Surf Fishing - the Right Reel and Line Make All the Difference

The question most new fishermen have about surf fishing is what kind of reel and line to use. The main difference between the kinds of reel and line you use is fairly simple. You can use a conventional reel or a spinning reel, and you can use heavy line or light line. Life is simple, no?

Most fishermen have both kinds of reels and both kinds of lines, and use them for different situations, depending on how the fish are running. But for a novice, the best thing to decide on is the type of fishing you want to do in the beginning. You can always graduate to other kinds.

If you are looking at small payloads, it is easier to cast with spinning reels. A spinning reel will have a faster retrieval rate, which you need if you are casting small fish, such as little bluefish. If you plan on going after something bigger, you will need a conventional reel. A payload of more than five ounces will need a conventional reel, which can handle a heavier line and have more torque.

You also have to decide exactly WHERE you want to do your fishing before you decide on the type of reel and line. If you plan on standing on an open beach, where there is little to obstruct the fish's run, you can use a spinning reel and light line. But if you are going to fish off a jetty, or near a bridge or dock pilings (where fish like to hang out), you'll need the power of a conventional reel and heavier line to drag the fish away from any obstructions.

One of the biggest questions most new fishermen and fisherwomen have is how to get the best advice on their fishing gear. There is not a great deal of profit in this type of fishing equipment, so you will rarely find a surf fishing expert on staff to help you out if you shop at one of the big chain stores. Sometimes they may not even carry the right kind of gear for this sport.

You will be more likely to get both good advice and good fishing gear by shopping at small shops or even internet shops, usually owned by a surf fisher.

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