| Surfing fishing is for the either the rugged or | | | | clams, shrimp and sand fleas if they have them. |
| those without a boat. There are two basics to | | | | The shrimp can be frozen but the clams must be |
| fishing the surf and they are no different than | | | | fresh as well as the sand fleas. Finally buy a dozen |
| any other kind of fishing. You need the right | | | | pyramid sinkers in weights from 2 ounces to 4 |
| tackle and have to fish where the fish are. As for | | | | ounces. More 4-ounce sinkers are best. And buy |
| tackle you will need a surfcasting rod that | | | | some hooks #4/0 down to #0 and a package of |
| measures 8' to 12' and has a two-handed handle. | | | | swivels. |
| Graphite is best, fiberglass is worst. A rod that will | | | | Now we must find the fish. First ask the tackle |
| cast up to 4 ounces of bait and sinker or a big | | | | shop owner if there are any good places to fish. |
| plug is necessary, a few more is better. | | | | He won't steer you wrong because he wants |
| A reel that holds at least 120 yards of 20-pound | | | | your business. If he tells you about a hidden sand |
| test filament is a minimum. You can go with a | | | | bar or ledge just off shore, head there. While |
| lighter line but you'll miss the opportunity to fish | | | | driving down the coast if you are lucky enough to |
| for striped bass, steelhead, and salmon. The | | | | see a flock of seagull hovering and then diving into |
| quality of a reel can usually be found in the | | | | the water, stop immediately put on the shallow |
| number of ball bearings used in the reel. Six should | | | | running lure and hit the beach. Cast right into the |
| be the minimum, over ten and your buying a reel | | | | middle of the chaos and retrieve slowly. When |
| that will last a lifetime of heavy fishing. | | | | you get a strike it will feel like a Mac truck hit |
| After spending good money on rod and reel don't | | | | your lure. Set the hook and enjoy. |
| skimp on the quality of line. Stren and Trilene are | | | | If you aren't as fortunate to see a flock of |
| two well-known brands that you will find | | | | seagulls you might be nearly as fortunate to see |
| dependable. If you want a more durable line that | | | | a flock of surf fishermen. They aren't there for |
| doesn't stretch when you are fighting a fish, look | | | | the camaraderie. Find a spot a polite distance |
| for a braided line like PowerPro or Diawa. These | | | | from them and rig your line for bait fishing. If you |
| lines are so strong that you need scissors to cut | | | | see a sand flea (a small crab that looks like a flea) |
| them and their smaller diameter allows you to put | | | | in the surf, start with him and go pick him up. Put |
| more yards of line on your reel. | | | | a 4-ounce sinker on a swivel and attach it to the |
| Now we discuss bait. There are two ways to go, | | | | line 3 feet from the end. Then tie on your hook |
| live bait or lures. We'll talk about live lures first. | | | | and hook the sand flea through its toughest part. |
| Invest in a couple surfaces lures or shallow | | | | If no sand fleas are to be seen, cut a strip if clam |
| running lures that float at rest. Next get six or so | | | | and hook it. Cast out as far as you can, find a |
| jigs and squid imitations. That should cover you if | | | | comfortable seat and do what makes surfing |
| the strippers are running. Next buy some live bait, | | | | fishing the greatest pastime, wait. |