Surfperch Family – Embiotocidae

There are currently SEVENTEEN members of the Surfperch or Embiotocidae Family, all from the Pacific Ocean,  presented in this website:

FROM THE PACIFIC (17):

The fish of the Surfperch or Embiotocidae Family are known in Mexico’s fishing areas as mojarras viviparas. The family has twenty-three global species that are commonly referred to as surfperches, seaperches, and perches which are named based on their primary locations. They are found predominantly in temperate northeastern Pacific waters from Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, northwards along the central and northwest coasts of Baja and are referred to as a northern temperate species that has an affinity for cold waters; however, three species are found in the Sea of Japan and one species resides in freshwater and estuarine habitats of California. True surfperch species are located mainly in or near the sandy beach surf zone, and seaperches and perches live in kelp beds and deeper water.

The Surfperches can be identified by their elliptical compressed bodies which have a single dorsal fin and a forked caudal fin and by their heads which have large eyes and a small mouth. Most are silvery and many are marked with bars or stripes. They are found in a variety of habitats, including beaches, rocky substrates, kelp beds, bays and estuaries, and in eelgrass beds. Adults range in size from 16.0 cm (6.3 inches) to 50 cm (20 inches) with females being larger than males in most species. They are found from the surface to depths of 750 feet. They reside in schools or in loose aggregates. Many species move to different areas for mating and birthing. They are bottom feeders consuming amphipods, copepods, crabs, crustaceans, mollusks, and polychaetes worms. A few act as “cleaners” of other fish removing external parasites from these fish. They are preyed upon by various basses, halibuts, rockfish, and salmon as well as by a variety of sea birds, harbor seals, and sea lions. Their mode of reproduction is atypical – instead of laying hundreds or thousands of eggs, they are viviparous (livebearers) with the juveniles developing inside the female. Most surfperches mate in the fall and winter and display complex courtships with internal fertilization; most females are capable of storing sperm for several months. Gestation periods normally last from 3 to 6 months with birth occurring in the spring and summer.  Newborns are relatively large, ranging from 2.5 cm (1.0 inch) to 6.4 cm (2.5 inches) that can swim on their own; newborn sizes vary from species to species. Brood sizes are relatively low ranging from 12 to slightly more than 100; larger females produce larger broods. They have a lifespan between two and ten years.

The surfperches are important recreational and commercial fish along the West Coast. They are easy to catch via hook and line with a variety of baits such as clams, sand crabs, tubeworms, and artificial lures; many are favorites of beginning anglers. They are caught from boats, piers, jetties, and sandy beaches. Catch levels are predominantly recreational and in California total about 1,000,000 million pounds per year versus about 150,000 pounds for commercial catches. They are also sold as fresh fillets and on a limited basis as live bait fish. Their value as a food fish varies by species, some being excellent, while others are too small or have marginal taste. Surfperches were an important food source for Native Americans. The majority of fish caught today is via hook and line and seasonally when they aggregate for spawning. The populations of surfperches are in general decline which is attributed to overfishing, loss and degradation of coastal habitats which they utilize for birthing, and an increase in water temperatures. Conservation methods have been implemented and recently modified to ban commercial fishing during certain times of the year. For recreational anglers restrictions vary by species and location with anglers having a daily bag limit, length restrictions on the Redtail Surfperch, and seasonal closures of some areas to fishing. They produce few young and are relatively short-lived, which makes it difficult for their populations to recover. Surfperches have been dated to the Miocene Period, 5,300,000 years ago.