Data on certain aspects of the life history of the redtail surfperch were collected along the central coast of Oregon, from April 1967 through April 1969. Annulus formation occured during February through June, usually earlier in young than in older fish. Mating occurred from late December to early January, and the young were born from July through September. The number of embryos per female ranged from 1 to 39 (mean 13.3) and increased linearly with the length and weight of the females. Food of the fish from the surf zone included crustaceans (by far the most important group in both frequency of occurrence and total volume) and (in order of decreasing importance) fishes, mollusks, and polychaetes. Parasites of the redtail surfperch were immature nematodes (Anisakinae) ; the digenetic trematode Genitocotyle acirra; the monogenetic trematode, Diclidophora sp.; and the copepods, Caligus sp., Clavella sp., and Argulus catostomi.