Spring is in the air, or at least it was until the nor'easter named Winter Storm Riley came roaring through this past weekend. Hopefully, Highway 12 will re-open today and we can continue preparing the shop for the season. Prior to the nor'easter, the big drum were being caught at the Point. This time of year is exciting for us because the fish start returning which means all of you reading this will be ready to come back and visit. This year, we are going to try and provide some informational posts every Tuesday to help educate those just getting started in surf fishing. Keep in mind that there are a lot of different methods for surf fishing and as you expand your knowledge, you will develop your own personal preferences, this information is just to help you get started. We will provide information around the species of fish we catch here, the gear we use and even some recipes to use to cook up your fresh catch.

One question we often get is, what is the best rod? The answer is, well that depends. It depends on what species you want to target, how much weight you want to be able to throw, whether you want to use a spinning or bait caster reel. Surf rods vary in length from 7 - 14 feet but most anglers are good with a rod in the 10 - 12 foot length. Ideally, you want to choose the longest rod that you are comfortable with as the length of the rod will help you achieve more casting distance if necessary. There are times when distance is not important as the fish are very close to the beach but with a versatile rod, you will be prepared for when you need to cast out further. When targeting red drum, you will need to use 17lb. test monofilament line or heavier. Therefore, you will need a rod that is medium - heavy in power. You will also want to look at the amount of weight the rod is able to handle, which can typically be found on the shaft. The amount of weight you want to use depends on the condition as you want enough weight to hold bottom so that your bait is not drifting. Typically, we recommend a rod that can hold 2 - 8 oz. so that you can fish on calm days and not so calm days.

One of our most popular surf fishing rods is the Tica TC2 10'6" because it is a great all around rod to start with since it will handle 2 - 8oz. This rod is a graphite rod which means it is light but very durable. We have many other rods to choose from so stop in and let our team help set you up with the right rod for your needs.