When it comes to surf fishing for Stripers and Perch in the Bay Area, the fishing rod is the most important piece of gear—followed by the reel and lure. Stripers typically move out to the ocean beaches from mid-May through mid-October to feed on anchovies and sand crabs. As the ocean water cools, they migrate back into the Bay and Delta, returning to the coast again the following spring.
I usually target Stripers from the beaches stretching from Ocean Beach to Monterey between May to November. During the winter, I switch to Perch using jerkbaits, mainly around the Santa Cruz beaches. The waves are often too rough at San Francisco and Half Moon Bay in the winter, making them less ideal for fishing. Winter is actually a great time to catch large Perch, as they come close to shore to spawn during this season.
During Striper season, you need a specialized rod that can handle both heavy 2.5oz Mikey jigs and lighter 20g jerkbaits—and no rods do this better than high-quality JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) models. One of the best options for summer surf Striper fishing is the Daiwa 25 SKYHIGH 10'6" Medium.
This rod excels at long-distance casting with 2.5oz Mikey jigs and still performs exceptionally well with lighter 20g jerkbaits, offering great versatility and control.
2025 Model Daiwa 25 SKYHIGH 106M – $235 NorthOne
Weight: 166g (5.8oz)
Lure Weight: 10–50g (0.35–1.8oz)
2025 Model Okuma HAWAIIAN CUSTOM RODS 10.7ft (HWM-S-1072MHBSB) Sky Blue Color - $160 Okuma
Weight: 232g (8.2oz)
Lure Weight: 14–57g (0.5–2oz)
2023 Model Okuma Rockaway SP 10ft (RSP-S-1002M+) - $132 Okuma
Weight: 214g (7.56oz)
Lure Weight: 14–85g (0.5–3oz)
During the winter, I switch to a lighter rod to target Perch from the beach, using smaller jerkbaits like the LC 110 and Shimano 120mm lures. The best rod for this style of Perch jerkbait fishing is the Shimano Moonshot 10ML, offering the perfect balance of sensitivity and casting performance for lighter setups.
2021 Model Shimano Moonshot 10ML 10ft - $190 NorthOne
Weight: 160g (5.6oz)
Lure Weight: 6–32g (0.2–1.23oz)
2023 Model Okuma Rockaway SP 9ft (RSP-S-902M) - $132 Okuma
Weight: 141g (5oz)
Lure Weight: 7–28g (0.25–1oz)
As for reels, I currently use the Daiwa Certate 4000, Shimano Vanford, and Daiwa Fuego 4000. For line, I pair them with Daiwa J-Braid—30lb for Striper fishing and 20lb for Perch fishing.
Daiwa 24 Celtate Spinning Reel (LT4000-C) Amazon Weight: 8.1 oz (235 g) $400
Shimano VFC5000XGF Vanford F Amazon Weight: 7.7 oz (220 g) $280
Daiwa MQ 4000 Amazon Weight: 9.9 oz (282 g) $200
Daiwa Fuego LT 4000 Amazon Weight: 8.1 oz (235 g) $110
When it comes to Striper lures, I'm a big fan of the Duo Tide Minnow series—check out eBay for some great finds. My go-to models are the Lance 140S (sinking) and 140SF (slow floating), along with the 140mm Slim Flyers and the 120mm Lance, both in sinking and slow-floating versions.
If you're targeting Stripers from the surf, it's important to carry a variety of lures. You’ll need a mix of floating, slow-sinking, and slow-floating plugs, along with heavier metal lures like the 2 to 2.5 oz Mikey Jig, bucktails, and Kastmasters for long-distance casting.
I sell a variety of Striper and Perch lures on Facebook Marketplace—just search "myom" to find my listings. In addition to my own lures, I also enjoy using a few other favorites.
For the winter paddle tail Perch fishing, these are what I like.
1.5 oz no-roll sinker eBay
Charlie Brewer's Crappie Slider (Motor Oil Red Glitter) Crappie Slider
Z-Man Crusteaz (Motor Oil Color) DiscountTackle
8mm Crystal Glass Beads Amazon
If you’re targeting big winter Perch, using 100mm to 120mm jerkbaits is key. These are some of my favorite lures for the season. I also sell some of the best winter Perch jerkbaits—check them out on Facebook Marketplace by searching "myom".
Lucky Craft 110 flash minnow
Shimano World Minnow 115mm
While most surf fishermen wear waders, I’ve been using a neoprene wetsuit vest and pants for the past five years—and I prefer it for several reasons. One major advantage is that I can comfortably walk long distances on the beach, and neoprene gear tends to last much longer than traditional waders.
After each fishing session, I rinse off the sand, let the wetsuit dry in the sun for 24 hours, then shake out any remaining debris. I’ll also run it through the washer and dryer, and it’s ready to go for the next trip.
For footwear, I wear neoprene socks with a layering system: first, a thin 100% polyester sock to prevent rubbing against the neoprene; then the neoprene sock itself; and finally, another polyester sock over the top to protect the neoprene from sand and pebbles. I finish it off with Croc-style sandals for comfort and easy drainage.