The barred surfperch occurs from northern California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 to southern Baja California

Baja California

Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...

. Like other surfperches, it gives birth to live young

Vivipary

Vivipary has two different meanings. In animals, it means development of the embryo inside the body of the mother, eventually leading to live birth, as opposed to laying eggs...

. The diet of the barred surfperch is made up predominantly of sand crabs

Emerita analoga

Emerita analoga, the Pacific sand crab or Pacific mole crab, is a species of small, sand-burrowing decapod crustacean found living in the sand along the temperate western coasts of America. It is found on exposed sandy beaches in the swash region of the intertidal zone.-Description:The Pacific sand...

 .

Fishery

Barred surfperch are an important sport fishery for most surf fishermen

Surf fishing

Surf fishing is the sport of catching fish standing on the shoreline or wading in the surf. A general term, surf fishing may or may not include casting a lure or bait, and refers to all types of shore fishing - from sandy and rocky beaches, rock jetties, or even fishing piers...

in California. Anglers use sand crabs, sandworms, blood worms, shrimp, squid, cut fish, Gulp! sandworm and small hard baits to catch these fish.