surf fishing

[havanagrouper2004]

Hello to all the members in this forum, and a Happy New Year to all, this is my first post in this forum and I dont know if this is the right forum to learn about surf fishing but I need information about right rod, reel, line brand, and best baits to use when fishing the Oregon Coast, I planned to be surf fishing by spring and summer, I been looking around to see prices and best deals in reel and rods, because I in a budget and some prices are high, even though Im a bass addict, I want to try surf fishing too, any help will be apreciated, Thanks in advance to all response.

[steelhead22]

I use my 8'6" steelhead spinning rod with a cheapo Eagle Claw reel on it. I think the whole set up was like $30 as a combo on sale a few years ago. Anyway, put on some 12 lb. line (I use Maxima Ultragreen but I don't think it matters) and get yourself some 2-4 oz. pyramid sinkers. Use a 3 way swivel or Bearclaws (they are like a 3 way swivel that doesn't need knots). Attach your weight and put your hook/hooks above that. So, from bottom to top you have your weight, then your hooks, then your rod. Use sandshrimp and fling them into the surf. If you can find the schools of surf perch your in for a good time. Oh, and if your going to be in the Tillamook area, just stop by Tillamook Bait Company and they show you everything you need to know and how to rig everything up. Sorry if this is confusing, I understand that it can be confusing stuff because it's rigged differently than any other way of fishing but once you see it, it will all become clear. Good luck.

[SilverFly]

I do a lot of surfishing when we camp at the beach in summer. Steelhead22 is right that a steelhead outfit (casting or spinning) loaded with 12lb test works great. I have found that using a noodle rod with 4lb maxima and 1/2 oz or 1 oz sinkers is a LOT more fun, so long as the surf isn't too rough or full of weeds. Some people even flyfish for them which is something I have been meaning to try and sounds like a blast.

[steelhead22]

Silverfly- I know a guy that fly fishes for them and he says it's a blast. It's the only way to do it in his opinion. I've been meaning to downsize a little, it just seems like it would be more of a challenge/fun to catch these little guys on lighter gear. I have seen a lot of people out there with HUGE rods with heavy line on them just winging their offering out there 100 yards. I never saw the point. I seem to catch most of mine way closer than I could cast. I've tried lighter line, but it always breaks as a result of too much weight. Does 1/2 oz. really keep you on the bottom? Come to think of it, you really don't need to anchor yourself to the bottom once you've found the school, it only takes about 5 seconds to get a bite anyway. HG2004 look for deeper little holes or "seams". That's were you'll find them.

[5-Cents]

I fly fished in the surf... 10' 6wt with that clear cammo line, 4 ft of 12lb leader and a clouser minnow or this little shrimp fly and you are in biz. It's really fun when you find a school of surf perch... you can just follow them down the beach flyfishing catching on on every cast!

Here is an excellent how to article!

[SilverFly]

Steelhead22, - that's the beauty of using an 11' noodle rod. You can throw a 1/2 oz sinker 3 waves out on 4lb line. And when you hook one, don't be suprised when they actually peel line off your reel! I'd love to hear some details on how your buddy flyfishes for them, like floating line, sinktip, weighted flies, etc... Also, you're right about them being close in. I still make the mistake of casting out too far.

[steelhead22]

Surprise, surprise, 5-cents hit it again. That pretty much the same set up my buddy told me to use. He had a floating line and a weighted shrimp fly. He said that you're fishing such shallow water it's all you need. He's caught them in a foot of water. Hey, have you ever tried using seaweed for bait. I checked out what was inside of one of those little buggers last time I was out and sure enough he was full of this wierd seaweed stuff that was all over the shoreline. I through some of that on with a small chunk of shrimp to hold it there and I was just nailin' 'em. At first I thought I just couldn't find the school, because I couldn't buy a bite, but apparently, these things can be kinda finicky at times and you need to find what they are feeding on.
By the way, do you have any good recipes for these things or do you just let them all go. I've found them a little hard to cook right and they turn out kinda mushy, so I mostly catch and release. I hear that they're great if you can cook them right though. Any tips?

[SilverFly]

Thanks for the info 5-cents and steelhead22. I'm already looking forward to warmer weather. Never tried putting seaweed on the hook, but they can be picky. I usually do well using cooked salad shrimp with a few wraps of orange yarn. It stays on the hook well, and you can rebait very quickly when the bite is on (works for steelhead too, -shhh.) As for eating them I only keep redtails over 10". I don't like the Walleye surfperch, they are the small silver ones with no stripes. My favorite way to cook them is to roll the fillets in Louisiana Fish Fry Mix (Fred Meyer has it) and fry them golden brown in canola oil. If done right they are flakey and one of the best eating whitefish there is!

[SailCat]

Surf perch are a kick to catch and eager biters. The techniques above will all work.

Red tail (pinkfin) surf perch are excellent table fare. The other species (walleye, striped and pile are most common) less so; they tend to lack appealing texture.

Prepare pinkfin fillets as any other white fish. Rolled on flour, cornmeal or Pankos and fried or battered and deep-fried will produce palette-pleasing results.

Have fun!

~MT
The Guide's Forecast

[ 01-07-2004, 08:31 AM: Message edited by: SailCat ]

[Rubber Hooks]

HG2004, go to the jetties at low tide and get some fresh mussels for bait. Make sure you have your shell fish license with you. I use the tough outer lip for bait, most of the rest is too soft to stay on the hook. Find a hole in the surf, fish in close and Good Luck. When you find perch, the action is just about non Stop.
Rubber Hooks

[fishnpray]

Oh, and if you're going soon, you might want to take along a Mr. Heater to thaw out your fish once you've brought them in. Besides the jest, hopefully you get out and do some of this. What i've found can be successful as well is finding a pile of rocks that jut out into the ocean and using them as a platform to get out a bit. Not only will you pic up the usual fare available to those sitting along the sand, but you may be surprised to find some additional, uglier fish coming in. If you're looking for a superb guide to flyfishing the Oregon surf, check out what John Shewey wrote on it...should still be selling. If you do what he says you should, you will rapidly find yourself in the proverbial "money". Also, if you ever find yourself in need of company, shoot me an email and providing I have the time, I'd tag along..I've got the gear all ready.

-Luis

[stevew]

You guys might be interested in this subject
as it pertains to closing a large portion the beaches along the Oregon coast! Your favorite place might be in jeapordy


http://www.katu.com/outdoor/index.html

There are a couple of meetings planned in March 16 in Pacific City and March 17 in Tillamook

Steve

[GOT2FISH]

Man I miss Surf Fishing havent done it in years [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[stick flicker]

Maybe you'll find one of those Stripers I keep hearing about. I would like to see a picture of one thats local.

[Barviewrocks]

The perch are in now! Marie usually have the smaller sand shrimp if you ask her. I find they are just right for perch as opposed to the larger ones. The challenge is finding the school and timing with the tides. I would look at fishign the 2 hr before high tide.