Surf Fishing Basics and Beyond

Presented by Captain Jeff Rafter

(Charter Member, Florida Surf Casters Club)

jjrafter@cfl.rr.com / 386-338-5403

Who should attend? 

A. Retirees and others who wish to take up the sport as a new outdoors activity.

B. Those with surf fishing experience elsewhere, who wish to gain local knowledge.

C. Anyone who enjoys the beach and eating fresh seafood. (Shark below was released!)

This is a five session course. Each session runs about four hours long.  Anyone may take any session which interests them, or attend all five for a greater understanding of fishing from the beach.

Over the past five years about 100 students, men and women, have taken the course. You will meet many of them fishing our northeast and central Florida beaches on a daily basis.

 Representative topics covered during the five sessions.

1. Tackle Selection – rods & reels, conventional and spinning, budget models to custom.

2. Rigs, line and terminal tackle – how to select the best of each for a balanced outfit.

3. Casting – spinning and conventional - how to cast while standing on the beach or while wading – the mechanics of swing technique and safety concerns.

4. Understanding Florida fishing regulations; as well as the protocols of beach fishing.

5. Bait selection - how / where to obtain, how to use and for which fish species.

6. Beach gear – what absolutely is needed for surf fishing and what else might you want.

7. Tides, water temperature, wind and weather – how does it affect the fishing.

8. How to read the water – where do you want to cast your bait.

9. What are you likely to catch – the different species; how and when to target them.

10. How to handle the fish you catch; so that you don’t get hurt, so the fish has the best chance for survival if released and so harvested fish will offer the best table fare.