What is Surf Fishing?
Surf fishing, unlike regular fishing, is where you stand at the shore and catch fish. However, since this activity is quite different, it does not always include the act of using bait since artificial lures are commonly used as well. It is an activity that can be done from all types of shorelines, which include all types of beaches, fishing piers, and rock jetties. The most important aspect that differentiates surf fishing is that it is always done in salty water from land.
How Effective Is Surf Fishing?
Since surf fishing is considered a sport, there is no doubt that the activity itself is quite effective. All of us on some media platform have seen a group of stranded people turn to surf fishing in hopes of finding food. Well, there is truth behind that imagery, which reiterates that surf fishing is extremely effective, so much so that if you aren’t prepared enough, it can become an experience that is quite overwhelming.
Why is that? Since it is done in salt water, the space in which you can catch fish is quite large. However, that is not all, as the gear used for surf fishing is also much larger in size than that used for freshwater fishing. So, the entire experience might be intimidating, which can easily cut down on its effectiveness.
The actual effectiveness of surf fishing depends on how effective you make the activity turn out to be. There are a lot of factors that one must take into account to make surf fishing a fruitful and effective activity, from finding the perfect spot to choosing the best-suited rod, rigs, and reels.
Choosing The Most Effective Rods
As mentioned above, the equipment you use for surf fishing is much larger than regular fishing, including the rods and reels. This is because you will need larger-sized rods and reels to allow you to cast your bait at a distance that is much farther away from you. You will also be handling saltwater fish, which are known to be much stronger.
Be sure to pick out a fishing rod that is twice the size of a rod you would typically use when fishing in freshwater. To increase the effectiveness levels, we would recommend you purchase a surf rod, the length of which falls between 8 to 10 feet. This would ensure the greatest effectiveness.
Choosing The Most Effective Reels
The effectiveness of surf fishing depends on how prepared you are, and so you must also prepare and understand the workings of the most effective reels for the job. However, when it comes to reels, the variety can become a bit overwhelming as the reels come in several different sizes and shapes.
If you are a beginner and just thinking of stepping foot into the world of surf fishing, then the easiest reel to handle and one that is up for the job would be the spinning reel. However, you will need to understand the increments of surf fishing reels before you go to purchase one.
These reels are given increments within the 1000s, and so, the minimum size of a surf fishing reel starts at 1000. Be sure to attach a series reel between 6000 to 8000, and one that is spooled with a braided fishing line of 25 to 50 pounds.
A large population of saltwater fish is known to be more than 3 feet long, which is why the length of your line is incredibly important to ensure that surf fishing is fruitful for you.
A fish that large has the ability to peel off a line that is hundreds of yards in length, so the surf fishing reel that we have recommended will ensure that your equipment is strong enough to handle any saltwater fish that takes your bait since the effectiveness of surf fishing, at the end of the day, depends on how strong your equipment is.
Choosing The Most Effective Bait
While bait isn’t something that you necessarily need in surf fishing, to make the activity much more effective, we would recommend using bait, which includes both fresh bait and frozen bait. The most commonly used fresh bait for surf fishing is squid and shrimp. At the same time, you can also use frozen fish as bait, which includes mullet, bunkers, and shads.
Bottom Line
At the end of the day, surf fishing can be a peaceful yet thrilling activity that you can enjoy by the beach, or it can be a completely overwhelming activity. It all depends on how effectively you have prepared yourself for the activity.
The more prepared you are in terms of your gear, knowledge, and technique, the more effective it will be. So, be sure not to become disheartened if the fish doesn’t take your bait. Instead, trust your instincts and keep at it. After all, surf fishing is as effective as you make it out to be.
