Surfcasting & Seaside

How to practice surfcasting fishing?

At first, you may think you'll be limited when it comes to surfcasting since you'll be casting from land, but that couldn't be further from the truth. In addition to the deep sea fish, there is a surprisingly wide variety of fish you can catch right off shore, including flounder, redfish and mackerel. This makes it easy for saltwater anglers to catch good fish without having to leave land. By saving money on a fishing boat or rig, you'll be able to spend more on your fishing equipment.

How to get started with surfcasting fishing

Surfcasting is an easy-to-learn method of fishing. Your tactics will change depending on factors such as location, seasons, tides, weather conditions and the type of fish you hope to have on the end of your line. But, to get started, there are some simple basics that will get you off to a good start in surf cast. If you are new to surfcasting, the first thing you need to do is understand how to surf cast. Surfcasting is actually a bit like regular casting, but with more emphasis on distance and accuracy in landing your bait in the surf. Generally speaking, you'll do fine with a basic, simple cast. For a pronated cast, hold the rod in your hand, bend your arm upward at a 90-degree angle and quickly pull out the surfcasting rod, straightening your arm to throw the bait into the water.

How to surfcast?

Once you have the cast, you can start learning different tactics, such as using different surfcasting baits or fishing at a different time of year, that will help you target specific species of fish. For example, while shrimp will attract most species of fish, you may want to use live bait such as mullet for flounder or herring for mackerel. It also helps to understand the habits of your target fish species based on seasons, tides and weather conditions.

Reading the beach to properly use your sea fishing rod

Experienced surf fishermen know how to read the beach and find the features that make a good fishing spot, but the ocean is an intimidating expanse for beginners. To increase your chances of finding fish, you can look for several things:

• The sandbar is a key element in determining where the fish are, letting you know if the fish are behind it chasing the baitfish or closer to shore. Sandbars will constantly change with passing waves and storms, but you can locate them by determining where the waves begin to break as they come in.
• Outflows, or rip currents, are breaks in the sandbar where fish will often come to feed in the waves. Since fish can also feed on the left or right side of a flow, you can also try casting your surfcasting line on both sides of the flow.
• Areas of the beach with coarse sand and shells are more likely to be near deeper holes that will hold fish, so look up and down the beach to increase your chances of getting a strike.

Remember, these subtle differences can have a huge effect when it comes to surfcasting.

When to surfcast?

Reading the beach will become easier as you become more experienced in surfcasting, but as you learn, there are a few other things to consider as well. As the weather and tides change, you will also see changes in fish behavior. Perfect fishing conditions are hard to come by, so having a general idea of when the fish should bite can make the difference between a successful surfcasting day and a disappointing one. Each surf fisherman will have his own opinion and experiences regarding the best conditions for surfcasting, but there are a few general rules that most can agree with:

• Cloudy, rainy days can help minimize shadows on your line, making the bait more attractive.
• More fish will come to feed at high tide, especially at dawn or dusk, because there will be more water in your fishing hole, but some species will prefer low tide.
• Take advantage of low tide to read the beach and locate sandbars, hollows and other structures.

What surfcasting gear to have for fishing from the beach

When the conditions are right and you decide to head to the beach for surfcasting fishing, make sure you are well prepared. For a surfcasting trip on the beach, you will need the following equipment:

• Surfcasting rod
• Cast net
• Fishing bait
• Surfcasting platforms
• Sea hook and platform support (for tool organization)
• Fishing knife and fishing tools
• Bait bucket and air pump
• Line spool spare
• Pliers or disgorger
• Tape measure
• Umbrella and rain gear
• Sunblock and polarized fishing glasses
• First Aid Kit
• Fishing license