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Beach fishing / surf casting requires very specialised rod's and reels. Knowing where to start can be overwhelming, but this post should help you decide on the right outfit.
Surf casting is a broad-ranging form of fishing, so one rod may not be suitable for every application. First you need to consider a few things before purchasing a new combo.
Surf casting can be broken up into a few categories; light tackle, medium tackle and heavy tackle. The size of the fish, weight of the bait/sinker and type of surf conditions will decide what weight tackle you require. Below is a breakdown on the different tackle weights (Reel sizing to suit Penn reels):
LIGHT TACKLE: Species like Whiting, Bream, Flathead, Dart and small Tailor are best targeted with light tackle. A light tackle outfit falls into the below specifications;
Rod Length of between 9ft and 11'6''
Line class from 3kg to 7kg (6lb to 15lb)
Reel size 3000 to 4500
Casting weight of 3/8oz to 1.5oz (10g to 45g)
MEDIUM TACKLE: Species like Salmon, Tailor, big Bream and small Mulloway are best targeted with medium tackle. A medium tackle outfit falls into the below specifications;
Rod Length of between 10'6'' and 12ft
Line class from 8kg to 15kg (17lb to 30lb)
Reel size 4500 to 6500
Casting weight of 2oz to 4oz (60g to 120g)
HEAVY TACKLE: Species Like Big Tailor, Mulloway and Sharks are best targeted with heavy tackle. A heavy tackle outfit falls into the below specifications;
Rod Length of between 12ft and 15ft
Line class from 15kg to 24kg (30lb to 50lb)
Reel size 6500 to 8500
Casting weight of 3oz to 7oz (90g to 200g)
The type of conditions you are likely to fish should be considered when deciding on a new outfit. Generally if you are fishing calmer/protected beaches, a shorter rod is preferred. If you are likely to fish rougher more open beaches, select the longest rod suitable for the target species.
Cost is a major factor when deciding on and purchasing a new outfit. Purchasing a cheap or inferior setup will cost you more in the long run...as they say a poor person pays twice!
A good quality light tackle combo will set you back as little as $250 (rod, reel and line). A good quality medium or heavy tackle outfit will cost you $350-$400 or more.
Durability is something to consider as well. Rod's are all fairly well built these days, but make sure they have the Japanese Fuji Guides which will last a long time.
Reel choice is very important, there are very few reels that can handle the harsh beach environment. A fully sealed / waterproof reel will last significantly longer than an unsealed reel. For this reason Mid North Coastal Fishing Tours exclusively uses Penn reels (the only waterproof fishing reels widely available in Australia). Penn Spinfisher VII, Slammer IV and Authority Reels are all fully submersible which eliminated saltwater ingress into crucial bearings and parts.
Still not sure which surfcasting outfit you need? No worries at all...you can come and talk to myself and other experienced fisherman right here in South West Rocks at Outdoor Adventure. We are open 7 days a week and carry a huge range of surf casting rods, reels, line and tackle.
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