FS Digest

I only have a 7ft M weight/M action rod and most people I've talked to recommend a longer, heavier weight rod to get over the breakers. I'm trying to avoid buying as much new gear as possible. Should I get waders and try to use my current rod while standing in the water, or should I invest in a proper surf rod?

I'd like to learn flyfishing at some point and do have a flyrod so waders would be useful eventually. But I'd also like to enjoy surf fishing so I'm split either way. Any thoughts?

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by fuzzyunderthing

Bass face

My surf fishing set up ( I tend to go fairly light )... 8’6” Okuma salmon rod, Shimano Sedona 2500-3000, 10lb izorline xxx copolymer. I typically throw a Luckycraft Pointer 110-115. Ive landed 5-10+ pound halibut & stripers on this set up yet still fun to catch corbina, crokers and barred surf perch on it...

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

You can probably use that gear ok, just sacrifice some distance on the casting.

Lee626 Loc: Brick NJ [ near the Jersey shore ]

I would recommend a 10' or an 11' med/hvy rod for surf fishing, the length will help you with distance on the cast and the med/hvy to handle some of the bigger fish you may fish for like stripers and imo you should definatly have waders. If you don't want to spend a bunch of money on a reel might i suggest a Penn Pursuit 3, it's a reliable and dependable reel for only around $69.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Welcome to the Forum, fuzzy. You are a little underpowered, but it will work, but not well. The biggest problem you are going to run into is getting enough weight out there to keep the bait where it needs to be in order to catch fish. You didn't say where you will be fishing, or what your target fish will be, we need to know that and that is a consideration that needs to be decided before we can give you a definite answer. Good luck!

Lee626 Loc: Brick NJ [ near the Jersey shore ]

Oh yeah,that's something important too, make sure your rod can cast weight up to 3 or 4 oz. or more to get it out there,,,thanks Fly, i'm always forgetting things.

Jeremy Loc: America

Combo for 50

Bass face

I think most of these replies are from guys who throw heavy weights with cut bait... I on the other hand am talking about throwing artificial baits, on the move and covering ground! I fish from So Cal to Baja Sur Mexico! Never do I use cut bait! I like to pack a day bag with a handful of lures, water, a snack, and the intention of covering 2-6 miles of shoreline! In So Cal I go light with my gear, and when I’m scanning the beach line on foot in Baja Sur for busting bait, I typically have a 8’6”-9’ spinning set up with 15-20lb line throwing top water lures for Rooster fish, huge snook, or giant red snapper! At times, a Dorado/Mahi mahi! When one beafs his/her gear up to much, they loose fish! If you can’t land a 30lb Roosterfish, Snapper, Halibut or whatever in 20lb line ... then , you must be sitting on your butt drowning bait! I personally have landed ( with ease ) 10lb halibut on 8lb line! I also hunt for trophy bass. Never do I fish line over 20lb test! Overkill on line and gear will kill your hook up ratio therefore less fish! I also fish high pressured reservoirs.... it’s not uncommon for anglers to catch 10lb bass on 4-6-8lb line on finesse tackle!

hhager23 Loc: Hatteras NC

A lot depends on what kind of surf fishing you are doing. I am coming at this based on surf fishing primarily on the Outer Banks but where and how you fish makes a big difference in preferred gear. A standard here is 8 and wait - (8oz of weight plus bait). That may be overkill for other places but you are not going to get the casting distance land a 40# red drum on 20# test on a 7-8' rod. Even a lot of lures weigh 3oz. or better and require a longer rod to be able to get them out there. 11-13' is pretty common here.

In general the bigger the surf rod the higher the weight rating but there are exceptions. A number of 11' rods will cast a low as 3/4-1oz but you pay for that sensitivity. I fish surf rods between 7 and 12'. 7-8 1/2' (1/2 to 2oz) for inshore and smaller species, 9-11' (1-4oz) for general surf casting and 12' (2-6oz) for larger targets.

Check out some of the rod manufacturer sites and look at the lengths and ratings. That should give you a good idea about what is available and look and see what other fishermen are using where you are fishing. A lot of their choices may be based on experience.

JackM Loc: North East Florida

I use four rods when surf fishing. Two are 10 to 12' surf rods with larger reels on them but two are my inshore rods which are less than 7'. I cast the two surf rods out next to the first bar and the two inshore rods I keep closer to shore. That way I can cover a large area. Here the tackle I use.
https://ameliafishbites.com/inshore-fishing-tackle/ Watch garage sales and estate sales for used surf tackle. Facebook may have a group in your area as well that has used stuff for sale. If it has been maintained it should be in pretty good shape. You can rebuild anything with new parts from the manufacturer as well. Good luck.

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

Where will you be mostly fishing and do you think you'll target?

Mitch fish Loc: Frankston TX

First thing you want to fish 2 hours before in 2 hours after high tide II quit thinking you have to cast out past the breakers because the fish are feeding right in the troughs close to the beach on either side of a rip is good because it's usually a trough where the water returns to the ocean and use motor oil grubs 122 in Long on a slip Sinker 10 lb test line is fine but you don't need heavy stuff and you can throw swim baits for stripers or jerkbaits sometimes people use I have custom built one piece 11 and 1/2 foot rods to throw pencil poppers and crocodiles and pikeys that's what I use for topwater stripers in California

Wandap11 Loc: Georgia

What about surf fishing on the Gulf? What size rod and reel would I need and what type of bait?

jenniphear1970 Loc: Prospect Park, PA

I have been surf fishing in Southern Jersey my whole life and I use 20lb Power Pro fishing line with a 50lb shocker line on the end of my line.11 to 12ft surf rod is the best. I have a Tsunami 11 and 12ft surf fishing rod with a Penn Battle 4000 reel. Love it. It's worth the price.

Mitch fish Loc: Frankston TX

Yeah I usually use 20 with a 80lb shock leader because their gills in the hooks and stuff would break the line I forgot about the shock leader very important