Fishing on the beach?

Question

I am going to the outer banks tomorrow for 10 days, and I want to fish, but I don't really know what I need, and how to do it.

I am very experienced in fishing in lakes ponds, and have all of that kind of gear.

I have a temporary fishing license

I have the ocean fishing poll and reel

What kind of hooks and bait should I use?

Do I just go out on the beach and fish in the morning?

THANKS!

Answer 1

You don't need a license for saltwater fishing, only for freshwater.

*Correction, maybe some states require a license for saltwater fishing, but mine (NY) definitely doesn't. As I understand it, licensing is required for freshwater fishing in order to help pay the state for maintaining the waters and restocking the fish, but the government doesn't stock the ocean so what the h**l would be the purpose for making you get a license to fish there?

Answer 2

Surf fishing isn't too difficult. Many baits and lures will work. Live baits such as small fish, crabs, sand fleas, shrimps, ghost shrimps, squids and blood worms all work great. Cut baits such as fish, squid, and shrimp, mussels, and clams could produce fish. Even pieces of kelp or moss could produce fish. I use bait holder hooks or live bait hooks depending on the bait I use. People around my area usually use hooks between size 4 to 6/0. Most swim lures such as plastic grubs, jerk baits, crankbaits, and even some plastic worms will work. Jigs, spoons and even spinners work too. Flies that resemble bait fish, shrimp, crabs and sand fleas will work nicely as well. I've caught fish from surface to bottom and anywhere in between. I'd ask the locals to find out what's biting before I decide how I'd fish. If there aren't people around to ask, I'd use a search lure or live bait fish until I found out what's in the water; I usually use plastic grubs or crankbaits as search lures.

A surf rod isn't absolutely necessary for many different setups will work within their limits. I've used rods from 4'6" all the way up to 12' in length. If you fish with lures, any rod length that's suitable for your lure will work. If you bait fish, longer rods will be easier to use. If you don't have long rods, you'll have to hold the rod pointing up and high; waves won't move your bait rig as much when your rod tip is high up in the air. I've used lines from as light as 2lb test up to 50lb test depending on the specie I'm after. If I don't know what my target specie is, I'll usually use 8 to 15lb test lines depending on my bait/lure size. Casting distance could range from as close as 2 feet to as far as you could cast. Long casts could produce fish but it doesn't work this way all the time. I've stepped on a fish in water that barely covered my knee once. If I'm not familiar with the water, I'd bring a setup which I could cast fairly far just to be safe. As I mentioned earlier, long distance casts doesn't always produce fish. Many people actually cast too far and they miss fish that feed in the shallows completely. Not all parts of the beach will hold fish. You'll have to look for holes or depressions or structures in the surf. Kelp beds could hold fish as well. If you don't know what to look for, move along the beach and work all depths until you found a spot that would produce.

Going fishing in the morning might or might not be the best time though. You better check tide tables before you go. Fishing will be better when there's an incoming or an outgoing tide. Many prefer peak high tides and many prefer peak low tides. The chances of catching fish increases when currents are moving. If you like sharks and rays, I'd recommend that you fish during night time.