A great turnout for the yesterday’s Surf Fishing foray. Seven members from the Sea Trail Fishing Club joined three members and a guest from Seacoast Anglers for a “How-To” hosted by Bob White (who is actually a member of both clubs). Bob brought live bait and helped us novices with tips for catching our own live bait and showing us how to rig up to catch the big ones out in the surf.

Not so sure that Bob arranged to have the big ones show up for this event. A lot of small fry were caught but a few of the really big one’s got away. I almost had a rod pulled out into the surf. It was saved by a nearby beach jogger! And Brian lost an unidentified lunker that broke off a 40-lb shock leader.

No matter. A good time was had by all and everyone learned a little more about fishing from the beach. (Man! I’ve got to get a better sand spike).

If you missed this one, Bob has promised to hold another clinic in the near future – perhaps on Ocean Isle Beach.

Thanks to our members who showed up for this event – Jim ad Margaret Baumgartner, Ken and Laura Birchett, Dave Cannon the crab catcher, and Brian Brumbaugh. Oh yes, let me not forget, Bob White.

My conversation with Bob White:

Bob suggests having more than one rod and accompanying sand spikes. For bait: something like a small 5 to 6 ft spinning rod with a 1000 series reel can be rigged with two very small hooks in tandem and used to catch bait fish. Bob suggested live shrimp as the best bait with a 1 -oz sinker, but I am sure that other options would work too. Maybe even a small flashy spoon or spinner bait. Casts are made out 12 to 15-ft into the surf to catch the bait fish. This alone can be fun! An alternative is frozen bait.

Cut bait fish are then used on 9 to 12-ft surf rods with 4000 to 6000 series reels and 4 to 6-oz sinkers. Once the rod is placed into the spike, setting the drag is critical to avoid losing a rod and reel into the surf!

My two-cents worth: I am not a surf fishing expert but I read a lot and after looking at a book or two and, yes, several on-line articles, I noticed that almost all are in disagreement on one point or another. But in a nutshell, here is my own assessment.

Rods and Reels – These need to be a bit more robust than what I typically use for inshore fishing. How much depends on the fish species and size that prowls in the section of the ocean where you are fishing. Rods need to be longer and stronger, 8 to 10-ft seems to be a good average. They should have enough backbone to cast a heavy 3 to 5-lb sinker and a hook loaded with a chunk of bait. Reels need to be in the 4000 to 6000 range with a large line capacity in case you hook that big one – 300 to 500 yards seems to be a sweet spot.

Terminal Tackle – I have heard pros and cons for both braid and monofilament line in the 30 to 50-lb test range. You can get more line on the reel with braid, but it is more prone to wind knots and can result in a nasty cut if you grab the line at the wrong time. It is also more expensive. Fish finder or float rigs work well and although fresh bait is best, frozen shrimp, mullet, and squid will suffice.

Miscellaneous Gear – A sand spike is a necessity unless you want to stand up holding the rod for 3 hours. Add to that, various knives, pliers, and a towel. A bucket to carry everything in is useful and can be used as a convenient seat. Also, don’t forget plastic bags for various things including your cellphone and/or camera. A

Clothing – For this kind of weather, bare feet or sand shoes and shorts will suffice unless you want to wade out into the surf. A hat and sunscreen are also necessities.

For more details on Surf Fishing 101, check out Andrew Courtillet’s article:

A Combined Sea Trail Fishing Club / Sea Coast Angler Club Event

This is a Learning Opportunity event for those of us with little or no experience to learn from those that do have both experience and local knowledge of the beaches near Ft. Fisher! After the event, there will be ample opportunities to visit the Museum at Ft. Fisher and the North Carolina Aquarium.

Here are the details:

When: Wednesday, June 26^th, 2024

Where: Meet at the Southport-Ft. Fisher Ferry at 7:00 AM

Itinerary:   7:00 to 7:30 AM – Drive on to the Ferry and enjoy the 20-minute scenic ride along the Cape Fear River to the Ferry Parking lot. Cost: $14/vehicle roundtrip.

                7:30 to 10:30 AM – Walk about 100 yards to the beach and set up anywhere along the beach to fish the surf. Bob White and other knowledgeable anglers will be there to help with equipment and gear questions and set ups. (Details to follow).

                10:30 to ???? – You are on your own to visit the Museum at Ft. Fisher and the North Carolina-Ft. Fisher Aquarium. This is a fun outing so feel free to bring along a friend or spouse! Cost: Aquarium: $12-$13; Military Museum: Free.

Bob White, who is a member of both the Sea Trail Fishing Club and Sea Coast Anglers passed around a list at Thursday’s meeting for those that would like to go. If you are interested in this event, please send Bob an email at: cuelathe@aol.com.

Alan Trojan will be happy to arrange a group discount for those members that may want to visit the Aquarium.  Contact Alan at: alantrojan7@gmail.com.

Additional Information: In a short telephone conversation, Bob provided a few of the more basic tips on equipment needs. To share these tips, please visit my next blog at https://seatrailfishing.com.