| Surf fishing at the beach on the ocean can get | | | | you don't see any, just cast out to where the |
| real exciting. In this article I will outline surf fishing | | | | waves break and let your bait float in the sandy |
| tips I have learned through the years that anyone | | | | trenches the waves create. That is where fish will |
| can use. Some tips have been acquired through | | | | look for food. |
| personal experience and from other successful | | | | Always look at the tide chart for your area and |
| surf fishing friends. | | | | pick your fishing times around high tides. The best |
| First you need to make sure you have the | | | | time is usually 2 hours before and one to two |
| adequate equipment. A fishing rod that is between | | | | hours after high tide. Surf fishing at these times |
| 10 feet and 15 feet long is the ideal length in | | | | can usually yield the most activity. Also try early |
| order to achieve good casting distance and | | | | morning and early evening which is normally a |
| leverage. The fishing reel can be a spinning reel | | | | good fishing time. Coupled with high tide, this time |
| size 6000 up to an 8000 size with a good drag | | | | frame can be very exciting and productive. |
| system and good line capacity for heavier line | | | | Other fishing gear you need will be a 5 gallon |
| such as 17 to 25 pound test. One thing to | | | | bucket to carry your bait, drinking water, towel, |
| remember about fishing in the ocean, you never | | | | knife, cutting board for cutting up clams etc and |
| know what you will catch, so you need to be | | | | rod stand. Plus you may want another carry all |
| prepared with the proper heavy equipment to | | | | for everything mentioned after you put some fish |
| handle a 30 pound sting ray or a large blue fish | | | | in the bucket for cleaning later. You should also |
| that have giant teeth, not to mention the | | | | consider using a steel leader and a good hook rig |
| occasional shark. Sometimes you will catch small | | | | such as a pompano rig or a strong steel hook |
| fish like whiting or lady fish that are too small for | | | | attached to the steel leader. For sinkers you can |
| a heavy rod, but being prepared for the big one is | | | | use the pyramid style or the sputnik style. I use |
| really what you want. | | | | the sputnik style because it sticks in the sand and |
| Choosing where to fish is another choice to be | | | | allows the bait to float in the water. The weight |
| made. If you are at a home or condo on the | | | | of the sinker or weight depends on how rough |
| ocean front you would most likely fish right out | | | | the surf is. The pyramid style can tend to roll with |
| front. Then look for activity on top of the water, | | | | the surf and back to shore again. |
| like birds diving into the water feeding on bait fish. | | | | Surf fishing tips like these can help you get |
| Where there are small fish there are big fish not | | | | started fishing the surf. Always check out the |
| too far away. Fish close to them if you can, | | | | local bait shops to buy bait and ask what's been |
| otherwise get out your polarized sunglasses and | | | | biting lately, then gear up accordingly. |
| look for bait fish near where you are standing. If | | | | |