If you’ve recently been surf casting, chances are fairly good that you were using a large casting sinker, a spinning reel and a 10 foot or larger stout rod. You’re using this tackle because you want to use a variety of live baits and plugs, and your reel needs to handle a 20 or 30 pound monofilament line. However, you are dismayed by the fatigue that casting into rolling waves brings on with this heavy rig. Whether you know it or not, this type of a rig might just be overkill. You could be exerting far more energy than you need to get your bait placed properly in high surf with waves rolling and crashing to the beach. Technology can be your friend in this case, and as a surf angler you have the opportunity to assemble a new rig that will be lighter, shorter and save your stamina for fighting the fish instead of casting. There are options that are far easier to use than these traditional surf sticks that are so large and unwieldy.

The northeast offers a number of areas that are great for surf-fishing. Fortunately, many of these areas are not prone to tidal currents or the brutal waves that require super long lines and overly heavy weights. It is true that you probably won’t have the opportunity to snag a super large fish, but these areas do offer some great opportunities for landing smaller striped bass, bruisers and bluefish in the range of upwards of 20 lbs. Fortunately these areas also allow the angler to scale down their equipment and replace an 11 ft rod with an 8 ft rod and replace that bulky spinning reel with one much smaller. Generally an 8 foot rod, a 4000 size reel with both easily handle a 3 ounce lure which is all that is really needed. This also offers the right leverage for casting longer distances.

Fishing line is another consideration. In prior years, you had to depend on monofilaments and fluorocarbons, but today you can get braided lines that are heavier and use a monofilament backing. A thirty pound braided line has a much smaller diameter than the traditional monofilaments. It’s important to remember that while the braided lines will create less friction on your rod guides, they do not have the same abrasion resistance of monofilaments. If you’re not paying attention, you could find yourself one of the victims of losing your line on a rock or boulder like many surf casters before you. To avoid this problem, you can use a long fluorocarbon leader with your lure and attach that to the braided line. This is probably your best insurance against breakage when those fish head for the rocks.

Because traditional surf angling used such bulky and awkward gear, it was very discouraging for young anglers. However, even the youngest angler can enjoy this sport because let’s face it, a 7 foot rod is far easier to handle than an 11 foot rod. The smaller sized rod will allow a young angler to enjoy learning how to surf-fish without having to worry about winching in a small fish that was meant to reel in a much larger one.

While there is little doubt that some anglers will still prefer oversized tackle, and there is little doubt that these surf rigs do have their place, for many, the smaller tackle works just as well. Unless you are determined to go after the biggest fish in the water with a 6 ounce sinker, there isn’t much point in wearing yourself out carting the heavier rigs around the beach when you can have just as much fun going after fish upwards of 20 lbs with a substantially smaller rig.

When you are preparing to undergo a saltwater fishing experience, it is important that you have the proper fishing gear. Some of the most popular gear include Shimino Spinning Reels, Penn Fishing Reels and Daiwa Reel.

1. Surf Casting in Low Tide
2. Surf Casting with Kids
3. Concurring the Surf
4. Tackling the Surf
5. Sea Fishing Tackle Review: The Fox Horizon Surf Rod

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