Surfishing 101 | Surf Fishing North Carolina

Article by: Capt. Charlie Schoonmaker

Spring is coming strong and the waters here on the Carolina coast are warming, and so is the desire to spend some quality time outdoors! What better place to be than on a lovely stretch of beach barefooted, toes and legs in the warm waters bring caressed by the waves rolling in to shore, sun on your face, breeze at your back, just smelling that freshest of air and listening to the birds, the waves lapping, and the crying of the gulls. This is living, and nature is helping you live by relieving all that pent up stress and worries as you await a pull on your line a few yards out in the rolling surf…and then, the BUMP!, that tug, subtle at first then Wham, fish on!, and your rod dives toward the ocean as you raise your rod tip, listening to the drag tear off, and feeling the pull of a nice fish. Heaven has just swallowed you whole, just like the fish has swallowed your bait. Your primeval instincts of the ancient hunter gatherer has just kicked in so you can subtly realize your place in nature’s kingdom! We all feel it too.

So how do you get started in this most relaxing and easy sport here on our coast. First check with your buddies! Many will be very happy to help you in getting the proper gear, then showing you how to use that gear correctly. And if you’re new to an area, a tackle shop has many employees who will also take time to assist you with proper gear selection. Then you can always make a new friend on the beach by just asking for assistance in your endeavor…..many a chance meeting has resulted in many great friendships being formed while standing in the water Surfishing. And with the numerous beaches and accesses we North Carolinians have to the ocean and sounds, we should take advantage of our location. Think of your mental health as well as your physical health….

The equipment is like learning to play chess….. just a little to get started and then a lifetime to master the game. Many have started and fished the surf all their lives with the same rod and reel dad gave them as youngsters… and there are many who would not change that rig for all the tea in China!….

Sentimental reasons and we can all respect that….. A medium light to medium surf rod about 8 to 9 foot in length is a good starting spot and matching a nice medium size reel capable of holding 150 to 200 yards of 12 to 20 lb. test line will suffice a novice angler. Then we will add gear such as leaders, hooks, and the proper sinker in your next step, and here local knowledge is most valuable to you. You can buy a fancy tackle box to store your purchases but many just carry a simple pail or bucket that can hold a bottle of water, hand towel, and maybe a pair of pliers also. For the beginner, keep it simple…you will realize other items you need as time passes, and that is the time to acquire those needed items.  Anglers and tackle store employees will help you match your tackle to what is biting at the proper time of year….as the season progresses you can change and alter your gear as to the type of fish and size of fish too!

To your rod and reel you can now attach a simple two hook bottom rig and a two to three ounce sinker to complete your basic setup. This is the rig you can fish your whole lifetime, the standard of the surf fisherman’s arsenal. Some Fresh shrimp, cut up fish bait, piece of squid or a sand flea on each hook and you’re ready to cast out and enjoy the sport! This simple setup has fooled many a fish, and some monster fish at that also!

Once at the beach you’re ready to enjoy your new activity! And here is something very important. It’s called “Surfishing” for a reason….your cast can be as short as ten to fifteen feet out into the “suds” of the waves to start, or you may want to cast thirty to forty feet distance into the waves, but remember is it “surf” fishing for a reason! Many a novice angler will wind up throwing over the location of the fish. Many big fish swim close to shore in the “suds” looking for disturbed or confused bait fish….easy pickings! Fish where the fish are!

Just to help fine tune your efforts some, there are days the ocean’s waves and currents may drag your line along or even carry it back to the beach, not holding the bottom properly. You want to use enough lead weight to hold your rig in the water comfortably but not so much that you can’t feel the bite of the fish or that your lead weight buries itself in the sand. Pyramid sinkers are the preference of most surf fishermen, and they come in many different weights. Also There are days when two pieces of bait can create a lot of “Drag” on your line and cause your rig to drift,… so try one piece of bait instead! Less drag on your tackle, more traction on the bottom. You will acquire a sense of balance after surf fishing for a while, so be patient, just as patient as the fish. With success come knowledge and learning.

After hooking and landing that fish you can decide whether to return him to the water or keep him for dinner, so know your state’s laws, practice good conservation methods, and enjoy yourself. Take you kids surfishing too, but if they get bored quickly, let them play. When you eventually get the big gun’ you can hoop and holler, show excitement, get them excited too and then let them help you reel the fish in to the beach! They too will want to become a fisherman, just like dad! Enjoy!

About the Author: Captain Charlie Schoonmaker grew up on the waters of North Carolina which has given him experience in all water sports from freshwater canoeing to deep sea “bluewater” fishing. Having seen all aspects of the ocean world Capt. Charlie can appreciate all the fishing and water communities. Capt. Charlie has over 50 years of local knowledge and experience fishing the Beautiful Southeastern Coast of North Carolina (SENCland). He continues operating his charter fishing business “Back Bay Fishing Charters” and his new family oriented excursions “Capt. Charlie’s Adventures” in Carolina Beach, N C. Ready to fish, Call: 910-262-3474