What is the best tide for surf fishing?..Ive heard the incoming is best, but I really have no reasons to back up that. Been on both tides once and have come back empty handed on both attempts. Maybe im not using the right bait either. Had cut mullet both times and figured id at least get a shark to eat it.
Thanks!
When was it? right now the surf is very slow. In a week or two things should start to move again water temps need to hit about 64.
ive caught fish on incoming, outgoing, high, and low and gotten skunked on all of em too. as stan said its gonna be rough for now but once the water warms up toss out squid/shrimp for whiting/rays and chunks of mullet for bull reds/sharks. also try half a blue crab for reds, black drum, and bonnetheads. if youre new to surf fishing go out and scout on low tide so you can see sandbars, differences in current, … and try those areas. if i had to pick a tide though id say ive had my best luck shortly after the tide starts coming back in.
I tried last summer a few times, but was hoping to do some soon. Guess ill wait a week or two before I try my luck. Thanks!
As Nuke says hit the tides coming back on the way back in or at the first 2hrs of the outgoing. I find these are the prime times that I have caught all of my fish out at folly pier.
We do not rise to the occassion…but fall to the level of our training
Although I do not surf fish here very often anymore, I usually surf fish Cape Hatteras 2-3 times a year and “Nuke” is right about the tides. What I do see here is most people are fishing out too far. When I surf fish an area I go on the lowest tides and scope out the sand bars, look for the troughs and slews, look for “holes in a sandbar”. I fish just inside the sandbar or just on the other side. Here in Chas thats not very far, when I’m fishing Hatteras i’m trying to hit a trough or slew thats an easy 120yard, (not feet) cast.
Try fishing closer in here in Chas. Look for the holes in a sandbar, its a highway for fish. I’ve found over the last 48 years of surf fishing that if you really study an area of beach you’re going to fish, imagine if you will you’re a big azz drum looking for food and a way out of the surf at the same time, this is where I start looking for the fish.
Mike Crouch
Sea Tow Charleston
843-881-8949
oh yea even after you “know” an area keep looking at it at low tide since moving water/tides will continuously change the landscape. there used to be a nice sandbar at sullys i caught a nice bull red from but its definately gone now from tides going in and out.
I just back from Hatteras and spent two hours driving the beach and just looking going wow, just from the changes from last Oct. Gotta do your homework. There are some big boys right here in chucktown just waiting to be caught and I’m talking reds up to 54" (thats the biggest my friend caught) just a little north of IOP.
Two of my rules for surf fishing here.
As fresh a bait as possible. I change my baits every 15 mins or so.
Least amount weight you need just to hold bottom UNLESS you have a stretch of beach to yourself, find a slew, get the bait in there and walk the bait as it rolls down with the current. However far you want to walk is up to you. I got my biggest red in Hatteras and we walked a mile down the beach with the drift, baits just stopped in a hole, bang, both of us are hooked up.
Mike Crouch
Sea Tow Charleston
843-881-8949
The fastest part of either tide is normally 2 hours before the high and 2 hours before the low. Most areas fish the best during this time period, but not all. The fastest of either is the falling tide; normally this is the better of the two. As water begins to push in or out, it starts out moving slowly, then gradually increases in speed until reaching a crescendo. During this peak the fish normally feed voraciously. Taking very little time to inspect their next meal for scent and realism. This is similar to trout feeding in the fast water.
Thanks for the advice guys…I do most of my fishing from my boat, but would love to get a few in the surf (and have more to do when my wife drags me to the beach!) and it would be really awesome to hook up on a huge red or big shark.
If you head to some of the beaches where you can get on the ocean side in the boat, pick your days and fish the same technique backwards from surf fishing, I usually cast up on the beach and then drag it back till it falls in the slew. great way to catch big reds here in the summer through nov.
Mike Crouch
Sea Tow Charleston
843-881-8949