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Fall's arrival brings surf anglers to the coastline
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A good bit of activity has been occurring at the water's edge the past week; a congregation of the elite and determined. With coolers and an assortment of paraphernalia, they migrate to the beach in hopes of fulfilling some lost cause or objective. These gypsies are not tourists, sun worshipers, shell collectors, artists or lost poets in search of inspiration. They are fishermen.
During the first signs of fall, the coastline becomes dotted with fishermen united with optimism along sandy seashores with one target in mind: large bass. Call them what you may -- Redfish, Drum, Channel Bass, Reds or Spottail -- the species brings about frenzied efforts from the most elaborate to the basic.
The pursuit is shared on beaches from Delaware to Florida. What makes this type of fishing so appealing is accessibility. You don't have to dance with other boaters at the landings. Time spent jockeying vehicles and parking trailers is reserved for the object of the trip, fishing.
With a minimum of equipment, angler success is more measured in results than price tag. For most, a few rods, a well-stocked tackle box and a cooler is all that is needed.
The more you know, the better the results. You still have to do your homework, but it is often more pleasurable playing the waiting game without being pounded by waves, worrying about boat position or ensuring your fishing partner hasn't fallen overboard.
You don't need to be a rocket scientist to succeed. There is nothing more basic. Surf fishing does not require elaborate electronics, intricate trolling techniques or manipulation of your bait. It's a toss-and-hook method that often returns excellent results and its share of fishing tales.
Your choice of bait and location is a matter of what is right at the time, but rod and reel preference is more a personal matter. You will need some sort of rod holder (sand spikes can be purchased or homemade). Rods should be at least 8 feet in length, coupled with reels spooled with a minimum of 250 yards of 25-pound monofilament and designed with a worthy drag.
Your choice of leader again is a personal matter, but the most popular and effective is the simple fish finder rig. The basic 3-foot leader matched with barrel swivel, a suitable hook and pyramid sinker will hold you in the strike zone.
I have found that using more than two rods lessens my enjoyment. Fighting a fish often involves moving and concentration, so two rods are more easily handled and can be secured quicker.
Setting the drag is critical while surf fishing -- too much and you can lose more than a leader, too little and your reel may be stripped of line faster than your in-laws' arrival on Thanksgiving.
On spinning reels, set the drag with the bail closed. Adjustments should be made at the rod tip, not at the reel. This will ensure your rod is not pulled from the holder should a big fish take your bait. Purchase bait-casting reels that incorporate a ratchet mechanism. Set the drag and engage the ratchet lever before placing the rod in the holder.
Hook selection should be ruled by the minimum size to accomplish your goal. A standard 8/0 hook is suitable when using natural baits, either live fresh or frozen.
Bait selection should be what is available as a natural food source during the time. Many baits work when your target is less finicky and on the move -- among them, mullet, squid, porgies, crab and croaker. Smaller selections such as shrimp, strip baits or pinfish require smaller hooks and shorter leader.
There will be times your bait is lost due to wave action or bottom feeders, so it is best to check your rods every half hour or so to ensure you are not fishing on credit.
SURF FISHING HOT SPOTS
Gullies, sandbars and cuts along the beach are a haven to predator fish in the surf. These areas are well traveled and offer a passageway of sorts where larger fish lie in ambush. Wave action and currents wash smaller fish into these reaches and dinner is served with little effort from the drains back to deeper waters.
Locating these areas requires a bit of close observation, but is fairly simple. Looking out over the water you will notice swells moving toward the beach. As these swells become higher, wave action forms. This start of wave action usually indicates a rise along the bottom. Pinpointing these rises increases your odds of locating productive feeding areas.
Beach areas are bombarded with rip currents, and this wave action constantly changes bottom structure. What worked today may not work tomorrow.
Another method is to visit prospective beaches during low tide and mark the areas for your return. The one constant for waters along our coastal region in the Lowcountry: construction and change to the coastline affects wave action. As long as there are waves, there will be structure changes along the beach.
Remember, surf fishing is more a waiting game than dropping a line off the side of a boat or from a dock or pier. There is a good bit of beach area to cover. Your chances of being in the right place at the right time comes down to experience, who to believe or just plain luck.
Even the veteran surf angler will tell you there are no guarantees. That's part of the game, and it's what makes the pursuit that much more enjoyable.
DITCH CHANGES
The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA) will meet Nov. 19-21 in Jacksonville, Fla. This conference will focus on new strategies to maintain and promote one of our most vital transportation links.
The waterway -- affectionately called "the ditch" by those of experience -- stretches some 1,200 miles from Norfolk, Va., to Miami. Long used for commercial transportation of cargo, this eastern seaboard highway removes congestion from our already overcrowded and taxed hard roadways.
The challenge: minimal congressional appropriations for maintenance and a bewildering federal budget process that fails to recognize the importance of the waterway.
If you would like further information on the conference, call 877-414-5397.
BEAUFORT FISHING TOURNAMENT STANDINGS
Standings for the Beaufort Fishing Tournament, with species, boat, angler and weight in pounds:
LARGEST SPECIES RESULTS
Amber jack: C-Spoon, Todd Bradley, 66.78
Barracuda: Sea Wolf VI, Joshua Price, 25.26
Black drum: Roll-N, Karsten Dutton, 10.58
Blackfin tuna: Artemis, Ted MaMunes, 11.00
Black sea bass: Mikes Marine, Mike Spade, 4.72
Bluefish: TopGun5, Taylor Taylor, 11.62
Cobia: Happy Dog, Tennant Houston, 50.44
Croaker: My Time Out Jr, Frank Gibson, 0.68
Dolphin (dorado): Tortteaser, Lovick Hornsby, 50.32
Founder: Roeme, Scott Willard, 6.82
Grouper: Sea Hawk III, Frank Gibson, 19.18
Jack crevalle: Fish Call, Frank Gibson, 13.94
King mackerel: Marvs Outboard, Bernie Vinoski, 41.94
Ladyfish: 3 Capt's, Swanton Anderson, 2.62
Little tunny: TopGun5, Tom Thomas, 14.78
Pompano: Fish Call, Frank Gibson, 0.88
Red drum: No Name, Ashby West, 5.10
Red snapper: Mikes Marine, Mike Spade, 18.00
Sea trout:Mikes Marine, Mark Clifford, 4.3
Sheepshead: Miss Fripp, Frank Gibson, 8.82
Spadefish: TopGun5, Tom Thomas, 8.20
Spanish mackerel: Marvs Outboard, Sibet Copeland, 6.2
Spotted seatrout: Roeme, Scott Willard, 5.24
Spot: Wally Phinney, Nick Polowy, 1.32
Toad fish: Mikes Marine, Frank Gibson, 3.14
Triggerfish: No Worries, Larry Andrews, 9.11
Vermillion snapper: No Worries, Seth Andrews, 3.02
Wahoo: No Worries, Steve Roll, 53.16
Weakfish: A+B, Ben Vegar, 1.04
Whiting: Reel Control, Joe Marshall, 1.24
FEMALE ANGLER
Amber jack: Hold-N-On, Melanie McCaffree, 28.90
Barracuda: Miss Fripp, Phyllis Gibson, 14.30
Black Drum: Jean Rae, Jean Linker, 9.3
Black sea bass: My Time Out III, Phyllis Gibson, 2.10
Bluefish: Sea Wolf VI, Katie Gambla, 1.96
Cobia: Foreclosure, Cindy Reid, 22.56
Croaker: Froggy Daddy, Carol Currin, 0.64
Dolphin (dorado): Artemis, Pam Roy, 9.18
Flounder: Artemis, Pam Roy, 4.10
Grouper: Artemis, Pam Roy, 13.36
King mackerel: Dr Hook, Marsha Vinoski, 27.56
Ladyfish: Miss Fripp, Phyllis Gibson, 1.50
Little tunny: Sea Wolf, Chris Odioso, 12.7
Red drum: Mikes Marine, Bobbie Spade, 4.14
Red snapper: Mikes Marine, Sarah Florez, 6.44
Sea trout: Froggy Daddy, Carol Curren, 2.68
Sheepshead: Jean Rae, Jean Linker, 4.72
Spanish mackerel: Marvs Outboard, Sibet Copeland, 6.2
Spots: Lil Looer, Holly Carslake, 0.18
Toad fish: Artemis, Pam Roy, 1.96
Triggerfish: Artemis, Crissy Hinson, 4.60
Vermillion snapper: Mikes Marine, Sarah Florez, 2.07
Weakfish: Froggy Daddy, Carol Currin, 0.74
Whiting: Froggy Daddy, Carol Currin, 1.14
10X10 YOUTH
Bluefish: White Whale, Peter Trask, 1.84
Croaker: White Whale, Peter Trask, 0.12
Jack crevalle: Sea Wolf VI, Matthew Moore, 2.18
Ladyfish: Miss Fripp, Kane Thorp, 2.0
Spotted sea trout: Just Because, Zach Wilson, 1.2
Spanish mackerel: Reet Hot, Mason Coner, 4.20
Whiting: Just Because, Zach Wilson, 0.88
YOUTH
Amber jack: My Time Out III, Kane Thorp, 16.30
Barracuda: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 17.04
Black drum: Prez, Andrew Carr, 2.46
Black sea bass: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 3.30
Bluefish: Sea Wolf VI, Taylor Poole, 2.46
Cobia: Sea Hawk III, Wes Chesnutt, 42.66
Croaker: White Whale, Peter Trask, 0.12
Flounder: Sea Buyyou, Tommy Buskiek, 4.56
Grouper: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 10.86
Jack crevalle: Sea Wolf VI, Matthew Moore, 2.18
King mackerel: TopGun VI, Zach Brown, 23.4
Ladyfish: Sea Wolf VI, Taylor Poole, 2.46
Red drum: Reel Chance, Billy Amick, 4.86
Red snapper: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 14.32
Sheepshead: Sea Wolfe, Shelbi Sasse, 2.88
Spadefish: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 6.16
Spanish mackerel: Sea Wolf, Hunter Pylant, 4.60
Spotted sea trout: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 3.34
Toad fish: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 1.01
Triggerfish: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 3.62
Vermillion snapper: No Worries, Seth Andrews, 3.02
Whiting: Reel Control, Megan Craig, 0.54
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