| Surf Fishing Baits |
There are many natural baits that can be used to catch fish from
the surf. We’re going to cover some of the more popular baits that
are used for surf fishing.
the surf. We’re going to cover some of the more popular baits that
are used for surf fishing.
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Shrimp
You can’t really go wrong with shrimp. Shrimp will always catch some type of fish in the surf. You can use live or dead
shrimp and you can fish them with a jig or on the bottom with a pyramid sinker. With dead shrimp, cut the tail and head off
and just use the meat portion of the shrimp. This seems to get more bites. If you are fishing from a pier or jetty with a live
shrimp, try letting a live shrimp swim freely with the incoming or outgoing tide. Just hook the shrimp in the back and use just
enough weight to get it to go down. It doesn’t have to be on the bottom, but you don’t want it floating along the surface
shrimp and you can fish them with a jig or on the bottom with a pyramid sinker. With dead shrimp, cut the tail and head off
and just use the meat portion of the shrimp. This seems to get more bites. If you are fishing from a pier or jetty with a live
shrimp, try letting a live shrimp swim freely with the incoming or outgoing tide. Just hook the shrimp in the back and use just
enough weight to get it to go down. It doesn’t have to be on the bottom, but you don’t want it floating along the surface
either. This may not be possible off of some piers, but there are some piers that get a strong tide and the tide will take your bait straight in front of
you or behind you so you don’t have to worry about tangling somebody else’s line. If the tide pulls your bait along the side of the pier, you are going
to end up tangling other people’s line, so this will not work. It can be very effective if you are in a situation where it will work.
you or behind you so you don’t have to worry about tangling somebody else’s line. If the tide pulls your bait along the side of the pier, you are going
to end up tangling other people’s line, so this will not work. It can be very effective if you are in a situation where it will work.
Sand fleas are the top bait among most surf anglers. The sand flea is not actually a crab, but it looks like a small crab and
has many similarities. Sand fleas are often referred to as a mole crab. They can be caught all along the beach in the sand.
As the wave recedes from the beach, look for v-shaped ripples in the sand. These are sand fleas that have dug into the
sand. Dig them up by hand or with a sand flea rake. Pick up your sand fleas and put them into a container with some moist
sand. If you submerge sand fleas in water, they will drown. Keep the container covered in hot weather. A damp cloth will
has many similarities. Sand fleas are often referred to as a mole crab. They can be caught all along the beach in the sand.
As the wave recedes from the beach, look for v-shaped ripples in the sand. These are sand fleas that have dug into the
sand. Dig them up by hand or with a sand flea rake. Pick up your sand fleas and put them into a container with some moist
sand. If you submerge sand fleas in water, they will drown. Keep the container covered in hot weather. A damp cloth will
Sand Fleas
work just fine. Now that you have your bait, set up a bottom rig with a diamond sinker, hook and a sand flea and you are ready to fish the surf.
Sand fleas will catch a variety of species such as pompano, whiting, blackfish, redfish, striped bass, black drum, croakers and others.
Sand fleas will catch a variety of species such as pompano, whiting, blackfish, redfish, striped bass, black drum, croakers and others.
Bloodworms
Squid are very effective for fishing in the surf. You can buy squid fresh or frozen at bait shops and fish markets. Using the whole squid will work for
striped bass, bluefish and redfish. For most other species, a strip of squid will work just fine.
striped bass, bluefish and redfish. For most other species, a strip of squid will work just fine.
Bloodworms have a pinkish color as their pale skin allows their red body fluids to show through. They can found on the
bottoms of shallow marine waters. Bloodworms are poor swimmers, but they are very good at burrowing into the sand and
silt bottoms. Bloodworms work well for bluefish, sea trout, striped bass, whiting, flounder, porgy and others.
bottoms of shallow marine waters. Bloodworms are poor swimmers, but they are very good at burrowing into the sand and
silt bottoms. Bloodworms work well for bluefish, sea trout, striped bass, whiting, flounder, porgy and others.
Clam worms
Clam worms, often referred to as ragworms or sandworms, are reddish brown with 4 eyes, 2 sensory feelers and 8 tentacles.
You can find clam worms at bait and tackle shops. Some of the species that will eat a clam worm are flounder, sea trout,
blackfish, striped bass, porgy, whiting, croakers, rockfish and surf perch.
You can find clam worms at bait and tackle shops. Some of the species that will eat a clam worm are flounder, sea trout,
blackfish, striped bass, porgy, whiting, croakers, rockfish and surf perch.
Crabs
Crabs can be very effective for many different fish. Most anglers go catch their own crabs for bait. Some fishermen know
how to catch them by hand, but it is much easier to catch them with a fishing line and a fresh piece of chicken or even a
chicken bone. Drop your chicken down and you will have no problem catching plenty of bait. Shallow bays, creeks, canals
and marshes are the best places to find crabs. A whole hard-shell crab will work well for tarpon and black drum. Soft-shell
crabs are great for tarpon, black drum, snook, redfish and blackfish. Pieces of crab will work for many smaller fish.
how to catch them by hand, but it is much easier to catch them with a fishing line and a fresh piece of chicken or even a
chicken bone. Drop your chicken down and you will have no problem catching plenty of bait. Shallow bays, creeks, canals
and marshes are the best places to find crabs. A whole hard-shell crab will work well for tarpon and black drum. Soft-shell
crabs are great for tarpon, black drum, snook, redfish and blackfish. Pieces of crab will work for many smaller fish.
Clams
Clams are great baits for surf fishing. Some anglers don’t like using them because it’s tough to keep them on the hook. If
you are using fresh clams, the meat will stay on the hook better. Once clams die, the meat deteriorates quickly and it will be
hard to keep the bait on the hook. Frozen clams can be effective, but the fresh clams do a better job of staying on the
hook. Clams will catch many species including flounder, sea trout, blackfish, striped bass, porgy, whiting, rockfish and surf
perch.
you are using fresh clams, the meat will stay on the hook better. Once clams die, the meat deteriorates quickly and it will be
hard to keep the bait on the hook. Frozen clams can be effective, but the fresh clams do a better job of staying on the
hook. Clams will catch many species including flounder, sea trout, blackfish, striped bass, porgy, whiting, rockfish and surf
perch.
Mullet
Mullet are a very popular bait used in surf fishing, especially from the Carolinas down to Florida and into the Gulf of
Mexico. Many anglers use cast nets to catch mullet for bait. They can be caught near shore or inshore. Mullet can
also be purchased at local bait and tackle shops and they work well for a variety of fish such as redfish, snook, sea
trout, striped bass, bluefish and tarpon. Most smaller fish can be caught with cut pieces of mullet.
Mexico. Many anglers use cast nets to catch mullet for bait. They can be caught near shore or inshore. Mullet can
also be purchased at local bait and tackle shops and they work well for a variety of fish such as redfish, snook, sea
trout, striped bass, bluefish and tarpon. Most smaller fish can be caught with cut pieces of mullet.
Menhaden
Menhaden are common among surf anglers on the Atlantic and in the Gulf of Mexico. Bait and tackle shops sell
fresh and frozen menhaden. Live menhaden are great baits for striped bass and bluefish. Dead menhaden works
for many species such as striped bass, bluefish, redfish and sea trout.
fresh and frozen menhaden. Live menhaden are great baits for striped bass and bluefish. Dead menhaden works
for many species such as striped bass, bluefish, redfish and sea trout.
Eels are hated by most fishermen. They can be a mess and they are hard to handle. However, eels can be an
incredible bait, especially for targeting big fish. Eels in the 8 to 16 inch range seem to work best for bait, although
fishermen have success with much larger eels. On the east coast, eels are a very popular bait for striped bass.
incredible bait, especially for targeting big fish. Eels in the 8 to 16 inch range seem to work best for bait, although
fishermen have success with much larger eels. On the east coast, eels are a very popular bait for striped bass.
Eels
Squid
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