Surf Fish

Surf Fish, small perchlike fish, native to Pacific coastal areas. Although several species are found in Japan, most species are found only in California. For the most part, they live in shallow coastal waters in bays or in the surf of sandy or rocky beaches. However, one lives in deep water, and another lives in streams of northern California. The body of a surf fish is long, oval, and much compressed, and it ranges from 13 to 46 cm (5 to 18 in) in length. Some have red or blue stripes, but most are silvery. The shiner seaperch, or surfperch, is the most numerous. Although esteemed by many anglers, surf fish are of minor commercial importance.

Surf fish give birth to rather large, living young. Mating occurs in late winter or early summer, and the living spermatozoa are carried in the female until late fall or early winter, when the eggs are actually fertilized. The 8 to 18 or more young are retained in bags of fine tissue, which are part of a modified oviduct, and are bathed in nourishing body fluid. They are born the following spring or summer when about 2.5 cm (1 in) long.

Scientific classification: Surf fish are members of the family Embiotocidae. The shiner seaperch is classified as Cymatogaster aggregata.