what is this?

[CanoeGuy]

I am cleaning up my Pictures directory and found this pic of the first surfperch I ever caught - Ocean Shores 2008. I have caught a bunch of redtails since and this one looks different - eye is huge and more in line with the mouth vs above it. I never thought it could be anything but a redtail. Is it a pile perch?



The next morning I caught my first good redtail - notice how the eye is high on its head.



Threw it up on the beach and kept fishing. Damn eagle stole my lunch!

 

[Stonedfish]

Maybe a pile perch? Doesn’t look like a shiner perch to me.
SF

 

[Cabezon]

I believe that you caught a silver surf perch, Hyperprosopon ellipticum (see here and here). They are silvery with a pinkish tail. The species ranges from Baja to Tofino on Vancouver Island.
Steve

 

[adamcu280]

Looks like a silver to me!

 

[Stonedfish]

I believe that you caught a silver surf perch, Hyperprosopon ellipticum (see here and here). They are silvery with a pinkish tail. The species ranges from Baja to Tofino on Vancouver Island.
Steve

Cool!
That is a new one to me.
SF

 

[adamcu280]

Cool!
That is a new one to me.
SF

I've caught them along the WA coast on flies and *gulp* Gulp. They don't seem to get much bigger than hand-sized. One step up from shiners.

 

[Dave M]

Looks like a silver to me!

But it's not a hooknose!