Surf Fishing: Making if Easy
Surf fishing can wear you down with the bulky equipment that has become the norm. Many surf anglers elect to use large rods (10 feet or longer) and stout spinning reels with a variety of live and dead bait. Reels that hold hundreds of yards of 30 pound monofilament are the norm versus the exception and along with this bulky equipment comes weight and fatigue. Let’s face it, casting this stout equipment into rolling waves can do little more than wear you out – and yes, you may luck out and catch a whopper but you could be too tired to enjoy it. Fortunately, this isn’t the only way to enjoy surf fishing and in fact, in a lot of cases, this might be a case of pure overkill. The use of this equipment doesn’t really do much outside of forcing the angler to burn a lot of energy when today’s technology offers rod and reel combinations that are not only lighter, but are far easier to cast.
The northeast is known for great surf fishing opportunities. There are plenty of areas that are perfect that don’t have excessive currents and have relatively tame waves. These areas are good spots for landing smaller sized striped bass and bluefish and if you’re lucky, you’ll get the occasional bruiser. These areas are ideal for scaled down versions of surf casting gear. If you’re unsure of what to use, don’t worry. Graphite rods in the 7 or 8 foot length and a spinning reel with a 4000 size range will work out quite well for you. Both are suitable for use with lures that are in the one to three ounce range.
One of the advances that have made the shorter fishing poles more usable for surf fishing is braided line. Although it is highly recommended that you use a monofilament or fluorocarbon line leader (quite a long one in fact) to prevent breakage as your catch heads for the rock, braided line takes up far less reel space than traditional lines. In addition, it makes for a smoother release in your reel guides allowing you to cat far longer distances as well. You are likely to see the signs of failed attempts at using braided line scattered all over rocks and boulders as you are surf-casting. This can easily be prevented by tying your lure to a fluorocarbon which will help alleviate breakage.
Younger anglers will likely really appreciate the shorter tackle as well. Just think about a young angler trying to manage a 10 or 12 foot rod. Not only will that size tackle make it hard to cast for them, but it will also be very disappointing when they try to pull a fish in using that oversized gear. For young anglers, the ability to catch smaller fish on smaller gear gives them a chance at successfully landing fish and teaches them the enjoyment of the sport.
There are some anglers who will always insist on going after the biggest possible fish they can find. For them, the oversized tackle will always be a necessity ensuring that it will be readily available. However, for those anglers who enjoy the sport of smaller fish, the lighter tackle not only provides opportunities to enjoy surf fishing but also protects them from getting tired out carrying the heavier, bulkier tackle for miles along a beach.
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 Fishing Reels and Daiwa Fishing Reels.



