Beginner looking for a little help

[Erockg13]

Hey there.   I'm kinda new to the saltwater fishing and I've been going fishing in different spots with little to no luck at all.  It's a little discouraging.   I've been to the belmar inlet fishing of the jetti for strippers and winter fluke.   Clam for the strippers and squid for the fluke.   Also been to barnegate light house and fished off of the inlet there as well as the surf with no luck either.   All times of day... All types of weather.   Is there any basic advice anyone can give so I might start reeling in so fish?   I've tried lots of Rigs , lures and jigs with no sucsess.  Plz any advice would be much apprieciated!!

[ChrisL]

It takes time to get a feel for the how, when and where.  The most important thing is patience and persistence. 
Do a lot of reading and video watching on the topics of lure selection, fish behavior,tides, etc.  Keep an eye on reports online, tackle shops and The Fisherman.
There are some good books available, particularly from Zeno and the gang at Surfcasters Journal.
Especially helpful would be to get together with someone who has put in some time n the water.
Put in your time, be patient and keep trying.  Oh yeah....follow the KISS rule too.

[blynch]

You aren't the first to make this mistake, and you surely won't be the last, but I have to correct you anyway, because that's what I do...

S-T-R-I-P-E-R-S

On a more serious note, don't get discouraged.  I've been doing this for awhile now, and I've caught pretty much nothing lately when I haven't been able to get out on a boat.  Best bet right now is to pick up afew a-17 diamond jigs with red or green tails and fish them quickly in any of the inlets you've mentioned.  Small-ish bluefish love to run in and out of inlets this time of year, especially in the morning, and they're pretty easy to catch if you have an idea of what they want to eat. 

[Kenny]

Great advice guys

[ped579]

Most important of all, don't give up.  Fishing from the surf, jetty or bulkhead is not the easiest thing to do.  Remember the fish has to come to you, unless you know certain things to look for and that will come with time.

I have been fishing all my life it seems and that will put it at almost 65 years now.  There are times that we all get skunked.  Just chalk it up to a learning lesson.  Get back out there and keep trying.

Read what the guys that are catching are using and try to learn their methods and mimic them.  One of the best things to do is to, and it has been said here, is to read back topics and gain the knowledge that it took many of us years to learn.

We had no internet back then but we knew how to communicate with the older guys that have certain tricks and techniques that were not shared easily. 

Right now one of the best things you can do is to spend some time in 1 or 2 B&T's and just listen to the chatter.  It is amazing what you can learn just by listening.  Then ask questions.

Stick with it and by the time winter is here I am sure we will have you catching fish with the best of them.

Happy Catching

Paul

[FishOn]

Especially helpful would be to get together with someone who has put in some time n the water.
Put in your time, be patient and keep trying.  Oh yeah....follow the KISS rule too.

Bingo!

And enjoy your time on the water each time. Catching something is just a bonus.

[BigAl13]

Also be weary of the reports you read in the paper, some B&TS always have reports of good fishing were they are and so is not the case sometimes. But if they said," no ones catching s#!*." you wouldnt be going to them for bait So as the guys have said spend some time in B&Ts and read previous posts such as "Reading the Sand" good luck.