Surf fishing help: Tl;dr: I’m new to surf fishing, experience with bass and cats, completely out of my element while surf fishing and need help. Hi all- I am currently visiting family...

FS Digest

Tl;dr: I’m new to surf fishing, experience with bass and cats, completely out of my element while surf fishing and need help.

Hi all- I am currently visiting family in Hilton head island, specifically the south beach area. I am an avid fisherman, but have very limited experience in saltwater and even less in surf fishing (I’m from the Midwest). I’ve watched video tutorials but they haven’t really made sense to me. I have 2 8 ft spinning rods and a 11 ft with an offshore reel. I tried yesterday afternoon and almost all day today with no results. I’m using a drop rig with 2 oz sinker and I have tried shrimp, squid, and chopped mullet, all frozen. I’m casting as far as I can, not really sure how far that is, but it seems like my rig is getting swept away in the current because when I check my bait it’s always coming in directly from my right even though I’m casting straight out. I really want to catch some saltwater fish without having to pay for a charter, so hopefully you guys can help me out.

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by Nillnads

Ronniejw Loc: West Point MS

FS Digest wrote:

Tl;dr: I’m new to surf fishing, experience with ba... (show quote)

Firstly, look at the area on low tide and look for channels then when the tide is rising put the baits in those, the fish will come in close to shore, no need to cast as far as you can, the fish could be at your feet

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

You might need a little but bigger sinker if the current is moving your bait down the beach. Typically they'd use a 2 or 3 Oz. Your on the right track. Just try to find a break in the bar, maybe a deep pocket of water at low tide, then fish it as the water comes in. If you have a way check a site on YouTube called surf fishing 101. It'll help a lot on reading a beach.

JohnG Loc: Long Island NY.

Make sure you use pyramid sinkers. They dig into the sand. Bank sinkers don’t hold as well and will roll.

Bass face

Out here in So Cal we tend to go pretty light with our surf fishing gear.

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

Use pyramid shaped sinkers with a fish finder rig. You only need to get beyond the breakers.

ncduck Loc: North Carolina

Don't beat yourself up too bad it's not you. I just got back yesterday from fishing a little further south on the St Mary's Jetties, the tide was so strong I had to move up 4 oz pyramid sinkers to get anything to hold... no locals were fishing (not a good sign). All I saw caught was a few small Whiting on shrimp, water temp was 61 degrees, may be a little too early...

mikey9001 Loc: Jacksonville, NC

Might try frog tongue weights 4-8 Oz. Some surfers have a saying 8 and bait

michael4now Loc: wilder id

FS Digest wrote:

Tl;dr: I’m new to surf fishing, experience with ba... (show quote)

good luck

Wahoosteve Loc: Outer Banks

I was in Duck, NC last week. We used shrimp, mullet, and bloodworms. No luck for 2 days. The water is too cold at this point. The surf bite should pick up when the water temp improves.

Leeg53 Loc: Allen,texas/ worc,mass

Your doing it right, its the fish who are wrong. You want to learn ebb tide times. They say best times 2° before to 2° after peak tide. Watch the birds if in daylight. They'll tell you where and when fish are running. Also try to match the bait to whats running. Local bait store can be great help.

jkkeith Loc: South Carolina

Just to be clear 2hr before low tide and 2 hr after. Use shrimp or squid. I have never caught anything on mullet. I have always cast just beyond where the waves break. Most of the time I catch croaker, whiting, rays(they eat) but mostly throw them back, sandsharks(eat them).

D Ryb Loc: sharon CT

jkkeith wrote:

Just to be clear 2hr before low tide and 2 hr after. Use shrimp or squid. I have never caught anything on mullet. I have always cast just beyond where the waves break. Most of the time I catch croaker, whiting, rays(they eat) but mostly throw them back, sandsharks(eat them).

Bank wheights don’t hold the bottom in the surf pyramids do , that’s important depending on rip tides and how high the surf is will determine what weight to use, less weight when calm more when not 2 oz 4 oz usually works . If you need 5 or 6 oz probably best to go home, one other thing can’t speak for all the beeches but nighttime is typically better than daytime

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

ncduck wrote:

Don't beat yourself up too bad it's not you. I just got back yesterday from fishing a little further south on the St Mary's Jetties, the tide was so strong I had to move up 4 oz pyramid sinkers to get anything to hold... no locals were fishing (not a good sign). All I saw caught was a few small Whiting on shrimp, water temp was 61 degrees, may be a little too early...

4 Oz pyramids are what I use on a good day. Takes 6 Oz to load one of my rods.

Vince01 Loc: OBX North Carolina

Search beach bomber fishing videos on YouTube there are videos to help read the surf. Fish the cuts and holes that are closer to the the beach,your throwing to far. At a high tide the bigger fish use these cuts to get to the bait fish. Use 4-6 oz weight to hold in the current match what bait is there.typically whole finger mullet on a 5o hook. But the bait has to be there if water is to cold there’s no bait there in turn no big fish. Good luck.