Surf Fishing!

[73mountaineer]

Hey guys (and gals), I was wondering if there are any experienced surf fishers among us. I now find myself living within about 30-45min to some apparently great surf fishing spots along the Delaware coast & I have absolutely zero experience with this type of fishing. I'd love to get into it, but would like to skip some of the trial and error (read: wasting $$) in gearing up with some initial setups for my son & I. Any recommendations for solid, mid-priced tackle and other gear to get us going? Tips & techniques are welcome too!

Thanks!

[73mountaineer]

Wow, after 2 years I think I finally did what I previously thought impossible...I either stumped the forum or found something that absolutely no one around here has an interest in. It is entirely possible that the apocalypse will take place tomorrow.

[Porchswing]

On the beach in Florida and Alabama I have had luck casting as far as I can with a gold or silver spoon an just reeling in at a medium rate. It is pretty fun to see the school coming in and casting right into it and getting a hit almost as soon as the lure hits the water.

[razerburn]

You should have some good striper opportunities where you are, come fall. I'm guessing flounder and bluefish are what you'd be after during the summer.

[oakeshott]

Wow, after 2 years I think I finally did what I previously thought impossible...I either stumped the forum or found something that absolutely no one around here has an interest in. It is entirely possible that the apocalypse will take place tomorrow.

Not so quick my friend, not so quick. A lifelong fisherman, I spent a dozen years as a serious surfcaster on the Rhode Island coast. Moved back to Virginia, got a bird dog and now spent what few days I have hunting rather than fishing. Still, I think I may remember enough to get you started.

The most important tip I can give you is to befriend the locals. Gear and techniques can vary wildly depending on the location. For instance, in Rhody, we all used spinning gear on 9-11 ft one piece poles (the serious guys, that is) and most of our method was artificials except at night when you'd hunt big bass with live eels. Down in the Carolinas, most of the hardcore guys I met fished with levelwind reels and did much, much more bait fishing than we did. They also used longer poles, heavier line and terminal tackle. The problem you face is that surfcasters are notoriously secretive...especially the knowledgeable ones. It took me years to become part of the gang.

Are there any local tackle shops near the section of beach you plan to fish? If so, stop in there. If they have decent quality tackle, buy it from those guys. That dramatically increases their willingness to share the sort of info you need to catch fish. It will cost more, but it's well worth it. If you've never fished with a level wind reel, then go for a spinning reel. Don't cheap out on the reel, surfcasting is absolutely brutal on your gear. Salt and sand together will destroy a cheap real in a season or two. Meanwhile, the Penn 750 I bought in 1984 could still hit the beach today. The smallest pole you should consider is 9 foot, but 10 or 11 are probably preferable. I've never fished with anything longer than 11ft, so I can't comment on those monsters. Your first pole can be a two piece which will save you money. I no longer know the reliable brands, but that should be an easy piece of research.

You will also need a surf bag. Tackle boxes aren't really practical out on the beach or on the breachways. Fill it up with an assortment of whatever is working that season (again, you'll need a reliable local tackle shop to go to for advice). Some topwater poppers, swimmers, bucktails are all standard, but again, defer to local knowledge. Also essential is a good saltwater grade pair of pliers for removing hooks, trimming line/wire and bending back barbs if you are into catch and release. Trust me, if you get into a bluefish blitz, you will not want to remove those hooks with your fingers. I nearly lost a tip of one to a 12 pounder one year.

For clothing, I cannot stress enough the importance of a GOOD pair of waders. I've settled on LL Bean because of their warranty. Don't know if they're the best, but I've been through quite a few in the last 30 years and Bean's unconditional warranty makes them the best value. Remember, ALL waders will/can leak. They have this in common. What they don't have in common is what the manufacturer will do about it.

The last thing before you hit the beach is learning a good assortment of knots. This isn't freshwater fishing for bass or trout. There are some toothy critters here and some of them get quite big. The bible for me on this was Lefty Kreh's and Mark Sosin's book on knots. Don't know if it's still available (and you can't have mine), but you'll need to know a good basic mono knot, a mono to wire knot, a wire to lure knot and so on.

This is just a beginning and if you head out to the beach with reasonably good tackle and a respectful attitude to your brother casters, then you'll eventually find someone to take you under their wing and teach you a few things. My experience is pretty dated, but if you have more questions, just drop me a note and I'll do my best to answer them.

[Slash McCoy]

+1

Most of my surf fishing has been on both coasts of Florida, and Texas. Especially in Texas, we see a lot of Redfish in the surf, and no Stripers. Still some bluefish, some trout, and a few other offerings. An occasional saddleblanket flounder, and lots and lots of whiting. Sharks can be a lot of fun, and a 7 or 8 footer can entertain you for an hour or more. Tarpon are not unheard of.

Wire is your friend. Lots of sharp teeth out there.

Nothing like local knowledge. Do what the locals do. Oakeshott's suggestion to buy something from the local surf tackle shop is a good one. They want to sell you gear and bait. Milk them for knowledge. Also try googling and try to find a local surf fishing forum.

Distance casting is a valuable skill. It gives you more options. Yes, you can often fish into cuts or between bars only 20 or 30 yards from the dry, but sometimes nothing will work but winging it out there as far as humanly possible. Practice. Find your optimum line size, weight size, rod size. Conditions often dictate a heavier weight or line, but you should know what works best for you. A beginner will usually do much better with a big spinning reel than a casting reel. Your first birdnest will prove my point. But I believe all the long distance casting champions use casting reels, and not levelwind, either. The levelwind adds a slight amount of resistance, but I do recommend a levelwind for your first casting reel. It is so much easier to let the reel manage your retrieved line, than to do it yourself while you are fighting a 40 inch redfish.

If you have kids, you can get them involved, too. Even the small fry can have fun with a spinning rig, a 2 oz sinker and a #4 hook baited with squid. Sometimes it doesn't take long to fill the cooler with whiting, and they can help catch your bait, too. A live croaker is very effective, especially in calm conditions when their croaking draws attention.

Don't wade out without flotation! Especially when wearing waders. Return often to the dry and get rid of your caught fish, AKA shark bait. I try to avoid wading when possible, and sit in my chair next to my beer cooler, with my rods in sand spikes. Safer and more relaxing. YMMV. There. I knew I would get one of those YMMV's in there somewhere!

[MrMurphy]

Oakeshott has excellent advice.

I no longer fish much, but i grew up fishing in CA both salt and freshwater, and my dad had fished the CA coast on and off (as well as offshore) for 30 years. I surf fished with him on and off throughout a solid 10-15 year period and his surf rigs were still the ones he bought in the mid 70s (and they still work.......). Buy quality, buy once.

He was more the sand stake/sit type than wading since in CA it was less an option in some places, but the majority of the advice given would still apply.

[Kentos]

Do you mean shore casting, or surfboard fishing?

I was a hardcore shorecaster with 13' custom pole and Penn and Shimano conventional reels. Takes some practice, but you can cast out your bait pretty far and still have lots of line left in a conventional.

[Slash McCoy]

When I was a kid we often made our own surf rods out of calcutta cane poles. On a limited budget, it was the only way to get a looooooong rod. We would replace the bamboo when needed, reusing the guides. Just thought I would throw that in there, in case you get sticker shock looking at all those 12' or 13' high tech space age fiber rods.

[Kentos]

11' Ugly Sticks used to be pretty cheap before. Kinda whippy but it would cast a nice sized sinker pretty good.

[oakeshott]

11' Ugly Sticks used to be pretty cheap before. Kinda whippy but it would cast a nice sized sinker pretty good.

That was my starter rod. Landed a few hundred bluefish before my starter wife bought me a custom made one piece nine footer...that I still have. Also eventually upgraded on the wife as well...still have her too.

I guess the lesson is that when you find something good, keep it.

[73mountaineer]

Do you mean shore casting, or surfboard fishing?

I was a hardcore shorecaster with 13' custom pole and Penn and Shimano conventional reels. Takes some practice, but you can cast out your bait pretty far and still have lots of line left in a conventional.

It would be what you call shore casting. In this part of the country it is most commonly called surf casting or surf fishing...not as much opportunity for confusion with surfing over here.

[73mountaineer]

And of course B&B comes through again! Thanks guys!

The loader operator at one of my sites is pretty into it too, so I am getting some good info from him when I do site visits there.

[Kentos]

It would be what you call shore casting. In this part of the country it is most commonly called surf casting or surf fishing...not as much opportunity for confusion with surfing over here.

LOL got it...my thinking tends to be geographically stunted living on this rock for the past 20 years.

[Mitso]

I also would recommend to go to a tackle show and see what they have gear for the specific type of fishing you want to do. I honestly can say fishing another one of my passions. Surf Casting can also another very expensive hobby. Oakshot would that custom 9 fter be a Allstar 1088?

[oakeshott]

I also would recommend to go to a tackle show and see what they have gear for the specific type of fishing you want to do. I honestly can say fishing another one of my passions. Surf Casting can also another very expensive hobby. Oakshot would that custom 9 fter be a Allstar 1088?

I would have to go out to the garage and look. It was made at a long out of business tackle shop in Misquamicut, RI in 1986 or 87. A close friend of mine has a house there, but since I moved to Virginia I have only been back once. Sad face now.

[ackvil]

Not so quick my friend, not so quick. A lifelong fisherman, I spent a dozen years as a serious surfcaster on the Rhode Island coast. Moved back to Virginia, got a bird dog and now spent what few days I have hunting rather than fishing. Still, I think I may remember enough to get you started.

The most important tip I can give you is to befriend the locals. Gear and techniques can vary wildly depending on the location. For instance, in Rhody, we all used spinning gear on 9-11 ft one piece poles (the serious guys, that is) and most of our method was artificials except at night when you'd hunt big bass with live eels. Down in the Carolinas, most of the hardcore guys I met fished with levelwind reels and did much, much more bait fishing than we did. They also used longer poles, heavier line and terminal tackle. The problem you face is that surfcasters are notoriously secretive...especially the knowledgeable ones. It took me years to become part of the gang.

Are there any local tackle shops near the section of beach you plan to fish? If so, stop in there. If they have decent quality tackle, buy it from those guys. That dramatically increases their willingness to share the sort of info you need to catch fish. It will cost more, but it's well worth it. If you've never fished with a level wind reel, then go for a spinning reel. Don't cheap out on the reel, surfcasting is absolutely brutal on your gear. Salt and sand together will destroy a cheap real in a season or two. Meanwhile, the Penn 750 I bought in 1984 could still hit the beach today. The smallest pole you should consider is 9 foot, but 10 or 11 are probably preferable. I've never fished with anything longer than 11ft, so I can't comment on those monsters. Your first pole can be a two piece which will save you money. I no longer know the reliable brands, but that should be an easy piece of research.

You will also need a surf bag. Tackle boxes aren't really practical out on the beach or on the breachways. Fill it up with an assortment of whatever is working that season (again, you'll need a reliable local tackle shop to go to for advice). Some topwater poppers, swimmers, bucktails are all standard, but again, defer to local knowledge. Also essential is a good saltwater grade pair of pliers for removing hooks, trimming line/wire and bending back barbs if you are into catch and release. Trust me, if you get into a bluefish blitz, you will not want to remove those hooks with your fingers. I nearly lost a tip of one to a 12 pounder one year.

For clothing, I cannot stress enough the importance of a GOOD pair of waders. I've settled on LL Bean because of their warranty. Don't know if they're the best, but I've been through quite a few in the last 30 years and Bean's unconditional warranty makes them the best value. Remember, ALL waders will/can leak. They have this in common. What they don't have in common is what the manufacturer will do about it.

The last thing before you hit the beach is learning a good assortment of knots. This isn't freshwater fishing for bass or trout. There are some toothy critters here and some of them get quite big. The bible for me on this was Lefty Kreh's and Mark Sosin's book on knots. Don't know if it's still available (and you can't have mine), but you'll need to know a good basic mono knot, a mono to wire knot, a wire to lure knot and so on.

This is just a beginning and if you head out to the beach with reasonably good tackle and a respectful attitude to your brother casters, then you'll eventually find someone to take you under their wing and teach you a few things. My experience is pretty dated, but if you have more questions, just drop me a note and I'll do my best to answer them.

Great advice.

I am an avid fisherman doing both freshwater and saltwater. I have tried every type of fishing you can think about. I have fished in Canada, California, Mexico, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Florida, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island. One thing I have realized is that fishing often is a local thing. What works in NJ may not work in FL. So talk to the locals and see what they suggest.

As for equipment, a lot depends on what you have used previously. Some like bait casting rods and reels but these take a longer time to master than spinning. See how the rod feels in your hands. Keep in mind with surfcasting you will be casting a lure quite a distance. Some individuals have a tough time handling an eleven or twelve foot rod. Casting a 12 foot rod for hours can take a toll on you.

One additional suggestion, if you fish at night be sure to have a lantern or similar light. It can be an impossible challenge to tie a hook or lure to a line in the dark - or attempting to "de-hook" a toothy creature in the dark.

[Yuritau]

As a kid I used to shore cast in the Gulf Islands between Vancouver and Victoria. Pulled in all kinds of rock cod and salmon. Still have a picture somewhere of me holding a salmon near as big as my 6 year-old self that I caught casting off the rocks at my grandparents cabin. Best. Catch. Ever.

[Jimbo]

I live in Texas and have been surf fishing the Gulf for years. This is the way I do it. It will be somewhat different for the Northeast.
I use a medium rod with a spinning real and 12 pound line with a wire or 150 pound mono leader, 1 oz lead weight. I like to use squid or cut bait. It stays on the hook better than dead shrimp. I do use live shrimp sometimes. I also use a Sabiki rig to catch bait: http://www.cabelas.com/bait-fish-rig...-rig-3-2.shtml
I put a gold spoon on the end of the rig for weight and as a stinger in case a game fish is lurking about. With the sabiki rig I usually catch piggy perch or pin fish and run them out on a heavy rod. I also put cut bait, crab, sting ray on the heavy rod.
I have two heavy rods. One is an 11' with a spinning reel the other is a 10' rod with a 6/0 wide Penn reel. These use 50 pound line, wire leaders and usually 2-5 oz surf weights with the legs on them:
http://www.double-d-extremetackle.com/Pages/design.aspx
This setup works well on everything from large redfish to shark. There's a different casting technique for surf casting. Google can probably find some videos.
Like everybody has said, check around locally and see what species are common to the area and what tackle is used. I would imagine bluefish is a target. You could catch them with the lighter setup. Best of luck.