Redtail surfperch Amphistichus rhodoterus

7 of 11worth the trip today

Best right now at Ocean Shores, Washington. Water is inside the 48–62° range redtail surfperch like at 10 of the 10 spots with a live reading.

Go 5Worth the trip 2Marginal 0Sit it out 4Click to zoom in, drag to move, right-click to zoom out

Where redtail surfperch score best right now

Ocean Shores100 now · WA Pacific Beach100 now · WA Westport Light92 now · WA Twin Harbors92 now · WA Gold Beach90 now · OR Pacific City Beach70 now · OR First Beach70 now · WA Half Moon Bay52 now · CA

About redtail surfperch

The surf perch of the Oregon and Washington coast, schooling along sandy beaches and jetties from Vancouver Island south to Monterey Bay. Taken on sand shrimp, clam necks and small grubs, best on an incoming tide in the hour or two before high, and in spring and early summer when they school up to spawn.

Amphistichus rhodoterus, family Embiotocidae.

Redtail surfperch, spot by spot

All 11 spots with redtail surfperch in season, scored for redtail surfperch, best first.

Ocean ShoresGrays Harbor County, WashingtonRedtail surfperch

52° water · 9 mph wind · incoming tide

100Go

Pacific Beach State ParkGrays Harbor County, WashingtonRedtail surfperch

52° water · 8 mph wind · incoming tide

100Go

Westport Light State ParkGrays Harbor County, WashingtonRedtail surfperch

52° water · 10 mph wind · incoming tide

92Go

Twin Harbors State ParkGrays Harbor County, WashingtonRedtail surfperch

52° water · 8 mph wind · incoming tide

92Go

Gold Beach (South Beach Park)Curry County, OregonRedtail surfperch

52° water · 12 mph wind · incoming tide

90Go

Pacific City Beach (Cape Kiwanda)Tillamook County, OregonRedtail surfperch

53° water · 14 mph wind · incoming tide

70Worth the trip

First Beach (La Push)Clallam County, WashingtonRedtail surfperchSmall Craft Advisory

52° water · 8 mph wind · incoming tide

70Worth the trip

Half Moon Bay State BeachSan Mateo County, CaliforniaRedtail surfperchCoastal Flood Advisory

9 mph wind · incoming tide

52Sit it out

Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State ParkLane County, OregonRedtail surfperch

54° water · 14 mph wind · low slack tide

50Sit it out

Nehalem Bay State ParkTillamook County, OregonRedtail surfperchSmall Craft Advisory

53° water · 15 mph wind · incoming tide

45Sit it out

Yachats State Recreation AreaLincoln County, OregonRedtail surfperch

51° water · 14 mph wind · incoming tide

38Sit it out

The water they want

Redtail surfperch feed from about 48° to 62°F and best near 55°. Each pin is one spot’s water right now, from NOAA and USGS gauges; 10 of 10 are inside the range.

ideal 55°

48°62°

How they feed

Water48–62°F, best near 55°
TideIncoming
MoonEither
DepthUsually 1–15 ft
Active monthsMar–Aug

Scored against their own temperature range and tide preference first, then wind, weather and warnings. Solunar periods only break ties. How the score works

Keep or release

California10.5" minimum · 10 a day10½" total length minimum. 20/day in combination of all surfperch (shiner perch separate), no more than 10 of any one species. Open year-round.Pacific waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
Oregon15 a daySurfperch: 15/day in aggregate of all species, no minimum size. Open year-round.Pacific waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
Washington12 a daySurfperch: 12/day (shiner perch 15), no minimum size, outside the bottomfish limit. Open year-round.Pacific waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source

Rules change, and they differ by state and often by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water. Redtail surfperch are fished at spots in 3 states: California, Oregon, Washington.