Fished at the County Park to the right of the rock jetty that’s out there. A buddy caught a bluefish and a couple whiting and my 10 year old caught a nice whiting. Lots of bites but couldn’t get them in. I just moved here and have surfed fish a couple times a year since I was a kid and consider myself to be a decent surf fisherman. But I struck out right and left.
I was using small pieces of cut mullet on size 4 long shank hooks, like I’ve always used. My son caught the whiting on a 3/0 circle hook that I had out for something a little larger.
Any ideas why I couldn’t get the fish? User error, I’m certain.
Hey Travis,
Whiting will hit mullet but the LOVE shrimp. They will also hit squid and it’s a little harder to get off the hook. The problem is your hooks are too big, the smaller the better in most surf situations. I prefer to use 2/0 circles but a lot of surf fisherman won’t use anything bigger than 1/0. Personal preference there, but definitely stick with circles as the whiting will often hook themselves. Use small pieces of shrimp, anywhere from 1/2 to 1/3 of the body. Make sure you are leaving at least the tip of the hook exposed. You will miss a few but should have a lot more success.
Thanks btshipp. I had shrimp but wasn’t getting the bites on the shrimp. I thought it was weird. As for hooks, the size 4 hook I was using is smaller than the 2/0. Maybe I just need to switch to circle hooks like I use for fishing for reds. I just want to eat 
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Hebrews 1:3
Sounds like it could have been some pesky small blues and maybe not whiting. Blues love cut mullet and they’re notorious for bait stealing. I like to use red size 1 circle hooks for whiting.
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
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Malibu Stealth 12
13’6 custom gator boat/mercury 4HP
go to wal mart and get a couple of whiting/sand perch rigs, they are double rigs with small hooks.
Travis, as al8995 mentioned, small Blues are expert hook cleaners. I fed them some today. But when you do land one, cut his butt up! Also there are a bunch of small fish in the surf right now. And you all now my opinion on mullet…yuck! Cut up a Whiting or Bluefish it is much tougher an not as nasty.
Double hook bottom rigs with shrimp will do it, but the ticket is a Bett’s Speck Rig tipped with shrimp. That’s how we do it up the coast a bit. Not sure where you find shad darts around here. Anyone know?