Help me fish the surf, please...
Craig Self
I have really just discovered the joys of surf fishing, but I'm having
some difficulty. I'm using a 10' rod with an Ambassadeur 5500c3.
This allows me to throw the bait a mile, but after it hgits the water,
it just drifts and pulls like mad! I can't seem to keep a bait in
place more than a couple of minutes before it has nearly washed ashore
1/4 mile down the beach. Can someone give me some pointers on rigs
and leaders? The surf at S.Padre is not very big (2-4ft.) and I see
many people out. What do I need to do better?
Thanks in advance.
Craig Self
Al Millan
When I surf fish for stripers and surf perch, I use a diamond lead
sinker with the point side down. Depending on the surf, I start with a
three ounce and work my way up to a five or six ounce when the surf
rises. One problem I seem to have is when the sinker gets buried; then
I have a hell of a time trying to yank my line out of the sand.
There's another type of surf sinker our with is also diamond in shape
but has four spikes on two sides. You attach it to your leader with
the point up but the spikes help dig the sinker into the sand and keep
it from sliding sideways. I also noticed that the thicker your line,
the more influence the surf has on your rig.
Good luck!!
Papa Frisbee (aka Joe Slater)
cns...@hiline.com (Craig Self) waxed eloquently :
>I have really just discovered the joys of surf fishing, but I'm having
>some difficulty. I'm using a 10' rod with an Ambassadeur 5500c3.
>This allows me to throw the bait a mile, but after it hgits the water,
>it just drifts and pulls like mad! I can't seem to keep a bait in
>place more than a couple of minutes before it has nearly washed ashore
>1/4 mile down the beach.
How much weight are you using? And what type of sinker? What kind of rig?
Pyramids are better than bank or other types of rounded sinkers. You
may need 4 oz. or more to hold it.
Also, after I caught a 50 lb. shark 3' off the beach at Cape Lookout, NC,
I realized you don't need to throw it a mile {:*)
papa...@nando.net
Smerpbane
Guru and Poster Child of Ultimate
http://www.webbuild.com/~papadisc/
"If you can't stay young, you can at least stay immature"
- Red Green
lew...@exis.net
On Tue, 13 Aug 1996 03:11:00 GMT, cns...@hiline.com (Craig Self)
wrote:
>I have really just discovered the joys of surf fishing, but I'm having
>some difficulty. I'm using a 10' rod with an Ambassadeur 5500c3.
>This allows me to throw the bait a mile, but after it hgits the water,
>it just drifts and pulls like mad! I can't seem to keep a bait in
>place more than a couple of minutes before it has nearly washed ashore
>1/4 mile down the beach. Can someone give me some pointers on rigs
>and leaders? The surf at S.Padre is not very big (2-4ft.) and I see
>many people out. What do I need to do better?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Craig Self
>
Use the lightest line possible, usually 17-20 lb test, to eliminate as
much drag as possible. Try the traditional pyramid sinkers in
gradually inreasing weights. I this doesn't help use the new storm
sinkers - they have a pyramid upper portion, and their lower portions
are long and cylindrical almost plug-like. They have a steamlined
shape that offers less resistance to casting, and are carried less by
ocean currents. For heavier holding power try the english-anchor type
sinkers - these have spring-wire tangs (spikes) sticking out from the
sides. The spikes grab the bottom hard. These spikes are themselves
springs which release when pulled hard during retrieve, and must be
rest prior to re-casting.
Now, if non of these sinkers work then you might have to move up to a
good boat anchor (grin)!!
Keep you line tight!
Mike Welborn
>cns...@hiline.com (Craig Self) wrote:
>
>>I have really just discovered the joys of surf fishing, but I'm having
>>some difficulty. I'm using a 10' rod with an Ambassadeur 5500c3.
>>This allows me to throw the bait a mile, but after it hgits the water,
>>it just drifts and pulls like mad! I can't seem to keep a bait in
>>place more than a couple of minutes before it has nearly washed ashore
>>1/4 mile down the beach. Can someone give me some pointers on rigs
>>and leaders? The surf at S.Padre is not very big (2-4ft.) and I see
>>many people out. What do I need to do better?
>
>>Thanks in advance.
>
>>Craig Self
>
I fish the upper Texas Coast, from High Island to Surfside. If you are
going to fish in the surf, you need a surf sinker. Most tackle shops along
the coast and even department stores like K-Mart, Target, etc or sporting
goods stores like Academy have these sinkers. These sinker have 4 prongs
that you spread out and allow them to act like an anchor for your line.
I like to use 3 oz leads, I have used leads as heavy as 8 oz if the
current is real strong (like it can be at the end of the Texas City dike).
This is what I would suggest as far as how to rig your rod and reel for
this type of fishing.
To the end of your fishing line, attach 30 feet of 40lb test line. This
will be used as a shock leader. With a 10 foot rod, 3 oz sinker and as
small as a 3 oz bait you generate quite a bit of tension on the line as
you cast.
Thread the end of the shock leader through the eye of a swivel that has
a snap attached.
Tie the end if the shock leader to a swivel (no snap).
On the other end of the swivel, tie on 12 to 18 inches of leader
material (monofiliament or steel as necessary) and attach a hook to the
other end of the leader.
Clip your surf sinker to the swivel and snap.
This configuration allows the fish to bite and take line without having
to pull against the sinker. Additionally, after the fish has taken some
line, you can set the hook without having to pull against the sinker.
Simply cast out your line, allow to sink to the bottom, pull back until
the sinker sets, place the reel in free spool, turn on the clicker, place
in a rod holder and wait. If the surf is heavy, you may need to engage
the spool and ease way bak on the drag.
One additional note. I run into problems with seaweed gathering on the
line occasionally. The higher the rod holder stands then better because
less of the line is in the water being affected by the waves and seaweed.
Hope this helps.
Mike
CKLINERT
In article <3210f4f4....@news.nando.net>, papa...@nando.net (Papa
Frisbee (aka Joe Slater)) writes:
>Pyramids are better than bank or other types of rounded sinkers. You
>may need 4 oz. or more to hold it.
Here in San Diego we mostly use a 2 ounce pyramid sinker with
20 pound monofilament line for surf fishing. A salt water fishing
"combo" with a spinning reel and 7 foot pole are sold in the stores.
Current can be quite a nuisance in the morning, and change during
the day. You develop a technique of casting "upstream" and
then giving the line a few sharp jerks to settle the sinker in the
sand.
>Also, after I caught a 50 lb. shark 3' off the beach at Cape Lookout, NC,
>I realized you don't need to throw it a mile {:*)
The fish come to the shallow water because that is where the
food is, but you must be very still or stay away from your bait
because fish can be very shy around people thrashing around
in the water. Still, the biggest thrill is catching a big corbina
with a lure in the surf right at your feet. It can be fascinating
to see what animals come around you when you are patient,
and very quiet.
The big 12 foot poles and heavier sinkers are mostly
used in the bays here when fishing under bridges. I think
the idea is to cast nearly "all the way across" and place
your bait around the pilings.
Cliff
Matthew Winder
In article <3210fc98...@news.exis.net>, lew...@exis.net writes
>On Tue, 13 Aug 1996 03:11:00 GMT, cns...@hiline.com (Craig Self)
>wrote:
>
>>I have really just discovered the joys of surf fishing, but I'm having
>>some difficulty. I'm using a 10' rod with an Ambassadeur 5500c3.
>>This allows me to throw the bait a mile, but after it hgits the water,
>>it just drifts and pulls like mad! I can't seem to keep a bait in
>>place more than a couple of minutes before it has nearly washed ashore
>>1/4 mile down the beach. Can someone give me some pointers on rigs
>>and leaders? The surf at S.Padre is not very big (2-4ft.) and I see
>>many people out. What do I need to do better?
>>
>>Thanks in advance.
>>
>>Craig Self
>>
>
>much drag as possible. Try the traditional pyramid sinkers in
>gradually inreasing weights. I this doesn't help use the new storm
>sinkers - they have a pyramid upper portion, and their lower portions
>are long and cylindrical almost plug-like. They have a steamlined
>shape that offers less resistance to casting, and are carried less by
>ocean currents. For heavier holding power try the english-anchor type
>sinkers - these have spring-wire tangs (spikes) sticking out from the
>sides. The spikes grab the bottom hard. These spikes are themselves
>springs which release when pulled hard during retrieve, and must be
>rest prior to re-casting.
>
>Now, if non of these sinkers work then you might have to move up to a
>good boat anchor (grin)!!
>
>Keep you line tight!
These 'breakaway' sinkers have two small holes drilled across the nose
of the bomb shaped lead at right angles to each other. There is also
four small indentations in the lead just above the four holes. Through
the holes are two pieces of wire which are folded back towards the top
of the lead and then outwards at about 45 degrees. On the four
protruding pieces of wire are four small plastic beads which sit in the
four indentations. They don't roll and come away from the sand with a
sharp pull on the line. Matthew Winder
Steve Brown
Craig Self wrote:
>
> I have really just discovered the joys of surf fishing, but I'm having
> some difficulty. I'm using a 10' rod with an Ambassadeur 5500c3.
> This allows me to throw the bait a mile, but after it hgits the water,
> it just drifts and pulls like mad! I can't seem to keep a bait in
> place more than a couple of minutes before it has nearly washed ashore
> 1/4 mile down the beach. Can someone give me some pointers on rigs
> and leaders? The surf at S.Padre is not very big (2-4ft.) and I see
> many people out. What do I need to do better?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Craig Self
Beach fishing is very popular in Australia, you may wish to visit the
Australian Fishing Shop
http://www.gil.com.au/nvision/afs.html
And read the section under information about becomming a better
fisherman, this will
give you some great information on how to read the beach and gutters.
Also visit the
Alvey reels pages under the tackle section, they wrote the pages on
becomming a better fisherman
and have been in the business for over 75 years.
Happy fishing.
Steve Brown
DELFISH
GIVE ME CALL AT 210-631-7269 OR 585-3209. I LIVE BETWEEN MISSIONAND
MCALLEN.
DEL FANKHAUSER.
THERE ARE SEVERAL METHODS. THAT WORK WELL. BROADWAY HARD. IN MCALLEN. HAS
THE BREAK AWAY TACKLE LINE CALLED LONG CAST AND THE SPIDER BREAKAWAY
FISHING WEIGHTS. THESE WILL HOLD A BAIT IN ONE LOCATION. HAVE YOU TRIED
USING PLUGS OR SPOONS. I USE THE AMBASSADOR 6500C IN THE SURF WITH A 10
FOOT ROD FOR LONG DISTANCE CASTING OF SPOONS. THIS IS LARGER REEL. FOR
SURF FISHING YOU MAY WISH TO HAVE A LITTLE LARGER REEL WITH MORE CAPACITY
OF 30# LINE. THE WEIGHTS THAT YOU USE WILL SNAP LIGHTER LINE.
Michael A. Tatum
of the pyramid. After casting, let it settle to the bottom and pull it
back in a few feet which should bury it in the sand just a bit. Then
keep your line tight.
Charles E Mashburn Mr
Michael A. Tatum (mta...@mbay.net) wrote:
I agree with Steve about the pyramid weight. It has a lot to do with
the area you are fishing. That undertow you always here bout can play
havoc without the right amount. I use a Penn 660 open face reel on a
13 foot Ambasseduer rod. It works well for fishing in the Gulf of
Mexico down around Panama City and Mexico Beach. I think i would
rather surf cast than any other type of fishing. Fishing in the
Florida side of the Gulf is still pretty good. But like everywhere
else the commercial fishing, long liners and all those have hurt it a
lot. I know that they have to make a living but you would think even
they could see more than anyone else that the fishing is dropping
drastically. Anyway I'll get off my soapbox.
I usually use a three rig leader also. Have caught three fish at once
one time. They all kind of fought each other though so it wasn't much
of a fight for me. One good one about 12 to 18 lbs. is a good fight on
a surf rig. Did hook a nice 120lb thresher shark one time. That lasted
me about 57 minutes.
I make my own leaders also. I havent't bought any ready mades that
seemed to be as good as the ones I could make at home. Never had one
to fail and its fun sitting around doing that kinda of stuff on a cold
wet reainy night in Georgia.
good fishing. chuck
lew...@exis.net
Also try storm sinkers, or the "spudnick" wire prong sinkers. They
both have great purchase and come in various sizes.
Andrew Jones
> Also try storm sinkers, or the "spudnick" wire prong sinkers. They
> both have great purchase and come in various sizes.
Thats "sputnik" I think because they look like the famous (to us older
guys) Soviet satellite.
Bob Jones
I've also just started surf fishing this past year. I think after reading
the previous replies, you have enough info on weights and leaders. One
little tip that I just learned in a big way is that you don't need, and
shouldn't really, cast out a mile.
I don't know about Padre but Galveston has three sandbars near shore.
Previously I would wade out to the third sandbar and chunk my bait out as
far as possible. I fished like this for a while without catching much
before I learned different. Now I wade out to the second sandbar, rarely
getting in water deeper than my waist, and cast the bait into the cut
between the second and third bars. Last weekend my cousin and I hooked up
with 4 BIG reds. We kept and tagged a 46" and a 39".
Their out there and in relativley shallow water.
Good Luck,
Bob Jones
p.s. My favorite bait is fresh dead crab that we catch ourselves.
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