Are you planning to go on a shore fishing trip? One of the things you should know about shore fishing is that its very different from fishing from a boat. Below are 6 tips that you can use for success when youre shore or surf fishing. Survey the Water at Low Tide The first thing that you should do is walk along your beach when its low tide, preferably during the spring. There are things that you should be looking for: Where are the gullies, hollows and banks? Is there a change in the nature of the sea bed? Is the seabed shingle, sand or mud or something else? Do you see shellfish beds, and are the mussels, razorfish, cockles? Are there patches of rough ground and weed? Are there any obstructions that could rob your tackle but attract fish you should know about? You can explore further and cast a lead thats bare without any hooks from the mark of low water. Slowly bring the lead in and youre going to feel the seabeds changes in contours and conditions. This data is going to be very valuable and Its going to make a huge difference in whether or not you catch fish. Make some sketches and notes in your notebook and youre going to find that youre looking at it during your fishing trip. Make Sure Youre Reading the Surf The one thing about the ocean is that its always changing. Currents and tides shift the goalies and sandbanks, shellfish beds can be destroyed by storms and create new features in the seabed. When its high water, with one surf patch looking a lot like the other and with the evidence all covered, it isnt easy to look at your notes and know what is below the waters surface. When you first glance at it, one surf patch might look a lot like all the other ones. But you want to make sure youre watching closely. Its going to look different when theres a rock below the surface. Breaking, short seas are going to betray shallow sandbanks and flatter smoother seas indicate that there is water thats deeper a gully where fish might hide. Therefore, with that information from the survey you did at low tide and the evidence thats provided by the surf changes, youre going to have a really good idea where your bait should be placed. Keep An Eye on the Weather A lot of people who like to fish from the surf like fishing in offshore winds, because its easier for them to make casts that are longer. However, offshore winds calms the water, and this produces water that is clear. In these kinds of conditions, fish often will be hanging out in the deeper water during the daylight hours off shore, and they become brave to come closer when its darker. Low conditions in the atmosphere, bigger seas and strong winds will give you better results when you are surf fishing in the daytime. Choose the Perfect Time When you are fishing from the surf, you want to make sure youre there at the right time. On the majority of surf beaches, the time that is best is usually two hours before high tide and then two hours after high tide. This is especially true if its spring tide. However, its not a good idea to fish during high tide itself. Heres an example. Say high tides at 10 AM. You dont want to fish between 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM. But if you fish from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM, chances are youll have a good catch. Then you want to try again between 10:45 AM and 12:45 PM, when the tide is ebbing. Fish will almost always feed better during conditions of low light, which makes dusk and dawn the times that are best. A really good idea is to find a time when high tide happens at dawn or dusk and plan to go fishing then. Chances are youre going to come away with a big haul. Learn How to Tie the Best Rigs for Shore Fishing Rigs for surf fishing have to satisfy three important requirements: Present bait on a seabed so it looks natural Be aerodynamic when flying so that you have long casts Securely mount your bait while letting the hooks be unobtrusive so that they can take hold inside the mouth of a fish That aerodynamic requirement will mean that the shore rigs basic form is a rig that ends with one of your lead weights along with at least one hook attached to short snoods. These should be above your weight. The following are types of these rigs: Clipped rigs Flapper rigs Pulley rigs Wishbone rigs How can you tie the rigs? The easiest way that you can do it is by cheating. You can purchase them made professionally and then shamelessly copy them. When youre replicating your purchased shore rings, dont use the nylon monofilament for tying your own. You should use the fluorocarbon line instead. Its invisible when its underwater, a lot more than the other kinds of lines. It isnt cheap but youre not going to need very much. You also might find that youre catching an amazing fish. Make Sure Youre Not Over-Casting This is something that surf casters do to look macho. Everyone wants to make really cool casts, but a lot of times it isnt necessary. If you want to do really long casts, there are three things that you need: Surfcasting gear thats high quality A surfcasting technique thats highly developed A really good physique The biggest attribute of good surf anglers is knowing that when you cast hundreds of feet out it isnt going to guarantee you have good results. But when you cast consistently and accurately to the spots where the fish are. These are 6 things that you should remember when you are surf fishing. They will help you have the best chance of success and help you have a lower chance of being frustrated with your fishing trip. This article is from:https:www.naplessaltwaterfishing.com6-tips-for-saltwater-surf-fishing-success About Author: Tony Fontana:Growing up in Naples on or near the water, I have had a passion for fishing my entire life. As I matured as an angler, I realized that guiding was what I wanted to do. What I enjoy most about my profession, as a fishing guide, is teaching anglers of all ages new things.