Surf Fishing Species – Beach to Ocean

Saltwater Bass

beachtoocean — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 21:48:43 +0000

Saltwater Bass-

There are an array of salt water bass species on the West Coast that range from San Diego to Washington. A few of the more common species that can be caught off the shore, specifically the beach are the Stripped Bass and Calico Bass aka Kelp bass.

Recommended line for Saltwater Bass-

Depending on your local spot this can very, if you are targeting Striped Bass on a sandy beach you can get away with a strong monofilament line in the 10lb-20lb class range. If you are casting into heavy kelp targeting calico bass, we recommend something a little stronger like braid. A good median we like to use is 20lb monofilament as our go to line of choice. As you fish your local spots you’ll see what works best for that particular area.

Recommended Rig for Saltwater Bass-

Some anglers catch salt water bass on squid as a by catch when targeting rays or sharks. Bass will hit dead squid but a more efficient technique is using a swimbait or spoon. We like to target salt water bass with a swimbait and sometimes a spoon (Krockodile is our favorite spoon). Also the Drop Shot rig works well, click here to see how to tie this rig up!

Recommended Bait for Saltwater Bass-

Like we mentioned before, swimbaits or spoons are the go to “bait” when fishing for bass. Our favorite brands are Keitech & Big Hammer swimbaits and as for spoons we like Krocodile or ACME spoons. See link for our top picks-

Recommended Rod & Reel for Saltwater Bass-

You will need a rod that can cast a good distance but have a strong enough backbone to withstand some pretty strong initial strikes. We recommend a 8ft-9ft casting rod with a medium action, something that can cast a good distance but will alow you to feel the action of your lure. Salt water bass fishing is mainly lure fishing (especially from shore). It is important to have a rod that has a sensitive action. We like using conventional Baitcaster reels when targeting bass, something with a good line capacity and cast ability. Here are a few rods we recommend.

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Surf Fishing For Sharks

beachtoocean — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 21:43:58 +0000

The West Coasts shores are home to some of the most apex predators in the Pacific Ocean. From the massive Seven Gill Shark to the beautiful Leopard Shark, you never know what you’re going to reel in. Shark fishing is one of the most adrenaline pumping and physically demanding fish to target from shore. Their pure power, rough line cutting skin and sharp teeth make for a great challenge. You really have to have the right tackle and game plan to successfully land one.

Surf Fishing For sharks

Recommended Line for Shark Fishing-

Shark fishing is very similar to fishing for rays or skates, except for the type of line you use. If you were specifically targeting leopard sharks we would recommend the same set up you use for skates & rays.

Now if you are targeting bigger toothy critters like Seven Gills or (if lucky enough) Thresher Sharks you’re going to want a special line set up.

We recommend at least 400 yards of 65lb braid tied to 25ft of 100lb monofilament as a shock leader. The shock leader should be about double the length of your rod. This allows you to have enough shock leader to get 4+ wraps around your spool. This method will absorb the shock of your cast and is long enough to keep your main line away from the shark and its line abrasive skin. Tie or crimp your shock leader to your main leader . That will have the hook and bait at the other end, we recommend wire leader for any sharks bigger than a Leopard Shark. You should be good to go with 135lb 7-strain wire leader.

If you thought the rays where tough just wait until you hook into a pissed off Seven Gill!

Recommended Rig For Sharks-

Shark fishing rigs can seem intimidating with wire leader, crimps and larger tackle but just like anything else practice makes perfect. We like using the same rig as perch fishing, the Carolina Rig aka Fish Finder Rig. But with much…much heavier tackle!

Practice crimping and using wire before heading out to fish. We recommend tying all your rigs at home before heading out. Use the recommended line and leaders as mentioned in the section above to create your heavy duty Fish Finder Rig and you will be good to go!

Recommended Bait For Shark Fishing-

Let’s not kid ourselves, sharks will pretty much take any bait that they find…depending on how hungry they are. If you want to really up your odds on hooking into one of these beast we recommend using a fresh piece of bonito or mackerel. Squid works too but most of our success has come from a nice oily piece of mackerel or bonito. A little tip when using mackerel, purchase some “magic thread” or any type of bait thread. This works great with baits that are soft or mushy and can come off the hook when casting.

Recommended Rod & Reel for Shark fishing-

Your rod and reel combo that you use for Rays and Skates will work perfectly when fishing for sharks. Just make sure you’re spooled with the right line and tackle.

Click here for some recommendations we’ve tried and tested.

Capture all your shark fishing action on video and share with your friends!! Click here, for a review on the best underwater fishing cameras!

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Bat Ray and Skate Fishing

beachtoocean — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 21:41:25 +0000

Bat Ray & Skates-

The West Coast has some pretty incredible rays/skates patrolling its shores and the Bat Ray is one of our favorites to target. You can find thornback rays, bat ray, round stingrays and the shovelnose guitarfish up and down the West Coast.

These rays patrol the coastline looking for mollusks, clams and crustaceans, make sure you hold on tight if you hook into one of these “mud marlins”!

Recommended line for Bat Rays & Skates-

Heavy! These fish aren’t called “Mud Marlins” for nothing. You’re in for long and heavy runs when battling these beasts. We make sure our reel used for rays and sharks are backed with heavy braided line with a heavy monofilament leader. 40lb to 50lb monofilament is our main line of choice when fishing rays.

Recommended Rig for Bat Ray & Skates-

There are a couple rigs we use when fishing for Bat Ray and Skates in the surf. One of them being the 3 Way Swivel Rig and then an Improvised Carolina Rig aka Fish Finder Rig. If you’re unsure on how to tie these rigs, click here!

Recommended Bait for Bat Rays & Skates and how to fish them-

Rays and Skates are typically bottom feeder fish that cruise around the sea floor for anything they can devour. Many surf anglers prefer squid when targeting these fish because of its durability when casting and staying on the hook. Fresh caught mackerel or surfperch is also a go to when targeting these fish. We don’t recommend using a lure when it comes to these fish.

We like the bait and wait method. Cast out your bait as far as you can, set your rod in a rod holder/sand spike and loosen your drag. Have your drag loose so the ray can eat and run with your bait when its picked up. Once you see your rod bouncing back and forth like crazy, run over to your rod, tighten your drag a bit, set the hook and hold on! These fish pull like a freight train and are an absolute blast to fish from the shore.

Recommended Rod & Reel for Bat Rays and Skates-

You’re definitely going to need a bigger and stronger rod and reel combo when targeting these beasts from shore. A 9ft to 15ft surf casting rod with a medium heavy or heavy rating is our standard when fishing for rays and skates. You want a rod that has the length to keep you above the breakers and seaweed as well as something with a strong enough backbone that can handle casting heavy bait/gear and the durability to with stand a fish in the 100 pounds or more weight class. Here are a few we recommend.

When it comes to the reel you want something with a high line capacity. These fish can pull a couple hundred feet of line with no issues.

There are also great spinning reels that have a high line capacity that rock these fish as well. Just keep in mind you want a reel with a strong drag setting and a large enough spool to withstand those long drag screaming runs. The last thing you want to see are the last layers of line peeling away before one of these fish spool your entire reel. Here are some reels we have tried and tested.

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Spotfin and Yellowfin Croaker

beachtoocean — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 21:29:55 +0000

Yellowfin & Spotfin Croakers-The Spotfin and Yellowfin Croaker are two fish that are in the Croaker family. They are cousins to the California Corbina and can be found from Mexico all the way up to Point Conception, CA. These fish prefer the same zones as the Corbina and Surfperch. In shallow water hunting for sand crabs and small crustaceans.

Recommended line for Yellowfin & Spotfin Croaker- These fish are not as line shy and will bite on heavier lb test. Fish the Spotfin and Yellowfin Croaker the same as a Surfperch or Corbina. We recommend fluorocarbon line but monofilament works fine as well.

Recommended Rig for Yellowfin & Spotfin Croaker-The fish can be targeted with the same rig as the Surfperch and Corbina. The Carolina rig with sand crab or artificial bait should do the trick. There are some scenarios where we toss out the lucky craft flash minnow.

Recommended Bait/Lure and how to fish Yellowfin & Spotfin Croaker- These fish are not as finicky about their bait. Feel free to try out whatever is working best that day. Because of their glutenous appetites, they will eat anything from sand crabs, artificial sand worms and everything in between. Fish for them the same way you would a Corbina or Surfperch.

Recommended Rod & Reel for Yellowfin & Spotfin Croaker-Your Surfperch rig will work great with this style of fish. These rods paired with these reels and you should be ready to hit the surf.

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California Halibut Fishing

beachtoocean — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 21:25:42 +0000

California Halibut-

Hands down one of the best table fare species you can catch from the surf. The California Halibut can be found from Baja CA, all the way up to the Quillayute River in Washington. Halibut aka Flatty’s, are ambush predators and are known to lie on sandy bottoms waiting for their prey. If you catch one keep fishing that spot because they are known to hangout in schools.

Recommended line for Halibut-

When it comes to the California Halibut either Monofilament or Fluorocarbon line works just fine. The halibut isn’t necessarily line shy and you can getaway with a heavier pound test. Back your halibut reel with braid and a heavier Mono or Fluoro leader. We’ve had success with 15lb Mono and as light as 8lb Fluoro.

Rigs For Halibut-

There are many options that can work when you’re fishing for halibut. It all depends on what bait or lure you’re going to be using. Our preferred rigs to fish for halibut is the drop shot rig. We also like using the luck craft flash minnow tied straight onto our lure.

Recommended Bait/Lure and how to fish Halibut-

There are many different methods you can use to hook a California Halibut. Live bait, swimbaits, spoons, jerk baits. To catch one you must understand their hunting style. These fish do not move around and search for their food. Instead they will wait on the sandy bottom using its camouflage to ambush their prey.

Our top three artificials for catching these flat predators are the Luhr Jensen Krocodile Spoons. The Lucky Craft Flash minnow 110s and the Big Hammer Swimbaits with a Warbaits Swimbait head. The Lucky Craft and the Spoon can be fished the same way you would fish for perch, see here. You really want to feel the spoon/swimbait kicking in the water when you retrieve it. We also recommend a pause in your retrieve. Let it bounce off the bottom as you wind it in. Switch it up and see what method works for you.

Recommended Rod & Reel for Halibut-

For halibut you want a Rod and Reel combo that has a little more backbone and can support a heavier lure or bait being casted out. We recommend a 7ft medium action rod paired with a high line capacity reel and durable drag system. Here are some rods that work well against Halibut.

Click Here to view our guide on another challenging surf fishing species!

Learn how to catch the California Corbina!

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Corbina Fishing in California

beachtoocean — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 21:21:55 +0000

California Corbina-

Arguably the strongest pound for pound pulling fish in the surf and one of the most frustrating. The best waters for corbina fishing is from Point Conception in California and as far south as Baja Mexico. The Corbina aka Bean’, are very difficult to hook but with patience and the right technique you might just get lucky. Found in the same “zones” as the Barred Surf perch, close to shore and in very shallow water. These fish are usually cruising the shoreline in schools digging threw the sand feeding on sand crabs and small crustaceans.

Recommended line for Corbina-

Fluorocarbon line in the 5lb-10lb range. is our go to. These fish are a lot more line shy then perch and can be a real challenge to hook, everything has to be just right to successfully fish the Corbina.

Rigs For Corbina-

We strictly use the Carolina Rig when fishing for the Corbina. In some very rare cases lures and artificial baits have caught these fish but the odds are definitely against you. Click here to learn how to tie the Carolina Rig-

Recommended bait and how to fish for Corbina-

Countless times we’ve set out just targeting Corbina and countless times we’ve struck out. These dam fish are so finicky it can be so frustrating. After years of fishing for the Corbina we have a method that has been providing us success. We stick 100% with soft-shelled sand crabs and we take the time to look for them. I’m not saying a normal sand crab wont work but we have noticed that a freshly molted sand crab (aka soft shell sand crab) is a Corbin’s absolute favorite. We do know of anglers who use bloodworms or pileworms with success but our go to is the soft-shell sand crab. Try out one of these baits and see what works best for you, persistence and confidence will make a world of difference. Corbina fishing is all about presentation, we use a Carolina Rig with light line and a small hook. Finesse fishing is a must, Pin on your bait and cast out to structure or a zone you believe is holding fish. Walk up and down the beach trying different spots, once you find a producing area be patient. When you find one more should be around. We like to cast out and retrieve slowly; keeping constant tension on the line so you can always feel your bait. If the conditions allow it sight cast your sand crab in front of their path and slightly jerk the bait up to entice the fish. Remember persistence is key, best of luck!

Recommended Rod & Reel for Corbina-

Your Surfperch rig will work great when corbina fishing. Here are some of our rods we use to target Corbina. Paired with any of these reels and you should be good to go!

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Surf Perch Fishing From Shore

beachtoocean — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 20:21:41 +0000

Surfperch-

There are a wide variety of different species of surf perch that reside in the coastal waters of the West Coast. There are Walleye, Redtail, Rubberlip, Calico Surfperch but the most common is the Barred Surfperch. A misconception for most beginner anglers surf perch fishing would be to cast as far as possible, in this case that would do you more harm then good. The majority of surf perch are concentrated only a few feet away from the shore. Surfperch stay tight to the shore so they can feed on the soft-shelled sand crabs that are buried a few inches below the surface.

Recommended line for Surf perch fishing-

Fluorocarbon is our go to line of choice when surf perch fishing. This material is recommended for “line shy” fish, once Fluoro line is in the water it is almost invisible. Between 5 and 10 pound line test works for Surf perch, if you are using lures and are trying to target larger Surf perch you can bump it up to 10lb test.

Rigs for Surf perch-

A few rigs we use when surf perch fishing are the Carolina Rig and the High Low Rig. The Carolina rig is a versatile rig that can be used in many fishing scenarios especially for perch and other fish. See the videos below for a step-by-step tutorial on tying these rigs-

Recommended bait/lure and how to fish for Surf perch-

Soft shell sand crabs are the main bait of choice when targeting many of the surfs species, especially Surfperch. Take some time before you start fishing find bait. Keep an eye on the wet sand just where the water line ends. Typically you’ll see lumps in the wet sand after a wave recedes, use your hand or a sand crab rake to sift through the sand. You don’t need the largest Sand crab but we do recommend finding one that has roe, or a freshly molted sand crab, aka soft-shelled. Another great bait for the surf is Berkley Gulp Sandworms! Many West Coast anglers refer to this as fish “crack”. Berkley offers a wide variety of different colors but the go too for surf perch is the 2 inch Camo or Blood color. Another artifical bait we like using is the ACME little cleo spoons. This is our little secret weapon in the surf!

Last but not least is the Lucky Craft Flash Minnow 110 Jerk Bait. This lure is a ton of fun and specifically designed for fishing the surf. There are a couple different ways of fishing this lure. Cast it out and retrieve slowly with constant tension on your line so you can feel the action while you retrieve. Or mix up the retrieve with pauses and twitches of the rod tip. This will make the lure dart in different directions. Every session is different and we like to switch it up and see what works best that day. You won’t get as many hookups with the Flash Minnow but when you do the quality is much better. Anglers also use the Flash Minnow to target halibut in the surf.

Recommended Rod & Reel for Surf perch-

Every angler has their own preference on rod and reel choice but for starters we recommend a cheap but efficient set up. Something that can withstand the abuse of fishing the surf. We like using rods in the 6-½ ft to 9 ft range with a light to medium action. Something that gives you good control of your cast but not to long or heavy. Here are some rods we use.

As for reels we love spinning reels for surf perch fishing. When you’re casting light weight baits and sinkers a Baitcaster can become problematic but again it all comes down to personal preference. Some anglers swear by Baitcaster and conventional reels, with this set up you can allow the fish to run with the bait before you set the hook. Personally we stick to spinning reels for the surf. But to get started any old bass rod and reel will do just fine. Once you get a little more experience you can begin customizing your tackle to your liking. Keep in mind that this set up will be getting pretty beat up when you’re fishing the surf. Here are a few we like.

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