| Barred
Surfperch |
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(click me) |
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Family: |
Embiotocidae (Surfperches) |
Genus and Species: |
Amphistichus argenteus |
Description: |
The body of the barred surfperch is oval
and compressed. The head is blunt and the mouth is comparatively large. The
color is olive green to yellow green on the back becoming silver below; with
bronze, brassy or yellow vertical bars and spots on the side.
This surfperch is one of three living off sandy beaches with similar color
markings; however, it can be distinguished from the other two (calico and
redtail) by its lower jaw being slightly shorter than the upper, and by the
absence of red or reddish color on its fins. |
Range: |
The barred surfperch occurs from Plaza Maria
Bay, Baja California, to Bodega Bay, California. It is more abundant than
the calico and redtail south of Cayucos, California. Barred surfperch are
found in the surf zone along sandy beaches where they seem to congregate
in depressions on the bottom. They have been taken from water as deep as
240 feet. |
Natural History: |
The major portion of the barred surfperch
diet is sand crabs, with other crustaceans, bean clams and small crabs comprising
the remainder. Barred surfperch give birth to living young from March to
July. As few as four and as many as 113 have been counted, but the average
is 33 per female. They are about 2.5 inches long at birth, and mature when
about 6.5 inches long and 1 or 2 years old. This species is relatively short
lived with the oldest males being about 6 years old and 12 inches long. The
oldest females are about 9 years old and up to 17 inches long. Tagging studies
indicate barred surfperch move very little, usually less than 2 miles, although
movements up to 31 miles have been recorded. |
Fishing Information: |
The most popular bait for barred surfperch
is soft shelled sand crabs, but blood worms, mussels, cut fish, and small
artificial lures also work. Fishing is usually best on an incoming tide when
the perch are feeding inside the breaker zone. |
Other Common Names: |
barred perch, silver perch, surf perch,
sand perch, silver surf fish. |
Largest Recorded: |
17 inches; 4.5 pounds. |
Habitat: |
Surf Environment |
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