[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Surf fishing help needed (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 5/17/2015 5:46:58 PM EDT
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I'm going on vacation next week in Daytona, FL, and I want to do a lot of fishing. We are staying about 3 blocks from a pier (which I think closes at 7 PM), but at night I want to try surf fishing.
The last time I tried it, I don't think I used a heavy enough weight with a high enough capacity reel, because I would either run out of line before it hit the water, or the current would just carry my bait away. Is this normal? If not, what cheap (<$100) spinning reel with a larger capacity would you recommend that would work well? For those of you that surf fish in FL much, what bait/weight/rig do you use? |
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Go get a Penn Battle combo. Load it with braid. Use surf weights, the kind that have copper legs. Hook size depends on species targeted. Only use big hooks if trying for Reds or bigger sharks. You can get the biggest Penn Battle combo for under $150.00 I already have a rod, so I really just need the reel. |
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I would suggest a 10 or 11 ft rod matched with a reel capable of holding a couple hundred yards of braid in the 50lb class. Three ounce storm weight on a chicken rig (search YouTube for tying instruction) using 2/0 hooks tipped with shrimp/sand fleas/squid or FishBites will get you in the game. A sand spike to hold your set up is a good idea too. All of it can be had at any DAB area WallyWorld. |
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I would suggest a 10 or 11 ft rod matched with a reel capable of holding a couple hundred yards of braid in the 50lb class.Three ounce storm weight on a chicken rig (search YouTube for tying instruction) using 2/0 hooks tipped with shrimp/sand fleas/squid or FishBites will get you in the game. A sand spike to hold your set up is a good idea too. All of it can be had at any DAB area WallyWorld. I think my rod is 11ft. The reel was a cheap Eagle Claw reel that I got for about $30 that held 100 yards of 17lb mono. I'm pretty sure that was the limiting factor there... |
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What species are you trying for? Preferably ones with gills. 
Really anything would make me happy. Are there any that are good to eat that can be easily caught? I wouldn't mind pulling in dinner a few nights. Otherwise, anything that puts up a fight would make me happy. The biggest thing I've ever caught in saltwater was a 5lb hammerhead off the pier, so anything bigger than that would be great. A 4ft reef shark would probably make my week. |
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Some of my best fishing days in florida were on light tackle
7-8 ft med rod, 10-15 lb mono or 30-40 lb braid with a mono leader. Hook, egg sinker. Shrimp. Weight varies. From key west to panama city. I used to travel with a ugly stick and a okuma spinning reel with 2 spools. One held mono one held braid. Biggest fish I got from shore was a possible florida state record mutton snapper. Fought 100lb tarpon and had them straighten my hook. |
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While I usually fish North Carolina's Outer Banks, there are some thing that hold true everywhere. My first suggestion would be to learn to read the beach. Scout at low tide and make note of where troughs, holes and suck-outs are - the fish will hold in those places.
I usually try to fish a couple hours on both sides of a rising tide. Next suggestion would be to decide what it is you want to target. Everyone seems to think that heaving the bait out as far as possible is what is needed. Not necessarily true. You'd be surprised at what you can catch in the wash, basically right at your feet. Even if you are casting out far, you still want the bait to be in a hole or trough (deeper water) for best luck, not just randomly cast out. I use a couple rods, and personally am fond of casting reels instead of spinning reels. I usually have a 10 ft Penn rod with Penn 140 "Squidder" reel backed with 150 yds of braid topped by 14lb mono, and a heaver-style rod that's 12 ft, with a Daiwa SL30SH reel backed with 150 yds of 50lb braid then topped with probably 200 yds of 20lb mono. |
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I already have a rod, so I really just need the reel. Quoted:
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Go get a Penn Battle combo. Load it with braid. Use surf weights, the kind that have copper legs. Hook size depends on species targeted. Only use big hooks if trying for Reds or bigger sharks. You can get the biggest Penn Battle combo for under $150.00 I already have a rod, so I really just need the reel. Penn Battle, you pick the size. Use weights that have the prongs sticking out. They anchor in the sand. |
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While I usually fish North Carolina's Outer Banks, there are some thing that hold true everywhere. My first suggestion would be to learn to read the beach. Scout at low tide and make note of where troughs, holes and suck-outs are - the fish will hold in those places. I usually try to fish a couple hours on both sides of a rising tide. Next suggestion would be to decide what it is you want to target. Everyone seems to think that heaving the bait out as far as possible is what is needed. Not necessarily true. You'd be surprised at what you can catch in the wash, basically right at your feet. Even if you are casting out far, you still want the bait to be in a hole or trough (deeper water) for best luck, not just randomly cast out. I use a couple rods, and personally am fond of casting reels instead of spinning reels. I usually have a 10 ft Penn rod with Penn 140 "Squidder" reel backed with 150 yds of braid topped by 14lb mono, and a heaver-style rod that's 12 ft, with a Daiwa SL30SH reel backed with 150 yds of 50lb braid then topped with probably 200 yds of 20lb mono. How do you learn to read the beach? Is that the kind of thing that you can pick up on in a few hours? The reason I want to stick with a spinning reel is because I know how to take them apart to clean them. I took my Newell conventional reel out last year, and I ended up having to spend $50 including shipping to have it cleaned out from all of the sand that got stuck in there. |
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Penn Battle, you pick the size. Use weights that have the prongs sticking out. They anchor in the sand. Quoted:
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Go get a Penn Battle combo. Load it with braid. Use surf weights, the kind that have copper legs. Hook size depends on species targeted. Only use big hooks if trying for Reds or bigger sharks. You can get the biggest Penn Battle combo for under $150.00 I already have a rod, so I really just need the reel. Penn Battle, you pick the size. Use weights that have the prongs sticking out. They anchor in the sand. Which size would go well with an 11ft rod? I fish for bass and panfish, so most of this is foreign to me. I do want to use braided for sure to get some extra distance out of it. Are the weights like these? I've never seen them before. 
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the guys from florida will know best about that area.
here in VA we use 2oz weights. pyramid for sandy areas, round for rocks and weights with legs for high current areas. put it on a bottom rig with 2 hooks... but I cant find the same rings in Fl when I go so I assume something else is working better. a trick I learned in OBX is to watch the waves, they crash sooner on shallows and sink down in holes. If the waves are crashing on the left and right but sinking in the center you found the hole you want to drop your bait into. my biggest mistake is over casting... I thought my friend was joking when they told me that, but sure enough, listened to their advice and started catching fish... toss your bait out and if you dont get a hit bring it in 5-10 feet at a time until you find the fish. |
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Some of my best fishing days in florida were on light tackle 7-8 ft med rod, 10-15 lb mono or 30-40 lb braid with a mono leader. Hook, egg sinker. Shrimp. Weight varies. From key west to panama city. I used to travel with a ugly stick and a okuma spinning reel with 2 spools. One held mono one held braid. Biggest fish I got from shore was a possible florida state record mutton snapper. Fought 100lb tarpon and had them straighten my hook. Great set up. I'd probably roll with something like that. Live bait or dead? |
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Which size would go well with an 11ft rod? I fish for bass and panfish, so most of this is foreign to me. I do want to use braided for sure to get some extra distance out of it. Are the weights like these? I've never seen them before. http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/190556418015-0-1/s-l1000.jpg Quoted:
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Go get a Penn Battle combo. Load it with braid. Use surf weights, the kind that have copper legs. Hook size depends on species targeted. Only use big hooks if trying for Reds or bigger sharks. You can get the biggest Penn Battle combo for under $150.00 I already have a rod, so I really just need the reel. Penn Battle, you pick the size. Use weights that have the prongs sticking out. They anchor in the sand. Which size would go well with an 11ft rod? I fish for bass and panfish, so most of this is foreign to me. I do want to use braided for sure to get some extra distance out of it. Are the weights like these? I've never seen them before. http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/190556418015-0-1/s-l1000.jpg Yes those are the correct weights. I have a Battle 8000 and catch very big blackfin tuna on it. I would go with a 4000 or 5000. You can get one for under $100. Before all the offshore guys start talking shit I have Penn TRQ9 and Shimano Stellas too. |
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Great set up. I'd probably roll with something like that. Live bait or dead? Quoted:
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Some of my best fishing days in florida were on light tackle 7-8 ft med rod, 10-15 lb mono or 30-40 lb braid with a mono leader. Hook, egg sinker. Shrimp. Weight varies. From key west to panama city. I used to travel with a ugly stick and a okuma spinning reel with 2 spools. One held mono one held braid. Biggest fish I got from shore was a possible florida state record mutton snapper. Fought 100lb tarpon and had them straighten my hook. Great set up. I'd probably roll with something like that. Live bait or dead? Both, I forgot the snapper was on a dead drifting squid. No weight, I fish like that up here in the northeast, just switch bait to usually sandworms or squid and silverside |
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Yes those are the correct weights. I have a Battle 8000 and catch very big blackfin tuna on it. I would go with a 4000 or 5000. You can get one for under $100. Before all the offshore guys start talking shit I have Penn TRQ9 and Shimano Stellas too. Quoted:
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Go get a Penn Battle combo. Load it with braid. Use surf weights, the kind that have copper legs. Hook size depends on species targeted. Only use big hooks if trying for Reds or bigger sharks. You can get the biggest Penn Battle combo for under $150.00 I already have a rod, so I really just need the reel. Penn Battle, you pick the size. Use weights that have the prongs sticking out. They anchor in the sand. Which size would go well with an 11ft rod? I fish for bass and panfish, so most of this is foreign to me. I do want to use braided for sure to get some extra distance out of it. Are the weights like these? I've never seen them before. http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/190556418015-0-1/s-l1000.jpg Yes those are the correct weights. I have a Battle 8000 and catch very big blackfin tuna on it. I would go with a 4000 or 5000. You can get one for under $100. Before all the offshore guys start talking shit I have Penn TRQ9 and Shimano Stellas too. I think the Battle 6000 looks good. Would I be able to find one locally in FL, or should I order it online right now? |
| It really depends on the day and the location as to what size weight you need. The weights with the wire do help. Your best bet is to buy an assortment and find what size works for you. You can usually get by with a lighter weight if you use braid, since the smaller diameter causes less drag in the water. I agree with the guys that are recommending the Penn spinning reels. |
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How do you learn to read the beach? Is that the kind of thing that you can pick up on in a few hours? The reason I want to stick with a spinning reel is because I know how to take them apart to clean them. I took my Newell conventional reel out last year, and I ended up having to spend $50 including shipping to have it cleaned out from all of the sand that got stuck in there. Someone already posted a link to pierandsurf.com... there are several good threads there. In short, scout the beach at low tide and look for the holes, cuts, etc. When high tide comes back in, you'll notice that the water over these deeper areas doesn't have the white caps. Water/waves break over high points like bar, that's where you'll see the foam. You can actually watch the water moving back out against the rest of the current. Outsucks are areas where the water follows a channel out away from the shore (it's sucked out by wave action). Predator fish will wait in areas like this for bait to be swept by them. Just take a moment to watch the water motion, and you'll discover there's a lot going on under those waves. Nothing wrong with spinning reels either. I find I can cast farther with conventional casting reels, but usually take a spinner as well. |
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Surf fishing in Daytona is for tourists (unless the Pompano are in, or a hurricane passed by in the last week). Aside from that, you are better off fishing the piers (Flagler if North of Daytona), (Main St. if in Daytona), and (Sunglow Pier if in S. Daytona). You would also be better off fishing some of the inland bridges and piers on the Intracoastal Waterway that separates beach side from the mainland. As for gear, all you need is any 4000 class Shimano reel from their Sahara model or better. As for the rigging, 30-lb power pro braid, 1/2oz to 1oz egg sinker, then tie on a SMALL swivel. Next tie on a 4-ft to 6-ft length of fluorocarbon leader. Last but not least, connect a 2/O owner J-hook. As for bait, if you use dead frozen shrimp (along with the aforementioned rigging), you will get bites. The question is whether or not you will feel them and know that your bait has been taken. If you fish with your rod in your hand, and your index finger you on your semi-tight line waiting to feel the bump when your bait gets taken, you will. Don't samurai hook set when you feel the bump. Just raid the rod tip and start reeling. Slow,and always applying steady pressure. Conversely, if you are a passive fisherman, and like to set your rod down and shoot the shit and wait for a visual sign of,your rod tip binding Indicating a fish came to you, then substitute J-hooks with Circle Hooks. That way the fish will hook themself and all the work is done for you. You can also use live shrimp for bait (assuming you have a bait bucket and aerator to keep the, alive). Then you can maybe get a better class of fish like a flounder, or a trout. Keep in mind it's hot down here and fishing is slowest on the beach in the summer. Fish the piers and the structure. Fish the bridges where there is current. Dunlawton flat bridge is good fishing using live shrimp (free lined, no weight) at night, usually after 10pm when the idiots have already went home.
If you ignore the advice above, you can still use an 11ft surf rod (LMFAO), along with a Penny Battle (LMFAO), and surf cast on one of the flattest beaches in the state with the slowest gradual decline from shore (read: no shelf). Good luck, and if you stop by Pierandsurf.com, tell them KZ says hi. |
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Surf fishing in Daytona is for tourists (unless the Pompano are in, or a hurricane passed by in the last week). Aside from that, you are better off fishing the piers (Flagler if North of Daytona), (Main St. if in Daytona), and (Sunglow Pier if in S. Daytona). You would also be better off fishing some of the inland bridges and piers on the Intracoastal Waterway that separates beach side from the mainland. As for gear, all you need is any 4000 class Shimano reel from their Sahara model or better. As for the rigging, 30-lb power pro braid, 1/2oz to 1oz egg sinker, then tie on a SMALL swivel. Next tie on a 4-ft to 6-ft length of fluorocarbon leader. Last but not least, connect a 2/O owner J-hook. As for bait, if you use dead frozen shrimp (along with the aforementioned rigging), you will get bites. The question is whether or not you will feel them and know that your bait has been taken. If you fish with your rod in your hand, and your index finger you on your semi-tight line waiting to feel the bump when your bait gets taken, you will. Don't samurai hook set when you feel the bump. Just raid the rod tip and start reeling. Slow,and always applying steady pressure. Conversely, if you are a passive fisherman, and like to set your rod down and shoot the shit and wait for a visual sign of,your rod tip binding Indicating a fish came to you, then substitute J-hooks with Circle Hooks. That way the fish will hook themself and all the work is done for you. You can also use live shrimp for bait (assuming you have a bait bucket and aerator to keep the, alive). Then you can maybe get a better class of fish like a flounder, or a trout. Keep in mind it's hot down here and fishing is slowest on the beach in the summer. Fish the piers and the structure. Fish the bridges where there is current. Dunlawton flat bridge is good fishing using live shrimp (free lined, no weight) at night, usually after 10pm when the idiots have already went home. If you ignore the advice above, you can still use an 11ft surf rod (LMFAO), along with a Penny Battle (LMFAO), and surf cast on one of the flattest beaches in the state with the slowest gradual decline from shore (read: no shelf). Good luck, and if you stop by Pierandsurf.com, tell them KZ says hi. I regularly fish the Texas coast where at 40 miles out it is 40 feet deep. He wanted a reel under $100.00. LMFAO I do not know the specifics of fishing there. I did give him sound advice on general surf fishing. I would defer to your experience but you didn't post now did you? LMFAO. He already said he didn't want to buy a new rod. LMFAO Always a dickhole who can't just try and be helpful. LMFAO |
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Quoted: I'm going to Bonaire on a 2 week tropical ecology study abroad SCUBA diving trip for Spring Break 2016, and you better believe I'm going to try it if they let me.  Quoted: Quoted: Get yourself a good mask, a snorkel, a pair of Duck Feet, and a Hawaiian sling. I'm going to Bonaire on a 2 week tropical ecology study abroad SCUBA diving trip for Spring Break 2016, and you better believe I'm going to try it if they let me. |
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I regularly fish the Texas coast where at 40 miles out it is 40 feet deep. He wanted a reel under $100.00. LMFAO I do not know the specifics of fishing there. I did give him sound advice on general surf fishing. I would defer to your experience but you didn't post now did you? LMFAO. He already said he didn't want to buy a new rod. LMFAO Always a dickhole who can't just try and be helpful. LMFAO Quoted:
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Surf fishing in Daytona is for tourists (unless the Pompano are in, or a hurricane passed by in the last week). Aside from that, you are better off fishing the piers (Flagler if North of Daytona), (Main St. if in Daytona), and (Sunglow Pier if in S. Daytona). You would also be better off fishing some of the inland bridges and piers on the Intracoastal Waterway that separates beach side from the mainland. As for gear, all you need is any 4000 class Shimano reel from their Sahara model or better. As for the rigging, 30-lb power pro braid, 1/2oz to 1oz egg sinker, then tie on a SMALL swivel. Next tie on a 4-ft to 6-ft length of fluorocarbon leader. Last but not least, connect a 2/O owner J-hook. As for bait, if you use dead frozen shrimp (along with the aforementioned rigging), you will get bites. The question is whether or not you will feel them and know that your bait has been taken. If you fish with your rod in your hand, and your index finger you on your semi-tight line waiting to feel the bump when your bait gets taken, you will. Don't samurai hook set when you feel the bump. Just raid the rod tip and start reeling. Slow,and always applying steady pressure. Conversely, if you are a passive fisherman, and like to set your rod down and shoot the shit and wait for a visual sign of,your rod tip binding Indicating a fish came to you, then substitute J-hooks with Circle Hooks. That way the fish will hook themself and all the work is done for you. You can also use live shrimp for bait (assuming you have a bait bucket and aerator to keep the, alive). Then you can maybe get a better class of fish like a flounder, or a trout. Keep in mind it's hot down here and fishing is slowest on the beach in the summer. Fish the piers and the structure. Fish the bridges where there is current. Dunlawton flat bridge is good fishing using live shrimp (free lined, no weight) at night, usually after 10pm when the idiots have already went home. If you ignore the advice above, you can still use an 11ft surf rod (LMFAO), along with a Penny Battle (LMFAO), and surf cast on one of the flattest beaches in the state with the slowest gradual decline from shore (read: no shelf). Good luck, and if you stop by Pierandsurf.com, tell them KZ says hi. I regularly fish the Texas coast where at 40 miles out it is 40 feet deep. He wanted a reel under $100.00. LMFAO I do not know the specifics of fishing there. I did give him sound advice on general surf fishing. I would defer to your experience but you didn't post now did you? LMFAO. He already said he didn't want to buy a new rod. LMFAO Always a dickhole who can't just try and be helpful. LMFAO Yours was solid advice. Just not for Daytona. Most common thing we see is people over-rigged with their rods/reels, and wire pre-tied tourist rigs with heavy lead. LMFAO was not at your advice, rather the thought of what the locals will say when this kid shows up to fish with that setup. And if you will note, I did try to be helpful and actually lined him out to catch some fish. That's more than he'll get from most of the locals... |
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Yours was solid advice. Just not for Daytona. Most common thing we see is people over-rigged with their rods/reels, and wire pre-tied tourist rigs with heavy lead. LMFAO was not at your advice, rather the thought of what the locals will say when this kid shows up to fish with that setup. And if you will note, I did try to be helpful and actually lined him out to catch some fish. That's more than he'll get from most of the locals... Quoted:
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Surf fishing in Daytona is for tourists (unless the Pompano are in, or a hurricane passed by in the last week). Aside from that, you are better off fishing the piers (Flagler if North of Daytona), (Main St. if in Daytona), and (Sunglow Pier if in S. Daytona). You would also be better off fishing some of the inland bridges and piers on the Intracoastal Waterway that separates beach side from the mainland. As for gear, all you need is any 4000 class Shimano reel from their Sahara model or better. As for the rigging, 30-lb power pro braid, 1/2oz to 1oz egg sinker, then tie on a SMALL swivel. Next tie on a 4-ft to 6-ft length of fluorocarbon leader. Last but not least, connect a 2/O owner J-hook. As for bait, if you use dead frozen shrimp (along with the aforementioned rigging), you will get bites. The question is whether or not you will feel them and know that your bait has been taken. If you fish with your rod in your hand, and your index finger you on your semi-tight line waiting to feel the bump when your bait gets taken, you will. Don't samurai hook set when you feel the bump. Just raid the rod tip and start reeling. Slow,and always applying steady pressure. Conversely, if you are a passive fisherman, and like to set your rod down and shoot the shit and wait for a visual sign of,your rod tip binding Indicating a fish came to you, then substitute J-hooks with Circle Hooks. That way the fish will hook themself and all the work is done for you. You can also use live shrimp for bait (assuming you have a bait bucket and aerator to keep the, alive). Then you can maybe get a better class of fish like a flounder, or a trout. Keep in mind it's hot down here and fishing is slowest on the beach in the summer. Fish the piers and the structure. Fish the bridges where there is current. Dunlawton flat bridge is good fishing using live shrimp (free lined, no weight) at night, usually after 10pm when the idiots have already went home. If you ignore the advice above, you can still use an 11ft surf rod (LMFAO), along with a Penny Battle (LMFAO), and surf cast on one of the flattest beaches in the state with the slowest gradual decline from shore (read: no shelf). Good luck, and if you stop by Pierandsurf.com, tell them KZ says hi. I regularly fish the Texas coast where at 40 miles out it is 40 feet deep. He wanted a reel under $100.00. LMFAO I do not know the specifics of fishing there. I did give him sound advice on general surf fishing. I would defer to your experience but you didn't post now did you? LMFAO. He already said he didn't want to buy a new rod. LMFAO Always a dickhole who can't just try and be helpful. LMFAO Yours was solid advice. Just not for Daytona. Most common thing we see is people over-rigged with their rods/reels, and wire pre-tied tourist rigs with heavy lead. LMFAO was not at your advice, rather the thought of what the locals will say when this kid shows up to fish with that setup. And if you will note, I did try to be helpful and actually lined him out to catch some fish. That's more than he'll get from most of the locals... OP this is the guy I would listen to. Going my way won't hurt but you will catch more fish listening to him. |
One last pointer: if you are using frozen shrimp and not getting any bites, try popping the head off, and peeling the shell off the remaining part and threading it onto your hook. You will get bites. Make sure you have your finger on the line waiting for the bump. Otherwise it may happen so quick you miss it. Good luck And post pics of your fish when you get back. Also, a lot of the old salts on the Main st pier and Sunglow pier are willing to share info if you just ask. Don't bother asking unless you see them catching fish 
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Don't know Florida fishing but spent many years surf fishing Long Island. Driving the beach with the '79 Cherokee looking for the birds working during the fall is about the only thing I miss about my years there. I always ran a few Penn 704z's and Lamiglass rods...yes I'm old school. Still have my chicken scratch Bomber that I caught my biggest fish on in 1988. Also still have a few of the rods on the wall of the garage...haven't used them in close to 10 years. I worked with a guy when I was a kid at the MacArthur Airport on LI...he would camp in his Wagoneer almost the whole fall run in Montauk. He would go from the beach to work and back to the beach for weeks at a time... Winstons and Coffee were all he consumed...crazy dude. Life revolved around the tide back then. |
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Life revolved around the tide back then. Great line Leadnbrass! Tide is key for any inshore / coastal fishing. That's why fishing the Intracoastal in Daytona is normally better than the ocean, because the tide produced current which is key. Here is an article I wrote for a magazine many years back that OP can still apply if gets the opportunity to fish more than the beach: How to find fish in the Intracoastal (Daytona's Halifax River): Fishing without a boat in our area can be quite challenging if you rely on casting a bait out, sitting your rod down and waiting. However, with some knowledge of what to look for you can consistently catch quality fish out of the IntraCoastal Waterway. First and foremost, to catch fish you have to be able to find fish. Since finding fish is key, I am going to explain how to locate the fish in our own Halifax River. Methods to finding fish in our area are completely different than finding fish in a place like Mosquito Lagoon that is not tidally influenced. It is also completely different than finding fish offshore in the ocean. Most of the fishing in the Halifax River is greatly dependent on tides so we will look at this in more detail: On an Incoming tide in the river, you can usually find fish cruising areas with mangroves and grass flats that are filling up with water as the tide comes in. Fish like Redfish commonly cruise the edges of mangroves on an incoming tide and inhale mud minnows, pinfish, pigfish, fiddler crabs, and the like as the water encroaches on the mangroves that were exposed during low tide. A good bet in this scenario is to wade fish and walk along casting your bait up around the edges of the mangroves. Live bait like shrimp work best here, followed by artificial baits like Gulp! shrimp and DOA shrimp. If hard baits are more your style, then Rapala X-raps, Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows, and Bomber lures all work well. With hard baits you will get fewer bites, but the fish you catch will typically be bigger in size. Expect Trout, Redfish, Snook, Jack Crevalle, and Ladyfish to hit these types of baits. While incoming tide can be good, an Outgoing tide is really prime time for fish to feed in the river around bridges and docks where most land bound fishermen go. This is because the strong outflow of current literally sucks the baitfish and crustaceans out towards the ocean. Smaller baits such as 1-2 inch pinfish, pigfish, menhaden, and shrimp are prime baits for outgoing tide as they are frequently the types of lighter baits which get sucked out in strong current. For fishing an outgoing tide, you should seek out the following 5 things to help you find fish: 1.) Strong current 2.) Bait in the water (i.e. menhaden, shrimp, & mullet in water) 3.) Structure (i.e. bridge, dock, pier, etc...) 4.) Channel(s) 5.) Shadows and lights (if fishing at night) Now let's look at these 5 items and discuss why: 1.) Strong current: In the river, current is imperative to finding fish on a consistent basis since most quality fish like Flounder, Snook, Trout, etc… will stage and feed in an area where they have to exert the least amount of energy to get their food. Instead of chasing their prey all over, most fish prefer to have the food come to them while they're hiding behind a piling (like a Snook), or blending in sitting on the bottom (like a Flounder). Fish prefer to stage in an area of current so they can ambush their prey and pick it off as it swims (or gets dragged) by. 2.) Bait in the water: This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you see a lot of bait in the water like large schools of Menhaden or Greenies, chances are there are Trout, Flounder, Ladyfish or maybe even Snook around feeding on them. Look for bait schools in the water and you will find good places to catch fish. Conversely, if you blind cast out into the middle of the river your bait probably won't get bit unless a stray catfish or stingray happens upon it. If you see bait on the edge of channel, you have a lot better odds at getting your bait eaten if you cast around the bait. 3.) Structure: Structure goes hand-in-hand with current. Think of it this way: If you are a shrimp that is getting sucked out of the river by the current, you will probably just float along with the current. However, if you see a big ol' Snook sitting down there waiting to inhale you, you will likely swim back upstream or off to the side to avoid him. On the other hand, if you don't see anything waiting to eat you then you will probably keep floating under the bridge or dock until a sneaky Snook flies out from behind a piling and inhales you. For fish to take advantage of current bringing them food, they use structure to ambush that food. 4.) Channels: Channels are important when fishing places like the Halifax River which in most parts is a fairly wide and shallow body of water. How best are you going to locate fish on such a wide body of water? Look in a channel. What a channel does is it narrows down for us fishermen where the fish are going to be traveling or maybe even sitting. Not only do fish use channels to go places like humans use highways, but oftentimes they will sit in a channel and eat bait that is traveling through the channel. A lot of fish like deeper water to hide in from boats, people, and large predators like sharks. Since the Halifax River is fairly shallow throughout, channels are the best bet for deeper water. Like structure, channels also go hand-in-hand with current in the sense that fish use the current sucking bait through a channel to grab an easy meal. Black drum can frequently be caught in channels of deep water near sea walls, around bridge fenders or pilings. 5.) Shadows and Lights: For those fishermen who are lucky enough that their wife’s let them fish at night, shadows and lights are used by feeding fish in much the same way as structure. On a nightly basis up and down the river, big fish will sit quietly in the shadow lines of a bridge or dock that has a light on it. When they see their prey getting sucked out by the current through the light on the water and into the shadow line… and GULP! That baitfish is gone. Coincidentally, my favorite time to fish the river is on an outgoing tide at night. Expect Snook, Trout, Ladyfish, and Flounder to be sitting around structure feeding in the shadows of a dock light. If you want to catch some good fish and don't mind putting some thought into it, there are plenty of quality fish like Snook, Flounder, Trout, and Redfish to be caught fishing from shore in the Halifax River. Back then life did revolve around the tide. I can't tell you how lucky I am to not have gotten divorced over all the crazy hours i fished back then 
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One last pointer: if you are using frozen shrimp and not getting any bites, try popping the head off, and peeling the shell off the remaining part and threading it onto your hook. You will get bites. Make sure you have your finger on the line waiting for the bump. Otherwise it may happen so quick you miss it. Good luck And post pics of your fish when you get back. Also, a lot of the old salts on the Main st pier and Sunglow pier are willing to share info if you just ask. Don't bother asking unless you see them catching fish Just read all of your advice. I will be fishing at Main Street pier during the day, but is it true that it closes at 7PM? If so, is there any way to have luck fishing the surf when it closes, or will I have to go somewhere else? I would prefer places within walking distance--we are staying about 3 blocks away from the Main Street pier. If I want to pull in a 3ft+ shark, what advice would you give? |
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Do you still have your old rig? Is so just take what you have and make the best of it. I do, but that reel doesn't hold but maybe 100m of line. It's pretty cheap. I also have a Newel conventional reel on a shorter, thicker rod that I plan on using with the piers. |
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Quoted: Just read all of your advice. I will be fishing at Main Street pier during the day, but is it true that it closes at 7PM? If so, is there any way to have luck fishing the surf when it closes, or will I have to go somewhere else? I would prefer places within walking distance--we are staying about 3 blocks away from the Main Street pier. If I want to pull in a 3ft+ shark, what advice would you give? Quoted: Quoted: One last pointer: if you are using frozen shrimp and not getting any bites, try popping the head off, and peeling the shell off the remaining part and threading it onto your hook. You will get bites. Make sure you have your finger on the line waiting for the bump. Otherwise it may happen so quick you miss it. Good luck And post pics of your fish when you get back. Also, a lot of the old salts on the Main st pier and Sunglow pier are willing to share info if you just ask. Don't bother asking unless you see them catching fish Just read all of your advice. I will be fishing at Main Street pier during the day, but is it true that it closes at 7PM? If so, is there any way to have luck fishing the surf when it closes, or will I have to go somewhere else? I would prefer places within walking distance--we are staying about 3 blocks away from the Main Street pier. If I want to pull in a 3ft+ shark, what advice would you give? |
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You wanna catch a shark? Hook a spot through his back and throw him as far as you can right between the sandbars. Quoted:
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One last pointer: if you are using frozen shrimp and not getting any bites, try popping the head off, and peeling the shell off the remaining part and threading it onto your hook. You will get bites. Make sure you have your finger on the line waiting for the bump. Otherwise it may happen so quick you miss it. Good luck And post pics of your fish when you get back. Also, a lot of the old salts on the Main st pier and Sunglow pier are willing to share info if you just ask. Don't bother asking unless you see them catching fish Just read all of your advice. I will be fishing at Main Street pier during the day, but is it true that it closes at 7PM? If so, is there any way to have luck fishing the surf when it closes, or will I have to go somewhere else? I would prefer places within walking distance--we are staying about 3 blocks away from the Main Street pier. If I want to pull in a 3ft+ shark, what advice would you give? Spot? Is that a fish? I'm not up to speed on my saltwater species. |
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Quoted: I'm going on vacation next week in Daytona, FL, and I want to do a lot of fishing. We are staying about 3 blocks from a pier (which I think closes at 7 PM), but at night I want to try surf fishing. The last time I tried it, I don't think I used a heavy enough weight with a high enough capacity reel, because I would either run out of line before it hit the water, or the current would just carry my bait away. Is this normal? If not, what cheap (<$100) spinning reel with a larger capacity would you recommend that would work well? For those of you that surf fish in FL much, what bait/weight/rig do you use? My 'go to' do it all rig is an 8' Tica Dolpin Medium Heavy Spinning rod with a Quantum Boca PTSD 50 on it. That reel holds 330 yards of 30 pound braid, and makes 35 pounds of drag pressure….it's heavy enough to deal with big Jack Crevasse and Bull reds and sharks up to 4 or 5 feet..and light enough to fish with all day. I use it to throw spoons, plugs, as well as live bait and bottom rigs. Here's an amazon link to the rod..under $100, and worth every penny and then some. I fish my gear HARD…and these rods have never let me down. Here's a picture of the reel:  Here's my popping cork rig:  That's a simple rattling cork with a 60 lb florocarbon leader a small black swivel a trace of 40b single strand wire with a 1/0 gamakatsu octopus circle hook. I've caught a LOT of fish on this rig…Spanish Mackerel, Kings, Jacks, Sharks, redfish, speckled trout, you name it. You can use live shrimp or finger mullet…it will catch fish, and this rig is EASY to make. You can also buy some Mannolures and some Gotcha Plugs…put a little bit of single strand wire (coffee colored) or you will lose lures to toothy fish. Learn to make a haywire twist with the wire…it's not hard. Have a ball in Florida…you never know what will show up around those piers. Several years ago, I caught several Bonita on one of those piers like that…they're worthless to eat, but are great fighters and a lot of fun. For my other surf gear, I use either a Daiwa Sealine X SHA 20 on a 10' casting rod or a 30 of the same reel on a 11.5' casting rod for chunking cut and live bait in the surf. The sealines are a no question asked best bang for the buck surf casting reel on the market. You can set them up with the spool brakes (they come with instructions) and are VERY easy to cast. I've caught sharks up to 7' on the longer rigs and all manner of species on the shorter rods. Do NOT feel like you have to cast way out in the surf…you will be surprised what comes in close early in the morning and as the sun goes down. Best of luck. |
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Yes, spot is a type of small fish. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spot_%28fish%29 Oh and if you're catching Croaker, stock up on the. And have a fish fry, they're good eats. If you do t know what a croaker is, you'll know as soon. As you try to unhook it.
I've caught a croaker before. It croaked.
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A recreational saltwater fishing license is required for residents and nonresidents to take or attempt to take saltwater fish, crabs, clams, marine plants or other saltwater organisms (other than non-living seashells and lionfish with certain gear).
I think if you pay to use the pier you are covered. http://myfwc.com/license/recreational/saltwater-fishing/ |
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On the west coast = pyramid weights, 4-6 oz 8 if the water is really surging, you don't need a lot of line as the fish like it right at near the breaking surf, I had the best luck with the local fauna = free sand crabs. We used to catch surf perch, croaker, tomcod and the occasional corbina. We only kept the surf perch from "clean areas". Everything else was suspect due to local pollution.
I hooked into something really big one day, either a halibut or a large orange mouth corbina. I fought it for about 20 minutes walking up and down the beach with the rod vibrating and taking some line, but then it just let go. The fricken hook straightened out. Fuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhh!  
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