Beach Haven - Holgate Surf Fishing

[No Fluken Luck]

I tried my hand at surf casting for the first time over Labor Day weekend.  I went to the beach in Beach Haven and the surf was pretty rough.  Earl was still causing some waves. 
Margaret at Jingles bait shop(she is incredible) advised me to use a mullet rig and some 6 oz. weights.  I guess I didn't cast out far enough as the rig kept getting caught in the wash and tangling on itself.  A bit frustrating but I am undeterred.  Also, the leaping dolphins made it a good morning.

Has anyone had any luck in this area?  I am going back down on the 18th and would appreciate fishing with anyone that has a clue! haha

Happy Catching!
Jim

[Pfishingruven]

Nice job getting out and surf fishing.

If your setup was getting tangled in the wash, you needed heavier weight.  With the wash the way it was over the weekend, my guess would have been at least 8oz.  You don't need to get it that far out, however, you want it to stay out there for as long as possible.

LBI is as good of a location as any to surf fish.  Check out Reading the Sand.  This will greatly increase your chances of catching fish.  Another option, instead of surf fishing, head to the Barnegat Inlet and give that a shot.  You can use the same setups and bait...lots of life throughout the inlet.

Good luck!

[No Fluken Luck]

Hey, thanks, appreciate the advice. 

[Pfishingruven]

Something else you might consider is keeping some lures(metals and maybe a couple topwater plugs) readily available.  IF the fish come in, the bait will catch them, but re-baiting in a "blitz" is no fun.

 

[Hotrod]

Keep at it Jim..  it will pay off.  Prepare for the Fall Striper Run

[No Fluken Luck]

I actually put together a little surf bag with some lures I have seen mentioned on here.
Thanks again for your help.

This site is amazing guys, keep up the excellent work!

 

[Tacklebox Joe]

Jim, welcome to the site... though i'm not new to fishing i am, however, new to surf fishing. some advice i've gotten already is make sure you have some A17s in red, white and green in your "bag" right now and as matt said some plugs (match the hatch). the bait fish are starting their migratory runs..tight lines dude  

[No Fluken Luck]

Hey Joe, thanks, will do.  But if you could clear something up for me, what is "match the hatch?"

[ped579]

Match the Hatch simply means to match the bait fish that are running at the time to the lures you might have in your bag.  When you go to your local B&T ask them what kind if bait is running and if you don't have a lure that matches it you might want to pick something that comes close.

Happy Catching

Paul

[No Fluken Luck]

Thank you!  Learning more Lingo every day.

[Bucktail]

Hey Joe, thanks, will do.  But if you could clear something up for me, what is "match the hatch?"

It's actually a term derived from those who fish for trout with a fly rod.  They always try to select a fly that most closely resembles what insect hatch is going on at time.

But, as Paul said, it has come to mean simply matching your lure to whatever the prevalent baitfish are.

[Hotrod]

I actually put together a little surf bag with some lures I have seen mentioned on here.
Thanks again for your help.

This site is amazing guys, keep up the excellent work!