Barred Surfperch & the By-The-Wind Sailor Jellyfish Hatch

Strange, in all the material I’ve read, the list of barred surfperch food items never mentions the by-the-wind sailor jellyfish ‘hatch’ that occurs along West Coast beaches in spring and early summer. Not sure the reason for this omission, as barred perch do eat wind sailor jellyfish, and these do concentrate big fish on the beach – even when surf conditions are less than ideal, leading me to believe perch consider them very good to eat. Some of the most epic days I’ve experienced fishing barred perch have been during wind sailor hatches.

By-the-wind sailors, Velella, belong to a genus of free-floating hydrozones that, at maturity, live on the surface of the open ocean. There is only one known species. When mature they have no means of propulsion but the fin-shaped sail rising from the oblong base of the body. Velella is not a true jellyfish, its body formed around a delicate, skeletal quill that looks like slightly opaque clear plastic – like the quill found inside a squid. Mature wind sailors gather on current breaks at sea, and these are moved toward the beach in untold numbers. When caught in the surf zone they are tumbled and sunk, a happy circumstance for surfperch waiting to munching them like gummy grape candy.

It’s always good to pay attention to what’s gathered in the drift line just above the wet sand. That’s where you’ll find the accumulated dross deposited at the last high tide. Sometimes it will contain the molted shells of sand crabs, a good sign they are present, also indicating a good chance surfperch may be present. The drift line will reveal the presence of wind sailors as well. Sometimes, usually during a period of large swells or a stiff Northwesterly, the beaches will become covered with them, and if those beaches are known to attract barred perch, rest assured, the perch will be there to feed on the incoming wind sailors.

Wind sailors are fairly amorphous in shape while submerged in the surf, and that’s a good thing, it being difficult to imitate something that looks like spilled ink with a sail sticking out of it. I haven’t found profile, in this case, to be particularly important. The distinct, bluish-purple coloration of the naturals seems to be the key to simulating them. The pattern featured here is my go-to fly when wind sailors are present. And it’s also a good starter when they’re not. 

By-The-Wind Sailor

Hook: size 2 to 6 Dai-Riki #930 (Wrap a lead or brass barbell to the top of the hook shank)     

Thread: blue, purple or wine

Body: blue krystal flash – 4 to six strands – tie in at the hook bend, twist counterclockwise, and wind forward to the barbell (coat with thick cement)

Wing: colors stacked in the order tied in: purple kip; pearl gray kip; a few strands of pearl midge krystal flash; a small pinch of purple kip ~ and finish.