By Craig R. Stockton
Owner of Treasures eConsignment
Spring Beach Fishing
One Man’s Passion
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If you are thinking it’s time to jump in the RV and head to the beach for a few days or just take a day trip to the sand and surf, fishing will be getting under way soon. The recent storms have dirtied up the water but Mother Nature has a way of self-cleaning in short order. As the weather begins to settle down, the beaches will be ready for some great surf fishing. If you are not a fan of the sand, I assure you that the rewards are worth the effort.
Surf fishing for me is one of the ultimate adventures in fishing because there is so much to overcome and deal with. The elements can be challenging. Between the tide condition and the wind and wave action, you can have your hands full before you think about the first cast.
Fortunately, when the fish are feeding near shore the action and variety can be exciting. Before heading out, let’s go over some of the gear that will make the trip fun and rewarding.
I prefer long rods for this type of fishing for the following reasons; 1) the longer rods are handy for casting over waves 2) longer rods are better handling when fighting fish 3) your casting distance is vastly improved, and 4) hook setting at longer distances is noticeably better. I use rods from 9.5 to 13.5 feet and in line weights from 6 to 12 lbs. Keep in mind these are leader weights, not the main line. Because I use braided line on my reels, I will use 10lb braid and a 6lb leader or 20lb braid and a 12lb leader. Braided line has many benefits, one being extreme sensitivity; second, there is no stretch, and third it is a very tough line, which is necessary for beach conditions.
For reels, you want one with high capacity line yardage and higher gear ratios. Using reels with low gear ratios will have you winding faster than you need to. The wave and tide will push your line around and you need to stay in contact with your lure. Reading water is the most challenging aspect of surf fishing; this takes time to learn. There are no short cuts but I will give a few tips that may help. One is to fish white water, which is water that moves toward the beach after the wave breaks. Two, watch for the fastest water moving off the beach, a distinct line that can be seen, and, three, look for what I call nervous water, it looks like what a washing machine would do on the surface.
When casting, always try to cast behind the wave. Casting in front of it, due to wave hydraulics, will cause your line to be pushed forward quite fast making it difficult to stay in contact with your lure or bait. Staying in contact with your lure or bait is a key component in catching fish in the surf. The ability to feel is very important in this environment; if you lose contact with the lure, you will not detect the bite. Once you do get a bite, you have to set the hook fast, long rods will help greatly for this purpose. This is a fastpaced style of fishing and there is no day dreaming when surf fishing unless you are soaking bait. Concentration on the environment, thinking about what is going on with your bait, and accessing the area is a constant process. This is not relaxed fishing to say the least. The reason I love doing this is the constant challenge.
One other point I would make is the safety aspect. This is a very unforgiving environment, and complete respect for it is called for. Never go deeper into the surf than is necessary, let your rod cover the water. Never turn your back on the surf, always back out facing the waves, and keep a close eye of what is going on around you. Catching fish is not worth risking your life. A final tip is to fish at least 1 to 1.5 hours before high tide. This tends to be the best time!
