Fishing at Surf Beach

Fishing is a big attraction at Surf Beach. Most fishermen prefer to fish as far south as they are allowed to go. The sand in this area of Surf Beach has an abundance of sand crabs and these are a favorite food of the barred perch.

Above: Lompoc fishermen Mario Tabin (left) and Dave Hollister (center) fishing for barred perch.

Fishermen account for about 25% of the visitors to Surf Beach each day. Many Asians' are from the Los Angeles area and speak very little English. Local and LA area fishermen return frequently and all claim that they "catch their limit" on a regular basis. The people from LA like Surf because the water is clean and fish are abundant.

Why is the water so green? There's so much life suspended in it that it inhibits light from penetrating the depths, creating unique hues of green and brown. Algae, plankton, and countless microscopic creatures thrive here and provide the building blocks for a prolific food chain and sport fishery. The Pacific mole crab, marine worms, soft-shelled clams, baitfish (herring, sand lance, anchovy, sardine, and smelt are the preeminent species) and the fry of game fish are the most important items in the food chain.

One of the reasons the waters at Surf Beach are so productive is that the Pacific seaboard is a turbulent arena. Wind and current combine to produce an effect known as coastal upwelling. The strong offshore winds actually carry surface water away, and nutrient-rich waters filter up from the depths as replacements. Currents alongshore can, and do, produce the same results. This exchange of coastal water supports a significant bloom of microscopic plants, considered the most important item in the ocean's food chain. Forage fish feed on the plant life, and in turn, predatory game fish prey on them.