That brings back a few memories.  I grew up on the water on the Sunshine Coast (Egmont) and spent many a summer day fishing perch.

There may be better methods nowadays, but this is how we used to do it.  As their name (pile perch) implies, they like to hang around underwater structures that have lots of feed and shelter such as pilings and docks.  They are cagey and have small mouths, so we'd use a small single hook (#12 or so IIRC) and small leader, with little or no weight (maybe a split shot).  We'd grab a handful of mussels off the piling or dock.  If there was a seaworm in there, then great, cut that up & use it.  If not, just use mussel.  The soft bits work great but don't last long; the heart & gills last longer.  Or you can thread a whole small mussel on the hook then crush it.  It's important to hide the shaft of the hook.  Drop it down & watch.  When they suck it in, set the hook.

That's what made it fun I think - you are watching the whole thing & it's a battle between you & the fish.

As for where to go, I would think you should be able to find them anywhere there are pilings at a government dock.  If there are any public government docks in West Vancouver that would work.  Or Snug Cove on Bowen Island, the government wharf in Gibsons, Porpoise Bay, Halfmoon Bay, Madeira Park, Garden Bay, Egmont etc. etc.

Good luck & have fun.  As you mentioned, the hardest part is keeping shiners off the hook.  

Ya, I was just looking for underwater structure, like boulders and ledges, thats where all the big ones go anyways.  You'd have to take a couple ferries to get up to saltery, thats the drag.  Turns out to be about $100 with you and a buddy for both.  I imagine there are spots right near Van to get them too though....anyone aware of any?

interesting.....under the lions gate bridge area?  Somebody at Ambelside told *may* have mentioned something about that...not sure though... still cant beleive how tasty they were.

must try.

You can catch perch, rock cod, lings, dogfish, flounders, tommycods, bullheads (goes without saying) and the occasional cohos off the seawall. Most of the oldtimers who fishes down there use sea worms

if you only know how to cook the soles/rockfish marmot ... if you only knew hehe  

go fish at ambleside so i can bug you...

haha, jighead, youre funny!  I don't have to know how to cook them, just catch them, my girlfriend is an awesome cook.  I might actually be heading out to ambelside area to try for a coho, have you ever caught any there, or do you just like the tiny flounders?


As for toxicity of eating fish that ate red tide oyster, im not too concerned.  I'm still alive!  I'm honestly more concerned about my mercury levels since I eat so much sushi.  By the way, you'll find some of the best sushi in town at Toshi sushi, on 16th and main. mmmm
still best right off the hook though...

and, uh, where would one go on the seawall ?  any places better than others?

thanks dude!!!