Fish Identification Photos: Barred Surfperch, Amphistichus argenteus: The Barred Surfperch is characterized by its oval, compressed body with a blunt head and a large mouth with a longer lower jaw. Its color is predominately silver with a series of 8 to 10 olive green to yellow stripes along the flank. A key to identification is the series of spots between the bars on its side and the fact that its fins are pale (not red as with the Redtail Surfperch, Amphistichus rhodoterus).

The Barred Surfperch is found in the surf zone along sandy beaches, where it congregates in depressions on the bottom. It can be found up to 240 feet deep in the water column. Males reach 12 inches in length and have a lifespan of 6 years; females are much larger, reaching 17 inches and 4.5 pounds, with lifespans of up to 9 years. The Barred Surfperch is a non-migratory species, normally spending its entire life span within a 2-mile area.

Viewed as an excellent food fish, although small, the Barred Surfperch is considered an important target of commercial fishermen, providing 25 percent of California’s commercial perch catch, averaging 6 tons per annum. It ranges from Guerrero Negro, Baja California, Mexico, to Bodega Bay, California.

Mating occurs in November with a gestation period of 5 to 6 months with each female producing 4 to 113 fry that are 2.5 inches long.

The Barred Surfperch predominately consumes sand crabs and smaller quantities of clams and other crabs. It is the most commonly caught surf fish, found in abundance near sand crabs on incoming tides inside the breaker zone.

The Barred Surfperch is a member of the Embiotocidae Family which includes 24 individual surf perches from 13 genera. They have continuous dorsal fins, usually with 9 to 11 spines, and 19 to 28 soft rays. The anal fin has three spines and the caudal fin is forked. They are only found in the north Pacific with the exception of two species which are also found off the coasts of Korea and Japan.

Barred Surfperch, Amphistichus argenteus: Caught off the municipal pier, Oceanside, California, in April 2006, on cut mussels with a traditional bottom rig with size-4 hooks. Size, approximately 6 inches. Photo courtesy of John Snow.