Redtail Surfperch
The redtail surfperch is the dominant large surfperch along the Pacific Northwest coast, ranging from British Columbia south to central California — and nowhere else in the world.
It lives its entire life in the crashing surf zone and shallow nearshore waters, making it one of the most accessible saltwater targets on the continent. Fishing for redtails is as much about reading waves and walking beaches as it is about the fish itself.
Scientific Name: Amphistichus rhodoterus
Also known as porgie, rosy surf fish
- Silvery to white sides with olive-green vertical bars that are distinct on juveniles and fade with age; the red or pink tail and anal fins are the quickest field ID — no other surfperch in its range shares this coloring.
- Longest dorsal spines exceed the dorsal fin rays in height — the key distinction from barred and calico surfperch, which share the same beaches.
- Small, upturned mouth with a nearly straight upper head profile from snout to dorsal fin, suited for picking crustaceans from the sand.
- Most fish run 1.5–2 lbs; anything over 3 lbs is a good fish, with the maximum around 4.5 lbs and 16 inches.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the eastern Pacific from British Columbia south to central California — the only surfperch in the family that doesn't extend into southern or Baja California waters.
- A shallow nearshore specialist, almost always within the top 20 feet of the water column along exposed sandy beaches and jetties; north of San Francisco it replaces calico surfperch as the predominant large inshore surfperch.
- Moves seasonally into estuaries and protected bays, particularly in spring when pregnant females congregate inshore ahead of giving birth — these concentrations can be some of the most reliable fishing of the year.
Specific Spots
- Steep-sloped beaches concentrate fish closer to shore than gradual flats — the wave energy on a steep face dislodges more crabs and worms, and schools stack tight to the wash. Walk the beach at low tide to identify these contours before fishing them on the incoming.
- In spring, estuaries and protected embayments draw pregnant females inshore ahead of giving birth; fishing the mouths and shallows of these areas during that window puts you on the densest concentrations of the season.
- Sandy pockets at the transition from hard to soft bottom — where jetty rock or reef edges meet the beach — funnel forage and hold fish year-round, often more reliably than open surf.
Redtail Surfperch FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Redtail Surfperch?
Sand crabs are the top bait across the entire range, hook one or two through the body and fish them on or just off the bottom in the trough. Fresh shrimp and tube worms are reliable alternatives when sand crabs are scarce.
What do Redtail Surfperch eat?
Sand crabs (also called sand fleas) are the primary forage, match what the surf is naturally tumbling along the bottom and you'll find fish. Hook one or two through the body and fish them on or just off the sand.
Where do Redtail Surfperch live?
Native to the eastern Pacific from British Columbia south to central California, the only surfperch in the family that doesn't extend into southern or Baja California waters.
See it in the app
Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Redtail Surfperch.
- 01 · Species map filter
Map every Redtail Surfperch water
Pick Redtail Surfperch and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.
- 02 · Waterbody species
Tap any water. See what lives there.
Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.
- 03 · Angler Intelligence
Ask how to catch Redtail Surfperch
Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.
Stop guessing where Redtail Surfperch are.
Open the map, filter by Redtail Surfperch, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.
- Species map filter
- Angler Intelligence
- Fishing journal
Explore other species
Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.
No species information available.
Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.
onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.