Redtail surfperch Amphistichus rhodoterus

0 of 11worth the trip today

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

Go 0Worth the trip 0Marginal 1Sit it out 10Click to zoom in, drag to move, right-click to zoom out

Where redtail surfperch score best right now

Gold Beach58 now · OR Yachats State Recreation Area42 now · OR Ocean Shores32 now · WA Westport Light32 now · WA Twin Harbors32 now · WA Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial30 now · OR Pacific City Beach19 now · OR Nehalem Bay19 now · OR

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.

Gold Beach (South Beach Park)Curry County, OregonRedtail surfperchHigh Surf Advisory

55° water · 23 mph wind · incoming tide

58Marginal

Yachats State Recreation AreaLincoln County, OregonRedtail surfperchBeach Hazards StatementHigh Surf Advisory

54° water · 25 mph wind · incoming tide

42Sit it out

Ocean ShoresGrays Harbor County, WashingtonRedtail surfperchHigh Surf WarningHigh Wind Warning

53° water · 30 mph wind · incoming tide

32Sit it out

Westport Light State ParkGrays Harbor County, WashingtonRedtail surfperchHigh Surf WarningHigh Wind Warning

53° water · 35 mph wind · incoming tide

32Sit it out

Twin Harbors State ParkGrays Harbor County, WashingtonRedtail surfperchHigh Surf WarningHigh Wind Warning

53° water · 32 mph wind · incoming tide

32Sit it out

Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State ParkLane County, OregonRedtail surfperchBeach Hazards StatementHigh Surf Advisory

59° water · 23 mph wind · incoming tide

30Sit it out

Pacific City Beach (Cape Kiwanda)Tillamook County, OregonRedtail surfperchHigh Surf WarningBeach Hazards StatementHigh Wind Warning

54° water · 30 mph wind · incoming tide

19Sit it out

Nehalem Bay State ParkTillamook County, OregonRedtail surfperchStorm WarningHazardous Seas Warning

54° water · 40 mph wind · incoming tide

19Sit it out

Pacific Beach State ParkGrays Harbor County, WashingtonRedtail surfperchHigh Surf WarningHigh Wind Warning

53° water · 23 mph wind · incoming tide

17Sit it out

Half Moon Bay State BeachSan Mateo County, CaliforniaRedtail surfperchCoastal Flood AdvisoryBeach Hazards Statement

6 mph wind · incoming tide

13Sit it out

First Beach (La Push)Clallam County, WashingtonRedtail surfperchStorm Warning

53° water · 40 mph wind · incoming tide

0Sit 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 · 17 days since checked
Oregon15 a daySurfperch: 15/day in aggregate of all species, no minimum size. Open year-round.Pacific waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source · 17 days since checked
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 · 17 days since checked

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.