Well I'm back at it again. My hunting spell is over and its time to hit the beach. All it took was a 8'' black drum and now I am hooked! I am a complete amateur when it comes to surf fishing (that's what all I really want to do). I have two Daiwa Sealine SHA 50's. One paired up with a 10' FTU rod and I am looking into getting an Ocean Master 12' for the other. I definitely am not getting in the water right now, at least not past waste deep, so I think I will use 20 lb test for maximum casting capability, wait I have chest waders maybe I could use those?. I am not familiar with leaders so I really need help with them! I usually use 2/0 circle hooks and a 2 oz spider weight. I know that the size of the weight depends on the tide, etc. I plan on using my bass rods for catching bait (whiting, sand trout, etc.) I'm guessing they are still in the surf in winter. I heard fish bites work good too. Is there anything I am missing? Please if you have anything you think I should know tell me! I am open to anything. Thanks guys! - Jacob

I am also new to surf fishing. I haven't been in a while but you have given me the itch again. Hope you catch a keeper.

Also I am going to be fishing in Freeport. Any hints on where to go? I went last weekend but only to the Brazos River

I always use and prefer self made wire leaders when surf fishing. Why? Because sharks will more than likely pick up your bait even when your not targeting them. I have had breakoffs when using 40-60lb mono leaders. I have yet to suffer a breakoff with wire leader. The smaller sharks you can ususally get away with using mono leaders. But you should be fine surf fishing this time of the year without worry since most sharks and toothy critters are gone.

Here is my take on sharks, they are pretty fragile for their size, and me being an old guy, been there, done that thing. I don't target them at all so I keep mono on my home made leaders, usually 80lb. You can still catch smaller sharks that are easier to handle, and are a good way to get experience on proper releasing techniques that are very important for these guys.

40lb leaders will bring in most toothy critters except most sharks, and you don't have to mess with taking care of releasing them, or injuring them. If you use snelled, non offset circle hooks they usually hook in places that don't negatively effect them and will rust away after a while and all will be well.

Please don't take me wrong, I am not anti- shark, heck most of my buds are shark aholics, I've just got it out of my system I guess. If you want to fish for shark learn all you can, there are a lot of them that don't make it after a hook up even though they have swam away, only to die from internal injuries. Make sure you learn how to identify them because it is very hard some times, how they operate, and most of all how to release them properly.

20 lb is a good casting weight line, but run about a 30 to 50lb mono shock leader, one that will be long enough for a few wraps around the reel. There are times that just casting a heavier weight can put enough stress on it to snap the line. I wouldn't do this with a level wind reel, but your conventionals are good to go. Use either a double uni knot, or a Albright, or Slim Beauty knot to make the connection.

2 ozs isn't probably a big deal, but as you get heavier which you will have to after a while, it will make a big difference in saving tackle.

Hello All I am 67 yrs young here and love the salt fishing, with a bad leg I can't deploy baits in a yak and have to rely on boats to fish. Even on party boats I fish big baits with big tackle, at least I get to still do it. A few weeks ago I watched people catch small fish offshore all day while I got 2, 1 of which was smaller than my bait and I did not even know I had him, the other was over 6'. I had a great time and can't wait to do it again. I have been very fortunate and lucky fishing this way even with the jeers and comments from others about my tackle. This summer I hope to go to the Florida Panhandle to shark fish while I still can.

There's always a few fish hanging around the Freeport Jetties

If you want some good leaders click the link in my info. He'll custom make them to fit your needs as well. On the surf rods you might want to get some shock leaders. There is nothing worse than watching your whole rig go flying to the deep. Most use Fluoro, but I'm a little different I use mono shooting fly line 20lb or 25lb I never use over a 3oz weight though

THanks for the info man. So I should get a shock leader about 40 lb. mono enough to wrap around my reel about lets say 8 times? Then I add another leader right?

Yes, that will work.

The shock leader is your protection from loosing all the other goodies you will put on the end of it, like rigs, leaders, what how ever you set up your rig.

Don't buy a big spool of leader material, until you figure out what is the best weight to use to cast out your rigs and get them to stay put. You might have to go up in weight if you go on very heavy.

ok man thanks!! That helps a lot lol. I'm slowly learning.

The main thing about surf fishing is, don�t get hooked into this idea you need to get your bait way out there. If your after big sharks, then yes you need to get it out there. During the spring we catch a lot of big fish casting from the sand. Especially during March. Lasts year during spring break, we caught 25 - 35 inch reds all day long in the first twenty five feet of surf. I personally have gotten to where I would rather wade fish the surf with light tackle. Probably 90% of my fish are caught this way. Early in the morning casting a spoon into a school of bait fish, just gets my heart going. The rest of the time I beer fish. Cast out and sit down with a beer. Have caught nice fish both ways. The great thing about the surf is its different every time out. It is addicting.

I have tried some artificials before but everytime I go the waves are pretty rough and i don't have any luck. I've used spoons. gulp jigs, and well thats it. How do you know where the bait fish are? I know the birds signal that but when I go I never see birds gathering

It has to be the right surf conditions. The best times for me are durring high tide. You dont have to have perfectly calm water, but you want a day with more swells than breakers. I usually start close to shore then work my way out till I find fish. You will see the baitfish at the surface. Usually mullet. There sometimes will be birds, but most of the time not. Those schools of mullet will run on the front side of the second sand bar. Sometimes it will last a couple of min, sometimes a hour or more. Last time down in Galveston, I caught speckled trout and reds steady for almost a hour casting into schooling mullet. Have a good casting rod, because you dont want to get to close to the feeding. Several times I have seen sharks come up chasing reds and specks in the middle of baitfish.

Gotcha. That info helps a lot. Thanks man.