Surf Fishing

Drone fishing comes to the Palm Beaches Andrew Lofholm

10:36 PM, Mar 29, 2017

https://www.wptv.com/news/region-indian-river-county/vero-beach/drone-fishing-comes-to-the-palm-beaches

JUNO BEACH, Fla. - It's not fly fishing, but you still need to fly. There’s a new way to fish that’s happening now in the Palm Beaches.

A local fisherman has added a drone to his tackle box.

“Drone fishing is kind of a new thing,” Norman Hirsch explains to us, as he rigs his pole and drone.

His drone has a built in camera, and tracks height and distance. He customized his with a release, designed to hold onto the line, until you want to drop it in. He picks where they were biting Monday, 550 feet away from shore.

That day, he could see them on camera.

About 300 feet further than he could cast it by hand.

I watch that pole while he rigs up another for his wife Julie and casts.

And we wait.

As he welcomes his drone back to shore, grabbing out for it, I ask him, “Alright so now it's back to old fashioned fishing right now?

“Yep,” he says, becoming distracted by the shore. “Oh look there's a shark right there in the surf!"

Norman's eye is confirmed from the sky with Farshad Foroudi's drone, a friend of Norman's. Online he's known

as the DroneFanatic. (You can search him on Facebook and YouTube).

We can track them in the surf from the drone, to direct our lines.

They're close enough to cast by hand.

“I thought we would have two of them by now,” Norman says.

The sun begins to set. The ocean swallows the shore. A couple bites, but they get away.

"Oh oh oh, something's going on,” he says with excitement.

But then we get one.

“He may jump,” he says, directing our attention into the surf.

And then second one at the same time. I start on a nurse shark and Julie starts reeling hers in.

I battle with the shark, reeling in when the shark and surf allows me to. Finally, it’s on the sand. We release it back to sea.

My first drone assisted catch.

Julie tires and Norman insists I take over, but before I know it, it frees itself from the line. It’s gone.

“I think he broke it. Wind it in,” Norman says.

“Still a good day though!” I say, high-fiving him.

“Yeah, get a little workout.”

If only the drone could reel for us.

Vero Beach emerging as world pompano capital STORY BY MEG LAUGHLIN (Week of October 24, 2013) Photo: Manuel Briceno fishes for pompano on South Beach at dawn.

http://vb32963online.com/STORIES%202013/OCTOBER %202013/VB32963_Vero_Emerging_As_World_Pompano_Capital_Issue43_102413.h tml When most people think about sports in Vero Beach, tennis and golf immediately come to mind. Pros from around the world come here to play and teach. Golf fairways meander down A1A and through the town. Racquets and clubs poke out of convertibles. Dinner conversations revolve around putts and serves.

But there is another sport that is becoming huge here, though still a carefully guarded secret: Surf-fishing for pompano.

“Between November and May from Sebastian to Round Island, you’re at the epicenter for pompano fishing, but we’d just as soon the word not get out,” said Dann Jacobus, commercial fisherman and wildlife artist in Vero Beach.

“Vero Beach has great, easy-access surf fishing and it’s amazing that more people aren’t talking about it,” said Mike Carr, owner of Fishbites, a nationally distributed artificial bait manufacturer in St. Augustine.

“Pompano Beach used to be the spot for pompano but they prefer the slightly cooler water around Vero Beach,” said well-known surf fishing guide, Noel Kuhn from Jacksonville.

In late January, Kuhn and 20 other avid surf fishermen from around the state will land in Vero Beach for several days of annual pompano-fishing. They will be joined by hundreds of other surf fishermen – both residents and visitors – lining the beaches.

Kuhn first came here in June, 2012, to surf fish with island resident Manuel Briceno who, two months before, caught the unofficial world record pompano while fishing at South Beach Park in late April.

Briceno, an Alex MacWilliam real estate agent, caught the 8.8 pound pompano with a 14-foot Ugly Stick, using shrimp-scented Fishbites for bait. The official world record is a 8.4 pound pompano caught in 1999, but Briceno, who weighed his fish in front of several witnesses, did not drive to Ft. Lauderdale to have it officially weighed.

Nevertheless, word traveled fast and Fishbites owner Carr got wind of the catch and took out ads in national fishing magazines with a photo of Briceno and the huge pompano, with a caption saying it was caught in the Vero Beach surf with Fishbites.

“We pompano fisherman don’t usually give much credit to a newcomer, but Manuel got immediate acceptance among us because of the notoriety of the world record,” said commercial fisherman Jacobus.

Not only did King Pompano win Briceno cachet as a pompano fisherman, news of the prized fish around the country brought more pompano fishermen here.

Jacobus and other experts, including Kuhn, agree on the ideal conditions for catching pompano in the surf here: Sunrise or sunset during season. Clear water between 64 and 76 degrees. A light breeze and three to four-foot waves. A rod 14 to 15-feet long for a cast of over 100 feet from the edge of the surf. A level wind Abu Garcia or Penn reel, though Briceno uses a spin reel.

The preferred bait is sand fleas or coquinas (soaked in salt water to toughen them), which fishermen dig for on the island beach. Some fishermen, like Briceno, mix thawed-out sand fleas with Fishbites. Many, like Jacobus and Briceno, design their own rigs with chartreuse, orange and green beads and floaties to attract the fish. They also use a four-ounce pyramid sinker, light line and small hooks since the fish has a small, delicate mouth.

When Kuhn drove down from Jacksonville to fish with Briceno, they headed out at 6 a.m.. Kuhn pulled a cart loaded down with a cooler, bait, tackle, equipment and rods and reels. Briceno, on the other hand, traveled light, with his bait, tackle and rod holders in a book bag, and he carried two rods. To bring fish back to his home in South Beach, he put a small net bag and a small frozen plastic water bottle in the book bag.

Kuhn described “Manuel’s Beach,” near his Sandpiper Lane home as “especially ideal for catching pompano because of the crescent shape, the wave action and the abundance of sand fleas.”

But since it was June, and the pompano weren’t running, they caught Bonnethead shark and released them.

Over the past few years, Briceno says he has become “addicted to pompano fishing.”

“They are so muscular and such fighters and so delicious,” he said.

Fish markets sell the delicate, white filets for over $20 a pound, and the fish is prized on menus at high-end restaurants.

Last Thursday, Briceno was out on the beach fishing at 7:15 in the morning. Five other surfcasters fished near him at South Beach Park, hurling their lines out for pompano.

But, while the others caught whiting and jack, Briceno was the only one to land an impressive four-pound pompano.

But the numbers of surf anglers reeling in the prized fish will change over the next few months as tens of thousands of pompano fill our aquamarine waters, and hundreds of fishermen line our beaches.

How-to Surf Fish - Saltwater Fishing Basics 3/12/2018 1:27 PM https://fishmaster.com/blog/surf-fish/

Top Five Surf Fishing Tips At first, you may believe you’ll be restricted when it comes to surf fishing since you’ll be casting from dry land, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Aside from deep sea game fish, there’s a surprisingly wide variety of fish you can catch right off the shoreline, including Flounder, Rockfish and Mackerel. This makes it easy for saltwater anglers to catch good game fish without having to leave land at all, so if you’re saving up for a new boat and casting platform to get out on the water you can still get a feel for saltwater fishing and be primed for when you’re ready to go out and land even bigger strikes.

1. Surf Casting for Beginners Surf fishing is an easy fishing method to learn, with your tactics changing depending on factors such as location, seasons, tides, weather conditions, and the type of fish you’re hoping to get on your line; but, just starting out there are simple basics that will get you started off on the right track. If you’re new to surf fishing, the first thing you need to do is understand how to surf cast. Surf casting is actually a lot like regular casting, but with more emphasis on distance and accuracy to land your bait in the surf. Generally speaking, you’ll do well with a basic overhand cast straight out. For an

overhand cast, hold the rod in your hand, bend your arm up into a 90 degree angle and quickly flick out the pole, straightening your arm to launch the bait into the water. The trick to surf casting is learning the exact speed and power you need to perfect both your distance and accuracy when tossing out the line.

Once you have the cast you can start to learn different tactics, such as using different bait or fishing at a different time of year, that will help you target specific fish species. For example, while shrimp will attract most species of fish, you may want to use live bait like Mullet for Flounder or Herring for Mackerel. It also helps to understand the habits of your target fish species based on the seasons, tides and weather conditions.

2. Changing Tactics: Reading the Beach Seasoned surf anglers know how to read the beach and find the features that make a good fishing spot, but the ocean is an intimidating expanse to beginners. To increase your odds of finding fish, there are several things you can look for:  The sand bar is a critical component to figuring out where fish could be, letting you know whether the fish are behind it chasing bait fish, or closer to the shore. Sand bars will constantly change with the waves and passing storms, but you can locate them by determining where the waves begin to break as they come in.  Outflows, or rip currents, are breaks in the sand bar where the fish will often

come to feed in the surf. Since fish may also feed to the left or right of an outflow, you may also want to try casting your line to either side of the outflow.  Areas of the beach with coarse sand and shells are more likely to be near

deeper holes that will hold fish, so look up and down the beach for these areas to increase your chance of getting a strike. Remember that these subtle differences can have a huge effect when it comes to surf fishing.

3. Deciding When to Go Surf Fishing: Weather and Tides Reading the beach will become easier as you become more experienced with surf fishing, but as you learn there are a few other things to consider as well. With the changing of the weather and tides, you will also see changes in the behaviors of fish. Perfect fishing conditions are difficult to achieve, so having a general idea of when the fish should be biting can make the difference between a successful day of surf fishing and a disappointing one. Every surf angler is going to have their own opinion and experiences when it comes to the best conditions for surf fishing, but there are a few general rules of thumb most can agree with:  Overcast and rainy days can help minimize shadows from your line, making the bait more appealing. (Note: While rainy days may increase strikes, your safety should always come first when surf fishing. Keep an eye on the weather at all times and be prepared to seek shelter in the event of a thunderstorm or unexpected foul weather, like high winds that create dangerous waves and conditions.)

 More fish will come in to feed during high tide, especially at dawn or dusk, as

there will be more water in your fishing hole, but certain species will prefer low tide.  Take advantage of low tide to read the beach and locate sand banks, dips, hollows, and other structures.

4. How to Fish from the Beach: Surf Fishing Gear When conditions are right and you decide to head to the beach for surf fishing, make sure you are adequately prepared. For a typical surf fishing excursion on the beach, you will need the following gear:  Saltwater Fishing Rod and Feel  Cast Net  Tackle and Bait  Surf Fishing Rigs (Fish-Finder and Drop)  Knife  Bait Bucket and Air Pump  Spare Spool of Line  Pliers or Disgorger  Tape Measure  Umbrella and Rain Gear  Sunscreen and Sunglasses  First Aid Kit  Fishing License

5. Remember Knowledge Comes from Experience Having proper gear will make your surf fishing experience easier and far more enjoyable, especially as you learn how to read the beach and what conditions are best for getting the strikes. Remember that knowledge comes from experience. While guides can help establish a foundation as you learn the art of surf fishing, actually casting your rod from the sands of the beach will teach you what you need to know to become a seasoned surf angler.

https://1source.basspro.com/index.php/component/k2/74saltwater-fishing/1234-saltwater-surf-fishing-basics THere's something fine and natural about getting next to nature, and nowhere is that easier for coastal anglers than surf fishing. You're barefoot (weather permitting) with the surf booming close by, the wind blowing and not another soul in sight. Lots of passing seabirds and fish busting the surface, too, if you're lucky.

Or how about a calm sunrise and you're sipping hot coffee with friends who share the same goal of catching fresh fish in the outdoors — sand between toes — without blowing your retirement on a boat, motor(s), trailer and tow vehicle. (You

will need a vehicle of course, but more on that in a moment).

Best Places to do Surf Fishing

If you're still learning to "read the surf," one of the best things you can do is watch where the locals fish.

Picking your spot and timing it right is important, of course. If you can "read the surf," for instance — that certainly helps. If you can't, locate a locally favorite stretch of surf, and study the line of breakers off the beach then watch where the locals fish.

Often they're formed by first and second sandbars, where a line of waves are breaking. There might even be a third sandbar in deeper water. Watch for a break in the second and third bars, where the water flows back out to sea. All of that water delivered to the beach has to return offshore, right? This excess water is where so-called "rip currents" may drag a swimmer offshore for a short distance. This same current pulls natural food out to the fish, and that's where your bait should often be.

Watching where the locals fish; if you see a Author with a slot-size redfish just cluster of six guys down the beach, clustered landed. together with about 18 long rods sitting in sand

spikes, then you can bet they know what they're doing and they've picked the right spot. Move closer and observe, but don't crowd them. Study the water and wave breaks in front of them. Inquire when the local tide will be "right." They probably won't be there for a dead-low tide, unless they're socializing. Incoming tides are often best, especially early in the morning, when the light is low and gamefish prowl close to the sand. Early is also good because families with their joyful kids haven't arrived yet; that won't happen until at least 10 a.m. during weekends, and often later.

Tip: Set your surf rods in PVC sand pipes. The PVC pipes protect the reels from a rising tide and breaking surf.

Fishing Tackle

Seatrout also feed in the surf, but you'll need the smaller 7-foot rod for throwing plugs and spoons to these fish.

Don't kid yourself and bring just any fishing tackle to the beach. Regular "surf rats" use a surf rod from 12 to 15 feet long, with big rod guides, designed to deliver a bait and weight up to 100 yards offshore. A big saltwater spinning reel packed with 20- or 25-pound line can take the abuse of a serious cast and still subdue sizeable fish. Lighter line might snap in midcast, while heavier line takes up too much reel-spool capacity. You can bring a

smaller rod (say 7 feet in length) for casting at closer fish, especially during high tide. Several of the bigger rods are normally set out. A serious surf veteran might use four to six outfits.

The big surf rods are set into sand spikes like Angler's Fish-N-Mate Sand Spike, which are metal spikes or PVC pipes some 3 to 4 feet long, sharpened at one end, and about 2-1/4 inches in diameter. These are driven into the sand and provide a stable platform for your rods. Refrain from using buckets or coolers for this purpose, because they won't stop a rod from being pulled down into sand or water. The last thing you want is one of those fine reels falling into gritty sand and saltwater. Both are very hard on reels. Watching a surf rod getting pulled out to sea by a big fish can be a bummer, as well.

Set the reel's drag light when using regular J hooks and stay close by, because you have to react quickly when a fish hits and set the hook. With Kahle or circle hooks, the fish hook themselves. That means with a strike, you can take your time and set your coffee down. Just be sure the drag is set with several pounds of pressure — you want a nice bend in that rod, so the fish hooks himself.

Terminal Fishing Gear

If you see Pelicans diving into the water, chances are they've found schooling baitfish — and very likely, predator fish.

Favorite leaders and hooks vary from one region to another, and the nearest small tackle shop or serious anglers on the beach can shed light on this. You basically want a leader somewhat tougher than your casting line, perhaps rigged with two baited hooks that at least partially set themselves — such as Kahle hooks — that certainly works best on pompano and a variety of other fish.

Fishing Weights For lead weights, don't rely on just anything from your sinker box. Pyramid sinkers up to 6 ounces were designed for surf casting, because they dig into the sand. You don't want your baits rolling down the beach 50 yards in a current, crossing other angler's lines, right? In addition, carry several spider weights.

These have copper legs that stick out, and really dig into the sand. A fast current makes them necessary. How fast is a fast current? An example would be the stormy weather that Texas surf anglers fish, while hoping for a run of "bull" redfish when a tropical storm (or worse) is in the Gulf of Mexico. That makes for serious tides and current.

Fishing Baits

Baits are a local situation. If you're after big predators such as bull redfish and sharks, then a big chunk of mullet is hard to beat. (The serious shark guys fishing the surf, of course, use much bigger tackle: boat tackle, and they have to deliver their big, whole fish, like a small tuna or stingray, offshore by some ingenious means. Like a balloon, surfboard or jet ski. Some guys even swim the bait offshore, with a bonito under their arm like a football, which seems dangerous and definitely NOT recommended.)

When after a variety of smaller fish, then the usual frozen shrimp, squid or cut bait will work. If you specialize in pompano, be prepared to dig your own mole crabs (sand fleas) from wet beach sand, preferably using a rake designed for that task. Keep your bait fresh and snug in an ice chest or cooler, something most fish will appreciate.

Artificial Fishing Baits As for artificial baits, carry a small selection. Artifical baits such as spoons are always good, and fishing with topwater plugs in fairly calm weather are great on feeding fish. Mullet-imitation lures are useful, especially during the fall mullet run, when all good finger mullet point their noses south, running in huge schools towards the southern latitudes. This draws attention from countless predators, and these feeding frenzies can be spotted from afar, either from whitewater action or diving pelicans and terns. The first good cold front of autumn usually triggers this action.

While you're at it, keep a pair of needle nose pliers on that belt and a small fillet knife handy. Ever try digging treble hooks out of a flopping, toothy bluefish or Spanish mackerel with your bare hands? It's not as fun as it sounds.

Other Surf Fishing Considerations

Serious surf angler with long rods mounted in his vehicle.

Getting to the beach is a requirement, and that means either hiking in or driving on sand. The hiking is healthy, but you'll need a packframe, at least, to carry gear. Or some sort of cart with inflatable wheels that works on soft sand.

If you're going to drive on the beach, like they do on North Carolina's Outer Banks or Padre Island in Texas, a four-wheel drive vehicle is necessary. With or without four-wheel, you should drop your tire pressure down to 24 pounds or lower, so those tires can better grab the sand. Back on the highway, keep your speed down until arriving at the nearest gas station, which will likely has an air pressure machine to re-fill those tires. A tire gauge in your glove box is mandatory, of course. Be sure to carry a spare tire, and a flat, sturdy board to

support the tire jack. (That same board is handy for cutting bait).

Years ago in college days, we often managed 40 miles of beach driving on Padre Island, using my Volkswagon Thing.

We did so without a spare tire, since space was tight. One morning after Bluefish often feed in the surf when they hem in schools of smaller baitfish. They're not some hard driving, someone heard a picky and will hit jigs, spoons and plugs sss---sss---sss outside the car, and yelled to turn down the radio. We stopped and glumly watched the tire going flat, with a catfish spine sticking out of the sidewall. Forty miles from pavement, but we had arrived at our spot, so we pulled out the tackle.

It was a good day to fish. Six hours later, a moving dot appeared on the hot and shimmering sand dune horizon. It was a Volkswagen bus, arriving to camp and fish. They cheerfully lent us their spare tire and we found a handy piece of driftwood to place under the jack, changing our flat. We soon sped away in a cloud of sand, to return next day with their tire—and to fish again Our friends back home were amazed to hear the tale. Some called it living right, while others spoke of Karma. We'd had no negative vibes that day, the fishing was too good, and that must have counted for something. The surf and sun were perfect, and we'd caught a heavy stringer of pompano, flounder and whiting. It never occurred that we might not make it home that day.

Such is the optimism of youth. These days I pack a little more carefully, even carry a tow chain in case we get bogged down. Or we might see another vehicle stuck, spinning their tires and asking for assistance.

Surf fishermen have to stick together, because quite often, we're the only people out there — alone on a wide expanse of breaking waves on sand. https://www.go-saltwater-fishing.com/surf-fishing-tips.html

10 Top Surf Fishing Tips That Will Get Results!

Want to catch more fish off your local surf beach? Then these surf fishing tips will help put you on the road to success.

After all it's tempting when fishing a surf beach for the first time to cast your bait as far as you can and hope for the best. Not always a good idea...

How much better you'd do if you knew what type of seabed you're fishing over, where the fish holding spots are, and what would be the best time to put your bait in front of them.

Read on for the surf fishing tips that answer these questions, and more...

Surf Fishing Tip #1 ~ The Low-Water Survey The first of these surf fishing tips requires that you take a walk along the beach at low tide, preferably a low-water spring tide. Think like a crime scene investigator, and...

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Make a note of where the gullies, hollows and banks are.

Does the nature of the seabed change at all? Sand, shingle, mud...?

Any sign of shellfish beds? Cockles, razorfish, mussels etc?

Any patches of weed and rough ground?

Are there any tackle-robbing (but fish-attracting) obstructions you need to be aware of?

6. Take this exploration one stage further by casting a bare lead (no hooks) from the low water mark. Bring it in slowly and you'll be able to feel changes in seabed conditions and contours.

This is really valuable data which can make all the difference to your catches. Make notes and sketches in a note book and you'll find yourself referring to it time-and-time again.

Surf Fishing Tip #2 ~ Read the Surf But nothing stays the same for long. Tides and currents shift sand banks and gullies, storms can destroy shellfish beds and create new seabed features. And at high water, with one patch of surf looking very much like another and with all the evidence covered, it's not always easy to relate your notes to what's below the surface.

At first glance, one patch of surf might look very much like another - but does it? Take a closer look... 

It will look 'different' where it swirls around a submerged rock



Short, breaking seas will betray a shallow sand bank, whilst smoother flatter seas indicate the presence of deeper water - a fish-holding gully.

So with the information from you low-tide survey, and the evidence provided by the changes in the surf, you'll have a very good idea as to where to place your bait.

Surf Fishing Tip #3 ~ Watch the Weather Many surf anglers like to fish in an offshore wind, for the simple reason that it's easier to make longer casts. But an offshore wind calms the sea, particularly so in periods of high atmospheric pressure, which produces clear waters.

In these conditions fish are likely to hang out in deeper water offshore during daylight hours, only becoming brave enough to venture close-in during the hours of darkness.

Strong winds, low atmospheric conditions and bigger seas are more likely to get results when surf fishing during the daytime.

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Surf Fishing Tip #4 ~ Be There at the Right Time 'Time and Tide Waits For No Man' goes the saying, and it's one that's very appropriate for anglers wanting to learn how to surf fish effectively.

On most surf beaches it seems that the fishing is best in the two hours coming up to high water and the two hours following high water - and all the more so if it's a spring tide. But the period of high water itself - when the tide is slack - is often not a prolific period.

For instance, if high tide is at 0900hrs, then probably nothing much will be happening from 0830hrs to 0930hrs. But when the tide is flooding from 0630hrs to 0830hrs is likely to give you the best chance of catching, and again between 0945hrs to 1145hrs when it's ebbing.

Fish nearly always feed better in low light conditions, making dawn and dusk particularly prolific times.

Perhaps the most important of these surf fishing tips is that you...

Find a day when high water occurs at dusk or dawn and plan your surf fishing trip around that vital piece of data.

Surf Fishing Tip #5 ~ Understand the Tides

The first two tips have been around tides and time, and the place to get this information from is a set of tide tables, like the example on the right.

The first thing to do is to mark the tides where high water falls around dawn or dusk. Here, I've high-lighted these in yellow.

Next identify the periods of spring tides, as encircled here.

Spring tides occur when the sun, moon and earth are in line, and the sun and moon's gravitational forces work in unison to create the maximum tides on earth. You can see how this works here...

Spring tides always occur a day or two after a full moon and a new moon, and these are usually shown by a blacked-in circle (for a full moon) and an empty circle (new moon) as shown here on the 10th and 24th August.

If one or more of your dusk/dawn tides falls within a spring tide range, your chances of a good catch are probably at their highest. The early morning high tides on 25th and 26th August look promising...

Surf Fishing Tip #6 ~ Learn to Tie the Best Shore Rigs Surf fishing rigs must satisfy three essential requirements:~ 1. be aerodynamic in flight to enable long casting, and 2. to present the bait on the seabed in a natural appearance, and 3. to securely mount the bait whilst enabling the hooks to be unobtrusive yet take hold in a fish's mouth.

The aerodynamic requirement means that the basic form of a shore rig is a paternoster - essentially a rig with a lead weight on the end and one or more hooks attached on short snoods above the weight. All the well known shore rigs - flapper rigs, clipped rigs, pulley rigs and wishbone rigs - are derivations of this basic form.

How to tie them? Easy, cheat! Just buy a professionally made one of each type and copy them shamelessly.

Now here's the tip...

When you replicate the shore rig you've purchased as a pattern, don't use nylon monofilament when you tie your own. Use fluorocarbon line - it's virtually invisible under water, much more so than any other type of line.

OK, it's not cheap, but you won't need a lot of it and it might just get you the fish of a lifetime.

Surf Fishing Tip #7 ~ Avoid Crack-Offs on the Cast Shock leaders must be used when surfcasting - without one, a crackoff is far more likely. Of course, crack-offs don't just represent a needless loss of fishing gear, they are also highly dangerous for any other beach user.

Lead Weight

Leader Strength

6oz

60lb

8oz

80lb

4oz

40lb

The breaking strain of the shock leader is related to the weight of

the lead, not the breaking strain of the main line. The heavier the weight, the greater the load that its kinetic energy will generate on the cast, hence the greater the breaking strain of the leader must be.

The accepted wisdom is that the shock leader (in lbs breaking strain) should be 10 times the weight of the lead (in lbs), as shown in the table here on the right.

Use nylon monofilament line to make up the shock leader, but not 'ordinary' mono. The problem with mono intended for your reel line is that it's stretchy, which surprisingly isn't what you want for a shock leader.

OK, it will work fine, but much of your casting energy will be absorbed by the elasticity of the leader rather than powering up the rod.

So here's one tip...

Make up your surfcasting shock leaders from one of the low-stretch, abrasion resistant nylon monofilament lines that are produced specially for the purpose.

There are several knots suitable for connecting the shock leader to the main line, but I use the Albright Knot for this. But whichever knot you use, it can catch in the rod guides or get caught up in the coils of line on the reel spool. And the larger the diameter of the shock leader, the bigger will be the knot - and the greater the problem.

The solution? Use a tapered leader...

A typical 13m long tapered shock leader starts with 9m (30ft) of 0.8mm (65lbs) high impact shock resistance mono and tapers over the remaining 4m (13ft) down to 0.37mm (16lbs). The benefit of course is that you're now connecting lines of similar diameter, so the leader knot (I use two uni-knots back-to-back) will be much smaller and will whizz through your line guides with ease.

Surf Fishing Tip #8 ~ Use a 'Thumby' If you use a baitcast reel for surfcasting rather than a spinning reel, you'll know that the spool can slip under your thumb when casting, particularly in wet weather. Cut a finger from a rubber glove and put it on your thumb to prevent this happening.

This will also give you some protection from the leader knot, which can otherwise do your thumb some painful damage. It's worth making sure that you position the leader knot on the opposite side of the spool to

where your thumb goes - if you can that is, but if your reel has a levelwind mechanism you won't be able to.

Surf Fishing Tip #9 ~ Don't Over-Cast It's a bit of a macho thing with surfcasters, this 'I can cast further than you can' attitude. Of course it's no bad thing to be able to make casts of biblical proportions, but often it's not at all necessary. For ultimate superlong surfcasting there are three essential components:~   

High quality surfcasting gear A highly developed surfcasting technique The physique of the angler - providing the first two conditions are met, a good big'un always beats a good little'un!

But the key attribute of a good surf angler is recognising that casting halfway to the horizon won't always get you the desired results. What will though, is the ability to be able to cast accurately and consistently to the area you believe is holding the fish - and that's one of those you identified in the first of these surf fishing tips.

Surf Fishing Tip #10 ~ Rough Ground Fishing without Tackle Loss Rough ground supports the food chain that fish are keen to exploit crabs, small fish, shellfish etc - so it's not an area we can afford to ignore with our baited rigs. But the cost in terms of tackle cost can be high, so here's a few surf fishing tips that will go some way to minimise them:~ 

It's often the lead weight that gets caught up as it trails astern of a hooked fish. The Pulley Rig has been designed to eliminate this risk by allowing the weight of hooked fish to pull the lead weight into a position ahead of the fish, where it is much less likely to get hung up;



Use a rotten bottom, which is a short length of light line used to attach the lead weight. Then, if the lead gets hung up an you have to pull for a break, all you'll lose is your lead;



Use a planing lead. These are flattened lead weights specifically designed for rough ground use. Their design causes them to plan upwards on the retrieve, clearing all obstructions on the seabed;



Many anglers use old spark plugs instead of lead weights. OK, they aren't anything like as efficient for casting but it doesn't hurt the pocket so much when you lose them;



Use a reel with a high rate of retrieve to get the gear up clear of all snags on the retrieve, as quickly as possible;



Use a stiff, powerful rod so that you can quickly get your fish up clear of any snags. Soft-actioned rods will cost you both fish and tackle losses over rough ground.

98  

SkyAboveUs» Fishing

Surf Fishing Tips and Techniques Updated on November 13, 2014

https://skyaboveus.com/fishing/surf_fishing_tips Surf Fishing Tips: Finding the Fish One of the the best tips for locating fish is to go and check out your chosen beach at low tide before your expedition. Make a note of where the dips, hollows, and sandbanks are. This will give you a great indication of where the fish are likely to be feeding when the tide comes in.

Look out for points of land that jut out into the ocean; you will generally find fish on either side of these features.

The best time to surf fish is always around high tide, especially if high tide falls at either dawn or dusk.

Check out the area at low tide, return at high tide.

Another great surf fishing tip is to go and talk to a local tackle shop that is close to the beach you are intending to fish. These places are fantastic for gathering information about the fish species currently being caught, where and when they are being caught, and what baits are being used.

How Far to Cast?

Don't overdo it!

Sometimes the fish are much closer than you think . . .

"All Americans believe that they are born fishermen. For a man to admit to a distaste for fishing would be like denouncing mother-love and hating moonlight."

John Steinbeck -1954

Rigs and Baits for Some Favorite Surf Fish

Monsters in the surf! A 55-pound striped bass.

Surf Fishing Tips for Striped Bass If you are a surf angler, hooking a sizable striped bass in the surf is one of the most exciting experiences you can have. The secret is choosing the right rig and the right bait for the job.

Here are my two favorite surf fishing rigs for this sought-after fish.

The Fish-Finder Rig for Striped Bass The fish-finder rig (illustrated further down in this article) works well for bass because it allows the live bait to move naturally in the current. Use live bait; eels hooked through the the tail are always the top choice, followed by either menhaden or herring. Leader length between hook and swivel should be around 20 inches. Attaching a weight slide above the swivel will make the bait presentation much better than in a fixed version. Striped bass have excellent eyesight, so try to keep the rig as simple as possible.

The High-Low Rig for Striped Bass There are also many versions of the high-low rig, but this is the one that seems to catch the most striped bass. This rig works well because smaller bass tend to sit higher in the water while the larger fish will stay closer to the bottom. For this surf fishing rig, tie two 5-inch dropper loops on a 5-foot length of leader, keeping the loops around 12 inches apart, and tie your hooks to the end of the loops. Fifteen inches below the bottom loop attach a weight snap, and 15 inches above the top loop tie on a swivel for the main line. This rig works by getting the fish to hook themselves, so circle hooks will work the best. Try using a larger bait like bunker chunks on the bottom loop, and a slightly smaller bait like blood worms for the top loop.

Surf Fishing Tips For Red Drum Red drum

Red Drum Rig If you are after red drum, you will have to beef up your end tackle. IIustrated below is a rig that should hold most large red drum.

For live baits try using live menhaden or shrimp. Chunks of crab also work well.

A rig for large red drum

Surf Fishing Tips For Bluefish

Bluefish

The bluefish has extremely sharp teeth, so regardless of which rig you choose, a wire leader is advisable. The best bait rig to use is the fish finder rig. The wire leader length should be around 18 inches between hook and swivel. Put a weight slide on the main line and then tie the main line to the swivel. Bluefish have very good vision, so a free-lining rig helps the bait look as natural as possible. Bluefish are ferocious feeders and travel in large schools hunting smaller bait fish, so for live baits try menhaden, mullet, eels, and shrimp. They will also take most cut fish baits, with mullet being a favorite.

Lures For Bluefish The majority of surf fishermen prefer to use artificial lures to catch bluefish. There are many lures you can use; popular ones are surface plugs, swimming plugs, jigs, and spoons. A fast stop-and-go retrieval will work the best for these fish, especially when using surface plugs.

My personal favorite is a heavy silver spoon, which will cast a good distance and retrieve at speed. A good tip is to lace the spoon with a cut strip of mullet or similar fish; this will leave a

strong scent trail as you retrieve the spoon. Spraying your lure with menhaden bait spray will have the same effect.

The average size of a school fish is two to five pounds, so light spinning tackle will give you some great sport. The bluefish has very strong jaws and sharp teeth, so when you do land it, take great care when removing the hook; use long-nosed pliers at all times.

Pompano Pompano

Rigs

Three Popular Rigs for Surf Fishing Don't spend too much time on end rigs. A good principle for surf fishing rigs is to keep them simple. The less there is to get tangled, the better.

Below are three very popular and simple surf fishing rigs.

The Fish-Finder Rig

The object of the fish-finder rig is to pose as little resistance as possible as your target fish picks up the bait. It is entirely your preference how long to make the leader, but the average length is around 24 inches.

It is very simple to make the fish-finder rig yourself.

The Fireball Rig

The idea of the fireball rig is that the foam balls keep the bait slightly off the bottom. The bright colors and movement in this rig make it a great choice on days when the surf is rough and the water is cloudy.

The rig works well when fished with natural bait.

You can make up the fireball rig yourself but it is a little more involved, so it's much easier to buy them already made up.

The High-Low Rig

The high-low rig is one of the best natural bait rigs there is. The rig works extremely well for most large predatory fish, and gives you the advantage of having two baits in the water. The rig can be made up fairly easily, or can be bought ready made from your tackle shop.

Surf Fishing Bait Tips—Which Baits for Which Fish?

Pacific mole crab digging into wet sand | Source

Mole crabs (also called sand crabs) are one of the most popular baits used for surf fishing.

Dig them yourself, and keep them in some damp sand. Will catch most species, but best for redfish, whiting, pompano, striped bass, blackfish, and black drum.

Squid | Source

Squid are great bait for surf fishing. Buy them fresh or frozen, and use whole or cut into strips. Good for bluefish, striped bass, and redfish.

Ragworm | Source

Sandworms or ragworms are another great bait for surf fishing. Dig your own or buy from your local tackle shop.

Good for: rockfish, striped bass, flounder, whiting, blackfish, porgy, sea trout, and surf perch.

Live shrimp sold for bait | Source

Shrimp are a good all round bait, will catch just about any kind of fish! Can be used dead or live.

Mullet | Source

Mullet are excellent bait and will catch a variety of fish. Use whole, dead or alive, for larger fish or cut strips for smaller species.

Good for: bluefish, striped bass, tarpon, redfish, and sea trout.

Fiddler crabs in a baggie | Source

Use crabs whole, or use pieces for smaller fish. Soft-shell crab tends to get more takers than hard-shell crab.

Good for: black drum, tarpon, redfish, and snook.

Glycera (bloodworm) | Source

Dig your own bloodworms, or buy them from your tackle shop.

Good for flounder, sea trout, striped bass, bluefish, porgy, and whiting.

Lures

Surf Fishing Lures: Surf-Fishing Tips For Artificial Bait Always pack a good selection of plugs, spoons, and other forms of artificial baits.

Depending on what you are after, artificial bait can be just as good as, if not better than, the real thing. Find out from local anglers which lures are taking fish.

Three Lures Every Surf Angler Should Have

Surf fishing lures are a topic of much debate among surf anglers. The multitude of different sizes and colors make choosing the right one a little confusing. Here are three surf fishing lures that every surf angler should have in their bag.

Metal Spoons Metal spoon fishing lure | Source

The large metal spoon is supposed to resemble a large bait fish such as menhaden or mullet. Most are chrome or bright silver in color. Most surf fishermen using a large metal spoon are after bluefish, but almost any fish will take them. These streamlined two- to fourounce spoons will reach most outer bars with ease. Jigging the spoon on a medium fast retrieval tends to bring good results. If you are after bluefish remember to attach a 12-inch wire trace before the lure.

Lead-Head Soft Plastic Tail Jigs Rubber fake fish of different colors threaded onto lead-weighted hooks

The great thing about this type of lure is the variety of combinations available. The action of the lure on retrieval will vary with your choice of tail, so always carry a few different colors and sizes in your bag for a quick change. Changing your choice of tail is a simple matter and can be done quickly and easily. You can use many types of retrieval when using the combination jig, but employing a slow and steady retrieve will see the most takes. Heavy monofilament line will affect the jig's performance, so try and use a short length of lightweight leader.

Small Metal Lures Small metal lures don't have to be this colorful—any minnow-sized bit of metal, with or without a brushy tail, may work.

The smaller metal surf fishing lures are great for use with light spinning tackle. A seven- to nine- foot spinning rod and a reel loaded with 10- to 12-lb mono-filament main line will allow you to use this type of lure to its full effect. The lure itself is designed to resemble a minnow, and when used on a fast retrieve will attract small to medium-sized bluefish. A very slow retrieve keeping the lure close to the bottom will produce trout and smaller striped bass.

There are many more surf-fishing lures available, but these three lures will ensure you have a lure that will produce fish on almost every occasion.

Other Surf-Fishing Equipment

Surf Fishing Tips - Your Equipment - Less Is More...

The beauty of surf fishing (or any type of rod and line fishing for that matter) is that you do not need much equipment to get started. Everything you need for a day of surf fishing will fit into a small to medium-sized tackle box.

You can set yourself up with everything you need for about $120, and rod-and-reel combos start at around $60, but as with most things you get what you pay for. Spend as much as you can afford on a quality rod and reel; properly looked after, they will last you many years.

Three things I always take surf fishing: 

Torch (flashlight)



Nail clippers

Cell phone (in a sealable plastic bag!)

A Quick Surf-Fishing Checklist 

Surf-fishing rod (ten- to twelve-foot medium action rod, with silicon carbide line guides and non corrosive reel seats)



Reel (open-faced with a bail arm; choose the best you can afford)



Live Bait Rigs (four or five, ready-made)



Surf lures (a small selection)



Artificial bait (a small selection)



Spare hardware (sinkers, hooks, swivels, etc.)



Tools (needle-nose pliers, knife)



Miscellaneous (rod spike, rags, plastic bags, baitbox/bait bucket)

You really don't need tons of gear. The barest essentials will catch just as many fish as box loads of tackle!

Fall mullet run is ideal for surf fishing on Florida’s Atlantic coast Written by Bob Rountree in Beaches, Fishing https://www.floridarambler.com/florida-best-beaches/surf-fishing-basics-checklist/

Tarpon feeds on mullet off Palm Beach County’s beaches.

(Photo by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star)

Surf fishing peaks in fall

Catching whiting on St. George’s Island The fall mullet run down the Atlantic coast makes Florida’s beaches particularly attractive for surf fishing, a fun family sport to be enjoyed by all. What could be better than a day at the beach!

Mullet are delicate morsels for many gamefish you’ll find cruising near shore, and the fall migration brings thousands of mullet together in schools along our beaches.

Bring along whatever fishing tackle you have on hand, which is likely to be a medium spinning outfit. Add a pyramid sinker, a hook with a leader and a bucket to cart home your catch.

If you go more than once or twice, you’ll probably want to gear up a little more. You don’t have to spend a lot of money — unless you really catch the fever.

You need a free* resident shoreline license, which can be obtained online from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. No license is needed if you are under 16 or over 65 with an ID showing proof of age. Nonresidents must purchase a 3-day, 7-day or annual nonresident saltwater fishing license when saltwater fishing from the shore or a pier, bridge or jetty attached to the shore unless fishing on a pier with a pier license.

The shoreline license does not apply when fishing offshore from a boat. *Free means that you pay nothing for the license, but you may have to pay a service fee.

Note: If ordered by phone or online, be prepared to jot down your new license number, which you can use immediately to go fishing.

Gearing up

When you get to the beach, steer clear of swimmers, which could mean a short walk.

I carry two 5-gallon buckets, one for my tackle (reels, sinkers, hooks, leaders, etc.) and the other contains a smaller bait bucket and a small cooler for drinks. Strap a beach chair to your back for the short hike away from swimmers. (Swimmers scare fish, anyway.)

Surf fishing is popular at Canaveral National Seashore.

The Bucket – A basic 5-gallon bucket is ideal. Bucket inserts, available at home improvement stores, make fine compartments for your tackle.

Bait Bucket and Aerator – For the second 5-gallon bucket, buy a perforated lid from any bait shop to keep live bait contained, and use a portable, battery-powered aerator to keep the water oxygenated. Talk to the bait shop clerk about the best live bait to use in the area you’re going to fish. He’ll have it, or you can catch your own.

Rod Holders – Rod holders keep your rod and reels out of the sand. You can buy them, but it’s easy to make them yourself out of a three-foot length of PVC pipe. Use a hacksaw to cut a point at one end for driving into the sand. I pack a rubber mallet to pound it into the sand.

The Beach Cart — Many regulars go for all the bells and whistles, including PVC-framed carts for carrying gear. You can purchase these hand-made carts at many beach-area bait and tackle shops for $150-$200, or you can build one yourself to meet your specific needs. The key to building a successful cart is the beach wheel, which needs to be wide and roll freely.

Keep nail clippers in your pocket for clipping line.

Rods and Reels

A basic medium spinning outfit will suffice, but you might want to consider this: The Rod – Most agree that a sturdy rod about 10 feet is the best choice for casting in the surf beyond the break line. I carry an 11-foot Harnell, the granddaddy of surf rods, and an inexpensive 9-foot White Rhino, which is suitable for most conditions. Whatever you use, a longer butt is best for casting.

Wading into the surf at dawn.

The Reel – The “pros” use a wide, free-wheeling baitcaster, but unless you know how to use it, leave it on the shelf.

Backlash is a nightmare. Choose instead a decent mediumweight spinning reel that can handle a few hundred yards of 25-lb to 30-lb. line. I usually carry three spinning reels, wrapped in clean rags and carry them out in my tackle bucket to keep the sand out.

Tools – Bait knife, pliers, gloves and nail clippers. You need pliers to remove hooks from your fish without hurting the fish, and nail clippers are indispensable. I rarely use a bait knife because I fish most often with live bait. Gloves are useful for holding your catch and protecting your hands from sharp teeth and fins. Special casting gloves without fingertips can be purchased, as can mesh fishing gloves, but throwaway vinyl gloves do the least damage to your fish.

Tackle The Line – Monofilament line is the choice of most surf anglers, but old-school fishers used braided lines. Today’s braided lines are far superior – they are thinner and stronger.

One of the three reels I bring to the beach has 150 yards of 30lb. braided line with a monofilament backing of another 200 yards. This allows room for the fish to run and wear itself out.

My other two reels have monofilament, 15-lb. and 25-lb. test.

Surf fishing at Don Pedro Island State Park

Sinkers – Pyramid sinkers creep into the sand and hold your bait near the bottom. They come in various sizes, and it’s a good idea to bring a selection for varying surf conditions. Some have wire anchors, although they can be troublesome. Egg sinkers and bucktail jigs work, too. A little bounce on the bottom stirs up the sand, attracting fish. In a calm surf, let your bait swim on a line unencumbered by a weight.

Hooks – Many swear by circle hooks because the set quickly, but the standard J-hook work best for me. You’ll need to pay closer attention to the J-hook, but that’s fishing, right?

Basic Rigs – The basic rig for most saltwater fishing is called the Fishfinder, or sliding rig. Slip the tag end of your line through the eye of your sinker, then attach a swivel big enough to stop the slide. On the other end of the swivel, attach a 30-lb. leader with your hook. Add bait and go fishing.

Special rigs – The possibilities here are endless, but the one I use most is called a “pompano rig.” Don’t bother making one, just buy a ready-rig at your bait shop. They are available everywhere. The pompano rig has two or three sub-leaders, spaced and tied off on the main leader, with small circle hooks.

Clip a pyramid sinker to a swivel at the bottom of the rig.

Simple to use and effective in the surf, especially for pompano.

Lures and Jigs – Other than jigs, lures are not always effective in the surf, except when the mullet are running. You might try an imitation mullet, but live bait is always best and bait shops usually have plenty of live mullet in season. At other times, try a live shrimp on a jig, then bounce it on the bottom a few times in the surf. The jig of choice for surf fishing is the feathered bucktail jig tipped with a small piece of shrimp. This is also an effective lure for inshore waters, such as the Indian River Lagoon.

Nets – Not required, but it may help. As you reel your catch to shore, fish bounce in the surf and get thrown off your hook.

Walking out to meet the fish with your net gives you an edge.

Bait Mullet — Best during the fall mullet run. Hook just in front of the tail or through the nose. If the surf is calm, let the mullet run free in mild currents. In rougher surf, you may want to use a sinker.

Sand fleas – Not really a flea, but a small crab. Premium bait for pompano, a delicious white-flesh fish and prime game in Florida’s Atlantic coastal waters. Also known as a mole crab, you can either buy them at a beach-area bait shop or pick them out of the sand along the surf line. As the surf rolls back, watch for tiny disruptions in the outward flow, showing as a V. Those are antennae. Scoop the sand around the crab and dig them out.

Shrimp – Live is best, but frozen works in a pinch, just not as well. With live shrimp, you need a bucket and an aerator to keep them alive for a day of fishing. The aerators run on batteries and attach to your bucket. Add seawater, drop the tube with an aerator head into the water to continually adding oxygen. Without an aerator, the shrimp won’t last long. You can buy an aerator for under $20.

Squid – Readily available frozen. Cut the body into thin strips and use one at a time on each hook or jig. I don’t have much luck with squid, but many others do, so it’s worth considering, especially if no other bait is available.

A note about the value of local bait shops…

Patronize a bait shop near the beach you want to fish. These guys know what’s biting and what kind of bait you should use.

Of course, their advice is not infallible, but they know better than anybody except the guy who fishes that beach every day.

The bait shop clerks will also be happy to advise you on your tackle for fishing locally and the rigs you’ll need for best results.

There is a really cool smartphone app that locates bait shops near you. The app is called Bait Shops by Derek Trauger.

Android or iOS

Where, when and how to fish the surf Most beaches in Florida allow surf fishing, unless there are large crowds of swimmers. In some cases, restrictions limit hours for fishing. Usually, those restricted fishing hours are early morning and near dusk, which are the best times to fish, anyway.

Beaches with restrictions will post the rules as you enter the beach. You don’t want to be near swimmers, anyway.

Wear water shoes or beach sandals to protect your feet from rocks, coral or shells below the surf. Bring a hat and good sunscreen.

Start early or late – Fish are rummaging for food as the light starts to come up, before dawn, so you want to be there to feed them your bait. Don’t despair if you arrive late, especially during the fall mullet run. At some beaches, anglers report better fishing as the day wears on. Another popular time to fish is at dusk, when the water begins to cool and fish come off the bottom to hunt for food. Tide can also be a factor at midday.

Check reef structure and tidal flow – If there are reefs or sandbars near shore, as there are on Hutchinson Island and Canaveral National Seashore, watch the ebb and flow of currents. Fish are often trapped in the trough between the beach and sandbars or a reef, but they flow out through gaps.

You can see the outward flow on the surface, and it’s productive to position yourself to fish the outflow.

When you cast, don’t be afraid to get wet. Fishing the troughs near beach may not require a long cast, but if you don’t have such structure, you’ll need to cast as far as possible. That’s where a longer rod is a big plus. Wade into the

surf as far as comfortable and take your time casting. A steady, progressively faster cast with a release at 1 o’clock will give you the most distance. It takes practice.

Catch and release – Decide ahead of time whether you plan to release your catch. My rule is that if I’m not going to eat it or use it for bait, the fish goes back. When you land the fish, pick it up carefully but firmly and remove the hook. Wet your hands first so that you don’t remove the slime that protects the fish.

Once the hook is removed, carry it into the surf and gently release it in the water. DON’T THROW IT! Throwing the fish into the ocean is for amateurs. Watch out for barbs, teeth and sharp fins. If the fish doesn’t move, give it a nudge so the water will flow through its gills.

Surf Fishing Gear: 17 Essentials You Should Have Before Surf Fishing August 21, 2018 by Jon

https://castandspear.com/surf-fishing-gear/ Surf fishing is one of the most exciting ways to catch fish!

Imagine yourself watching a beautiful sunset as your casting far out over the breaking waves. If you’re like me then you enjoy covering a lot of ground by flinging your bait in all directions.

Listen to this post on the Cast & Spear Podcast Subscribe to the Cast & Spear Podcast on iTunes Standard Surf Fishing Setup  Surf fishing rod  Surf fishing reel  Line: Braided, Monofilament, or Fluorocarbon  Tackle: weights, hooks, bait, lures, and handmade lures

   

Surf fishing rigs Accessories: Fishing pliers, scissors, nail clippers Apparel: board shorts, sunglasses, backpack, fishing mask, sunscreen Fishing license

Surf fishing is one of the best hobbies you can have…simply for the sunsets and the excitement of having tight lines.

As the waves crash on your legs, you feel the tip of your rod start to quiver.

And you’re on!

Is it a ray? Could it be a shark? Maybe it’s a halibut?! The excitement is almost too much to handle as you reel it in fast.

It’s a surf perch…Well, at least you got a bite! Send it back and keep the casts flowing.

If this sounds like something that you’d like to try, then the first place to start is by understanding the surf fishing gear needed to catch fish. I’ll start off by saying that there are endless combinations of gear choices and ultimately it’ll come down to your personal preference after you try out different items.

In this article, we’re going to dive into some of the surf fishing tips I use and what others who surf fish like as their go-to setups for easy surf fishing. Whether you’re a beginner or a more seasoned surf fisher, this guide will help make sure you have everything you need for a fun day out in the sand.

Let’s get started and see what you should have in your surf fishing gear setup.

Surf Fishing Rods Your rod depends on the style of surf fishing you want to embark on. The two styles are cast and wait (using a long rod) or fan casting (using a medium to the short rod).

If you decide you want to heave out a huge piece of bait far out into the ocean and wait for a fish to come by and take it, then you’re going to want

a large pole. This method requires a pole 10 feet or longer, with most topping out around 15 feet.

This size pole will take some getting use to for casting, so your first few times might be unpleasant. Also, note that you’ll need to have plenty of space in front and behind you to cast it without having anything obstruct your action.

This size fishing rod tends to be a bit heavy so you won’t be holding the pole for long while waiting for the fish to bite. It’s better to place the pole in the sand, a holder, or leaning up against a structure until the fish bite.

Catching Hard to Reach Fish Depending on the structure of the beach, there might be a trough that drops from around three feet to say 20 feet. That’s usually where the larger fish are active and that’s simply too far for a smaller pole to cast out there.

You’ll need to use heavy weights to be able to cast out far. With 3 ounces of lead, it’s not uncommon to cast it out 250 feet or more.

When using a big rod, it tends to be harder to feel when a smaller fish is on the line. This isn’t a big problem if you’re leaving the rod in the ground and waiting for a solid bite before reeling in.

It’s not uncommon to see videos of anglers pulling in massive sharks from the beach using large rods. If you’re interested in trying that out, make sure you get the appropriate line that can withstand their sharp teeth.

Fan casting is a fun way to get in the water and try many areas quickly.

Fan Casting Rod If you want to be more active surf fishing then you should try getting a medium to short rod and fan casting. This is where you cast out and reel in more frequently and in different directions up and down the beach.

A tried and true setup: Length: 7 to 9 feet Power: Medium to medium-light Action: Fast More on How to Pick the Best Surf Fishing Rod   

Surf Fishing Reels When you’re surf fishing, you’re going to be dealing with the harsh saltwater and sand that will damage anything that moves…and since reels have moving parts, it’s important to opt for quality.

The two styles of reels common for surf fishing are:  

Spinning Reels Conventional Reels

Surf Fishing Spinning Reels This is a common style of reel, especially for beginners. They are easy to use and are robust depending on the brand and style you choose.

The size of reel you choose depends on the size of fish you’re going after and the size of rod you’re using.

Spinning Reel Size Guide Small Spinning Reels  Size: 1000 – 3500  Suggested Mono: 2 – 10lb  Suggested Braid: 4 – 20lb  When to use: It’s good to use a smaller reel when you’re surf fishing since you’ll be holding your rod and reel for long periods of time.

Since you’re not casting super far with a short to medium length pole, a small reel will have plenty of line for most fish you catch.

Medium Spinning Reels  Size: 4000 – 5500  Suggested Mono: 8 – 14lb  Suggested Braid: 8 – 25lb  When to use: These rods are great when you’re going for the larger fish and need a little more line than a smaller reel. These reels work well for rods larger than 8 feet and can even be used for dropping line off a kayak or small boat.

Large Spinning Reels  Size: 6000 – 8500+  Suggested Mono: 12 – 30 lb  Suggested Braid: 12 -50 lb



When to use: Large reels can massive, however for surf fishing you probably won’t need anything greater than 8500. These reels are huge and will most likely be used for large poles where you need to cast out far and put the pole in the sand while you wait for the big fish or shark to come by.

Surf Fishing Conventional Reels Conventional reels are great for distance casting at the beach, especially if you want to go for sharks and other big fish.

Conventional reels require you to lay down the line yourself using your finger, which can take some practice. Some come with a star wheel drag or lever drag depending on the manufacturer.

The biggest challenge most new surf fishers have with conventional reels is their tendency to birds next if you aren’t careful placing your thumb back on the spinning spool near the end of your cast. However, once you master this, you’ll be able to cast farther than a spinning reel due to the reduced drag design.

Some conventional reels come with magnetic brakes which tend to be better than centrifugal brakes.

If you’re going to use a big surf fishing rod, it’s worth trying a conventional reel to get the most distance out of your casts.

More on How to Pick the Best Surf Fishing Reels

Best Line for Surf Fishing There’s a host of fishing line setups for you to choose from, but the common line options are braid and monofilament.

Nothing beats being out in the ocean with a line in the water.

The key items to consider when picking your line is:   

Price per yard Abrasion resistance Stretch



Amount of line that can fit on your spool

Price Mono tends to be cheaper than braid of the same breaking strength.

Expensive doesn’t mean braid is the clear winner, it depends on the application.

Abrasion Resistance Mono is the clear winner. Anytime mono is rubbing against something sharp like a rock, it tends to wear but not snap instantly unlike braid.

Stretch Mono definitely stretches more than braid. This is important if the fish you’ve hooked has a soft mouth and you need some leeway during the fight to prevent the hook from pulling off.

Some anglers like braid for artificial lures since it doesn’t stretch giving them the sensitivity and responsiveness they desire.

Line Diameter Braid is significantly thinner than mono for the same breakage strength.

This means you can spool more braid on a reel than you can with mono.

This is beneficial in that you can use a smaller reel which weights less and won’t make you tired after a long day of fishing.

Casting Diameter Braid is thinner which means you can cast them farther than mono. Some empirical tests show that braid gets at least 7% further cast than mono.

Braid Backing With Mono Topshot The new trend in surf fishing is to braid back at least half your spool and top shot the rest with mono. This means you’ll be fishing primarily with the mono since you most likely won’t be using the full length of your reel, but you have the security of knowing if you do catch the big one you have the line necessary to bring the fish in.

This is helpful also when you want to replace the cheaper mono and keep the braid on there since it’s barely used. This saves you money over the long haul, plus you get to use a smaller reel when otherwise you’d need a bigger one.

More on How to Pick the Best Fishing Line for Spinning Reels

Fluorocarbon Leaders Many anglers like to use a fluorocarbon leader because they are ultra clear and make it hard for fish to see the line. They also sink more aggressively than mono or braid which is nice when trying to get your line down below the water line.

Fluorocarbon tends to be more expensive than mono as well.

More on How to Pick the Best Braided Fishing Line for Surf Fishing

Surf Fishing Tackle Depending on where you’re fishing and the conditions, your tackle needs will be different. Below are some general tackle items that should work for a majority of surf fishers.

Sinkers When it comes to weights there are different styles depending on how you want your bait to behave in the water.

Most anglers will use a 1 to 3 oz bullet, slip, or pyramid sinker to get their bait far out beyond the breakers.

If you’re going for a halibut or want to get a fish’s’ attention, then add a colored bead between the weight and the swivel. Red and orange tend to work well.

If you’re using a swimbait, then check out the ½ and ¾ oz jig head weights that come with an integrated hook to hold the weight to the bait.

Hooks

You’re going to want a bunch of different hooks depending on your setup needs. You should have at least ten of each size between 4 and 8.

Get the different styles such as the mosquito, bait keepers, octopus, etc.

As for colors, red and black seem to do well, but I’ve caught on pretty much all colors in the past.

More on How to Pick the Best Fishing Hooks

Soft Bait Lures You can never have enough soft bait lures to test out in your waters. I’ve had great success catching small to medium size fish using Berkley GULP! Camo Sandworks (2-inches) and Big Hammer Perch Grubs in Motor Oil Red Flake and Motor Oil Red Flake and Green colors.

Get a wide variety of colors and type to try out since it depends on the water conditions. If the area you’re fishing is murky, then get a dark colored bait. If the area is bright and clear, then try some vibrant colors.

Hard Bait Lures Certains species don’t go for the soft baits which require you to spend some money on the hard baits.

Some hard baits that have worked well for me: Lucky Craft Flash Minnow 110 Rapala Maxrap 13 (in Flake Hot Blue and Sardine colors) ⅝ oz Krocodile Spoons (in Green and Blue Mackerel colors) ¼ – 1 oz Kastmasters More on the Names of Fishing Lures    

Accessories Now that we’ve covered all the essentials for surf fishing, it’s time to dive into the various nice-to-haves to make your life comfortable.

For beginners, most of these items are not needed until you spend more time in the water.

Having a spike or rod holder makes it easy to chill and wait for a bite

Sand Spike Sand spikes are plastic, wood, or metal rod holders that you drive into the sand. If you’ve gone to the beach and seen a large fishing pole pointed near vertical in the sand, it was most-likely supported by a sand spike.

These come in handy to keep the line high up so that people can walk along the beach without being clotheslined by fishing line. They also make it convenient while you wait for a fish to bite without your pole flying off towards the ocean.

Buckets Buckets make great seats while you’re waiting for the big ones to take your bait. If you’re fan casting then it’s nice to have a bucket to throw the keeper fish in with some ice. This helps you not get all the fish juices on the inside of your car.

If you’re using live bait then keeping them in a bucket is helpful, especially if you pick up a cheap aerator to oxygenate the water.

Fishing Backpack It helps to transport your gear from your car to the beach without you needing to carry anything in your hands except your pole and bucket.

Not just any backpack will do. There are a host of fishing backpacks and tackle bags that will make your fishing day a joy instead of a nightmare.

More on How to Pick the Best Fishing Backpacks and Tackle Bags

Fishing Pliers Nothing makes you feel guiltier than having a fish swallow a hook and you can’t remove it because you don’t have pliers to get deep in there. Pliers help you remove hooks easily and are a must-have for the ethical angler.

More on How to Pick the Best Fishing Pliers

Measuring Tape Measuring tapes are handy to measure your fish after it’s been caught. If you want to keep your fish then it’s important it’s of legal limit and without a measuring tape, you’d never know.

Even if you catch and release, measure your fish so you can keep track of the biggest ones you’ve caught of each species.

Fingernail Clippers These come in handy to cut line, especially when you’re removing excess line around a knot. Some anglers opt to use their teeth…however, these are more effective.

Tackle Containers/Dividers Pick up a cheap clear container with dividers to store your tackle. This helps you keep it organized and easy to access when you need to swap out or replace your rigging.

A common way to organize is to have three small containers, one for your soft lure packages, another for your various hooks, weights, leaders, etc, and a final one for your hard baits.

If possible, get different colors to help you easily identify each container in your backpack.

More on How to Pick the Best Fishing Backpack and Tackle Bag

Hand Towel Sometimes rinsing your hands in the ocean after catching a fish can’t get all the slime off. If you have a cheap old towel, it’ll help get your hands dry and slime-free so you can get back after it.

Just note, don’t hold the fish with a towel since it’ll remove their natural slime and could lead to disease or illness for the fish.

Camera Fishing is better when shared. If you catch something it’s always awesome to share a picture or video with your friends.

I like using a GoPro, but most smartphones are more than adequate for capturing awesome pictures.

More on How to Pick the Best Fishing Camera

Surf Fishing Rigs It’s important to know how to rig a fishing line so you’re not stuck out on the beach looking like a noob.

Make sure you have all the gear ahead of time so you can enjoy your time without worry.

Carolina Rig The simplest rig for surf fishing is the Carolina Rig. It’s the setup for someone who wants to get out in the surf, get wet, and fan cast all over the place.

It’s comprised of a slip weight with optional colored bead, swivel, leader, then a hook with an attached lure or bait. For most surf conditions you’ll need a ½ oz weight, but feel free to opt for a ¾ or 1 oz if the waves are larger.

The best bait to throw on your hook for this setup is a Gulp! 2-inch camo sandworm, Big Hammer perch Grub in Motor Oil Red Flake or a live sand crab.

Drop Shot Rig This rig is popular in Japan and it uses a weight, hook, and lure in a specific configuration. Using a Palomar Knot Place a ¼ to 1oz weight at the end of your leader. Bell sinkers work well.

12 to 14 inches above the sinker attach a hook using a Palomar knot. You can then place a soft lure that looks like a fish on the hook. Hook the other end of the leader line to your swivel and you’re ready to go.

When you cast out to keep your rod at 9 o’clock and keep the line tight. As you reel it in moves your rod between 9 and 12 o’clock to have the lure flutter up and down realistically.

Most of the time a Carolina rig will get the job done, but sometimes if you’re having a hard time you’ll need to spice it up and this rig might just land you a Halibut. Worth a shot!

Fishing License Make sure you have the proper fishing license and ocean stamp for your state or country. No need to get in trouble doing something fun!

If you’re in the States, pick up your fishing license here.

FAQ Q: What is surf fishing?

A: Surf fishing is fishing in the ocean offshore. You use a saltwater pole, reel, and tackle and cast off as far as you can and wait for a fish to bite.

You can use a long rod to get your bait far out and wait for the big fish or you can use a smaller setup and fan cast up and down the shore looking for smaller fish.

Q: What size hook for surf fishing?

A: It’s always good to have multiple size hooks at your disposal, but having sizes between 4 and 8 seem to cover most of the basis. Just make sure you get different types such as the mosquito, bait keepers, etc.

Q: What is a surf rod?

A: A surf rod is a fishing pole that you use in the ocean. Most surf rods will be between 7 – 15 feet depending on the style of surf fishing you’d like to do. Shorter is better for fan casting and longer is better for casting far out beyond the breakers.

Q: What size reel for surf fishing?

A: This all comes down to personal preference and the type of fish you’re going after. For most fan casting situations, 2500-4000 will get the job done. If you need to cast farther you can get a larger reel or use braid line to pack more line on the spool.

Q: What bait to use for surf fishing?

A: It’s always good to have multiple types of bait depending on what type of fish you’re going after. Many anglers like Gulp! 2 in camo sandworms and Big Hammer Perch grubs. I’ve had lots of success over the years using sand crabs you find on shore.

Q: What size rod for surf fishing?

A: It’s recommended to get a 7 – 10-foot rod with medium light power and medium fast action.

Q: What pound test for surf fishing?

A: This depends on the type of fish you’re going after, but a good test would be 8lb mainline. Monofilament in clear, blue, or green. Your mainline is what’s spun around your spool. Use a 6lb leader line, such as Fluorocarbon, which is clear.

If you have a smaller reel, check out 8 – 20 lb braid.

Q: What is a shock leader surf fishing?

A: A shock leader is used to prevent break-offs during the cast. Once you’re able to start casting with enough force to actually achieve some distance, use a shock leader. Swivels tend not to be the weak point, but line and knots tend to give with force.

Q: What tackle to use for surf fishing?

A: Live bait, cut bait, soft and hard lures.

Q: What kind of bait to use for saltwater fishing?

A: Live bait, cut bait, soft and hard lures.

Q: What do I need for saltwater fishing?

A: A fishing rod, reel, line, tackle, and a fishing license.

Q: What is the best line for surf fishing?

A: It’s recommended that you mainline with braid then top shot with mono and use a fluorocarbon leader.

Q: What line to use for surf fishing?

A: It’s recommended that you mainline with braid then top shot with mono and use a fluorocarbon leader.

Q: What size weight for surf fishing?

A: Use between ½ and 8oz weight depending on how far you want the cast and the equipment you’re using.

Q: What is a good rod and reel for saltwater fishing?

A: For fan casting use an 8’6” SST with a 2500-3000 spinning reel. For further casting use a pole 10-15ft long and an 8000 or greater reel.