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Essentials for the surf - Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

46K views 68 replies 37 participants last post by  clgriffith 
#1 ·
PART 1

For beginners
an approach to the surf

Ok Im not sure how this thread will evolve but it is designed for those of you who are brand spankin
new and rely on your buddies or someone else to rig up for you.
Maybe its a generational thing but Ive seen too many guys show up to fish and say ok now what?
I spent an entire outing rerigging for a group of my brothers friends who decided they wanted to go
fishing with me.
Im old school and i expect you to be self sufficient.
All you need to know and be prepared is all here.
So having said that we will not follow anyone around with wet naps.

Remember to watch and observe others if you want to learn.
See one - do one - teach one.
This will apply to just about every phase of your learning curve.

First. Asssuming you have a sturdy saltwater rod and reel. Med to heavy action rod capable of
holding 17 to 40 pound monofilament test and a reel capable of holding 2 to 300 yards
of 20 lb. monofilament
line.

Now. Terminal tackle.
A few packages of barrel swivels 80 to 130 pound test.
Automotive tire Font Rim Eyewear Jewellery

Package of three way swivels
Font Circle Pattern Symbol Symmetry
Natural material Creative arts Material property Jewellery Metal

Dozen or so sinker slides aka fishfinders
Font Fashion accessory Twig Drawing Circle
Gesture Liquid Font Jewellery Art

Hooks. 4/0 to 10/0 sizes Several in various styles and sizes.
Baitholders. Octopus style Live bait and or circle hooks.
Rectangle Eyelash Silver Font Eyewear

The 0 means Ocean

A wheel of monofilament leader material in 30 to 50 pound test.
Liquid Fluid Bottle cap Water Font

Flourocarbon is pricey and usually only necessary in super clear water

bank Sinkers. lead in sizes 2 ounce to 8 ounces.
Liquid Glass Fashion accessory Jewellery Body jewelry

This will cover most of your needs.
You will need extras if your getting hung up around rocks.
The price of lead sinkers has gone up astronomically.

Head lamp
Pliers / wire cutters
Hook extractor
These are essential to your tackle box.

You will soon want to be mobile and need to travel light with a shoulder bag.
next is what lures can you buy with just 50 bucks.
 
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#2 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

Hooks. 4/0 to 10/0 sizes Several in various styles and sizes.

The 0 means Ocean
O means Ocean - Well I'll be dipped in $### !! I never knew that (never even thought about it before)
 
#7 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

PART II

50 bucks startup for your plug arsenal
Bucktails (white) yellow at first light - in sizes 3/4 ounce to 3 ounces
Storm wildeyes. If nothing else 6 inch paddletails pearl belly or bunker color
Crippled herrings assorted sizes
Kastmasters and other metals (tins) 1/2 ounce to 3 ounces
Diamond jigs with tubes - A17s A27s (sand eel imitations)

Pliers Kitchen utensil Diagonal pliers Tool Body jewelry


Soft plastics Like FinS and Lunker city sluggos

(Posted elsewhere as essentials for the surf)
What you see below is a good starter kit.
Plugs 101 Essentials for the surf. ~$60 pictured
You should have at least these for your surf arsenal.

Cotton Cordell red fin
Creek Chub Striper strike
Acme Kastmasters
Luhr Jenson-Needle Fish.
Hopkins No Equal Spoon
Atom Striper Swiper
1 ounce crippled herring
Luhr Jensen - Krocodile 1oz. Chrome
Baby Striper A-Salt Bomber
Mambo Minnow
Smiling Bill Bucktails (not shown)

Knife Art Paint Electric blue Metal

Fashion accessory Invertebrate Magenta Event Macro photography

6 and 9 inch Inch storm shads bunker pattern
6", 7/8 oz., 4 per pack $4.
9", 2 3/4 oz., 1 per pack $4

Popping plugs or surface lures are most effective during low light conditions
such as dawn or dusk.
Metal lures, such as Kastmasters or Hopkins are best during bright sunlight
conditions.
Swimming lures, both shallow swimmers and deep divers work best during
the day when fish are less likely to come to the surface to feed and at
night when they are close to the bottom and less active.
Bucktail Jigs and eel lures like the sluggo and tube lures take fish
during both day and night. These should be worked along the bottom
at an extremely slow retrieve even better when a piece of pork rind or
squid strip is added to the hook.

Wood plugs can come later.

Tackle bag. (~$80 )
Automotive tire Rectangle Font Bumper Automotive wheel system


Nail cutters
pair of cheap Pliers / wire cutters.
and a Head lamp with the red light for nights
Duo-Lock snap swivels
Line Font Rectangle Auto part Metal
 
#13 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

Welcome aboard, Shorthair! wave.gif Stick around... use the search feature to find already posted topics,,, but most importantly,, don't ever hesitate to ask a question when the answer is eluding you. Everyone here is really cool about helping out thumbsup.gif
 
#14 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

Welcome to the site... Check out all the stickies at the start of the forums... These posts are priceless and have been put there for a reason
 
#15 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

Part 111
If your just a lawn chair - bait and beer guy you can ignore the following.
BUT!
If you plan to get serious about surfcasting then you will need to organize and add gear along the way. Extremely important to any serious neophyte intent on rockhopping and roaming below the tidal line are a pair of korkers or studded sandals that will fit over your wading boots or sneakers even.
This should be your next $50 spent - and spent wisely. Korker sandals model k1100 plus. Even better the K5000. This can at worst prevent a fall and at best save your life.
I would put them on your list before even a pair of waders, wader belt and dry top.

Arthropod Insect Cleat Outdoor shoe Pest
 
#19 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

They suck... twice the size of lead of the same weight, hard to hold bottom in a running tide due to the mass that they represent... and they leave rusty, nasty stains in your tackle box. unfortunatly, they, or a simular substitute are the future, New Hampshire has allready banned the use of lead in fresh water for sinkers less than an ounce.. and there has been talk for years now about banning it in the sea... it's only a matter of time...
 
#20 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

An aside note.
Some of the soft plastic makers are looking for a viable but pliable biodegradable alternative to the current resin soft plastics.

These weights made in the UK - looked interesting but nothing over two ounces yet as far as I know.
http://www.diamondweights.com/
 
#21 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

Great thread!
I've been living in the Berkshires the past 8 years and am SO glad to be back on Long Island again.
I just brought my reel in for new monofiliment and some service and can't wait to hit the beach again!
Mark
PS... A MUST is a sharp pocket knife to cut your way out of your waders if you get upended...
 
#22 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

Hey guys. Just joined. This is the first thread I've read and I'm already quite impressed. I've been a fisherman my whole life, but after moving 500 miles, I'm just getting back into surf casting for the first time in 20 years. This thread was outstanding and I can't wait to probe the rest of the forum.
 
#24 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

those bucktail jigs work awesome right after dusk for me until i bang them up so muchon the jetty all the paint came off and no more fish. is there anything u guys put over the jigs to make them last longer or do u just repaint them?
 
#25 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

Well I like beer and bait, but no lawn chair for me. I prefer the slippery jettys and wish I had those spiked sandals on many occasions walking back to shore or the few times we had to land a big fella with no net... Got many battle wounds from the jagged rocks... :Marine:OUCH!!!
 
#27 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

Well I like beer and bait, but no lawn chair for me. I prefer the slippery jettys and wish I had those spiked sandals on many occasions walking back to shore or the few times we had to land a big fella with no net... Got many battle wounds from the jagged rocks... :Marine:OUCH!!!
I don't go on slippery rocks without 'em. Or at least make your own, with hex head skrews epoxied into soles of boots.thumbsup.gif
 
#26 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

Jetties without Korkers or some other type of spiked footwear is a major injury waiting to happen - not a possible injury, a definite injury. It's only a matter of time.
 
#29 ·
Re: Terminal tackle - What to purchase with the first 50 bucks.

New Guy---->Thanks for the Thread! This is what I've been looking for! I just needed some basic info on tackle for Striper fishing. I Just bought a nice 21' Trophy boat from a bud and I am trying to rig up for some Striper fishing. I really have no knowledge of how to fish for them. I have been reading local articles and have visited several websites doing a little research. The tackle I have now is all geared for small ponds or local reservoirs. The boat was to good a deal to pass up and I got tired of fishing from the shore. I wanted more action decided to start with Stripers. I know I have a lot to learn but I'm willing to put in the time. In closing I would like to ask a question. I live in California and was curious to know what the major differences in Striper fishing on the east coast vs. the west coast? Thanks again!

-Fresh Fish
 
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