By your description, it sounds like you're talking about the area near the oil island. That area is called "La Conchita", and several people on this board have fished it successfully for perch. I've even spotted some big corbina cruising the shallows there.

The perch fishing there can be great (20 perch in 2 hours), good (8-10 perch in 2 hours), or fair (2-4 perch in 2 hours), but has never been consistently one or the other. Is there any one best spot along the stretch from the pier up to the rock wall at the northern-most part of the beach? Not really, so its worth experimenting and walking along the beach till you find the right spot.

Best of luck to you if you try this area. Please practice c&r, because I fish this area frequently. If you know of any other perch spots in the Carpenteria area, let me know because I'd like to try some other places other than La Conchita just for a change of pace.