Surf Fishing 101 :The Bare Essentials
Presented by:John GermanosVBAC Surf Committee Chairman24 February 2019
Surf Fishing 101 – The Bare Essentials• Hardware – Rods, Reels, Line• Terminal Tackle – Snaps & Swivels; Hooks; Sinkers; Basic
Rigs
• Accessories – Sand Spike, Bucket, Cooler, Tackle Box, etc.• “Convenience” Items – Buggy Carts, Pack-Chair, Reel
Covers, etc.
Hardware
• Surf Fishing Rods• What length do I need?• What does all that rating stuff
mean on the handle?
• Surf Fishing Reels• Conventional vs. Spinning Reels• Maintenance is the key!
• Fishing Line• Mono vs. Braid vs. Fluorocarbon• Matching Line to Intended Purpose
Surf Fishing Rods
• Length: ranges from 7-ft to 14-ft based on application & skill level• 9-ft to 11-ft rods suit most beginning & intermediate surf anglers
• Action: light-medium-heavy…match to casting goal & weight w/bait
• Ratings on the Rod (discuss with folks in the pro shop):• Line – recommended max strength for braided and monofilament
line• Weight – determines what the sweet spot is for casting
• “Metal Rod” – typically tailored to casting ½ to 2 oz artificial lures
• “Medium Rod” – good all-purpose rig for most applications
• “Heavy Rod” – great for big red drum and other hefty fish
• “Hatteras Heaver” – typically paired with a conventional reel
• Conventional reels• Spinning Reels• Maintenance is crucial!
• Sand is the Devil!• Avoid submerging in saltwater• Freshwater rinse after each outing
Surf Fishing Reels
Spinning ReelConventional
• Monofilament Line• Memory can cause twisting• Larger diameter than braid• Stretches before breaking• Least expensive relative to Mono & Fluoro
• Braided Line• No memory – great for casting distance• Sometimes prone to “wind knots”• Very thin diameter with No stretch• More expensive than Mono
• Fluorocarbon Line• Ultra clear• Tends to be expensive• Excellent for leader material and tying
dropper loops
Fishing Line
Line Tips:1. Cost-effective to use Mono backing
to load spool before adding Braid2. Use Fluoro leaders and rigs when
fishing artificials and/or when water is very clear
3. Fish the lightest line practical, but ensure your reel has a reliable drag system to prevent break-offs!
4. ALWAYS replace frayed or damaged line!
5. Match the right knots to your line type to retain maximum knot strength and minimize slippage.
65-lb Braid with 50-lb mono backing
10-lb BraidWith 25-lbFluoro Leader
Mullet Rig
• Snaps and Swivels• Hooks – Circle Hooks vs. J-Hooks;
Pre-Snelled; Baitkeepers; Snag Hooks• Sinkers – Pyramid, Bank, Hurricane,
Frog Tongue, Sputnik, etc.• Basic Rigs
• Standard High-Low Bottom Rigs (many types!)• Fireball-type Rigs and Doodle Bugs• Tournament Rigs and Dropper Loops• Fish-finder and Mullet Rigs
• Variety is the Key!
Essential Terminal Tackle
Pyramid
BankSputnik In-line
Frog TongueHurricane
Basic Bottom Rig
FireballRig
Fish-finder Rig
MORE TERMINAL TACKLE
Accessories
• Tackle Box or Tackle Bag• Sand Spike, Mallet, Bucket,
& Cooler w/Ice
• Filet Knife and/or Bait Knife• Measuring Tape or Ruler• Hook File and/or Sharpener
• Braid Scissors
TacklePack Folding
Chair
Baitboard,5-gal bucket, sand spikes
Cooler& Ice
Rods
BEACH CART
Hard CaseTackle Box
Tackle Bag
Convenience Items
• Beach Cart• Backpack and/or Backpack Chair• Bait Board• Extra Bucket• Sand Flea Rake & Cast Net for Bait• Fish Weigh Scale• Rags and/or Bait Towels• Multi-tool or Needle-nose Plyers• Ziploc Bags – Galloon; 2-gal; ½-gal; snack
packs• Sunscreen, Drinks, Snacks• Reel Covers• Longsleaved Performance Fishing Shirt• Hat, Sunglasses, and Sunscreen• Hydrating Drinks and Snacks
BEACH CART
Reel Covers