If you read through part one of this series, you have your rod, reel, and line all ready to go. All you need to do now is tie on a hook, right? Well, it might be a little more complicated than that. In fact, if you’ve walked through any sporting good shop, then you already know how overcomplicated rigging a rod and reel can seem. There are rows and rows of hooks, lures, and rigs. Not to mention the freezer is filled with boxes and containers of frozen sea creatures, aka bait. How do you know what to get? Let’s be honest, you don’t want to spend the afternoon in the store, you want to spend it in the surf. Well, we’re about to break it all down into the basics so you can decide what rig and bait is right for you. You need two things tied to the end of your line in order to catch a fish. You need a hook to hook the fish, and you need a weight to cast the hook towards the fish. It’s really no more complicated than that. Rigs are basically a combination of those two items. The only difference is how the hooks and the weight are arranged. Before we look at rigs, let’s review some of the more common hooks and weights used when making a rig. HooksThere are almost as many different styles and brands of hooks as there are fish is the sea. It can easily become overwhelming trying to decide which ones to purchase. In order to simplify the confusion, let’s look at the basics. Although there are many variations of hook designs, most branch off from three common types; the treble hook, the J-hook, and the circle hook. Treble HookThe treble is a three-pronged hook often used on lures. Pier fisherman will often use a treble hook with a live shrimp suspended beneath a float to catch trout. On the end of the pier, pin riggers will us a rig made of treble hooks to catch king mackerel. As you gain experience surf fishing, you may find a rig you’ll want to try that utilizes the treble hook. For now, however, will we focus on the single pronged hook. J-HookThe J-hook is another very common hook used by fisherman especially when targeting puffer and bluefish. As the name suggests, the J-hook is shaped like the letter J with a long shank. This long shank can protect the line from being bitten off and is the reason it is used to catch those previously mentioned species. One of the downsides to the J-hook is that the hook must be set in the mouth when the fish takes the bait. If not, the fish can lose the hook or the fish can swallow the hook, causing what is referred to as ‘gut hooking’ a fish. For this reason, we will bypass the J-hook for now. Circle HooksThe circle hook gets its name based on the way the point circles back towards the shank. When looking at a circle hook for the first time, one might question how a fish could get hooked at all. It appears that the circle shape would make it difficult for the point to stick the fish. However, the opposite is actually true. When a fish takes the bait and turns away, the circle shape causes the hook to turn as well. This results in the hook circling right into the side of the fish’s mouth. The fisherman doesn’t need to set the hook. The hook does all the work. The hook up rate is higher and gut hooking is lower. For these reasons, the circle hook is the recommended hook for the novice surf fisherman. Hook SizesNow that we have narrowed down the search for the type of hook we need, the next step is to decide the hook size. One way to do this might be to look at the hooks and pick a pack that looks right to you. However, there is a better way. Each package of hooks is labeled with a hook size number however, it is a little tricky to understand at first. This is because there are two different numbering methods for hook sizes; regular numbers and aught sizes. Let’s start with aught sizes. Aught sized hooks are labeled with a number followed by a slash and a zero. For example, a one aught hook would be labeled as such, 1/0. Understanding how aught hooks are sized is straight forward. Smaller sized aught hooks are labeled with smaller aught numbers. For example, in a set of aught hooks ranging in size from 1/0 to 3/0, the 1/0 would be the smallest. The 2/0 would be larger than the 1/0. The 3/0 would be the largest in the set. Understanding how regular numbered hooks are sized is a bit trickery. They are actually sized the opposite way aught hooks are sized. With regular sized hooks, the bigger the number the smaller the hook. For example, say we had a set of hooks ranging from #1 to #3. The #1 hook would be the largest hook in a set. The #2 hook would be smaller than the #1 and the #3 would be the smallest. There is a misconception that salt-water fishing requires bigger hooks. In theory this makes sense. Bigger fish should require bigger hooks. However, the truth is, you can catch some really big fish on a small hook. There is no need for a 5/0 hook unless you plan to land sharks. You can catch most any gamefish fishing with a #1 to a #1/0 hook. Depending on the fish being targeted, this range might alter slightly. For example, pompano have smaller mouths. When targeting pompano specifically, a #2 hook might perform better. Likewise, when targeting bluefish, a #2/0 hook will work. However, in general, sticking to the #1 to #1/0 range is a winning game plan. SinkersSinkers come in several different shapes and sizes. Each have specific designs to allow for different functions. However, they all have two things in common. They are each designed to provide the weight needed to cast the hook towards the fish and they are each designed to allow the rig to function properly. First, let’s discuss the function of each type of sinker. Pyramid SinkerThe pyramid sinker is one of the most commonly used weights in surf fishing. Pyramid sinker usually have four sides, though they also come three sided, have an eye at the top, and come to a point at the bottom. Pyramid sinkers are designed so that the point end sinks into the sand, preventing the sinker from moving in the surf. These sinkers easily attach to store bought, double drop bottom rigs which is one reason they are widely used in surf fishing. Sputnik SinkerWith four extending wire arms, sputnik sinkers are rightly named because they resemble the Russian made satellite that orbited the earth back in 1957. Sputnik sinkers are best used to replace the pyramid sinker when the ocean conditions are too rough for a heavy pyramid sinker to hold. When the sputnik hits the surf bottom, the four extending arms burrow into the sand. These wire arms work extremely well at holding the sinker in place. When it is time to retrieve the sinker, the sputnik performs another trick. The wire arms break loose from their position, allowing the sinker to release. Upon retrieval, all the fisherman need do is resent the wire arms back into position and the sinker is ready for another cast. Egg SinkerAn egg sinker is an oval weight with a hole that runs end to end. To attach the sinker, the line is threaded through the hole. This allows the egg sinker to slide up and down the line. Egg sinkers work well with rigs such as the Carolina rig that allow the bait to move away from the weight. Since the egg sinker is oval, it doesn’t have the points or wires to hold it to the surf bottom. This makes it an affective weight to use in situations when you want the rig to move with the current. The Weight of the WeightSinkers come in a range of weights starting as low as one ounce and lower and as heavy as eight ounces and higher. However, for the purposes of surf fishing, the range usually falls between one and four ounces. Deciding on the right weight is primarily determined by water current as well as how far the fisherman wants to cast the rig. The basic rule when determining the right sinker weight is to use the least amount of weight necessary to hold the bait in place. If the water current is calm, a two-ounce weight might be suitable. If the current is pulling the line towards the shore, then a four-ounce weight will be needed. The second consideration when selecting the right sinker weight is deciding how far the cast needs to be. A heaver weight will cast further than a lighter weight. More often than not, the fish are closer to the shore and long casts are not necessary. However, sometimes, particularly during low tide, the breakers will be further away from the shore. In this case, a heavier weight will be needed to reach the fish. Taking all this information into consideration, if there could only be one size and shape weight in the tackle box, a four-ounce pyramid weight would be the go to weight. RigsNow that we have a better understanding of the different types of hooks and weights, let’s look at two very common rigs. Both are effective for catching fish. The reason to use each will be based on the fish you want to catch, the bait you want to use, and personal preference. Double Drop Bottom RigFor those who are new to surf fishing, the double drop rig is a great starting rig. It’s easy to use and versatile enough to catch most fish you’ll find in the surf. In fact, I can’t think of a fish, from blues to reds, to black drum to puffer, to spots to whiting, and even small sharks, that I haven’t caught on a double drop rig. Double drop rigs are also available premade, wherever fishing supplies are sold. Store bought double drop rigs come in a variety of styles. Some have different colored beads, some have different ways of attaching the weight, and some are made of heavier line than others. Some are even made of steel leader. However, they all have the basics in common. They each have a place to attach a weight at the bottom. A main line leads to another line that runs perpendicular to the main line. At the end of that perpendicular running line is a place to attach the first hook. More of the main line follows and then a second, perpendicular line extends for the second hook. Then more main line that ends with a swivel used to attach the rig to the line that extends from the reel. Sound complicated but simply put, it’s a rig with a weight and two hooks. Carolina RigCarolina Rig, also called a fish finder rig, is the second rig you’ll want to learn and gain experience with surf fishing. This rig has a hook on the end followed by a mono leader that is tied to a swivel. The line from the reel is then tied to that swivel. Instead of being on the bottom of the rig, the weight is placed on the line above the swivel. This allows the line below the weight, which includes the hook and the bait, to move with the current. It also allows the line to be picked up by a fish, which tends to be more natural and less likely to spook the fish. Though there are variations of the Carolina rig available for purchase in stores, it is easy enough to create your own, making it a good first rig to learn when making rigs. Perhaps one of the biggest benefits to learning how to make your own Carolina rig is the ability to adjust the hook, weight and line, depending on your targeted species. A Carolina rig can be created with a #1 circle hook, 15lb mono and a 2 oz egg sinker to catch whiting. The same style Carolina rig can be created with a 5/0 circle hook, a steal leader to 50lb mono line, with a 4oz pyramid weight to handle 4-foot sharks. RecommendationBetween hooks, sinkers and setups, there are endless combinations of rigs that can be created. Learning about which rig is best for each species of fish can be a lifetime process. For the novice fisherman who isn’t sure where to start, here is my recommendations.
A simple, store bought, double drop bottom rig, with a #1 to #1/0 circle hook and a four-ounce pyramid weight will catch most every species of gamefish in the surf. Fishing on Oak Island, NC
1 Comment
Zac B
8/26/2023 09:48:55 pm
How long do you typically make your leader on a Carolina rig for the surf on Oak Island? I'm thinking 2 feet maybe, but we'll see. We're planning a trip for the sole purpose of standing in the sand somewhere along the beach (46th street because parking at Middleton Park is easy?) in late Sept. My 5 year old and I went to Bass Pro (Concord Mills) this afternoon. He's so excited that he can't stand it. I've never been surf fishing, but I inherited some rods and reels. Thanks to your videos and blog, I feel pretty confident. I'm at least not completely lost, so thanks for that.
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Ian SandsFish along with Ian Sands of 'Sands in the Surf' on beautiful Oak Island, NC. We’re fishing the surf and surrounding areas targeting everything from puffer, to blues, to black and red drum, to sharpnose and bonnetheads. Archives
February 2021
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