I grew up fishing on a lake for bluegills and bass. I liked to fish but had little experience with salt water fishing. When I moved to the coast, I had no idea how to surf fish. I didn’t know about rigs, I didn’t know about bait, and when I was lucky enough to catch a fish, I didn’t know what I caught. The one thing I knew was that it was fun. Surf fishing is fun even when you don’t catch fish. You feel the surf as it splashes on your feet. You smell the salt air as the breeze rises from the waves. You feel the heat of the sun as it shines down on your face. Then you feel the tug on your line and you forget about everything else. All you can do is focus on the rod and reel. Surf fishing is fun but when you catch a fish, surf fishing is really fun. If your story is similar to mine, if you're excited about fishing but aren’t experienced with surf fishing, your going to want to keep reading. We’re going to look at everything you need to get started surf fishing. From rods and reels, to hooks and rigs, to bait and buckets, you’ll have all the knowledge necessary to catch that first fish. Rods & Reels If you want to go fishing, you’re going to need a rod and reel. Seems easy enough, that is, until you realize how many different types of rods and reels there are to choose from. There are different types and sizes. There are different lengths and definitely different prices, so how does one know where to start? First, let’s break it down into easy to digest parts. RodsThe first thing you’ll want to consider when purchasing a rod is length. Most rods range from six to twelve feet. In general, the longer the rod, the longer the cast. Shorter rods, in the six- to eight-foot range, can be used for surf fishing but are really better suited for pier, dock or boat fishing. A ten- or twelve-foot rod can get you past the breakers when you need to. However, keep in mind the longer the rod, the heavier it will be. Match the rod to your physical strength. The next thing you’ll want to consider is the rating. If you look on the rod, you will find writing that provides the rod’s length, rod power, and line and weight recommendations. To simplify this, pay attention the weight (sometimes labeled lure) recommendation. If the weight/lure can handle 4 – 6 oz and heavier, you’re probably good to go in the surf. Anything less than 4oz won’t be sufficient in heavier surf conditions. Lastly, you’ll want to consider the action of the rod. If you hold the rod in your hand and shake it a bit, some rods will only bend slightly. This is called a fast action rod. Other rods will bend a whole lot. These rods are called slow action rods. There are pluses and minuses to each. The more action the rod has, the more it bends, the less accuracy there will be when casting. Personally, I prefer the fast action rod. When I cast, I have a good idea of where I want my rig to land. With my fast action rod, I’m usually pretty good at hitting my target. I also find that the hook up is better with my fast action rod. However, this is my opinion. Others might disagree. ReelsThere are several different types of reels that are used for salt water fishing. These include the conventional, baitcaster, and spinning reels. There are differences to each and every fisherman has their preference and opinion as to why one is better than the others. However, since this article is written with the beginner surf fisherman in mind, I’ll cut right to the chase. Buy a spinning reel. Spinning reels are easier to learn to use, readily available, and to some degree, less expensive. Just like there are different size rods, there are different size reels. While rods are measured in length, which is a consistent way to measure, reel sizes are measured by numbers. Unfortunately, not all manufactures use the same numbering system. This can make selecting a reel based on numbers less predictable than selecting a rod based on length. With that in mind, many manufactures do adhere to a familiar numbering system. Reels are often sized using a four-digit numbering system. In general, the smaller the number, the smaller the reel. Small reels will have numbers ranging from 1000 to 3000. Medium sized reels will be numbered around 3500 to 5000. Larger reels are numbered between 5500 to 7000, though you can get spinning reels even larger than that. When considering a reel size, understand that the smaller the reel, the less ability it will have to hold line, weight, or supply power needed to reel in a fish. Smaller reels are not adequate because they aren’t powerful enough for handling the rigs used or fish caught when surf fishing. Better suited are the top ranged medium reels or lower ranged larger reels. In other words, reel sizes between 5000 and 6000 will work well. Similar to rods, the larger the reel the heavier it will be. Fishing with a 7000 reel could become taxing on the body after a while. LineReels, just like rods, have ratings. These ratings are usually written on the spool and identify how much line a reel can hold. These written ratings can help you when you purchase line for your reel. Larger reels can hold more line. How much line also depends on the type of line that will be used; mono or braid. Monofilament, frequently referred to as mono, is nylon fishing line. The benefit of selecting mono is that the nylon will 'give' when pulled. In other words, it stretches when a fish tugs, then returns back to its normal state. Imagine a rubber band being pulled. Of course, the rubber band analogy is an over exaggeration but it demonstrates the concept. Mono is also less expensive than other types of line. The downside to mono is that it is thicker than braid. This means less yards of mono line can be spooled on the reel. Braid is made from fibers. Where mono feels like plastic, braid feels like strings. The benefit of braid is that it is thinner than mono. This means you can spool more yards of braid than you can mono. This also makes it stronger per size. For example, 20lb braid is much thinner than 20lb mono. The cons of braid include the price. Braid is more expensive than mono. It also doesn’t have the ‘give’ that mono does. For this reason, fisherman who use braid, often tie a mono leader to their rig; but more about that when we discuss rigs. Which line is better? That is an argument many fishermen have strong opinions about. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Considering your reel and rod ratings and your wallet will help you make the choice that is right for your situation. Recommendation: The information provided should help you decide the rod, reel, and line for your surf fishing experience. However, there are still factors we have not covered, including brand names, quality, and pricing. These types of decisions need to be determined based on your personal preference and financial situation. If, however, I were asked to recommend a surf fishing setup regardless of name brand or price, I would suggest the following. Rod: 10 to 12-foot, fast action, that can toss 4-6+ oz weight. Reel: size 5000-6000 that can hold 250 yards of 30lb braid. More Information
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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