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Surf fishing is one of the most enjoyable types of angling available. Part of the fun is that you never know what you might catch! The vast array of marine species varies from the tiny to the huge, and from the common to the very strange. On any given day or night you might pull in shark, seatrout, puppy drum, catfish, whiting, pompano, sheepshead, flounder, bluefish, redfish, octopus, toadfish, spot, croaker, Spanish mackerel, snook, spadefish, stingray, or other ocean dwellers. I've even hooked large starfish, conch, and a scary-looking creature I later identified as a sea robin.

Equipment: As the term implies, surf fishing is done in the surf, or waves, either from the beach or by wading into the water. The length of rod you use depends on what kind of surf fishing you plan to do. For example, if you plan to fish the near breakers or around bridge or pier pilings, a short rod will be more maneuverable. On the other hand, if you want to cast beyond the breaking surf, you'll need a longer rod to give you more casting distance. You'll need enough weight to hold your bait in place. For calm surf, a one-ounce weight might suffice, but for rough waves, you could need a heavy storm sinker.

Where to fish: Look for troughs, sand bars, cuts, or dropoffs. By checking out the lay of the land at low tide, you'll be able to know where these places are at high tide, when fishing is usually best. Another good place to fish is near the mouth of a tidal creek or river. Some saltwater anglers think the farther they cast, the better chance they'll have for catching fish, but this isn't always true. Many species feed in shallow water, right at the surf break, where the action of the waves turns up bits of food. Other species hunt for prey around structure like pilings or rocks.

Bait: Again, the bait you use depends on the species you're targeting. The best all-around saltwater bait is shrimp, alive or dead. Bull minnows, mud minnows, and finger mullet are also good bait. Another choice is cut bait or squid. Some fish, like drum, pompano, and sheepshead prefer fiddler crabs and sand fleas. You can get plenty of these for free. Look around rock s or piles of debris on the beach for fiddler crabs. To catch sand fleas, just dig them up in wet sand or strain for them with a wire screen at the tideline. Artificial baits like spoons, plugs, and leadhead jigs are also very productive for some species.

When to fish: There's just about always something biting in the ocean anytime of day or night, but the best angling times are generally the hour before and the hour after high tide. In most locations, you'll be annoyed more by catfish and crabs at low tide and at night.

Learn more about this author, Holle Abee.
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