Tackling The Surf

If you love the waves crashing along the beach, the smell of salt in the air, and walking for miles along the beach, you might also be interested in fishing the great waves. If you are unsure where to start, you may be surprised to find out how easy it is to get started with surf fishing. You may also be surprised to find out how inexpensive it is to get started.

 

The best thing about surf fishing is it does not mean that you have to spend a ton of money to get started. You might actually be surprised to learn that the old fishing rod that you got years ago that has been laying around in the garage, the attic, or the basement is perfectly suitable. Look around and see if you can find an 8 foot or larger rod, and add some of those lead weights that you have been collecting for years.

Tackling the surf means you will need a rod and reel that will easily cast up to 4 ounces of weight. Your rod should also have a fast action tip, and be fairly sturdy. One of the reasons that an eight foot or longer rod is needed, is that the surf will require long casts, so the sturdier, the better. At a minimum, you will need 200 yards of 17 pound test to fit easily on your reel. Monofilament is the best line for these purposes.

Whether you elect to use a fish finder, or a sliding weight system, proper preparation is the key to success. To create a sliding weight system, use a snap swivel, a whole, and the leader. This is typically the best possible rig for surf fishing. A fish finder, is a hollow sleeve that contains large snaps that allow you to snap your sinker to the clip. Both these systems allow you to land a fish without the fish necessarily being aware of the resistance. Your swivel prevents the slider from landing near your hook, creating less resistance. In general, you hook should be attached to a leader that is about 2 feet long.

One thing that you will want to do is have an assortment of spoons as well as artificial plugs as part of your tackle. There are instances, when artificial lures will give you far better results than live bait. If you see fish actively feeding on the surface, you will want to use the top water plug to try to attract them. Most surf anglers have found that 2 rods are their best option. One fully rigged and ready to use with an artificial lure, and the other using live bait.

It should not be too difficult to track down the most productive surf fishing areas. In fact, chances are your local tackle shop will have information about this. There is little doubt, that anglers have come into the shop and told their tales about their surf fishing adventures. In addition to being a good source of information about location, a local bait and tackle shop will also be able to help you find exactly the right bait. Not only will they be able to tell you the best areas to fish, but they will also be able to fill you in on which lures work best for that area. As you grow more accustomed to fishing the surf, there is little doubt that as you gain experience, you will also quickly discover which lures help you the most. Remember, as with anything else experience provides knowledge.

Surf fishing should not cost you hundreds of dollars, even if you are just getting started. In fact, getting started with the basic equipment should be relatively inexpensive, and before you know it, you will learn more and more about this great sport. Your tackle shop the other beach anglers should be able to help you with a lot of information regarding which local beaches offer the best alternatives for surf fishing. This will allow you the opportunity to get involved in this exciting sport.

When you are preparing to undergo a saltwater fishing experience, it is important that you have the proper fishing gear. Some of the most popular gear include Shimino Spinning Reel, Penn Reels and Daiwa Reel.