Rubberlip Seaperch from the Monterey Coast Guard Pier

Species: Rhacochilus toxotes (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek words rhacochilus (rag lip) and toxotes (pertaining to the East Indian archer fish, because of a presumed resemblance). Family Embiotocidae, subfamily Embiotocinae.

Alternate Names: Buttermouth perch, porgee, sprat, or liverlip. In the 19th century these were called sprat at Santa Cruz, and alfione at Soquel. Called mojarra labios de hule or perca labios de hule in Mexico.

Identification: Typical perch-shape with a deep and heavy body. Their coloring is brown or brassy with thick, usually white or pink lips.

Rubberlip seaperch from the Port San Luis Pier

Size: Rubberlip seaperch are the largest species of the surfperch/seaperch family; they reach 18.5 inches in length. Most caught from piers are less than 13 inches long. The California record fish weighed 5 lb 0 oz and was taken at Monterey Bay, Monterey Co. in June 2009. The previous record, a 4 lb 4 oz fish, was taken in 1995 at the Monterey Dunes.   

Range: Cabo Thurloe, southern Baja California to Russian Gulch Beach, Mendocino County. Most commonly found in the Monterey Bay area.

Habitat: Shallow-water rocky areas, kelp beds and bays. Scientists report that rubberlips primarily feed at night on thin-shelled invertebrates. Are the perch able to spot the tasty morsels with their super-keen eyesight? No, rubberlips appear to use their sensitive lips (remember, some fish have taste buds on their lips) to detect their nightly dinner.

Rubberlip seaperch from the Morro Bay North T-Pier

Piers: A primarily southern and central California perch, common at bay and oceanfront piers, at least those located near rocky areas, reefs or kelp beds. Best bets: Ocean Beach Pier, Paradise Cove Pier, Stearns Wharf, Goleta Pier, Gaviota Pier, Monterey Coast Guard Pier, Monterey Wharf No. 2, Capitola Wharf, Santa Cruz Wharf, San Francisco Municipal Pier and Fort Baker Pier.

Shoreline: A favorite catch by rocky shore anglers in southern and central California.

Boats: An inshore species sometimes taken by boaters fishing in bays, especially San Francisco Bay.

Rubberlip seaperch from the Elephant Rock Pier in Tiburon

Bait and Tackle: Rubberlip seaperch are usually taken on a high/low leader and size 6 or 4 hooks baited with fresh mussels, live sea worms, or small pieces of shrimp. Those with the proper know how use plastic grubs (usually root beer or oil colored) and they are the ones who often bag the largest fish. Small 1/12 or 1/8 oz. chrome, chrome with blue, or chrome with green Krocodiles have also proven to be very effective.

Picture below — rubberlip seaperch from the Capitola Wharf (1997)

Food Value: Since they are one of the largest perch, specimens often contain quite a bit of meat. Although their flesh has a mild taste, most gourmets rate it only fair in taste. They are at their best during the non-spawning season and generally are pan-fried in butter.

Picture below — Minnow Magnet and a rubberlip seaperch caught at Monterey

Comments: One of my favorite quotes comes from Probably More Than You Want To Know About The Fishes Of The Pacific Coast by Milton Love (director of the UCSB Love Lab). In regard to rubberlip perch he says: “What is really cool about these fish is their ability to separate small invertebrates from all the mung they suck in, without having a tongue to help. (Surprise! Fish don’t have tongues. The structure that looks like a one is actually a support for their gill arches.) Ths trick is equivalent to your putting a bunch of miniature marshmallows, broken glass, fingernail clippings and cubic zirconiums in your mouth, then separating and swallowing only the marshmallows, all without using your tongue or fingernails. Good trick, yes?” This helps explain why the big perch are so difficult to hook. Oh, and if you haven’t yet bought Mr. Love’s book, do it now.

Rubberlip seaperch (and Ken Jones) from the Gaviota Pier

A nice perch from the Belmont Pier, 1998

 Rubberlip Seaperch, San Francisco Municipal Pier, 1999

Multi-species days — from one pier 

Sixteen species trip:

Cabrillo Mole, April 26, 2013—Jack Mackerel, Kelp Bass, Blacksmith, Senorita, Kelp Rockfish, Garibaldi, Halfmoon, Opaleye, Grass Rockfish, Pacific Mackerel, Treefish, California Scorpionfish, Sheephead, Pacific Sardine, Black Seaperch, Spotted Kelpfish

Treefish taken from the Cabrillo Mole in Avalon — 2013

Fifteen species trip:

Cabrillo Mole, April 27, 2013—Kelp Bass, Pacific Mackerel, Jack Mackerel, Kelp Rockfish, Blacksmith, Treefish, Black Seaperch, Sheephead, Garibaldi, Senorita, Halfmoon, Opaleye, Pacific Sardine, Grass Rockfish, Spotted Kelpfish

Cabrillo Mole, September 19, 2010—Kelp Bass, Garibaldi, Senorita, Jack Mackerel, Jacksmelt, Opaleye, Halfmoon, Sheephead, Giant Kelpfish, Treefish, Blacksmith, Striped Kelpfish, Rock Wrasse, Blackperch, Finescale Triggerfish

Finescale Triggerfish taken from the Cabrillo Mole in Avalon — 2010

Thirteen species trip:

Avila Pier, August 3, 2013—California Lizardfish, White Croaker, Speckled Sanddab, Brown Rockfish, Vermilion Rockfish, Yellowtail Rockfish, Bocaccio, Cabezon, Kelp Greenling, Blue Rockfish, Onespot Fringehead, Barred Surfperch, Jacksmelt

Cabrillo Mole, April 27, 2012—Kelp Bass, Pacific Mackerel, Jack Mackerel, Pacific Sardine, Senorita, Blacksmith, Opaleye, Treefish, Sheephead, Cabezon, California Scorpionfish, Kelp Rockfish, Halfmoon

Cabezon from the Cabrillo Mole in Avalon — 2012

Cabrillo Mole, April 23. 2010—Kelp Bass, Opaleye, Senorita, California Scorpionfish, Garibaldi, Rock Wrasse, Sheephead, Jacksmelt, Halfmoon, Kelp Rockfish, Treefish, Giant Kelpfish, Spotted Kelpfish

Sheephead from the Cabrillo Mole in Avalon — 2012

 Twelve species trips:

Cabrillo Mole, April 16, 2011—Blacksmith, Jack Mackerel, Kelp Bass, Pacific Mackerel, Ocean Whitefish, Senorita, California Scorpionfish, Salema, Treefish, Kelp Rockfish, Brown Rockfish, Pacific Sardine + 2 Spiny Lobster

Cabrillo Mole, April 25, 2010—Sheephead, Garibaldi, Kelp Bass, Opaleye, Halfmoon, California Scorpionfish, Kelp Perch, Rock Wrasse, Kelp Rockfish, Senorita, Jacksmelt, Blackperch

  18″ Kelp Bass (calico bass) from the Cabrillo Mole in Avalon — 2010

Cabrillo Mole, April 24, 2009—Kelp Bass, Garibaldi, Giant Kelpfish, Opaleye, Halfmoon, Spotted Kelpfish, California Scorpionfish, Sheephead, Treefish, Senorita, Jacksmelt, Kelp Perch.

Eleven species trips:

Cabrillo Mole, April 28, 2012—Jack Mackerel, Pacific Mackerel, Blacksmith, Kelp Bass, Treefish, Kelp Rockfish, Garibaldi, Pacific Sardine, Sheephead, Jacksmelt, Senorita

Cabrillo Mole, April 24, 2010—Blacksmith, Jacksmelt, Kelp Rockfish, Kelp Bass, Rock Wrasse, Senorita, Pacific Mackerel, Opaleye. Garibaldi, Blackperch, Giant Kelpfish

Cabrillo Mole, April 18, 2008—Kelp Bass, Halfmoon, Senorita, Opaleye, Giant Kelpfish, Sheephead, Rock Wrasse, Garibaldi, Brown Rockfish, Blacksmith, Jacksmelt

California Scorpionfish (sculpin) from the Cabrillo Mole in Avalon — 2010

Cabrillo Mole, April 24, 2004—Garibaldi, Blacksmith, Senorita, Jacksmelt, Kelp Bass, Opaleye, Giant Kelpfish, Kelp Perch, Sheephead, Striped Kelpfish, Halfmoon

Pacifica Pier, June 12, 1977—Spotfin Surfperch, White Croaker, Walleye Surfperch, Sand Sole, Shinerperch, Staghorn Sculpin, Pacific Tomcod, Silver Surfperch, Redtail Surfperch, White Seaperch, Starry Flounder

My son Mike and a mix of fish from the Pacifica Pier — 1977

Ten species trips:

Morro Bay South T-Pier, August 2, 2013—California Lizardfish, Jacksmelt, Black and Yellow Rockfish, Gopher Rockfish, Brown Rockfish, Kelp Rockfish, Onespot Fringehead, Bocaccio, Chilipepper Rockfish, Vermilion Rockfish

 Onespot Fringehead from Monterey Wharf #2 — 2013

Monterey Wharf #2, July 20, 2013—California Lizardfish, Blue Rockfish, Speckled Sanddab, Pacific Sanddab, Cabezon, Senorita, Pileperch, Sharpnose Seaperch, Onespot Fringehead, Kelp Greenling + 3 Octopus

   Pileperch from Monterey Wharf #2 — 2013

Port San Luis Pier, July 7, 2013—California Lizardfish, Walleye Surfperch, Bocaccio, Speckled Sanddab, Copper Rockfish, Cabezon, Onespot Fringehead, White Seaperch, White Croaker, Rainbow Seaperch + 1 Octopus

Rainbow Seaperch from the Port San Luis Pier — 2013

Paradise Cove Pier, November 21, 2009—Walleye Surfperch, Giant Kelpfish, Jacksmelt, Black Seaperch, Sargo, Kelp Bass, Jack Mackerel, Queenfish, Striped Kelpfish, Thornback Ray + 1 Rock Crab (large).

Cabrillo Mole, April 21, 2007—Opaleye, Halfmoon, California Scorpionfish, Brown Rockfish. Kelp Rockfish, Garibaldi, Blacksmith, Jacksmelt, Rubberlip Seaperch, Treefish

  Opaleye from the Cabrillo Mole in Avalon — 2007

Cabrillo Mole, April 20, 2007—Jacksmelt, Opaleye, Senorita, Rock Wrasse, California Sheephead, Garibaldi, Giant Kelpfish, Kelp Bass, Blacksmith, Halfmoon

Goleta Pier, October 11, 2006—Brown Rockfish, Shinerperch, White Seaperch, Walleye Surfperch, Pileperch, Rainbow Seaperch, Kelp Bass, Jack Mackerel, Gopher Rockfish, Staghorn Sculpin

Goleta Pier, June 6, 2006—Shinerperch, Kelp Perch, Brown Rockfish, Kelp Bass, Pileperch, Barred Surfperch, Walleye Surfperch, Senorita, Speckled Sanddab, Padded Sculpin

Kelp Bass (calico bass) from the Goleta Pier — 2006

Cabrillo Mole, April 23, 2005—Halfmoon, Blacksmith, Kelp Bass, Sheephead, Garibaldi, Treefish, Senorita, Jacksmelt, Kelp Perch, Opaleye   

Opaleye from the Cabrillo Mole, Avalon — 2005

Green Pleasure Pier, April 22, 2004—Kelp Bass, Senorita, Blacksmith, Halfmoon, Rock Wrasse, Garibaldi, Sheephead, Jacksmelt, California Scorpionfish, Shinerperch

Santa Cruz Wharf,  Nov 21, 2003—Blue Rockfish, Jacksmelt, Speckled Sanddab, White Croaker, Staghorn Sculpin, Walleye Surfperch, Spotfin Surfperch, Yellowtail Rockfish (juvenile), Kelp Rockfish, White seaperch

Stearns Wharf, June 28, 1995—White Croaker, Pacific Mackerel, Jack Mackerel, Walleye Surfperch, White Seaperch, Barred Surfperch, Sand Bass, California Scorpionfish, Speckled Sanddab, Queenfish (plus 1 Crab and 2 Starfish)

Elephant Rock Pier, October 11, 1993—Jacksmelt, Walleye Surfperch, Dwarf Perch, Cabezon, Shinerperch, Kelp Rockfish, Black Seaperch, Striped Seaperch, Brown Rockfish, Kelp Greenling

Cabezon from Elephant Rock Pier

Pacifica Pier, January 8, 1977—Silver Surfperch, Walleye Surfperch, Pacific Sanddab, Redtail Surfperch, Jacksmelt, Barred Surfperch, Calico Surfperch, Shinerperch, White Croaker, Staghorn Sculpin

Piers with at least nine species on a single trip: Crystal Pier (San Diego), Oceanside Pier, Redondo Sportfishing Pier, Santa Monica Pier, Goleta Pier, Gaviota Pier, Port View Park Pier (Oakland), Elephant Rock Pier, Fort Baker Pier, Citizen’s Dock (Crescent City)

Mix of fish from the Goleta Pier — 2004

Piers with at least eight species on a single trip: Imperial Beach Pier, San Clemente Pier, Angel Island Pier, Redondo Sportfishing Pier, Goleta Pier.

Often times when I am on my coast-wide fishing trips I will hit 3-5 piers in a day’s time and each receives a separate record. As a result, sometimes the “daily” number of species may be higher than those recorded at a single pier, especially when I am fishing near Point Conception and making the transition between the colder water central coast piers and warmer water southern California piers. Often I will stay in the Morro Bay/Pismo Beach area overnight, get up early and hit a pier or two in that central coast area (Pismo Beach, Avila, etc.) before heading down to the SoCal piers at Gaviota/ Goleta, etc. On those days you often will see a nice variety of fish.

Multi-species days — from several piers during the same day

Eighteen species days

July 20, 2013 (Monterey Wharf #2 & Monterey Coast Guard Pier) — California Lizardfish, Blue Rockfish, Speckled Sanddab, Pacific Sanddab, Cabezon, Senorita, Pileperch, Sharpnose Seaperch, Onespot Fringehead, Kelp Greenling, Gopher Rockfish, Black & Yellow Rockfish, Painted Greenling, Striped Seaperch, Striped Kelpfish, Corraline Sculpin, Bocaccio, Shinerperch

Painted Greenling from the Monterey Coast Guard Pier — 2013

Corraline (?) sculpin from the Monterey Coast Guard Pier — 2013

Sharpnose Seaperch from Monterey Wharf #2 — 2013

Seventeen species days

August 2, 2013 (San Simeon Pier, Cayucos Pier, Morro Bay North T-Pier and Morro Bay South T-Pier) — California Lizardfish, Spotfin Surfperch, Walleye Surfperch, Calico Surfperch, Barred Surfperch, Speckled Sanddab,  Cabezon, White Croaker, Jacksmelt, Onespot Fringehead, Bocaccio, Kelp Rockfish, Gopher Rockfish, Black & Yellow Rockfish, Brown Rockfish, Chilipepper Rockfish, Vermilion Rockfish

Calico Surfperch from the San Simeon Pier — 2013

Spottfin Surfperch from the San Simeon Pier —2013

Kelp Rockfish from the South Morro Bay T-Pier — 2013

Strange looking Black and Yellow Rockfish from the South Morro Bay T-Pier; appears to be missing part of its tail

Gopher Rockfish from the South Morro Bay T-Pier — 2013

Sixteen species days

July 30, 2004 (Gaviota Pier, Stearns Wharf, Port Hueneme Pier, Ventura Pier) — Pacific Sardine, Shinerperch, Speckled Sanddab, Jacksmelt, Topsmelt, Jack Mackerel, Rubberlip Seaperch, Kelp Bass, Pacific Mackerel, Walleye Surfperch, Staghorn Sculpin, Thornback Ray, Cabezon, Queenfish, White Croaker, Pacific Butterfish

Fifteen species days

April 24, 2009 (Green Pleasure Pier, Cabrillo Mole) — Kelp Bass, Rock Wrasse, Sheephead, Pacific Mackerel, Black Seaperch, Garibaldi, Giant Kelpfish, Opaleye, Halfmoon, Spotted Kelpfish, California Scorpionfish, Treefish, Senorita, Jacksmelt, Kelp Perch

Giant Kelpfish from the Cabrillo Mole, Avalon — 2009

Rock Wrasse from the Green Pleasure Pier, Avalon   

Fourteen species days

July 28, 2009 (Santa Cruz Wharf, Capitola Wharf, Seacliff Pier) —Bocaccio, Blue Rockfish, Jacksmelt, Striped Seaperch, Sharpnose Perch, Shinerperch, Walleye Surfperch, White Croaker, Staghorn Sculpin, Barred Surfperch, Brown Rockfish, Speckled Sanddab, Pacific Mackerel, Jack Mackerel

July 30, 2007 (Imperial Beach Pier, Ocean Beach Pier, Oceanside Harbor Pier, Oceanside Pier) — Pacific Mackerel, Mackerel Jack, Queenfish, Topsmelt, Walleye Surfperch, Pacific Sardine, White Croaker, Kelp Bass, Sargo, Black Croaker, Pacific Bonito, Salema, Sand Bass, Yellowfin Croaker

Black Croaker from the Oceanside Harbor Pier — 2007

October 11, 2006 (Malibu Pier, Port Hueneme Pier, Goleta Pier) — Pacific Mackerel, California Lizardfish, White Seaperch, Jacksmelt, Speckled Sanddab, Shinerperch, Brown Rockfish, Walleye Surfperch, Pileperch, Rainbow Seaperch, Kelp Bass, Jack Mackerel, Gopher Rockfish, Staghorn Sculpin

June 6, 2006 (Goleta Pier, Stearns Wharf, Ventura Pier) — Kelp Perch, Brown Rockfish, Kelp Bass, Pileperch, Barred Surfperch, Senorita, Speckled Sanddab, Padded Sculpin, Walleye Surfperch, Shinerperch, Pacific Mackerel, Jack Mackerel, Queenfish, White Croaker

April 24, 2004 (Green Pleasure Pier, Cabrillo Mole—Catalina) — Kelp Bass, Rock Wrasse, California Scorpionfish, Senorita, Garibaldi, Ocean Whitefish, Sheephead, Giant Kelpfish, Opaleye, Blacksmith, Halfmoon, Jacksmelt, Kelp Perch, Striped Kelpfish

Ocean Whitefish from the Green Pleasure Pier, Avalon

July 27, 1994 (Newport Pier, Aliso Beach Pier, Dana Harbor Pier, San Clemente Pier) — Pacific Mackerel, California Lizardfish, Pacific Sardine, Walleye Surfperch, Sargo, Shinerperch, Opaleye, Kelp Bass, Jacksmelt, Black Seaperch, White Croaker, Queenfish, Salema, California Butterfish

Thirteen species days

April 16, 2011 (Green Pleasure Pier, Cabrillo Mole) — Pacific Mackerel, Pacific Sardine, Jack Mackerel, Northern Anchovy, Kelp Bass, Senorita, Blacksmith, Ocean Whitefish, California Scorpionfish, Salema, Treefish, Kelp Rockfish, Brown Rockfish

August 17, 1993 (Cayucos Pier, San Simeon Pier, Monterey Wharf #2) — White Croaker, Queenfish, Barred Surfperch, Staghorn Sculpin, Shinerperch, Walleye Surfperch, Silver Surfperch, Jacksmelt, Jack Mackerel, Bocaccio, Gopher Rockfish, Speckled Sanddab, Kelp Rockfish

 Barred Surfperch from the San Simeon Pier 

Walleye Surfperch from the San Simeon Pier 

Twelve species days

November 21, 2009 (Venice Pier, Paradise Cove Pier) —White Croaker, California Lizardfish, Walleye Surfperch, Giant Kelpfish, Jacksmelt, Black Seaperch, Sargo, Kelp Bass, Jack Mackerel, Queenfish, Striped Kelpfish, Thornback Ray + 1 Rock Crab (large)

October 10, 2006 (Redondo Sportfishing Pier, Hermosa Beach Pier) — Senorita, Opaleye, Kelp Bass, White Seaperch, Pileperch, Rock Wrasse, Giant Kelpfish, Pacific Mackerel, California Scorpionfish, Mackerel Jack, Pacific Sardine, Jacksmelt

 Rubberlip Seaperch from the Gaviota Pier — 2004

July 13, 2003 (Gaviota Pier, Port San Luis Pier, Cayucos Pier, Morro Bay T-Pier) — Walleye Surfperch, Rubberlip Seaperch, Bocaccio, Cabezon, Thornback Ray, Brown Rockfish, Pacific Sardine, Jacksmelt, White Croaker, Lingcod, Staghorn Sculpin, Shinerperch + Starfish

Garibaldi from the Green Pleasure Pier in Avalon — 2002

April 27, 2002 (Green Pleasure Pier, Cabrillo Mole) — Kelp Bass, Rock Wrasse, Senorita, California Scorpionfish, Sheephead, Giant Kelpfish, Crevice Kelpfish, Kelp Perch, Garibaldi, Pacific Mackerel, Jack Mackerel, Shinerperch

June 28, 1999 (Seal Beach Pier, Huntington Beach Pier, Newport Pier) — Salema, Queenfish, White Croaker, Shovelnose Guitarfish, Pacific Mackerel, Yellowfin Croaker, Round Stingray, Jacksmelt, Bocaccio, Mackerel Jack, California Scorpionfish, Staghorn Sculpin

June 21, 1995 (Belmont Pier, Seal Beach Pier, Huntington Beach Pier, Balboa Pier) — Pacific Mackerel, Salema, Jack Mackerel, Queenfish, Jacksmelt, California Halibut, White Croaker, Gray Smoothhound Shark, Staghorn Sculpin, Kelp Bass, Thornback Ray, Round Stingray

July 26, 1994 (Seal Beach Pier, Huntington Beach Pier, Balboa Pier) — White Croaker, Queenfish, White Seabass, Pacific Mackerel, Salema, Shinerperch, Jacksmelt, Spotfin Croaker, Pacific Butterfish, Fantail Sole, Topsmelt, Jack Mackerel

In 1874 a 1,000-foot-long wharf was built on this site for Colonel William Hollister and the Dibblee brothers (who had also loaned money and influence for the construction of Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara). Their pier reached water that was 25 feet deep at the end of the wharf and it was considered one of the safest local shipping ports. Because of its safety record, the Gaviota Landing became a weekly destination for the coastal San Francisco steamers. The area around the wharf also became an important area with early records recording a considerable business, primarily in livestock, wool, farm produce and lumber. That wharf was destroyed by a storm in 1912. Of interest are early records (1883) that report, “a peculiarity of this wharf, or rather this location, is a strong off-shore wind, a cold blast always coming down the pass; consequently no vessel is thrown against the shore.” Yes, it was windy even then.

Gaviota Pier —1948

Apparently a second name for the original pier was Port Orford and it’s still listed on the populated place index for Santa Barbara County. According to Durham’s Place Names of California’s Central Coast: “Port Orford [Santa Barbara]: locality 0.5 mile west of Gaviota along the coast at the mouth of Cañada de la Gaviota 9lat.34-28-15 N. Long. 120-12-40 W). Site named on Gaviota (1953) 7.5’ quadrangle. Farmers shipped their products from Gaviota Wharf, a 1,000-foot-long pier at the place, from 1875 through the 1890’s (Rife, p.104).”

Dept. Fish and Game photo — 1948

The current pier was originally built as a crash boat pier by the Navy in 1943. Records show that it was 420-foot-long but newspaper accounts, dated 1953, reported a proposal to lengthen it by 210 feet so that it would reach out into deeper water.

The pier was evidently remodeled in 1953 and repaired again in 1987. Damage to the pier and parking lot from the El Niño storms in the winter of 1998 necessitated closing the park for a period of time. When it finally was reopened, only the front half of the pier was available to anglers. The pier did not open to its full length until May of 2000.

Gaviota Coast and Pier — 2006

Gaviota Pier — 2007

Today the pier is owned and operated by the state and the listed length is 529 feet (although some sources say 570 feet).

Gaviota Pier — 2009

Gaviota Coast — looking south

Gaviota Coast — looking north

Dawn at the Gaviota Pier — Looking south

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