Are you planning to go on a shore fishing trip? One of the things you should know about shore fishing is that it’s very different from fishing from a boat. Below are six tips you can use to succeed when you’re shore or surf fishing.
The first thing that you should do is walk along your beach when it’s low tide, preferably during the spring. There are things that you should be looking for:
You can explore further and cast a bare lead without any hooks from the low water mark. Slowly bring the lead in, and you’ll feel the seabed’s changes in contours and conditions.
This data is going to be very valuable and It’s going to make a huge difference in whether or not you catch fish. Make some sketches and notes in your notebook and you’ll find that you’re looking at it during your fishing trip.
The one thing about the ocean is that it’s always changing. Currents and tides shift the goalies and sandbanks, and shellfish beds can be destroyed by storms and create new features in the seabed. When it’s high water, with one surf patch looking a lot like the other and with the evidence all covered, it isn’t easy to look at your notes and know what is below the water’s surface.
When you first glance at it, one surf patch might look like all the others. But you want to make sure you’re watching closely.
It will look different when there’s a rock below the surface. Breaking, short seas are going to betray shallow sandbanks, and flatter, smoother seas indicate that there is water that’s deeper – a gully where fish might hide.
Therefore, with that information from the survey you did at low tide and the evidence provided by the surf changes, you will have a really good idea where your bait should be placed.
Many people who like to fish from the surf like fishing in offshore winds because it’s easier for them to make longer casts. However, offshore winds calm the water, and this produces water that is clear.
In these conditions, fish often hang out in the deeper water during the daylight hours offshore, and they become brave to come closer when it’s darker.
Low atmospheric conditions, bigger seas, and strong winds will give you better results when you are surf fishing in the daytime.
When fishing from the surf, you want to ensure you’re there at the right time. On most surf beaches, the best time is usually two hours before high tide and then two hours after high tide. This is especially true if it’s spring tide. However, it’s not a good idea to fish during high tide itself.
Here’s an example. Say high tides at 10 AM. You don’t want to fish between 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM. But if you fish from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM, chances are you’ll have a good catch. Then you want to try again between 10:45 AM and 12:45 PM when the tide is ebbing.
Fish will almost always feed better during conditions of low light, making dusk and dawn the best times. A really good idea is to find a time when high tide happens at dawn or dusk and plan to go fishing then. Chances are you’re going to come away with a big haul.
Rigs for surf fishing have to satisfy three important requirements:
That aerodynamic requirement will mean that the shore rig’s basic form is a rig that ends with one of your lead weights along with at least one hook attached to short snoods. These should be above your weight. The following are types of these rigs:
How can you tie the rigs? The easiest way that you can do it is by cheating. You can purchase them made professionally and then shamelessly copy them.
When replicating your purchased shore rings, don’t use the nylon monofilament for tying your own. You should use the fluorocarbon line instead. It’s invisible when underwater, much more than other lines. It isn’t cheap, but you’re not going to need very much. You also might find that you’re catching a fantastic fish.
This is something that surf casters do to look macho. Everyone wants to make cool casts, but a lot of times, it isn’t necessary. If you want to do long casts, there are three things that you need:
The biggest attribute of good surf anglers is knowing that when you cast hundreds of feet out, it isn’t going to guarantee you have good results. But when you cast consistently and accurately to the spots where the fish are.
These are six things that you should remember when you are surf fishing. They will help you have the best chance of success and help you have a lower chance of being frustrated with your fishing trip.