Keep fish iced and measure them first: keepers must be 10.5 inches or longer.
Common Mistakes
- Keeping fish under the minimum. Redtail must be 10.5 inches. Carry a measuring board.
- Fishing San Francisco Bay in spring and summer. Surfperch other than shiner perch are closed there from April 1 through July 31, and the bay limit is 5.
- Looking for them in Southern California. They are rare south of Monterey Bay.
- Counting only redtail. The 20 fish limit covers all surfperch together.
When to Go
- Spring and early summer: Fish enter bays and estuaries to spawn. Young are born mostly June to August (CDFW).
- Rest of the year: The fishery is open year-round. We found no published month-by-month catch data for other seasons.
