Alright guys what exactly should I look for when targeting fish in the surf, besides the obvious bait. The cuts, the movement of water. If you can explain some of this it would be great. Also, if anyone knows of some good books I can buy online since I am in Iraq right now. I have had some good sucess in the surf but it is hit or miss. I need some info so I can consistantly get on the fish in the surf. Specs, reds, pomps, and sharks, are mainly what I try to target.

Look for seashells near the shore.

***Diagram of a drain gut cutting thru' sandbars.***

-----------\......../------------ < - Third sandbar

------------ \..../------------- < - Second sandbar

--------------\../-------------- < - First sandbar

-------------------------------- < - Shoreline

Fish the drain guts at low or high tide, this is where the fish enter each of the guts to feed on during tidal movements.

Also look for murky water, that is where you will find the reds, clear water is best for trout.

Keep an eye out for gentle sloping beaches with regular wave patterns. The opposite of this where you see flat water surfaces and irregular waves which usually can mean a rip area.

Look at the sand too, tightly packed fine grain sand means there is a gradual slope, course sand means the opposite.

Lastly, redfish and trout like the deeper and wider guts where as the baitfish prefer the shallow and more narrow guts.

-Z-

Also I have found the reds like the second cut in the spring and the first cut in fall

Here is some info you can get/use..
http://nickaway.com/dvda16.html
http://www.nickaway.com/PDF%20files/Reading%20the%20surf.pdf

When targeting sharks. What is yall's preferred time of the year and time of day. What do ya'll look for before you set up when targeting sharks.

The shark season is pretty much over..

Late June thru early Sept are my favorite times to catch a nice black tip or bullshark from the shore.

South Padre has a longer shark season due to its southern location, not to mention they are also generally bigger sharks!

You can still catch sharks in the winter tho, the sandbar sharks show up when the water gets cooler.



-z-

Yeah I Kinda figured that I won't be home until may of next year from Iraq anyways. Do you catch more at dusk and dawn, or on tidal movements?

I catch more at Dusk with a high tide coming in.



-Z-

Depending on where your at the terminology is slightly different.
The area's between the sandbars are usually called guts.
The "drain guts", as referred to above are called cuts.

Also you may come across some that consider the 1st "gut" to be the area between the 1st and 2nd sandbar. We've always the considered the 1st "gut" to be the water right off the beach. Never, ever underestimate the first gut.

Night time between 1st and 2nd....daytime between 2nd and 3rd, unless you can cast far enough to the down slope of the outside of the 3rd..
Dusty

Start casting before you get your feet wet. Alot of times trout and redfish will be in the first or second gut. Most anglers wade right past them and fish too far out. Try in close and work your way out casting parallel to the beach to keep your bait in the trough (gut) longer. Waves usually break on the far side of the trough so look for this when fishing.

Hope this helps and thank you for your service to our country.

Safe return.

Go to www.surf-masters.com and read yourself to death. You will find answers to ALL of your questions there. I used the site to learn most of what I know of surf fishing and still use it, regularly.