When it comes to a selection of fishing gear and accessories, there is no shortage of items to choose from. The market has created a solution for every fishing need you can think of and even some you would have never considered. There is even gear that is designed for gear. With so many items available, how does one know where to start… or for that matter, when to stop? Let’s take a look at the top items that you will clearly benefit from as a fisherman. We will also include a few ‘nice to have’ items for your consideration. Before We Go Before we go fishing, let’s consider these two easily overlooked but important items, a fishing license and sunblock. You can obtain a fishing license online, at Walmart, or most places where fishing gear is sold. Visit ncwildlife.org to review different license options and prices. Once your license is in your pocket, the next step before fishing is to apply sunblock. It doesn’t take long to burn in the NC sun and when the breeze is coming across the surf, you might not know you are starting to burn until it’s too late. For extra protection, consider wearing a hat and long sleeve shirt. A little protection goes a long way. Let’s stay safe from the sun so we can continue to enjoy the fun, outdoor activity of fishing for a long time. A Knife A knife is one tool that you will use consistently as a fisherman. Knives are necessary for cutting bait and cutting line. You might even want a knife for cutting fish. There are many specialty knives available on the market. Some knives are designed for the purpose of cutting bait. Other knives are built into rings that you wear on your finger and are designed to cut line. Still other knives are glorified nail trimmers that come with a string attachment so they can be worn. All of these knives will do the job they are designed to do however, you only need one knife. A decent, all purpose knife that either folds or comes with a protective sheath will work fine. Truthfully you can probably save yourself some money and get away with stealing a steak knife from your kitchen. As long as it can cut line and bait, it is all you need. Beyond this primary knife that you will carry with you when fishing, you may consider a second knife that is definitely a ‘nice to have’. A good filet knife will enhance your culinary experience. It is better to pay a little extra for a decent filet knife; one that doesn’t dull out easy. Having a sharp blade makes all the difference when fileting a fish. A Ruler If you are only interested in catch and release, a ruler isn’t a necessity, though your friends might ask how big your catch was and in which case, having a ruler is a ‘nice to have’. If, however, you plan to keep your catch, having a ruler can make the difference between having a nice dinner and paying a nice fine. Most fish have size limits. Keeping an undersized catch can get you in trouble with a wildlife law enforcement officer. Beyond the threat of a ticket, it’s poor sportsmanship to keep undersized fish and most fishermen want to play fair. There are many ways to measure your catch, from hard wooden rulers to retractable soft rulers. Some coolers come designed with rulers built right into the top. There are even rulers that have fish names labeled on the ruler to match the fish size limit. However, for all intents and purposes, any ruler will do. If you’re interested in saving money, a small tape measure, used for sewing or small home improvement projects will work fine. Most likely, you already own one. More important than the type of ruler you measure the fish with, is understanding how to properly measure a fish. There are two common types of measurement, total length (TL) and fork length (FL). Total length is the measurement of the fish from the tip of the nose, to the end of the tail. The tail should be pinched closed and the mouth should be shut. Fork length is the length of the fish from the nose to the inside fork of the fish’s tail. Pliers Though you can get away without having a pair of pliers, having one available can often be very helpful, especially when a hook is caught on something. Most often, the hook will be caught in the mouth of a fish. Pliers come in handy to quickly remove the hook from the fish’s mouth. This is particularly helpful when trying to keep fingers a safe distance from the fish’s mouth as would be the case with sharks and mackerels. There are several other options available on the market to assist with the removal of hooks. Hook removal tools come in a wide range of styles with varying methods for releasing a hook. While these tools perform well at removing hooks from fish, they are not always effective at removing hooks that get snagged on other objects. Pliers can effectively remove a hook from a fish’s mouth and also remove a hook that is snagged in your cast net, clothing, or other pieces of equipment. Many pliers also have the ability to double as wire cutters which can be a benefit, especially when fishing with wire leaders. Another benefit to using pliers is that they are inexpensive. Plus, you probably already have an extra pair in your toolbox. One downside to using pliers is that they can be susceptible to rust. However, rust proof pliers are available for sale and many are made specifically for salt water fishing. Sand Spikes Unless your plan is to hold your fishing rod the entire time you fish, a sand spike is a ‘must have’ for the surf fisherman. Even if you do plan to hold the rod when you fish, having a sand spike offers a place to set your rod down when baiting the hook or dehooking a fish. Sand spikes come in a variety of different styles. There is the very basic PVC pipe, cut at an angle at one end to make it easier to place in the sand, to more elaborate models that even have cup holders for your drinks and a shelf for cutting and storing bait. For the DIYers out there, cutting a piece of PVC pipe purchased from a local hardware store in an easy and inexpensive method for obtaining a sand spike. However, this style of sand spike is readily available precut and are not overly expensive. A Cast Net Most times of the year, fish are very likely to hit fresh or even frozen bait. However, in the fall when the bait is running, fish tend to snub their nose at a piece of dead bait. After all, there is plenty of live bait swimming around. For this reason, a cast net is not mandatory but it sure can be a ‘nice to have’. Cast nets come in a variety of sizes, ranging from four to twelve feet. The larger the net, the more bait can be caught with one cast. However, even smaller nets, in the four to six foot range are adequate for catching bait. Learning how to throw a cast net does require some time, practice, and patience. When deciding on which size net to purchase, consider that larger nets can be trickier to throw properly. It may be best to start with a smaller net if you have never thrown one before. Cast net can be used in the surf when the bait is running. Wait for a large school to pass by. If you throw the net before they pass they will see it coming. The are fast and can easily avoid the net. Once they pass, throw the net slightly in front of where the fish are heading. WadersIf you only fish during the warmer months, waders may not even be on the “nice to have” list. However, if you like to fish year-round, including the winter months, waders may be essential. Though its possible to fish the surf without entering the water, many fishermen tend to wade out a little in order to put the bait right where they want it to be. While wading in August can be a relieving dip from the heat, entering the water in early March can be sobering. Instead of avoiding the water entirely during these months, consider purchasing a pair of chest waders. Chest waders won’t keep you warm but they will keep you dry, providing you don’t go deep enough for a wave to splash above the waders. To keep warm, consider wearing a pair of long johns underneath. A Tackle BoxSo far, we have talked about a lot of gear. Having a way to carry everything back and forth to the beach is a must have. There are many options including tackle boxes, bags, and buckets and all have plusses and minuses. Instead of talking about all the different options available, I’ve decided to present one recommendation and explain why it functions so well. Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to decide if the recommendation is right for you or if there are other options that meet the same criteria. Recommendation: The YETI LoadOut Bucket The YETI bucket I will be discussing is the Fully-Loaded Bucket. This bucket includes the 5-gallon bucket, the caddy, lid and gear belt. The bucket itself severs many purposes. I use it to carry the bait and my cast net in when going to the beach. If I catch live bait, I fill the bucket with sea water and keep the bait inside the bucket while I’m fishing. If I catch a fish, I toss it in the bucket when I return home.
The caddy inserts inside the top of the bucket. There are three compartments where I store fishing gear, my truck keys and my cell phone. The gear belt straps around the outside of the bucket. It has different sized compartments. In the smaller compartments, I store my fishing knife, pliers, a measuring stick. In the larger compartment I store a can of something to drink. The lid serves two purposes. First, I use it to cut bait on. Second, I sit on it when I get tired of standing. The lid cleans off easily in the surf and the bucket is sturdy enough to hold my weight. I also modified the bucket by wrapping a Bungee cord around the top of the bucket. The Bungee cord holds in place two sand spikes to the side of the bucket. There are two downsides to the YETI Bucket. First, it can be slightly heavier than the ordinary tackle box. Still, its not so heavy as to be unbearable. Second, it is pricey. There are less expensive solutions on the market. Having said that, it is quiet durable. I expect it will last a very long time. Fishing on Oak Island, NC
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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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