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Last Updated on September 19, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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Surf Fishing Guide How To Land Massive Fish
Very few angling experiences rival that of a surf beach for exhilaration and pure enjoyment. The noise of the waves pounding the beach, coupled with the vast horizon filled with ocean, makes it easy to feel awed by the sheer power of the sea. But what’s happening under the water, and where are the fish feeding?
Key Takeaways:
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- Surf Fishing Experience: Surf fishing offers an exhilarating and rewarding experience, allowing anglers to connect with nature and potentially land massive fish near the shoreline.
- Gear Essentials: Beginners should start with basic but quality equipment, such as a 12-15 foot rod, 25-pound test line, and simple rigs like a two-hook leader. Adding tools like a sand spike, bucket, and cooler enhances the experience.
- Understanding the Environment: Success in surf fishing depends on reading the surf and understanding conditions such as tides, wind, and underwater terrain. Low tide surveys and knowing how to interpret surf patterns can greatly improve fishing outcomes.
- Bait and Lures: Stick to simple, proven baits like shrimp, mullet, and squid, and adjust based on local recommendations. Combining shrimp and squid is a strong strategy.
- Fishing Techniques: Optimal surf fishing occurs during high tides, especially at dawn or dusk, when fish are most active. Cast with accuracy rather than always aiming for distance.
- Rough Ground Strategies: Fishing in rocky or uneven terrain can lead to lost gear, but using pulley rigs and lighter lines for weights can minimize losses.
Surf fishing has spawned something of a cult following, and a booming market has grown around this popularity, with a huge range of specialist tackles and rods being produced. Many species of fish can be found on a surf beach, varying from location to location. The tactics employed to snare these fish will be similar as most species tend to be found inside the surf line and are generally closer to shore than expected.
Once you dive into the adrenaline-spiking world of surf fishing, emerge victorious with a monster catch! With our generous sprinkling of helpful tips and tricks, sinking your hook into the heart of the swell will no longer be an enigma. Welcome to the throbbing pulse of the ocean, where the thrill of making a massive catch awaits your cast.
Whether you’re a fledgling fisherman or a seasoned angler, this guide
to surf fishing will gift you the techniques to fish deeper, cast further, and land the massive fish you’ve only seen in pictures. Join us in this exciting journey, because here at our platform, we believe that the essence of surf fishing isn’t surviving—it’s thriving!
Surf fishing isn’t for the angler who prefers to be static. The surf is always on the move as the tides and conditions change. Taking advantage of this changing nature will determine whether or not you’re successful.
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Some popular surf beaches have seemingly featureless landscapes, sporting sand and waves. On some days, the surf won’t be present, leaving a vast expanse of glassy ocean. But when the water comes alive, and the winds begin to stir, the seabed is disturbed, which gives many species of opportunistic feeders a chance to have their fill.
The clarity of the water in many surf beaches is hugely influenced by the silt, sediment, and sand on the seabed and what’s feeding into the water from the surrounding shorelines. This will also dictate what species you’re likely to encounter.
It’s important to understand that not all surf will contain fish. The wind and tide will influence how the food and fish are distributed along the shoreline. Any food the surf brings won’t necessarily be pushed toward the shoreline; instead, it’ll often travel along the coastline and accumulate in hot spots created by naturally occurring gullies and holes.
It’s these spots that the fish will tend to gather.
Experienced surf anglers will tend to read the surf and adjust their tactics accordingly. In many surf beaches worldwide, brown water created during heavy surf is the preferred target for anglers. It’s essential to consider your fishing spot; the ideal location is not always where you park your car.
Many surf anglers suggest it is possible to read the surf; in many parts of the world, brown water in heavy surf is targeted. In the UK it is essential to give your choice of fishing spot some thought – the best fishing is not always in front of your parked car.
Surf Fishing Guide for Beginners
Beginners looking to take up surf fishing are often surprised by the massive variety of fish that can be caught just a few feet from the shoreline. Nearly every saltwater species, with the exclusion of deep sea game, such as marlin, can be caught from the shoreline.
Surf fishing is not difficult to learn; a small amount of knowledge and the right gear is enough to get you started. Tactics may change depending on the weather, type of shoreline, tides, and the species of fish you’d like to catch, but the basics remain the same.
Tackle to Get Started
You can, of course, head off to the beach with a six-foot rod, some hooks, weight, and some bait, and you may have some limited success, but chances are it’ll end up being an exercise in frustration and lost tackle.
Many experienced surf fishermen will turn up on the beach with various rods, plenty of tackle, a range of baits, and more than a few tools. Taken to the extreme, some will carry enough gear to equip half a dozen fishermen.
However, as someone who’s just starting out, you don’t need all this. Get yourself a decent 12 – 15 foot with large line guides and pair it with a 25-pound test line. Something like this would work well.
Armed with just this equipment, you should be able to make a cast that exceeds 100 yards. An experienced angler can make a cast that is more than 200 yards.
If you have the means, you can employ a smaller rod to make casts that land closer to shore, allowing you to cover a bigger range of ground.
There are a ton of rigs you can employ as a surf fisherman, and these are mainly dependent on the conditions and the fish species targeted. I would go as far as to say that there is probably a distinct rig designed for every saltwater species. As a beginner, you don’t need to worry too much about this.
Employing an essential two-hook leader, a four-ounce sinker, and some Khale hooks should cover 90% of the conditions and species you’re likely to encounter.
Small tip: invest in a sand spike as soon as you can. They are inexpensive PVC pipes that are sharpened at one end. The sharpened end is driven into the sand and allows you to rest your rod inside. These will keep your rod and reel out of the sand and water, but they are a must-have for when you land a fish, acting as another pair of hands while you deal with the messy end.
You’ll also need a bucket, knife, needle-nose pliers, a cooler for storing your bait, and a hook remover. If you want to get serious about the bobby, investing in a dedicated tackle box and possibly even a cart to lug your gear down the beach is well worth investing.
Bait and Lures
It is best to keep things simple as a beginner and stick to the most popular baits, such as mullet, shrimp, or squid. Shrimp is excellent as it’ll attract almost every species that you’re likely to encounter; the downside is it’s easily sucked off the hook. Mullet and squid are better at staying on the hook; the downside is that some species ignore them.
Combining both shrimp and squid is a great option.
When it comes to lures, keep things simple. You can probably catch just about anything, but it’s well worth asking a local tackle shop about what works in the area you intend to fish.
Guide to Seasons and Conditions
The two golden rules of fishing for saltwater species are that fish are nearly always on the move, and you might be surprised by what you catch. Like land animals, fish are influenced by the seasons, temperatures, weather, and the tide. These factors influence what fish will likely hang around your favorite fishing spot.
Many species are migratory and will move north or south as the waters warm and cool, depending on which side of the equator you live on. Some species will move toward the shore as the tide begins to come in, while others wait until the sun begins to set. Other species will base their movements on the temperature of the water, preferring to keep the surrounding water within an optimal range, which means moving into shallower or deeper water to meet those needs.
An incoming tide will more than likely bring in more fish than an outgoing tide. Additionally, fishing at dusk and dawn is likely to be far more fruitful than fishing at midday. Moreover, early summer, late spring, and the fall months will provide a greater opportunity to land a larger variety of fish. This is primarily due to migratory patterns bringing fish closer to shore.
Reading the surf conditions is a skill that is finely tuned over time, but there are a few general tips that can make your life easier. Try to cast between the waves, along the side of sandbars, within rip currents, or in areas with a large drop-off.
Keep an eye out for bird activity or fish rising. If fish are in a feeding frenzy, you’ll likely see them breaking the surface of the water. Diving birds such as seagulls and pelicans can give a good indication of plenty of baitfish in an area. If there are baitfish, there will be larger predatory fish as well.
Lastly, look out for other people fishing. If there are a bunch of surf fishermen in one area, chances are they are there for a reason. Don’t feel shy about getting in on the action.
Casting, Hooking, and Reeling
I’m assuming you already know how to cast, so you should have no problems surf casting. For surf casting, you may want to concentrate on accuracy and distance and not worry too much about learning a new casting technique. If you’re new to fishing, check out the video below for a few pointers.
When using bait, wait for the weight to hit the sea floor before flipping the bail. Once you’ve tightened the line, wait a few minutes to ensure that everything is set and secure.
I would recommend holding onto your rod as a beginner, as this will give you a good feel for what a bite feels like. Just remember, fish take a few nibbles before they commit to taking the whole bait.
Once you know what a fish strike feels like, you can start using the rod holder. Just make sure you keep an eye on the rod tip, which could signal a nibble.
Let them take the line for a bit as soon as you set a hook. This will allow you to get an idea of how big the fish is and you can then adjust the drag accordingly to avoid line breakage.
When you hook a fish, let him fight before reeling it in. Understand how big he is and determine if you must adjust the drag to ensure it does not break your line.
Learn from other anglers in your area. A local tackle shop can contain a wealth of information; many are happy to give you some pointers. Check for any local fishing clubs, and maybe team up with a more experienced buddy. You don’t have to go with someone every time, but learning from someone else, at least initially, can make your life much easier.
Surf Fishing Tips
If you’re looking to take your fishing game to the next level, these surf fishing tips are a surefire way to maximize your chances of success.
It’s frequently tempting when fishing a beach to try and cast as far as you can on your first cast and then hope you’ll succeed. It’s not always the best tactic. How efficient and effective would you be if you knew what the seabed looked like, where the fish were likely to be hanging out, and what time of day they would be feeding?
In our tips section, we aim to provide you with all the information you need to answer these questions and many more.
Carry out a Low Tide Survey
Our number one tip is to stroll along the surf beach while the tide is out, ideally during a spring tide. During your walk, think about the exposed landscape and take a mental or actual note of where the hollows, banks, and gullies are. If you look out over the water, can you see anything protruding from the water exposed by the low tide?
Does the seabed change the further you go, stones, pebbles, rocks, sand or mud? Can you see any signs of life, mussels, worms, or cockles? Are there any significant patches of seaweed or rock formations? Are there any objects that will likely rob you of your tackle but could attract fish?
If you want to take this further, cast out a line with only a weight attached from the low water mark. As you begin to reel it in, you should be able to feel how the seabed changes. Sand feels very different from rocks or pebbles. Take photographs to reference later on with easily identifiable landmarks within the photo frame so you can later identify where things are at high tide.
This is valuable data that you can later use to place your bait where you think the fish will be. Remember, interesting underwater terrain tends to invite more fish than smooth sand.
Understand the Surf
Bear in mind that the seabed is an ever-changing landscape. Storms, tides, currents, and waves can quickly change the underwater landscape, moving sandbanks and weed beds around in hours. At high tide, it’s not always easy to pinpoint exactly where something was at low tide, especially when one piece of the sea can look quite similar to another.
At first look, one section of surf might look identical to any other… but is it the same? If you take the time to examine the surf, you might notice swirls as the waves move around and over a rock; you might see the tips of seaweed poking up.
Shallow sand backs will generally have short breaking waves, while smoother, flatter water might indicate the presence of deep water. If you couple this visual, up-to-date information with the evidence you gathered during your previous survey, you should have a good idea as to what’s going on under the waves and where you should place your bait.
Keep an Eye on the Weather
You might prefer to fish when there is a strong offshore wind, as it makes it much easier to cast. However, offshore winds also tend to calm the waves, especially when atmospheric pressure is high, and smaller waves and calmer seas produce clearer waters.
If the water is clearer, fish will stick to deeper water further offshore during daylight hours, only venturing close to shore once the sun has set.
Conversely, days in which the wind is blowing onshore with low atmospheric conditions can produce monstrous waves and rough seas. In turn, this will stir up the ocean floor, making more food available, and you’re far more likely to see results when surf fishing during the day.
Timing is Everything
Timing is crucial when it comes to surf fishing. On nearly every surf beach in the world, the two hours leading up to high tide and the two hours following a high tide will see the most action. This is doubly true for spring tides. However, during the period of high water, when the tide isn’t really coming in or going out, you’ll often find that bites are rare.
For example, if high tide occurs at noon, you’ll probably find that between 11:30 and 12:30, there won’t be much action. But within the two hours leading up to 11:30 and the two hours after 12:30, you have a much better chance of catching some serious fish.
Nearly every fish species is more active when the light levels are low, which makes dawn and dusk excellent times to cast your rod. Combining a high tide at dawn or dusk is the optimal solution and will maximize your chances of success.
Fish nearly always feed better in low light conditions, making dawn and dusk particularly prolific times.
Understand the Tide Tables
We’ve covered how to use tides and times to your advantage when surfing and fishing, but you’ll also need to know how to read a tides table and when high tides fall into the Goldilocks zone of dawn or dusk.
Your first step should be to mark on the table when a high tide occurs, roughly at dawn or dusk. Next, circle the days when a spring tide is going to occur.
A spring tide occurs when the moon, earth, and sun are in a line. This means the moon and the sun’s gravity are amplified, which means higher tides. They normally occur one or two days after a full moon or new moon. When one of these spring tides occurs at dawn or dusk, your chances of catching something while surf fishing are greatly increased.
Tie a Great Rig
The perfect surf fishing rig must have three qualities:
Creating streamlined or aerodynamic rigs is easily accomplished with a
paternoster rig or one of its variants. It’s a lead weight with one or more hooks on short lines. Any of the popular shore rigs will meet this goal, such as wishbone rigs, pulley rigs, or flapper rigs.
Learning to tie one out of a book can be tricky, but there is an easier way. Copy it in the style you like. It’s worthwhile for use in your rigs, it may cost a little bit more than standard line, but you’re only using it for rigs so it should last you a long time.
When fluorocarbon is immersed in water, it becomes practically invisible, which could make the difference between a catch or failure.
Avoid Crack-Offs when you Cast
Anyone who’s been surf fishing before has probably experienced at least one crack-off. To prevent this, a shock leader should be used. These dramatically reduce the chances of a crack-off. Crack-offs aren’t just about avoiding the loss of gear; they can be dangerous for other beach users or yourself.
Shock leaders must be used when surfcasting – a crack-off is far more likely without one. Of course, crack-offs don’t just represent a needless loss of fishing gear; they are also highly dangerous for any other beach user.
As a general rule of thumb, if your lead weight is 4oz, then a 40lb shock leader should be used, 6oz weight should use a 60lb leader, etc. The shock leader should be ten times the lead weight, but instead of ounces, it should be changed to pounds, 4oz = 40 lbs.
You should use a monofilament line for the shock leader, but avoid using regular monofilament. General purpose mono, which you use for your main line, is very stretchy in design, which makes it less than ideal for a shock leader. This is because as you cast, the energy imparted by your rod action will be translated into line stretch, which will rob your cast of power and distance.
You can buy a mono line specifically designed for use in shock leaders. It’s less stretchy and abrasion-resistant, ensuring all the power of your cast goes into propelling your rig towards the horizon.
A wealth of knots is available for affixing the main line to the shock leader, but unless you have a strong preference otherwise, I would suggest using the Albright Knot. The issue with any knot is that they can get caught up in the rod guides or tangled in the coils of the line. As the weight rating of the shock leader increases, the larger the resultant knot will be, which increases the chance of the problem occurring.
To avoid this issue, you can use a tapered shock leader. For example, if your shock leader is 13 meters in total length, use a 9-meter mono of 65 lbs that tapers down to 16lb over the last 4 meters. The advantage is that the knot that connects the shock leader to the main line is much smaller and will have a much smaller chance of being snagged.
Protect your Thumb
If you’re not using a spinning reel but rather a baitcasting reel, you’ll have experienced the annoying tendency for the spool to slip under your thumb when casting, especially once everything becomes wet. An easy way to prevent this is to cut a finger off a rubber glove and put it on your thumb for some extra grip.
This will not only increase your grip but also protect you from the leader knot as it zips through.
Don’t Cast Too Far
We all enjoy seeing how far we can cast our rig; it’s fun to see this improve over time as your technique improves. It’s not necessarily bad, but it’s also not often necessary. To be an excellent surf caster, you need to possess three things:
Just because you can cast further than you can see every single time doesn’t necessarily mean you should be doing it on every cast. Putting the rig exactly where you think the fish will be is far more essential and will likely result in much better surf fishing success.
Fish Rough Ground Without Losing Your Gear
Rough ground provides the food and shelter that the fish we’re looking to catch thrive on, from crabs and shellfish to seaweed and rocks. Given the amount of life that these areas support, it’s not something we can easily ignore. However, rough ground can cost a lot in terms of lost tackle, but a few surf fishing tips can minimize any loss experienced.
Most of the time, the lead weight gets caught on something when we reel in a fish. Pulley rigs have been specifically designed to prevent this by using the weight of the fish to pull the weight into a position where it’s less likely to snag on something. Additionally, the following five tips can go a long way in preventing lost gear:
Surf Fishing Rigs
When sending some bait soaring over the waves, it’s just as important to consider the rig you’re using to present your bait as it is to decide on which bait to use. There are a ton of rigs available, but we think you should be using one of two options for most of your surf fishing, depending on the bait, location, and the time of the year.
Fish-Finder Rig
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to Fishing Tricks
The fish-finder rig is one of the best and easiest to put together. It is essentially a leader with a hook and a barrel swivel attached to the main line with a fish-finder weight slide. This rig is well suited to presenting a range of bait sizes and is suitable for almost every fish species, from bass to shark.
You’ll obviously need to adjust the hook size and type and the leader length to match the fish species you’re targeting. Remember that a longer leader will lead to increased wind resistance and a reduced casting distance.
However, a longer leader can allow the bait to flow and move with the movement off the water, which is often far more natural-looking and appealing to the fish. A little bit of trial and error can go a long way in identifying the happy balance between leader lengths and casting distance.
High/Low Rig
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to Flagler Sportfishing Club
This rig is great if you want to offer a couple of bait options simultaneously. Where the fish-finder rig weights the hook, the high/low rig has the hooks spaced above the weight. The biggest advantage offered by a high/low rig is the opportunity to offer two types of bait at the same time. However, the fixed weight means it’s not possible to feed the line to an interested fish.
If you’re using a fish-finder rig you can allow fish to take the line out without it feeling the weight, which means you have a more extended opportunity for the fish to digest and set the hook. A high/low rig is statically attached to the weight, meaning you’ll need to be quicker setting a hook or risk the fish dropping the bait due to the unnatural feel of the weight. As such, high/low rigs are best suited to softer bait types such as worms or clams.
Whole Mullet Rig
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to John Bushell Jr.
These rigs are great for targeting aggressive big fish found in the surf. The beauty of the rig is that it keeps the bait off the bottom of the seafloor by using a Styrofoam float, which makes it easier for fish to locate it and keeps it out of reach of crabs.
Wrapping it up
With rod in hand and the sun kissing the horizon, you’re now equipped with the knowledge to unlock the secrets of the surf. Whether you’re a neophyte drawn by the allure of the shoreline or a seasoned enthusiast seeking to deepen your mastery, this comprehensive guide has infused you with the expertise to cast farther, reel in larger prizes, and embrace the ocean’s heartbeat as your own.
The sands of surf fishing hold many species, each with its dance within the waves. Armed with the correct tackle and techniques, you’re primed to entice even the most elusive inhabitants of the deep. Your journey is adaptable, for the surf is never stagnant, and success hinges on your ability to read the currents and interpret the shoreline’s messages.
As the surf beckons with its siren song, remember that every cast is an invitation to engage in a time-honored dance with nature. Through understanding the seabed’s influence, decoding the whispers of the tides, and pinpointing the elusive hotspots, you’ve unlocked the realm where fish gather in eager anticipation.
So, embrace the ebb and flow, the unpredictability, and the sheer thrill of the catch. As you stand on the threshold of this watery theater, the excitement of feeling a mighty tug on your line resonates deep within. With each cast, you’re not merely surviving the surf but thriving within its magnificent embrace.
Welcome to the elite league of surf anglers, where the ocean’s grandeur meets your unyielding determination, and the heart-pounding encounters with the sea’s finest are yours to claim.
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