Any Surf Fisherman on FishingMinnesota?

[PerchJerker]

Anyone out there surf fish, if so I wouldn't mind chatting with you about it.

I've only spent a couple days surf fishing, but this year I'll have 2 weeks of it and want to get better prepared. My folks are retired and are renting a place on the beach in Florida. It's on Cape San Blas, which is on the Gulf side near Port St. Joe.

Last year I caught quite a few fish off the beach, mostly whiting and catfish (hardheads and sail cats), but I also got a nice redfish and black drum. I'm toying with the idea of trying to catch sharks from the beach too.

So.....if anyone wants to talk saltwater fishing ...... equipment, techniques, species, etc........ I'm up for it.

[DEADhead]

I used to do quite a bit of saltwater fishing when I was growing up in Hawaii. In fact that's how I learned how to fish. It's been awhile, but our main tactics for surf fishing were to fish during the evening, we used either a drop shot rig or a three way swivel with a bank sinker and a hook and leader on the other. Shrimp was usually the go to bait, although once in awhile we would use cut baits. Pretty much wing your rig into the surf where there's reef, reel in until your line was taut, and then sit back wait for something to hit. We would often put a cowbell on one of the guides as a strike indicator. Kind of the lazy man's way to fish, but of course my old man used the time to toss a couple of cold ones back with my uncles...

[tunrevir]

If you are looking for sharks from shore look to the pass areas as the tide is coming or going out. The sharks will cruise the flats adjacent to the deepwwater cuts looking for and easy meal. Also a good time to fish for spanish mackeral, reds, sugar trout and pompano depending on the time of year. We used 3/8th jigs with a small bit of shrimp fished along just like for eyes. Fun way to fish. Surf fishing we used a 10' rod with a 1-3 oz pyramid sinker tied to a three way with shrimp, sand fleas, fiddler crabs or squid. I never tried herring though. Good luck and report back to all of us hardwater anglers so we can be jealous!

Tunrevir~

[Ufatz]

Remember to be cautious in your handling of a shark if you catch one, even a small one. Grab it by the tail and you could lose your hand! And remember too that it is not neccessary to kill the shark.....C&R works everywhere. Have fun; they are not flashy but they can be VERY strong!!

[PerchJerker]

I'll be there for a week in Jan and a week in March. Sounds like the fishing is quite a bit better in March when the water is warmer. It doesn't really matter what I catch, I'm just looking to have fun and for something that pulls hard. I have 2 young kids and they have a blast goofing around on the beach while daddy is fishing.

Last year I only used 1 rod but I think I'm going to use up to 3 this year, so I was thinking about rigging one for sharks just to see what happens. We saw them swimming by the beach several times last year. One time I had waded out to waist-deep water to make a cast and saw a couple sharks about 20 yards up the beach, a heck of a lot closer to shore than I was -- talk about your uncontrollable urge to run to high ground

I saw a couple guys catch string rays on the beach where I was fishing. They sure put up a fight, but are scary-looking things when you get them on the beach and have to get them off your line.

I used simple double-dropper rigs that I bought at the bait shop, with frozen shrimp. According to the guys there anything that swims will bite on shrimp. From what I've been reading that seems to be one of the more common rigs and baits to use.

Only 2 more months to go ......

[PerchJerker]

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I used to do quite a bit of saltwater fishing when I was growing up in Hawaii

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I bet that was no fun for a kid

[Tyler Holm]

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It doesn't really matter what I catch, I'm just looking to have fun and for something that pulls hard.

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Couldn't resist. I'm still on a high from catching that baby.