How to Surf Fish

The key to any type of fishing, particularly in the surf, is to be at the right place at the right time. If the fish are schooling and are in a feeding frenzy, it doesn't matter what you throw at them as long as it is small enough to swallow, shiny and moves. Even when this doesn't happen, being at the right place at the right time will increase your catch.

Things You'll Need

• stringer with plastic jug
• fishing pliers on a lanyard
• rod and reel
• lure

Instructions

1. Recognize that fish don't care what type of rod, reel or line you use. Between the sand and salt they will take a beating anyway. About 95 percent of your hits can be landed on 50 yards of no. 10 test line.

2. Tie 10 feet of cord to you and then tie an empty plastic jug at the other end where the stringer is in case of sharks.

3. The best round lure is a spoon. It casts well into the wind and can be retrieved at different depths. It worked well for the Phoenicians and the fish haven't gotten any smarter. It's recommended to use about a foot of steel leader for small sharks or mackerel.

4. Being at the right place at the right time is the hard part. On the Gulf Coast, try to surf fish when as many of the following events are taking place as possible: 1) The water temperature is 70 to 80 degrees (mid September to mid November and April to mid July). 2) The tide is changing. 3) The color of the water is "trout green" or mostly green with a touch of brown. This occurs when the Gulf surf is relatively calm, but not dead calm at which time it is more of an emerald green and there are no breakers on the sand bars. 4) There are birds working the water (See "How to Fish With Birds"). 5) Evening or morning nautical twilight (the periods when there is light, but the sun is not above the horizon). 6) You see a surf fisherman catching fish or those on the shore tell you the fishing is good.

Tips & Warnings

• It is more of a case of feast or famine in the surf. If you don't catch anything, try the bay or an estuary.