This article is about surf fishing the Atlantic coast of Maryland and Virginia.
The author is Rob Dunning, aka Reel Angler, an experienced and dedicated
surf fishing enthusiast.
Surf fishing is truly for those who love to be outdoors in all conditions. It’s not always productive and fishing by
boat is almost always more successful. Many anglers, like myself, may fish a number of years before they catch their first keeper striper. It
is, after all, fishing and not catching. Many fishermen have told me “you have to put your time in”. But this is a sport that is gratifying enough
in its self without guaranteed catches. Every time I go fishing I find myself learning or trying something new. There are so many variables that
no two fishing trips are ever identical.
I primarily fish Assateague Island, both the Maryland and Virginia sides. Over the years I have grown to exert most
of my time and effort in the spring and fall when migratory stripers can be had. I’ve found that summer time for me is better spent tuna fishing
or vacationing with the family. Small fish and fishing crowded beaches are not for me.Not only are legal stripers present in late fall and
spring but larger blues are often about as well. Stripers are my target species, however, I do respect the fight of 5 lb and larger bluefish. An
occasional black drum or flounder are also welcomed catches.Just about anything that bends the rod can get your heart pumping!
Equipment does not have to be fancy or expensive, just reliable. I use spinning reels, but many prefer conventional reels for surfcasting. Conventional reels offer greater
distance in casting. This can sometimes be a mute point since at times the fish can be in close to shore. Distance is not something I
concentrate too much on. In time I’m sure I will dabble more with conventional gear. I have used inexpensive reels and have gradually
upgraded to bait runner style spinning reels. The great advantage to these is the fish can take the bait and run while giving you time to get
to the rod. I have had a number of instances where a rod was pulled down out of the spike into the sand, and in very rare occasions in the wash
before I could get to it.
The rods I use vary in length, but that
is because many were given to me or bought at yard sales. They vary
between 9 and 11 feet long. It’s my opinion that a rod of 9-10 ft is more
than adequate for our Delmarva Coast. I stand at 6’5” so I have no
problem casting a 12’ or longer rod. However, I don’t think the extra
length is necessary. I personally find 10’ to be just to my liking. I
primarily bait fish and do so in some rough water/weather at times. Rough
conditions mandate that I use 8 oz. or more to hold bottom. This is why I
lean towards a stiffer rod for bait casting. Lighter action rods are
better for casting plugs and other artificials.
I believe bait fishing is the most
effective way to catch fish in our surf. Some may disagree but plugs take
a lot of walking and effort. It is rare to see anyone on the island using
plugs. I do have them just in case there is a blitz or the fish want
something other than what I’m offering. As in any fishing situation, live
bait is the best bait to have. Finding live bait and keeping it that way
long enough to use it on the beach is often difficult if not impossible to
do. One possible exception is to fish a live eel. They will live a long
time if cared for properly and stripers love them. I have them with me
every so often just in case. They have to be worked like a plug or you
will have problems!
I use two basic rigs for bait fishing.
I use a fish finder rig that can be rigged in two ways and a hi-lo rig.
One fish finder rig is consisted of a 7/0 – 8/0 circle hook (or larger)
tied to 20”-30” of leader which in turn is tied to a 3-way swivel, which
has a weight and the main line attached. The second rig is simply the
same size hook tied to the end of a 12-20”or longer leader with a weight
slide above the swivel end of the leader. This second rig casts farther
and easier and the fish can pick up the bait and go further before
noticing the weight. The hi-lo rig is a leader with a weight snap at the
bottom and two dropper loops tied above one another approximately 16”
apart. About 16” above the top loop is the top swivel used to attach to
the main line. With the weight on the very bottom of the rig, they cast
quite well. I like them for two main reasons; more bait in the water =
more fish (in theory) and the dropper loops allow me to change hooks
easily. The rig helps to elevate the bait, which may help in presentation
but stripers are bottom feeders anyway. I have caught my largest fish on
fish finder rigs. I use 50 lb test monofilament for leader material and
for shock leaders.
My running lines are usually 17 – 20 lb
test monofilament, 20#s being the norm. With casting heavy weights and
rigs I am forced to use shock leaders. Braided line has the advantage of
not needing a shock leader. I, however, would want a long mono leader
tied to the braided line when hand leadering a big fish. I don’t need any
more cuts on my hands. The other advantage to braided line is that it
lasts longer and does not need to be replaced as often. I respool all
reels at least once each year faithfully. Braided line may be something I
experiment more with in the near future.
Using circle hooks reduces the stress to
the fish and the time it takes to release it. It also prevents a fish from
getting gut hooked. Because the hook set isn’t an issue with circle hooks,
I am able to fish 3 or more rods at a time. I tag all stripers that are
released. There will be days when you are over your limit or are catching
sub-legal fish and must return fish whether they are tagged or not.
Bunker chunks and heads are my bait
of choice and usually it is the striper’s as well. The fresher the bait,
the better. However, I have seen rockfish take bunker that was previously
frozen. Some fishermen put more emphasis on this than others. If you
can’t get fresh bait, then frozen will have to do. Bunker heads are nice
in that they last longer in the water. Bait stealers don’t mess with them
as much and the heads won’t fall apart as readily either. Clams can be
used, especially in the spring when targeting black drum. New Jersey is
known for its use of clams for bait. But again, our regional bait of
choice is bunker. “Match the hatch”.
Reading the beach and searching for
structure is important to locating where fish may congregate. I find what
structure is on Assateague to be very subtle at times. I look for bowls
and cuts in the sand bars at low tide. The most common structures there
are the sloughs that run parallel with the beach. If no structure is
found, then cast out and hope for fish swimming up and down the sloughs.
The beach is always changing. What was there yesterday may not be there
next month or next week for that matter.
Tides are important in most fishing
circumstances as they are in the surf. Two hours before and two hours
after high tide are supposed to be the best for fishing. However, I find
I often have to fish when I am available to fish and cannot be overwhelmed
by not hitting the tides perfectly. If the fish are there and they are
hungry, then they will bite. Time of day can be important as well.
Overcast days seem better than bright sunny days. Fishing from sundown to
sunrise is best especially in springtime when water temperatures are
rising and days are growing longer. It seems the bass are not only weary
of being discovered by their prey but also by what might prey on them.
In short, one must continue to learn and adapt to the many changing variables of surf fishing.
A footnote for those that are not regular readers of the forum, this is one of Robs reports from
November of 2004, which is a good example of the time and dedication it takes to be a successful angler.
This is a brief fishing report of my 5 day stay this past week:
Monday, I get down to Assateague and fish near the O.R.V. boundary. One 28
in. blue caught at 12:30 pm and one 28 in rockfish at 3:00 pm. If it
weren't for the stripes and teeth, they would look like identical twins.
(measured the rock 4 times before determining him 28")
Tuesday, fished all day, missed one heck of a hit on bunker heads, one cut
off in the surf (blue) and one 28" blue caught.
Wednesday, went on Daybreak with a full crew. Limited on rock, learned a
little about jigging and met some fellow board members. Beautiful day to
be out.
Thursday, I hooked up with a friend of Craig's and fished an undisclosable
location. Eels didn't work like they normally do. Thanks, Frank for the
spot. With 4 live spot we caught a 36" and a 31" rock. Special thanks to
R.B. for having me along. Went to Chincoteague Island Beach and fished the
surf from 3-6:30 pm. Not a bump.
Friday, I was the first person
at the Chincoteague Park gate when it opened. I had baited lines in the
water by 6:30 am. At 7:30 I got a hit and grab the rod. Ten to fifteen
minutes later, I brought a 45" 33+3/4 lb rockfish to the beach. IN THE BOX
HE GOES!! I rebait and within an hour another rod is bending. I fight this
fish for maybe 5 minutes and the line breaks when the fish isn't more than
15 yds from the beach. I am saddened but I know I still have that one nice
beauty in the box. I later realize the 2nd hit did unreparable damage to
that surf rod and it soon was taken out of action (4 rods down to 3). The
rest of the day provided 4 shorts caught: 23", 25", 24", and a 21"
rockfish. All four were tagged. I really hit the honey hole that day. In
addition, I caught 2 seagulls which were released unharmed from the lines
(I used to think seagulls were gracefull and intelligent - not anymore). I
truly enjoyed talking to my fellow fishermen on the beach. It was overcast
and rainy most of the day but that didn't dampen anybody's spirit. A
special thanks to the owner of Captain Steve's Bait Shop who was fishing
beside me and his friend who were very helpful when I was landing fish or
needed pictures taken. The fish was checked in at Captain Steve's Bait and
Tackle and I headed for home soon after 4pm.
Thanks to Craig and Jane, without their hospitality, this past week would not have been possible."
Rob's 45" rock is shown at the top of this article.
Back to all surf fishing pages
