Surf Fishing Basics : Part 1

In celebration of the recent launch of Surf-Fish.com , I thought it would be worthwhile to revisit some of the basic principles of surf fishing. It is immensely confusing to new fishermen and women , especially if they hit the beach and see 12 foot rods being used. It is possible to ease into the sport , so let's look at some basic gear requirements first.

• Rods and Reels:

It takes a certain amount of practice to cast a 12 foot rod with accuracy and consistency , so start smaller. You can find smaller surf combos in the 8-9 foot range that will be much easier to cast at first , but will still be able to handle the occasional big fish. Look for a catfish or surf combo , with a bigger reel. These can be found at Wal Mart , BassPro , and most tackle stores. These are mainly Medium Heavy (MH) rods rated for 1-4 ounces of weight , and up to 20 pound line. This setup will become your go to rod for lighter duty surf fishing , so it is worth spending a few more dollars to get a nicer rod and reel. I recommend using a spinning reel unless you have lots of experience with baitcasters , as a 4 ounce sinker will cause backlashes unless you know how to cast. A spinning reel that will hold 150-200 yards of 17 or 20 pound test line is perfect for an 8-9 foot rod.

• Line:

Fishing line for surf or pier fishing is heavier than what most people are familiar with. It can be either braided line or monofilament , but in certain places braid is frowned upon. On piers and at crowded fishing beaches , high visibility 17 or 20 pound monofilament is probably the most commonly used line here on the East Coast of the U.S. , but you can get by with just about any type of 17-20 pound test line. Anything lighter will necessitate the use of Shock Leaders , and anything heavier will severely limit the line capacity of your reel. Braided line is popular in some places , and most people will use 50 or 60 pound braid. There are drawbacks to using braid , just as there are with mono , but it does have it's advantages. Just make sure braid is acceptable where you plan to fish before you spend the extra money. Mono is welcome everywhere.

• Rigs:

Rigging is my specialty. I know all manner of rigs for targeting specific fish , and I tie my own in most cases. Different rigs are required if you want to target specific fish , but there is only one that you should concern yourself with when first starting out in the surf. Unless you are good with knots , and have the patience to learn at least one new knot , I recommend that you buy rigs for your first trip. They are usually inexpensive , and they are a staple at every beach tackle shop and pier house I have ever been in.

The most basic rig you will use is a two hook bottom rig. It is without a doubt the best surf rig you can start with , and probably the most commonly used. Every surf fisherman will use this rig , or some variation of it , at some point. They are made by several companies , tons of local businesses , and even at home by frugal fishermen. In the picture below , you'll notice a few things : it's a short piece of wire with two twisted loops for attaching hooks , a swivel or loop to attach your main line to , and a swivel and snap on the end to attach a sinker. Some tackle shops sell these with hooks and sinkers already in place , but bigger stores usually carry them plain to allow you to choose how you want them rigged.

A Basic 2 Hook Bottom Rig , or Old Dominion Rig

To use this rig , you will need : snelled hooks (size 2 or 3 long shank is a good starter size) , and a sinker. It's best to tie the rig to your main line first using a reliable knot like the Palomar Knot , then add the sinker (2-3 ounces for most situations) , followed by the hooks. If you've bought a rig with the hooks already attached  , I recommend using an Improved Cinch Knot , but use whatever you are comfortable with.

• Sinkers :

If you are familiar with freshwater fishing , you'll be a little surprised by the large lead weights used in the surf for pan fish. The heavier line , the big rigs , and the waves all make it necessary to beef up your weight. If the ocean is relatively calm , 2-3 ounces is all you should need , but i have used as much as 8-10 ounces when targeting big species with a 12 foot rod. Starting out , all you should need is a handful of 2 , 3 , and 4 ounce sinkers. They come in several different styles , and most anglers will eventually find a favorite. In the picture below , you'll see a sample of 3 common East Coast standbys.

Pyramid , Flat Spoon , and a No Name?

Different sinkers have different uses , but mainly they have angles or flat spots to keep them from rolling in the surf. Everyone has a personal favorite , so you'll have to experiment until you find what you like.

• Bait : 

We are going places now! If you've made it this far , you're probably wondering about bait. People can and do use all sorts of crazy things for bait , but the cheapest and easiest are fresh shrimp or squid. For raw shrimp , just peel them and slide them on the hook so that they maintain their natural curve , or you can use small pieces if you're using smaller hooks. For squid , they have to be cleaned and cut into smaller strips (triangular or rectangular). I like to hook squid strips close to one end so that the rest hangs from the hook and moves in the waves. Fish love it!

There are a lot more options for bait , but a few other things for your bottom rig would be : Bloodworms (real or artificial) , clams , sand fleas , small pieces of fish (my favorite for bigger fish) , and just about anything else that you think a fish might find appetizing! It helps if it is something they are used to seeing or smelling in their natural environment , but most species in the surf aren't picky.

• Casting :

You don't have to cast half way across the Atlantic to catch fish! Some of the biggest fish I've seen were caught just behind the breaking waves , and some impressive smaller species right in the break. From a pier , you can drop your rig straight down or just use an underhanded toss. From the surf , I recommend an overhand cast straight out , but everyone casts differently so use what works for you , just be sure to check your surroundings so no one gets hurt. A trip to the ER to have a fish hook removed is a bad start to any fishing trip.

• Other Basics : 

Here are a few things I would recommend : 

• Sunscreen (especially if you have little fishermen with you)
• A good pair of Needle Nosed Pliers with a side cutter (for unhooking fish and cutting line or wire)
• A good knife or two (a clam knife for cutting bait , and a filet knife if you want to clean fish!)
• A Towel for messy hands and/or holding a slippery fish ( Golf Towels work great)
• A Medium sized cooler (bait and fish will keep better on ice , as will your drinks and snacks )
• Plenty of cold water and snacks (especially if you have young fishermen !)

Having a rain jacket has saved a lot of trips for me , but they aren't really necessary. It's also worth noting that lots of anglers will take two coolers to the beach. A big one for fish and bait , and a smaller soft sided cooler for snacks/drinks.

There you have it - a basic surf fishing guide to get you started. Welcome to Surf-Fish.com ! Check back next week for a bigger rig for bigger fish and more in depth instructions for line , rigs and bait!

Tight Lines!

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