Choosing Surf Fishing Gear: DON'T WASTE MONEY & TIME!

Learn the essentials of surf fishing gear. This guide explains what every surf fishing angler should have in their bag in order to be prepared for any fishing situation on the beach. We cover the most popular kinds of fishing rods, reels, hooks, sinkers, lures and other gear for surf fishing.

When going out surf fishing, I like to be prepared for anything and everything that could happen on the beach. If I see fish busting, I want to have the correct thing to throw to catch one, but it is a real hassle to haul your entire garage of lures, sinkers, and other gear on a beach cart or on your back. Packing minimally and thinking ahead becomes key when preparing for your trip! This is a guide explaining what I pack so that I can keep light on my feet out on the field and still not miss out on any action. I fish this same set up pretty much EVERY trip we take to any beach around the world, so hopefully these tips will apply to any surf caster and help you get the correct gear out there!

Here is everything you need to know about surf fishing gear in one concise 11-page e-book. Included at the end of this guide is a printable list of exactly what gear I pack every time I go fishing.

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SURF FISHING ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST

ROD/REEL
10-11’ Rod
5000-8000 Size Reel ~ Spooled w/ #20 - #40 braided fishing line

LURES
1-2 oz Topwater Lure
1-2 oz Bucktail Jigs
1 oz Spoon

HOOKS
2/0 Circle Hooks
5/0 Circle Hooks
1/0 Baitholder Hooks
3/0 Live Bait Hooks
4/0 Long Shank Hooks
Sabiki Rig

SINKERS
2oz sinker
3oz sinker
5oz sinker

BAIT
Squidy Bits
Frozen Squid
Sand Fleas
Mullet/Bunker
Clams

LEADER LINE
#25 fluorocarbon
#40 fluorocarbon

ACCESSORIES
Tactical Clips
Sand Tube
Scissors

[kevinmcfadden]

Here are few things I would also add to your surf fishing bag: a knife, pliers (that will cut mono, fluorocarbon, and braided line), a fishing ruler (that includes bag and size limit regulations), a few first aid items, fishing towels, hand sanitizer, unscented wipes, and fingernail clippers.

[whome]

Love that message(s) 1. Keep only what your going to eat.
2. Clean up after yourself.
Keep up the great job

[ghostwriter]

Just a comment on selecting pole size. You have to take into account your physical size, not always the beach. I'm 5'8-5'9 and like an 8ft pole in the surf with braid. I can cast with the best of them with this setup!! I even use it on the jetty sometimes but increase my mono shock leader length. Low tide jetty, maybe a 10 footer but not always if the wind is right.

My wife is 5'1-5'2 and she fishes a 7ft-8ft pole at most. She can't handle anything bigger and feel comfortable with it. Give her an 8ft pole some braided line and a beach, she will outcast most guys reaching the sand bar!! Note, release points are also important when casting not just pole size!

Just for comment, my wife bought me a 12ft surf pole to fish seawalls. I'm back to using my 10ft'er for that task! LOL

[reedsutter]

Good all-around advice here. I love ending on the advice to only keep what you're about to eat.
I personally prefer using a shorter rod and maximizing casting distance by pairing it thoughtfully with the right line and baits. If bottom fishing the surf the long rod can give an edge, but when you're chucking less than 3oz I can usually out-distance a surf rod with a well-chosen 7-footer. I mostly target troughs which aren't usually all that far off shore.
My must-have list:
1/2oz-1oz spoon (Krocodile, Little Cleo, Kastmaster or similar)
Yo-Zuri 3DS Minnow 100 (for 7 feet of water or more) and 70 (less than 7 feet of water)
Sea Striker Gotcha Plug
Mirrolure Mirrodine Suspending
Bottom rig

[jamesburke]

Mike Burke here. I've been following hey skipper for a few months now and I must say this guy is great. I am an accomplished inshore fisherman 10, 000 islands, Indian river, ft Meyers and Tampa all in Florida. Been looking to branch out and do some surf fishing. Hey skipper has given me some very good tips. Thanks for your channel

[GasqueFishing]

Gotcha plug is a must have when anywhere near saltwater. You can catch your limit of blue fish and Spanish

[kenfizzo]

The perfect guide and how to video. Just perfect for a rookie surf fisher like me and many others out there. Great stuff buddy. Keep them coming along. Thanks 👍🏻

[Wnemo]

Perfect timing - I’m getting ready for a family vacation in Cape May, NJ and I wanted to try surf fishing with my 9 yr old son and I want to be prepared but not haul a tackle shop worth of gear down to the beach. The only thing I think is missing for the list is a pair of pliers to remove hooks from the fishes mouth (especially the ones with pointy teeth) and a camera.

[retiredretired]

I am heading down to the NJ shore in jun for two weeks and picked up a Penn Battle II Spinning Reel BTLII8000 + 12" Daiwa Beefstick Surf Rod . I think I am going to pick up a PENN Spinfisher 6000 and a t. Croix Mojo Surf 10' 6" That way i have a back up and or if my daughter feels like surf fishing .

[longrider]

I use a 10 foot long Salmon/Steelhead rod from Cabela's. 10 to 20 pound test. Reel, the Daiwa Regal 5000 BRI, and throw a two ounce weight, for bait fishing. But that's in light surf/currant. Oh, I use 20 test Ande fishing line. In Wyoming its two poles, two hooks maximum per pole.

[lesshrubb]

Hi Skip, thanks from England for a very helpful video. A truly great fisherman is one who can catch fish whilst protecting fish stocks and the environment, and that, my friend, is you!

[ronmb]

0:49 you say you throw a 10-11' surf rod but show us a 9' st croix

[xela]

Favorite thing to throw for me is a dropped loop with a white gulp mullet, crushes fluke all day!

[atlantis]

Circle hooks only for live or cut bait here in New England(most of it), no more snag n’ drop, no more trebles or bait holders on bait! It’s a good thing.

[TheHungryFisherman]

I love to use soft plastic grubs for fishing in Hawaii. using a typical whipping set up you can catch a multitude of fish.

[mr.goodbass]

I am a freshwater guy, but am getting into saltwater. I enjoy your channel, find it helpful and have learned a lot from watching you. Also entertaining. Good job dude! Your HEY HEY HEY intro is much better too!!

[John-quzd]

Skipper the arc of a rod while casting depends on the weight difference and distance between the tip and the tackle being use. A 3ounce spoon at the tip of and 11 foot rod will not go as far as a 7 foot rod with the 3ounce spoon hanging down by say 1foot off the tip. Your rod should somewhat resemble the curve of a whip when casting.

[HenryDarr]

We use the coconut rig off the rocks for pelagic species like Bonito and kingies. 10ft Penn allegiance, 14000 Shimano Stella SW XBG, 50 pound braid, 80 pound swivel lumo bead cut in half flasher float on 500mm 80 pound leader, the other half lumo bead, 8/0 gang hook and a Salted pilchard.

[mwambasol]

Great info! Headed to myrtle beach this week to do surf fishing for the first time

[giveitaswingoutdoorswithsm]

Good Advice My friend! Growing up on the North East Coast of England A 12 foot rod was the norm because of waves and weed in the edge also break away grip leads that I see Are becoming popular "over the pond "
Back in the late seventies break away leads were a God send 😅👍🎣