Can anybody offer any advice on surf fishing to a complete noob?

[LidLess07X]

I have been looking for a hobby for some time. I live close to the Assateague Island National Seashore. I think I may want to try surf fishing since it would combine my love of using my Jeep (they have about 13 miles of drivable seashore right on the Atlantic ocean) and my love for the ocean. Does anybody have any experience with this? I know I will need gear, rods,a rod carrier for the Jeep etc. Where can I find this stuff? Is Bass Pro Shops a good source? I live very close to one, but since I'm not exactly an outdoorsman, I have never been in there. I think this could get expensive:crazyeyes: :crazyeyes:

[only_in_my_jeep]

Okay first off are you a fisherman? If yes the next question is do you have a heavy action rod like for catfish? If yes then I say using the same rod and rig give it a try in the surf with a piece of shrimp. You don't need a mile long cast just behind the breakers will do.
Now if you want to get serious you will need a minimum 12foot rod with corrosion resistant reels and heavy leads to throw big baits out for things like sharks and bigger fish. It can get expensive but you can get a decent set up at the local Wal-Mart cheaper as long as you take good care of it. Keep in mind salt and sand are the enemy and sand can be avoided for the most part. Salt will invade everything so be sure to rinse everything after a trip and oil reels often.
There are books in the local library on surf fishing so check a couple out and read up. I have one called surf fishing in the carolinas and it is a good one to start with.
Like I said start small and as cheap as possible but stay away from those all in one combos that usually have a tackle pack with them as they are not worth the plastic that wraps the tackle.

[RiggerMike]

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[only_in_my_jeep]

Bass Pro Shops are not that well set up for ocean gear. There is a great tackle store here in Huntington Beach, Ca. Their prices are hard to beat and the service is second to none. They have customers all over the world and will ship anywhere. If you are going to jump in, go with a quality setup and it will last a long time. www.charkbait.com
Very down to earth, very knowledgeable, and they don't mind giving out tons of free advice!

They also have a fishing forum on their site with lots of very experienced fisherman from all over who will give you great info.

As for my advice, never turn your back on the ocean and always park well above the mean high tide line!!!!!

Good luck!

Not to differ with your opinion but the Bass Pro near me (Myrtle Beach) specializes in offshore and surf fishing. Their selection of freshwater leaves a bit to be desired in compairson to other Bass Pros and the catalog. I also suggest that any new fisherman be it salt, fresh or whatever start small and inexpensive and work up because they are not even sure they will like it. There is a lot to be said for top quality gear and spending hundreds if not a thousand or more on a quality set up is not unheard of however just starting out is not the time to make that investment.

[rupedog]

Not to differ with your opinion but the Bass Pro near me (Myrtle Beach) specializes in offshore and surf fishing. Their selection of freshwater leaves a bit to be desired in compairson to other Bass Pros and the catalog. I also suggest that any new fisherman be it salt, fresh or whatever start small and inexpensive and work up because they are not even sure they will like it. There is a lot to be said for top quality gear and spending hundreds if not a thousand or more on a quality set up is not unheard of however just starting out is not the time to make that investment.

Good point, that is the same thing I tell people that are new to jeeping. Start with a stock jeep and see if you like it before you start spending cash on somethhing you might not like. It pretty much goes for fishing, hunting, or anything else in my opinion.:yup:

[RiggerMike]

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[only_in_my_jeep]

I guess I based my answer on an assumption that he already goes fishing. Quality doesn't need to mean expensive. By spending a few bucks more, you can get a good basic setup that could be used for other fishing purposes also. I have used the cheap-o's and spent the day fighting the equipment which was not a lot of fun.
I'm glad to hear BPS tailors their stock to the area, the one out here leaves a little to be desired. That will teach me to assume!

BTW Rupe, bad analagy! A stock Jeep IS a quality piece of equipment! :rotflmao1:

BPS, Wal-Mart, and many other big chains taylor their stock to the area somewhat. I have seen Wal-Marts in the mountians with a decent selection of flyfishing gear and those near the beach/ocean with serious offshore tackle. The same can be said of Bass Pro. I too believe the cheap-o's should be left where they sit (thus my warning about those combos with tackle and such included) however the local W/M here (not to mention BP) has a decent selection of 10'-15' surf sticks that range from $60-$100 and then you get a reel around the same price and you have a decent set up. I will say there is a lot to be said for precision matched tackle that can run in the thousands however most folks neither want nor need the performance such an outfit can give. BTW I am talking with one of those taking a pound or so in terminal tackle and casting a football field or more. I know guys who do it on an almost daily basis but you don't need to to catch fish.

[RiggerMike]

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[only_in_my_jeep]

Yep, no need to cast a mile, just into the holes on the backside of the break!
A couple of hundred can get you a pretty good set up to start with, I leave the really big $$ outfits to the rich guys in Newport. I could not afford to lose one, let alone buy one. I have a couple of split bamboo fly rods that date to the early 50's that belong to my Uncle. I really want to try them out, but I would hate to snap one.
Man, I gotta go fishin......

I would love to own a Bamboo rod however I also have a need to eat and sleep with a roof over my head. Nothing I own is as expensive as stuff can get but I do (for the most part) have quality gear even for the kids. I do have a couple bargin type setups for loaners but I am not paying as much for say one of my kid's friends to use. Flyfishing is a sport all to it's own when you start talking expense though. My fat fingers are not coordinated enough to tie flies so I have to purchase them. Sometimes I feel like I just handed over my wallet to a mugger when I get done restocking a flybox. I do get a lot of more inexpensive flys online which catch fish but the quality is not as good and they tend not to last long. I do a lot of bream and bass fishing and they can tear up a fly in short order.

[RiggerMike]

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[cj2a11713]

i don't know alot about any type of fishing but i can tell you that whenever i toss a line into the water off of assateague island i catch a buzz. it may have something to do w/ the big bon fire and ice cold natty boh's!!

[07sbjk]

My husband has gone out 3-4 times and the one piece of advice that I have not seen here is LONG needle nose plyiers or something similar.....almost everything you catch has lotsa teeth! You will
want something to get that hook out!

[LidLess07X]

Holy reappearing post Batman! Finally got my permit for the beach.($130) Still going to wait on buying the fishing gear. I think I'll just pester some of the guys there a few times to see what they are using and what works.

[muddpuppy01]

that is the best advise you can give yourself. Talk to local bait shops and anglers. Bass Pro is a good place to go to for rods and reels. Tackle I hit up wal mart they tend to be cheaper for the that type of stuff.

You may need a surf rod or you want beable to get away with a smaller rod. Personally I use a 6' and a 6'6" med action ugly sticks. I enjoy the fight more cause I just dont have to reel them in I have to actually work the fish.

[guinness]

why do you want to fish on a surfboard wouldnt a boat be easier?:confused::dontknow2:

















kidding

[mcds99]

I do some fly fishing I would think you would want to clean everything after putting it in salt water.
After a day of fishing I take the line off my reel, most fly fisherman do this the line is different then mono. I dry it with a cloth, inspect it for knicks and hang it. The reals get a complete cleaning and oiling, they end up in the water and on the ground more then my spinning gear.

[mmcan]

I have been looking for a hobby for some time. I live close to the Assateague Island National Seashore. I think I may want to try surf fishing since it would combine my love of using my Jeep (they have about 13 miles of drivable seashore right on the Atlantic ocean) and my love for the ocean. Does anybody have any experience with this? I know I will need gear, rods,a rod carrier for the Jeep etc. Where can I find this stuff? Is Bass Pro Shops a good source? I live very close to one, but since I'm not exactly an outdoorsman, I have never been in there. I think this could get expensive:crazyeyes: :crazyeyes:



As an avid fisherman, I would highly recommend that you learn how to fly fish, and then get a Tarpon 160i sit-on-top kayak so you can go anywhere you want to to get to the fish. It is an absolute blast! Take a lesson or 2 for the fishing and the kayaking. ALWAYS wear a life vest, and pay attention to your surroundings. You will be well rewarded.

I can think of few things I would rather do when on the coast. I mean of course with my clothes on.

[csorensen]

I went out with a guide my first time surfcasting, and it was money well spent. I would highly recommend it. Just simple things he taught us like how to get just a little more distance in your cast were invaluable. Also a lot of safety things, like when to wade and when not to, where to stand in heavy surf, and which fish are likely to mangle your hands are lessons well paid for. We spent 12 hours, didn't catch much more than a buzz, but it was more fun than I've had in a long time. I would second the other person above who said that using a smaller rod is a good option. Our guide had two rods for each of us, one of the big sticks, and one medium action spinning setup. Used the big ones when you needed to cast out past the break, and the small setup for estuaries and calmer areas, best of both worlds. I'm hoping to get to go out again in June when I visit my uncle on the coast again. :clap:

[only_in_my_jeep]

As an avid fisherman, I would highly recommend that you learn how to fly fish, and then get a Tarpon 160i sit-on-top kayak so you can go anywhere you want to to get to the fish. It is an absolute blast! Take a lesson or 2 for the fishing and the kayaking. ALWAYS wear a life vest, and pay attention to your surroundings. You will be well rewarded.

I can think of few things I would rather do when on the coast. I mean of course with my clothes on.

While I agree in part with the Kayak suggestion he is also not on the gulf coast. The east coast gets a little rough (surf and swell) and hard to manage in a small boat. The further north you go the more this is true. I say that the kayak suggestion is great for inshore but not off the beach.

[CIJeep]

Surf fishing, basic equipment. 8-10# test. Spinning reel if you're a noobie, bast casting if not. 8 foot pole or there abouts, light/med duty for. Fiberglass good, especially in a lightning storm.

Pyramid or similar sinkers, 3-8 oz depening on surf. Braided line nice but should only be used by experienced guys, the line can cut you bad. Use a hybrid or flourocarbon, something that is abrasion resistent. Plastic lures, especially Gulp in 2 to 3" variety. Worms, shad, shimp. SOme rainbow colors, some with red in it, and so on.

Get a good filet knife, and a couple others for cutting up fresh frozen bait. Check with the people in your local to see what is hot. Drop line rigging is usually good.

As has been mentioned, you do not need to cast far, unless there is some grass/kelp beds close by, look for rip tides, hollows and points.

Usually best and hour or two before and after high tide.

Have fun, follow the rules, and be sure to carry something to measure with.

Oh, and a sand spike that holds a couple rods would be a good thing, helps keep sand out of the reels.

[jkdrone]

While I agree in part with the Kayak suggestion he is also not on the gulf coast. The east coast gets a little rough (surf and swell) and hard to manage in a small boat. The further north you go the more this is true. I say that the kayak suggestion is great for inshore but not off the beach.


Actually, a kayak is a staple of surf fisherman that I know (east, west, and third coast). A kayak, jon boat, jet ski, or inflatable boat is an excellent way to get bait out past the sand bars, a lot more safely than wading too. (Presuming one has the basic skills and safety knowledge.)

However, fishing "beyond the breakers" as we call it here (going out past the 3rd bar and fishing from the kayak there) is its science/art, not one to be taken lightly.

Now, as to whether one 'yak or another is better - in fact, the tarpon is more suited to the east coast beaches than the gulf coast beaches. Down here the wave periods are much shorter, and short wide 'yaks (like the cheap pelican) are preferred to keep from "telephone poling" the yak, or getting the bow pulled under the next wave while still on the present wave. AFAIK, the east coast tends to have longer wave periods, where longer 'yaks work better. The tarpon 160 series are often used as a SOT ocean kayak, moreso on the east and west coasts for the reason I just mentioned. Around here 12' kayaks are preferred for going beyond the breakers.

So, umm, back to the original point:

Get a decent setup (can be had for about $120 using spinning rigs), learn everything about it, take good and proper care of it. (Don't pour fresh water on your reel as it gets sandy! Wait and properly maintain it when you get home!) Monitor your line, also give preference to more line than greater poundage. For example, given the choice between 250 yards of 40lb line and 400 yards of 25lb line, go with the latter. 20lbs of drag on a fish for 100 yards will wear it out as much if not more as 35lbs for 20 yards. Rely on a shock leader to take the initial brunt of the fish, NOT your line! Heavier line is not always better =)

Understand how to rig your bait properly. Rigging a 3lb stringray is night and day from a "steak and lobster" rig weighing in at 1lb. You might use a 3oz weight with one, and a 1oz weight with the other. A rigging needle and some rigging floss will come in handy. Better bait shops will have these - your bait should look proper, not just "stuck on some hooks".

Understand rip currents, they are your friend and enemy. Fished properly, and they can net some great predators. Fished improperly, and they could be deadly.

Learn how to read structure along the beach - be able to tell where the deep holes are and where the bars are. Learn about which 'guts' fish will be in based on which tide.

Watch weather reports, tides, and wind patterns. Write them down when you go out, and write down conditions on the beach and your catching/bite patterns. You can use this information later, once you've put together enough of it, to do good correlations. Make sure you write down your bait, water clarity, current direction, etc.

Go get a good book on knots, you're going to need a number of them. Know when and how to use a haywire twist, a double improved clinch knot, a surgeons knot, or a biminy twist.

Above and beyond all, it really helps to spend several trips going out with people who know a lot more - ask them lots of questions and watch how they make their decisions.

!c

[OlegFl]

First of all... Find out what people are catching in you area. Find out what bait they are using. Go out to where everyone is fishing and watch them a couple of times. Make a friend or two :) .... maybe they'll be intersted in some company and will loan you a spare rod.

Most of the fishing I do here is from the piers or shore. And I do a lot and have better results than most of the people that come here. I NEVER picked up a book, or got a guide, or had anyone really teach me. When I was 10 I picked up some rods that where lying around the basement, met some fisherman on the piers, gave them $5 for a few weights, hooks, and some bait. I made on the piers friends (usally 60 year old men but they liked that I was intersted in fishing) that helped me out, and gained a lot of experience. On that note, you do need to learn tides and location. But you do not need and will never need any bs fancy equipment. I know guys here that have been comming here for 10 years every other day. They have a $100 rod, a $90 reel, a few hooks, weights, a net, and bait. That's it.

As for what you need... This is a short list. You don't need anything more than this.

I would get a cheap 8' rod... $30 - $60... it's not going to be a waste of money if you than decide to buy a good rod. I still use my cheap rods as often since I like to have 2-4 of them in the water on different bait. And one always prepared with (don't know what it's called in English) I think treble hooks (they have 3 on one)... they are great to get live bunker and use it for bait.

Get a decent reel, a medium sized spinning reel (about $60). Than get a braided line on it (20 - 25lb). The braided lines (usually green) are a little easier to get tangled with but give overall MUCH better results.

Get different size hooks... but I usually use hooks for stripped bass (they are pretty big. Get some weights, from 1lb - 4lb. ( I usually stick to 3-4lb's).

Learn how to tie the hooks to the line, and your good to go!

Around here and almost everywhere I go on the Northern East Coast I use large clams and bunker, and squid when I can find it. If you want to go for smaller stuff small weights and hooks and use worms. I rarely use shrimp around here. They are great in Florida and other places but not in my are nor any other place in the North East that I've been at. Find out what others are using.

If you are goung to be fishing off a pier at times... get a decent size net tied with rope. If your going to be fishing on rocks... get a net on a pole.

Learn how to tie a hook to the line and your good to go!

Oh... and unless your fishing from the piers... distance DOES matter! There are times when the fishing is good that we swim out really far to place the bait and a lot of times you'll see me chest high in the water so I can cast my line furthur.

Most of all... don't get discouraged... there are good day's and bad day's, but when you get a great day... than it's all worth it!

[only_in_my_jeep]

BTW I think he meany ounces not pounds because I don't want to see the place I need 4lb of weight to hold a bait in place.

[OlegFl]

BTW I think he meany ounces not pounds because I don't want to see the place I need 4lb of weight to hold a bait in place.

LOL... yeah, sorry...

[JK_JOE]

just remember, any day spent fishing is a day well spent :)

[surf9]

It is also a good idea to surf fish when it is cloudy and after storms. Fish love mud, helps em hide from predators and ambush other fish. Also if you can't quite cast beyond the breakers, try casting in between the breaks. The fish are more likely to be there since the water is deeper (holes) causing break gap. Try squid if you are going for shark and try shrimp for other large fish. Casting and reeling silver spinners works too, but only at feeding time (early morn and early evening. Post again and let us know how you are doing with it. Best of luck dude!