Simple Surf Fishing Tips

Surf fishing often conjures up a very romantic picture for many fishermen, one of a long angler standing on a long beach, waves crashing in the sand, making a cast of 500 yards to reel in a big striped bass or mighty red drum.

Actually, surf fishing in most places is nothing as romantic as the post cards make it and the majority of anglers would be just as happy with a 3 pound fish as they would with a 30 pound one. Still, surf fishing is rewarding experience well worth the effort. Even for a hands-on sport, it is a very interactive type of experience.

You will need the proper gear to go surf fishing. A popular image exist of the Cape Hatteras-style angler in pursuit of monster drum, striped bass or bluefish using old-style conventional reels to cast rigs holding weights as big as bowling balls. In fact, most surf fishermen on most beaches use decent heavy to medium spinning tackle to throw about three ounces of weight and get it where they need to go.

Some days will call for a heavy sinker during a very strong tide, but if you're using six ounces of lead to hold the bottom, you might think about pier fishing before you collapse from the strain of casting. Also you don't need to use a rod as long as a telephone pole. A ten-foot rod is plenty long enough to get your line above the breaking waves, although twelve foot is probably the most common surf fishing rod available.

A common spinning reel holding 20-pound test line will handle just about anything you will encounter surf fishing.

Many surf fishermen are obsessed with casting distance, and this has become an art to itself with fancy rotating swings, guys practically dancing on the beach to get their rig out farther, and even tournaments for length. In reality, for most surf fishing ultra-long casting distance is missing the point.

Fish feed in the surf, and just beyond it. The surf is where you will be standing to cast. Those who cast a thousand miles away miss out on the chance to catch a lot of fish.