Trials and errors of a newb surf fisherman....

[HBsurfer]

Being that this is my first post, I would like to say "greetings from Huntington Beach CA", Merry X-Mas, and soon to be Happy New Years!

I have been a Bass/walleye/northern fisherman most of my life. I have been living at the beach(Huntington Beach CA) for 15 years and have only been fishing when I get to the family lake side cabin in Northern Minnesota a few weeks out of the year. I have been surfing for most of the 15 years ive been here, and just started surf fishing with a good friend that is in the same boat as I am. I figure that the surf is bad more times than good, and now that I think about it, I cant believe that I didnt start surf fishing 15 years ago when I moved to the beach. Since starting this new found passion, I have run into a few beginner problems.

Ok, I started out using -


Shimano Sienna 1500 reel(from my bass rod)
6Lb test mono - as suggested by the guy at the bait shop.
with a 12 foot surf fishing rod with amazing snap I picked up for $45.

rigging- (Carolina rig)
half ounce egg weight,
bead,
swivel,
18 inch 8lb test leader
octopus hook
Berkley Powerbait sand worm

well, being that I live in "Surf City" you can imagine that the current is pretty strong here and my line was getting washed back to shore rather quickly. I did catch two little barbed surf perch in the short time my line was out...

So, I decided to use 2 half ounce egg weights (= 1 ounce). Now, I was real happy with the distance of my cast, and the line was not getting washed up so quickly, But I noticed that the line at the end of my rod tip was taking a beating as far as stretching, and eventually broke at mid-cast.

The next day, I went back to the bait shop and got my reel spooled with 10lb test mono.

Well, the line did last longer, but eventually snapped once again.

I went back to the bait shop and picked up a larger spooled Daiwa Sweepfire 4000B for $20, strung it with 15Lb test mono.

Went out at low tide(big mistake) and my casting distance was cut down to about a third of my original set-up.

When I got home, I went online and did some investigating and read about braided line, and super line....then about a "Shock Leader"....

With that being said, I am now very confused!!! Can someone give me a run-down of a complete line set-up from spool to hook in test weight and line type, knots etc..

I would like to thank you all in advance for any useful advice that may come in this thread, and also, thanks for letting me be a part of this amazing message board!

Seasons Greetings,

Mike D. aka. HBsurfer :fishing:

[SmoothLures]

Welcome and Merry Christmas!

I don't have a clue how things work on the west coast, but here you generally see

12-20 lb test main line (from spool) to a shock leader (40-60 lb test generally). From the shock leader you tie your rig, say a 2 hook bottom rig with a 3-6 oz pyramid sinker on it. The pyramid sinker holds the bottom better than egg sinkers which roll around. Hook size depends on the size of the fish you're after.

You could also use a one hook fish finder rig, like a Carolina rig but with a snap swivel on your line in place of the egg sinkers with a pyramid sinker snapped to the swivel.

The line breaking could be because it's wearing against the bottom or something else is doing it. Take a QTip and run it around the inside of all of your rod's guides and see if it catches any. If it does then your guide is cracked and needs to be replaced.

If any of that doesn't make sense, PM me or just say so and I'll try to explain it better.

[fisher51]

It`s always good to know a surfer when you go surf fishing, if you want a good laugh check out "great white hunters"(I think) on utube and let me know what you think of that rig. Welcome even though I`m new on this forum myself...>>(((">--

[HBsurfer]

Thanks SmoothLures. Can you explain how the shock leader works as far as length and knots? is it just a standard line, or braided..is it a special line for that purpose?

Speaking of braided, I read in the casting section of this forum about braided line being recommended....your thoughts? I was checking out the Spider line, and thought it was a neat idea until the guy behind the counter said that its hard to get a knot that holds.

As far as the East coast/ West Coast thing, I would imagine that the set up would be pretty much the same. I have the feeling that the types of fish you catch from the beach are probably superior being that all I hear about is the Corribina and Surf perch. I hear the Leopard Sharks are fun to catch though.

Thanks!

[HBsurfer]

It`s always good to know a surfer when you go surf fishing, if you want a good laugh check out "great white hunters"(I think) on utube and let me know what you think of that rig. Welcome even though I`m new on this forum myself...>>(((">--

will do fisher51, thanks...

[SmoothLures]

Thanks SmoothLures. Can you explain how the shock leader works as far as length and knots? is it just a standard line, or braided..is it a special line for that purpose?

Speaking of braided, I read in the casting section of this forum about braided line being recommended....your thoughts? I was checking out the Spider line, and thought it was a neat idea until the guy behind the counter said that its hard to get a knot that holds.

As far as the East coast/ West Coast thing, I would imagine that the set up would be pretty much the same. I have the feeling that the types of fish you catch from the beach are probably superior being that all I hear about is the Corribina and Surf perch. I hear the Leopard Sharks are fun to catch though.

Thanks!

A shock leader is so when you load a rod doing a power cast you don't snap your weight off and send it flying and hit someone. It absorbs the shock, hence the name. You probably don't power cast but search on youtube.com for Hatteras Cast and OTG (off the ground) casts and you'll see what I mean.

You can use standard mono line, you usually double your main line from your reel with a spider hitch, bimini twist, or something (check the bible here, there's lots of threads on them). This double line in theory doubles the breaking strength of your knot you tie. It makes a loop then you tie with it as if it was one piece onto the heavier shock leader with a no name or similar knot. Then on the end of the shocker you tie your rig.
Braid isn't usually recommended as it's not as abrasion resistant and when leadering a big fish braid will cut your hand (as well as other people's lines in the water).

Some people like braid, some don't. The top brands are Power Pro and Sufix Braid. The only time I'd use it is for a lure rod. As for tying the knots, check out this thread. http://www.pierandsurf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58904

Once you catch a few small sharks (your current gear seems small) you might want to try shark fishing. It's a different ball game than what I've said but catching the little 4 footers and less is a blast on the setups I've mentioned.

[Sandcrab]

Thanks SmoothLures. Can you explain how the shock leader works as far as length and knots? is it just a standard line, or braided..is it a special line for that purpose?

Speaking of braided, I read in the casting section of this forum about braided line being recommended....your thoughts? I was checking out the Spider line, and thought it was a neat idea until the guy behind the counter said that its hard to get a knot that holds.

As far as the East coast/ West Coast thing, I would imagine that the set up would be pretty much the same. I have the feeling that the types of fish you catch from the beach are probably superior being that all I hear about is the Corribina and Surf perch. I hear the Leopard Sharks are fun to catch though.

Thanks!


Lived in San Diego for over three years. Talk about goood fishing! :) Barracuda, bonito, calico bass, huge rays... and the leopard sharks (great on the grill by the way)...

You got it made. Take a party boat out this time of year and have it all to yourself... Get hot tossing "the iron"...

...oh the days... ;)

Sandcrab

[BubbaHoTep]

Welcome to P&S!

[Danman]

Welcome to the club:fishing:

[racewire20]

Welcome HBsurfer to P&S. I was just out in Costa Mesa last month and visited the Huntinton beach and New Port area while I was there. I did quite a bit of reading on surf fishing in that area as I was hoping to get a little in while I was there, but as luck would have it I was unable to make it happen. From what I gathered from the people that I talked to, the surf fishing is not so great in that area but if you head south it gets much better. Most everybody recommended taking a boat charter (head boat). I think this has something to do with the pollution close into shore. Some even suggest yaks. As to surf fishing out there,I do know they use smaller gear than we do here. Not real sure of bottom rig set ups, some do use the Carolina type rigs, but most will drag gulp shrimp (new penny) seems to be the norm. There is a surf fishing site for SoCal. It ishttp://www.scsurffishing.com/forums/index.php Hope it's ok to post.
I also hooked up online with a fellow out there that was very helpful and I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you contacted him for some help. Try luvseaside at the site above. Great fellow, very helpful.
It takes a little to get used to there lingo, but there is a thread explaining most of the terms.
Everything the guys have told ya here is good advise and can be implemented just about anywhere.

Hope all our info helps

[RuddeDogg]

welcome to the family.

[HBsurfer]

Thanks again SmoothLures, and also everyone else for the welcome.

Most of my trouble has been the weights snapping the end of my line off......With the shock leader I should be good to go!

Those knots used to connect the shock leader and line(albright etc.) seem a bit complicated compared to the standard fisherman's knot I've been using for freshwater. I guess practice makes perfect!

Racewire, thank you also for the advice. I will check out those sites, but to me it seems that you guys are above and beyond the surf fishermen out here. The people I talked to at the bait shop are not so knowledgeable unless you are fishing from a boat. Casting distance is a huge factor for me, and you guys have it down!

Happy New Year to all!

HBsurfer

[fisher51]

If you do like they do on utube "great white hunters" you can get that bait out there!! did you see it? Ha Ha:fishing:

[deepsessions]

Hbsurfer, I do alot of surf perch fishing. I was just out this morning. Here is what I use I use a 7 ft shimano clarus spinning rod rated at 6-12 lb line, a daiwa capricorn and daiwa tierra in the 2000 sizes, 1/4 to 1oz egg sinkers, carolina keepers and # 6 and #8 eagle claw baitholder hooks I also use owner mosquito hooks in the same sizes. And your right on with the bait, I also use Gulp sandworms in the Camo color, only about an inch and a half piece and you are good to go.
Oh yeah, 6lb line and a 18 inch leader is just right. Carolina rigged is also what I use. Simply cast it out beyond the first trough and work it in slowly. Keep your line tight and keep it in front of you as the current will take you sideways sometimes. If the current is ripping then go to a heavier weight. A slow retrieve all the way to your feet is best because sometimes they are only a few feet in front of you. Also, sometimes you have to find the fish so keep walking and casting until you find them. Its so much fun!

[Oldmulletbreath]

Not sure if it was mentioned or not.....your shock leader needs to be atleast three to five turns on reel plus the length of the drop you use to cast,if you start with five or a little more you have a bit extra to tie another rig on without retieing the shocker.More than five turns and you really start losing distance.Check out the Improved Blood knot,and by the way be sure to make every knot you tie wet before you cinch it down.

Power pro and others like it are very slick,most times adding a few extra turns to the knot will help it hold better,I would learn your basic knots with mono then go to to the braided stuff.....personally I believe braid is over used,it is great for light jig fishing,and throwing and retrieving metal,but for bait fishing in the surf it is not necesary.In hindesight if distance is important it will increase your lenght of cast and it will also decrease the weight of the sinker you need to hold.(pound for pound it is much smaller in diameter)