Clamming season gets surf perch biting

WESTPORT – Clamming seasons on Washington beaches are prime time to catch hefty surf perch.

When thousands of diggers hit a beach, lots of food from all those holes washes into the surf. Sand crabs, other little crabs, marine worms and a bunch of other weird critters lose their cozy, sandy homes and find themselves washing around in the surf rips and holes.

And a lot of people clean their clams right on the beach, which means clam entrails and necks also join the bouncing buffet line in the surf.

Nothing gets fish fired up – especially saltwater fish – like lots of meat hitting the plate all at once.

Use a spinning rod or casting rod and reel spooled up with 8-pound-test or 10-pound-test line.

Run a ¾- or 1-ounce sliding sinker on the line, tie on a swivel, tie a leader to the swivel and then tie on a size 2 or 1 hook.

Look for deep holes or slots in the surf. They’re easy to find, as they are the spots where the waves don’t break or break last. Also look for rips – where fast currents run next to slow currents.

The incoming tide is usually the best time to fish for surf perch, and calm surf often makes for better fishing than raging surf.

Bait hooks with clam necks, shrimp or a chunk of squid. Let your rig bounce on the sandy bottom in an arc. Reel in every three or four minutes.

Keep moving to new holes and depressions if you don’t find fish.

Be safe, and wear waders and a waterproof jacket over the waders. I wear my surfing wetsuit complete with neoprene booties.

Don’t wade too deep – not over your knees – and stay away from the rip that you’re casting into.

The surf perch will whack your bait, or even flies or Mister Twister lures.

If you’re not careful, you may like surf perch fishing more than clam digging.

Either way, they make a great combination on the beach and on the table.

Info on surf perch fishing: Angler Charters in Westport at (360) 268-1030; www.anglercharters.net.