Surf Fishing

[two by four]

Recently purchased property in Rockaway Beach. Realtor said that there used to be a lot of surf fishing for surf perch and flounder but no one does it anymore. Since end of
Sept have spent at least 12 weeks over there
and have yet to see anyone surf fishing and
there have been days when conditions were right. In the late 50's and 60's used to surf fish the east coast puddle caught biggest striper surfing along with numerous sand sharks and skate and flounder. Just wondering if surf fishing is a dying pastime??
Any input would be appreciated.

[8knots]

I have a lot in Oceanside, OR that I someday hope to build on for retirement. A big part of the dream is surf-fishing with canine companion. I too, would like to learn more if anyone has had experience doing this in OR. I wonder if on the right days if you could possibly catch a salmon? I'd be happy with perch.

I saw a linein an article recently that made me chuckle. Something to the effect " It is a fine line between surf fishing and just standing on the beach looking like an idiot".

[Miss B Haven]

Originally posted by 8knots:
I saw a linein an article recently that made me chuckle. Something to the effect " It is a fine line between surf fishing and just standing on the beach looking like an idiot".

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Is there a difference between this and sitting in a boat looking like an idiot? (Besides the fuel bill?).
:grin:

[GutshotApe]

2x4 - Back in the late 1950s our family and the neighbor family rented a beach house at Rockaway Beach for a week in August 3 summers in a row. We used to fish for surf perch (pinkfin) using our steelhead/salmon spinning and casting outfits, 2 to 3 oz. lead and a double rig using big single hooks and clam necks for bait. Once in a while we caught small flounders but mostly we got perch from 1 to 2 pounds.

[skein]

8knots,

You mean like this?

A big part of the dream is surf-fishing with canine companion.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">


Flyfishing for pinks off the beach near Port McNeil, Vancouver Island.

As I said, she hasn't quite figured out catch and release. [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]

Skein

[ 01-28-2003, 06:41 PM: Message edited by: skein ]

[Birdnest]

Here is a link that a fellow ifisher posted earlier on this topic. It has some good info....

http://flyfishing.about.com/library/...hsurfintro.htm

I have only done it a few times, but always had a blast.

One thing I would recomend is getting one of the shimp sucking tubes. They are inexpensive and you will always have some tasty fresh bait.

Birdnest

[ 01-28-2003, 08:24 PM: Message edited by: Birdnest ]

[mcsmd]

I also had a father who surf-fished as his main sport. Grew up doing it and would love to do more of it. Have not tried to do much in the five plus years I have lived in Newport, but I have gathered some information. What it boils down to is the species of target fish, the time of year, and the method of taking them. Like most fishing, it is hard to get information on good sites. Most fishermen would give out national secrets before telling where they caught a fish.

There is a fair amount of information about fly-fishing for perch along our costs. Look in fly-fishing magazines and salt-water fly books. This fishing is done in the spring along the sand. Because rips, troughs, and other conditions are common, this should be found along just about all of our sandy beaches. Since the perch is a schooling fish, this can be an all or nothing type of outing. However, there are often groups of oriental men fishing with sand shrimp on the beaches between Waldport and Newport at that time of year. When I stop to see how they are doing, their buckets are always full. The flies are dressed to look like sand shrimp so that must be the target food for the perch. This is all very similar to the sand crab serf fishing I did as a boy.

Also there is a lot of rock fishing for lings and rockfish done on fly at night inside the harbors and jetties. This action peaks at this time of year because they are in the bays for reproduction. I am told they will go for any small fish type of spoon, jig, or fish imitation. The technique involves placing a lantern near the water, letting the little beasties come to the light, and then catching the big fish feeding on the small fish feeding on the beasties. Of course a dock with a good light would work just as well. Also a boat and a lantern would work.

Then through most of the year there are sites were good rock fishing is done for lings, rockfish, and others. This involves calm water and is therefore better done in the summer.

As for the actual details of the rigs, hooks, and fine aspects, I am completely in the dark and hope to get some information on this site.

[ 01-29-2003, 10:08 PM: Message edited by: mcsmd ]

[8knots]

Skein, you got it! Looks a great time.

I spent a lot of my youth ( early 60's ) in San Diego and they had lots of guys surf fishing back then. They used really long rods, similar to the bank sturgeon rods. Always looked like a good time to me.

Yea, I know Mel, we can look the same way on a boat. It just struck me as funny since you know we are all guilty of standing in one spot, looking out for hours. My wife also, just can't understand how I can watch fishing shows with some of the same intent. " Nice fish, Larry! "

[skein]

Okay, Mcsmd, I'm gonna spill a secret, but ya hafta hear the whole story.

The lantern on the rocks at night works. Put some tinfoil over at least half the globe (on your side of the lantern) so you don't lose all your night vision when you glance at the light - it's projecting out, not 360 degrees. Night vision is handy to have when scrambling over the rocks and riprap.

Use a noisy, count-down type lure like a blue over silver rat-L-trap that sinks at a known rate. Cast out, count to 20, start reeling, hang on. Keep their heads up - they will tuck their noses in the rocks and are devilishly hard to pull out.

Do not accidentally snag your lantern handle when you do the old "give 'er all ya got" cast. Your buddies will hurt themselves falling on the rocks laughing as your lantern makes the big arc-in-the-night-sky-before-splashing-in-the-ocean routine. They will continue laughing while you gallantly retreive said lantern. And they will remember.....for ever!

Kidding aside, it's a kick, but BE CAREFUL. Sneaker waves can't be seen coming in, and there are places in the riprap where you could fall completely through.

Skein

[mcsmd]

Skein:

It sounds like you have personal experience with a lantern launch. Come clean.

[Kilgore]

I hate to say it, but yes the surf fishing is definitely a dying phenomenon. The great striper fishing on the coast in the 60's and 70's will never be replicated in our lifetime. The ground fisheries are in a disasterous stage and will take a hundred years to recover according to the "experts." Even the once plentiful surf perch are in hiatus on most beaches.

I can totally relate to the "looking like an idiot", especially when I'm all wet and feeling like I have been pounded into submission by the waves. :grin:

[pkg40]

Skein - I had a similar night time experience about 25 years ago on the Cape. Only difference is I slung my little mackerel catching bait rod. Man I miss that rod ;&gt