I’m new to surf fishing and I’m interested to see recommendations on a good set up. I’ve been reading a lot of threads on here and there seems to be a lot of different opinions.
Eventually I would like to be able to target larger sharks, but I think starting off I’ll be going for the smaller stuff
A few specific questions:
I’ve seen people saying that 7’ surf rods are enough for just about anything. Is that true? Other places I’ve seen 10’ - 12’ recommended
Any specific reel recommendations? I have a few Penn reels that I use for inshore that I really like
Recommendations on line/test? Do most people use braid with a mono top shot or no?
Would I have more luck with fresh shrimp or using live mullet?
8’-9’ med-hvy rod
A reel with 20-25lbs. of “advertised” drag
15-25lb test, braid? mono? you choose.
Fresh shrimp will catch just about everything. Live mullet? I would use them cut up. My preference.
Whiting, hands down the most common fish in the low country surf.
“There’s a fine line between fishing and standing in the surf like an idiot.”
Braid or mono? That really depends on what you have and how you want to fish. If you are new to surf fishing braid can help you learn to identify bites more easily simply because it provides more ■■■■■■■■. It’s a lot easier to feel what’s going on. Of course once you gain a little experience you won’t be missing any bites anyway.
When I fish I usually set up a 12’ rod, a 9’ rod, and a 7’rod. No specific reason other than those are simply what I have. I have 30 lb braid on the 12’ and 20 lb mono on everything else. I usually bait the 12 footer with whole or halved fish on a large hook for sharks and big reds. The lighter rods I bait with shrimp and fish for whatever’s biting.
If you are a beginner and not looking to throw a lot of money at it, there is nothing wrong with going with an inexpensive 7’ combo. My preference is 9’ though.
we all started off with 8000 size penn spinners , but at this point I would say a 6000 with 30-40# braid and a nice lighter 9’ surf rod is a good way to go. Then you need a 3000 size with a lighter rod for bait (assuming you are working up the chain for sharks)
Shrimp and mullet both work. Cheap 1.00 double droppers from any tackle shop and size 2-6 hooks. Not 2/0-6/0 but no 4 owners specifically we love for bait. Then eagle claw or owner 6/0-8-0 for blacktips and whatnot. Then you’ll need a bigger setup and a kayak when you want the real big stuff
I have a Penn Fierce 7000 combo that I am trying to sell. It is less than a year old and only used twice. Shortly after I got this setup I got a Tica rod and matched it with a battle 6000 so the fierce never gets used. The reel is spooled with 30lb mono. Im asking $80 obo. Pm me if interested
Thanks for the replies. I’m willing to spend some money for a quality set up.
I already have a few 6-7’ inshore rods (I guess these could work for bait) and a kayak. I would like to work my way up to sharks eventually.
It sounds like I should start with a 9 foot rod with a 8000 or 6000 and some braid.
What do you mean by this? “Cheap 1.00 double droppers from any tackle shop and size 2-6 hooks. Not 2/0-6/0 but no 4 owners specifically we love for bait.”
Get a good 7 ft rod, a 6-7000 real spooled with 30 lb braid, and make your own rigs. Swivel on the braid tied with a palamar, 4-5 foot leader with 50 lb mono. Tie two loops, 3-4 inch maximum 6 inches and 18 inches above the sinker for 3 or 4/0 circle hooks. Bait lower hook with shrimp, top with cut mullet. Then figure out how to read the surf for the right places to fish. Works for everything but sharks and can work for them too. To target big sharks, listen to someone else.
Big sharks? Follow requiem on facebook, message Stan, go witness them catch big sharks nightly haha. They got that game fine tuned so I won’t even try give advice on sharks. Sulcataman was pretty accurate, don’t need crazy tackle catch anything in surf, it is more about location than anything else. Somewhere in this forum dparker made a beginners guide to finding spots for surf fishing. If you can find that you are golden.
…Stan…don’t make me dparkerize this thread… Help the guy out some?
Really, a 3000, even for bait, is a bit light, for the Atlantic Ocean. You WILL hook decent sized Sharks and Rays, “incidental bycatch” of course. So you would need to be prepared some. A good 5000 or 6000 (5000 weights a little less) on a 8’-9’ rod will work great. 30lb braid? That’ll do, for sure. And there is nothing wrong with cheap, touristy drop rigs. I must be buying the really nice ones though at $1.29, must be extra for the magic orange beads.
And sure, when you are ready to move up to the big show, GO BIG! Stan and his crew can hook-u-up, that I am certain of. Kinda sounds like you already have that “Shark Itch” anyways, good luck with that.
…Stan…don’t make me dparkerize this thread… Help the guy out some?
Really, a 3000, even for bait, is a bit light, for the Atlantic Ocean. You WILL hook decent sized Sharks and Rays, “incidental bycatch” of course. So you would need to be prepared some. A good 5000 or 6000 (5000 weights a little less) on a 8’-9’ rod will work great. 30lb braid? That’ll do, for sure. And there is nothing wrong with cheap, touristy drop rigs. I must be buying the really nice ones though at $1.29, must be extra for the magic orange beads.
And sure, when you are ready to move up to the big show, GO BIG! Stan and his crew can hook-u-up, that I am certain of. Kinda sounds like you already have that “Shark Itch” anyways, good luck with that.
thanks for the info
that sounds like a good set up. I think I do have the itch, but I figure I should probably start small
Johnau, focus on rigs , bait all that later, you have your smaller rods you can use for bait and smaller fish, so you need a bigger rod for reds and sharks its tough to find a rod that is not to much for reds- but can also handle sharks its a fine line in between the two you have to walk. you need a duel rod. The red season only lasts so long in the surf so if you were smart you would take up shark fishing as well to extend your season open more doors for you, sharks are a blast and can be exhilarating and fight like a MF . they are fun. Either get help from the guys at requiem who make rods and can fit you right the first time or since you said you want something good look up st croix rods and get the 10’6 mh mojo and pair the penn spinfisher 6500 or the 8500 and call it a day. I have both of these reels and prefer the 8500’s feel on a 10’6 rod so much more, its nice to have the bigger handle to crank down on good size fish, holds more line, it just feels better. Good luck and talk to requim they wont bite and can save you allot of money and head ache.
Johnau, focus on rigs , bait all that later, you have your smaller rods you can use for bait and smaller fish, so you need a bigger rod for reds and sharks its tough to find a rod that is not to much for reds- but can also handle sharks its a fine line in between the two you have to walk. you need a duel rod. The red season only lasts so long in the surf so if you were smart you would take up shark fishing as well to extend your season open more doors for you, sharks are a blast and can be exhilarating and fight like a MF . they are fun. Either get help from the guys at requiem who make rods and can fit you right the first time or since you said you want something good look up st croix rods and get the 10’6 mh mojo and pair the penn spinfisher 6500 or the 8500 and call it a day. I have both of these reels and prefer the 8500’s feel on a 10’6 rod so much more, its nice to have the bigger handle to crank down on good size fish, holds more line, it just feels better. Good luck and talk to requim they wont bite and can save you allot of money and head ache.
what about conventional reel for big sharks?
sounds really exciting and i think i’ve watching 100 youtube videos of people catching sharks, so I definitely want to get into it.
when is the typical red season in the surf? is it different for sharks?
and where the croaker are biting
Help the guy out some? 