Help on surf fishing (Northeast/ Mid-Atlantic)?

Question

Ive been fishing saltwater for many years now mostly on party boats and for fluke in the bay however I never really fished the surf. I am constantly hearing about everybody tearing up the blues catching 30 in an hour or catching 20 schoolie striped bass. I am all about action i dont care if they are huge or mostly shorts, I just like catching fish.

However, I find this type of fishing very confusing like what beach to fish? What time of day and tides does it have to be to catch fish; does it matter? And finally the most important what part of the beach do you cast into and how do u locate the fish,( is it just a matter of driving around looking for birds?). Please help! I think its only fair I get my share of the blues and stripers too.

Answer 1

I just wrote a "book" to somone about surf fishing, (lol).

It's late so I will give you some tips for catching Blues and Stripers.

1. This is the important one! Ask your LOCAL baitshop. Go into the shop and buy some bait and lures, (spend $10-15). Ask them," So where do I need to go this morning to catch the Blues in the surf?"

2. Which brings me to #2. It should be MORNING when you go. Most GOOD surf fishing ends at 10 AM. You either hit it early or just before dark.

3. After the guy at the baitshop gives you the "general direction" of where to go,(obviously Mr. Baitshop guy doesn't KNOW you, and until you become a "regular" any info he gives you will be vague), find the beach he thinks is good and LOOK around. If you see 10 guys fishing, that would be a good place to start. If you can't find anyone fishing, go to the beach at LOW TIDE and look for "sloughs" and "drop-offs". These will concentrate fish.

4. A typical "Surf-caster" wants distance out of his reel/rod combo. Go with a LONG 2 piece surf rod at LEAST 8 FT, (prefer 10). A good spinning reel, (some would argue you need a "mooching" or "baitcaster"), that can handle at LEAST 200 yards of 14 LB. Rod action should be MEDIUM! If you get a medium/heavy or a heavy then you won't get the distance you NEED to fish. I would use Berkely "Vanish" line in the 12-14 LB class. You will hook more fish if you use lighter line, albeit, you may not get them all IN! (lol) A good all-around surf-rod is an Ugly Stik.

5. Good lures to buy are "Hyper-Stripers" in 1/2-2 OZ. White/Chartruese. Put strips of rockfish or your local baifish on as a "teaser".
Believe it or not, but Blues LOVE big "Rattle Traps". Buy some "Menhaden/Pogey" Spray and liberally spray them to make them more enticing ,(your local Walmart should carry it).
Large Spoons in Green/white, Silver/black, Purple/black will work great. Rapala makes a GREAT spoon that has a nice wobble,(1/2-1 OZ).
Big jigs ,(1/2-2 OZ) are fantastic baits. Use curly-tailed grub type.
Make sure you have some "low-viz" wire handy for your blues.

6. Surf-fishing is a tough sport. Up at 5 AM to get on the water by 6! It's usually cold. (You should carry wet-weather gear with you at all times). And the best fishing is usually near a inlet or jetty. Finding a "good" slough can take time and with a new storm your "hot" slough will be gone. Your best bet is to become a frequent shopper at your local bait-shop and hope someone takes pity on you. (lol)

Good luck & catch some fish!

Answer 2

OK, Buddy Sorry but I am from Texas so I am no expert on the mid atlantic coast but, I am going to give you this website and I am also going to give you my word that if you go here you WILL find what you need!
here it is www.Pierandsurf.com this is mainly a surf fishing forum but we have everything.
it is free to be a member like I am (if you want to be a subscriber its a little more)
trust me once you visit you will be hooked all the guys are verrrrry nice and full of helpful info I promice you that we have multiple people that can tell you exactly what you need to know. I hope to see you there. once you visit, look me up you will find me under the name Catfish713
Please visit even if you don't join I promice you won't be dissapointed.

until then
Tight lines and God bless <>< <>< <>< : )

Answer 3

i used to fish ocean city on an standard basis you are able to capture sand tiger sarks/sand bar sharks cow nostril rays bluefish specked troat according to danger cobia stripers and crimson fish right here is the fishing document to the maryland dnrs ocean fishing document Surf fishermen are seeing water temperatures around 70-ranges now and are often catching a summer time mixture of small species. the terrific fishing has been for the period of the early morning and late night hours. Small baits alongside with squid, bloodworms and baits alongside with Fishbites and Gulp baits have been accounting for a mixture of kingfish, croaker, spot, flounder and small bluefish. those fishing with decrease menhaden baits interior the night hours have been catching super sharks alongside with sand tiger sharks, soft dogfish and cow-nosed rays