It looks similar to the Walleye surfperch (H. argenteum) but lacks the black coloration on its pelvic fins.

[1] Silver surfperch occur from Rio San Vicente, Baja California, to Schooner Cove, near Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

These small surfperch primarily frequent the sandy surf zone although they are also caught among shallow rocks from piers, and in bays.

The male approaches the female from below; both swim with vents close for 2 or 3 seconds, then separate and repeat the process.

Silver surfperch rank among the top ten in numbers caught by recreational anglers in central and northern California, even though the average weight is 0.1 pound.