| 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.
of the more popular baits that are used for surf fishing.
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
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 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.
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.
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
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
Sand Fleas
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 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.
some moist sand. If you submerge sand fleas in water, they will drown. Keep the container covered in
hot weather. A damp cloth will 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Eels
Squid
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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.
tarpon. Most smaller fish can be caught with cut pieces of mullet.