Surf Fishing ??

[Encore 280]

I have a 15' surf rod from Cabela's that I was using and they are even fun with that monster but I've switched to a 12' Tica rod that I really like, much lighter and more fun but I don't/can't use 4 or 5oz sinkers like I can with the 15 footer. With the 15 footer I can get the setup way out there in the surf line. Had the second biggest perch at a little over 3lbs at the Long Beach Surf Perch derby one year. My wife buys the WillaBay breading mix from the oyster place out at Nacotta I think it is and we fry them up in that. OMG!!

[OutHouse]

I've always wanted to try that. Cool to see some dude hanging out knee deep casting way out there and catching fish. A friend saw a guy land a shark doing that one time.

[NRA4LIFE]

Another thing, when you haul one in, get your gear right back out immediately.  They school, so when there's one, there's almost always more.

[fowl smacker]

You don't need a long rod.  An 8'6 or 9' steelhead rod is perfect.  Also, most people will over cast them by a long ways.  You don't need to cast much further than 20-60ft.

[HntnFsh]

They make incredible fish tacos!

[KFhunter]

You don't need a long rod.  An 8'6 or 9' steelhead rod is perfect.  Also, most people will over cast them by a long ways.  You don't need to cast much further than 20-60ft.

OMG! so me ripping it out hard as I could sending my weight (and bait) to the deep blue (no longer attached to my line) wasn't necessary?

[Parasite]

You don't need a long rod.  An 8'6 or 9' steelhead rod is perfect.  Also, most people will over cast them by a long ways.  You don't need to cast much further than 20-60ft.

OMG! so me ripping it out hard as I could sending my weight (and bait) to the deep blue (no longer attached to my line) wasn't necessary?

If you are having fun and catching fish, who are we to tell you no. But yeah, you dont need to cast far. I usually either try to keep it in the troughs, and make adjustments until I find the zone the fish are in.

[NRA4LIFE]

Nope, have caught them 10 feet from me a few times.

[GWP]

Yeah. I was going to mention that most are caught fairly close, but some bigger ones ‘may’ be had out further.
Your fave shorter light gear rod will work fine. I usually use an ounce or less. Have some longer VERY soft rods, but it is mostly because I tend to pull too hard on the set, so with a soft rod I don’t yank the hook out, plus I can keep a little tension on the hook when/if they shake. Do the same for my downriggers.

[Alchase]

The Pacific Beaches above Klaloch use to to great surf fishing. Same with Ruby beach. I use to prefer areas that had rock formations near by over the sandy beaches. We use to use Pile worms when we could get them. They seamed to be the most productive. Clam necks are also great and the stay on the hook really good. If you have never caught a good sized perch on light steelhead gear, you would be in for a treat. They are very good fighters!
I landed a 70# skate off Klaloch beach using 7’ steelhead medium action and a Mitchel 300, with 20# test. I was using whole squid as bait.
There was a good sized crowd of smelt dippers gathered around to see what it was. It took 50 minutes to get it to the beach. 


I have not surf fished in years, if you can use plastic baits, like others have suggested, that would be awesome!

[GWP]

You can. I bought two boxes from a Pro Bass guy and cut them into strips or use whole. They work good.

[Alchase]

You can. I bought two boxes from a Pro Bass guy and cut them into strips or use whole. They work good.

Nice that would be a game changer!
I swear we spent half our time fishing on credit. Pile worms were great bait,  but they sure did not stay on the hook long.

[ghosthunter]

So I been watching videos. And every one is wearing full body waders. I have a couple pair of hip waders. Will they work?

[Alchase]

We use to to wear cut off shorts and no shoes!
But that was in the spring and summer, when you would only freeze what you owned, when the bite was not hot !

 

[GWP]

So I been watching videos. And every one is wearing full body waders. I have a couple pair of hip waders. Will they work?

Yes. The problem is you are in the surf. If you get a wave that is taller than the rest of the group you will have less time to get away than you think and could get swamped. Really, the majority of the time I am only in to my knees. BUT, and it is a BIG but, I wear chest waders and had a ‘sneaker’ wave that was OVER the top of my chest waders. It carried me in to the shore from where I was standing. Scared the crap out of me. The returning water was almost worse as it was dragging me down the shore even after waddling with the current to get as far up as I could.
“The ocean don’t play!”