The most important thing is to know how to read the beach and the water or
"Reading the Sand." This is a great article written by Paul! Without knowing where to fish, you could be throwing your lure or bait onto a big pile of unproductive sandbar
. Like Bob said, low tide is the best time to scout out the structure of the water and beach. Also, know that it changes constantly. Next thing, you need to know what you are fishing for and what bait to match. Summer is a mix of hold over stripers, bluefish and fluke...with some others thrown in the mix as, let's say a bycatch
. Stripers will go for bunker heads, chunked bunker, mullet, clams and artificials. Fluke, you want to use a bucktail or fluke rig weighted with either squid or gulp and keep the bait moving. Dead sticking is fine, but you won't cover as much area. However, if that is how you are fishing for the day, that it could produce just as much. Bluefish, anything will work. Look for bait or birds working for stripers and blues.
This is the ocean, so even if you are doing everything right, the fish have to be there. It's not like a lake where you can search all over and try and find them. If they aren't in along the beaches, you can't catch them. Covering a good amount of real estate will help too, but isn't always necessary, especially if you are bait fishing. I am an artificial guy and like to lure fish and move. *When, I fish, I cover miles at a time, moving from one area of structure to the next. Most of all just fish and have fun! The more time you put in the more rewarding it can be. Surf fisherman are definitely not going to limit out or haul meat like a Charter or boat would be able to do, but it is very rewarding when you catch. Surf fishing is unique. Remember to be alert to water conditions and changing weather. Getting knocked down by a wave or consumed while in waders is not fun, nor is getting stuck in a thunderstorm on a wide open beach holding a lightning rod!
Take a look in the
From the Surf area for the stickied topics. There is a lot of good information in there. I am sure I have missed some things, but others will chime in, I'm sure.
Good luck and have fun!
