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.
