Looking forward to surf fishing

I spent an evening this past week stripping the old line off my three large surf fishing reels while I was watching television. The line was still usable but was getting older. UV light can degrade monofilament line in just a few short years. The other reason to upgrade the line has to do with the fishing activity itself. Let me explain.

Obviously, when fishing off the bank, one must get the lure or bait well out in the water. When surf fishing, the bait is usually larger and heavier than what you would use in freshwater. Then, to hold the bait in the area where you cast it requires weight -- significant weight compared, again, to freshwater fishing.

After adding the weight of the bait chunks to as much as 10-ounces of sinker, you’ll be casting perhaps as much as a pound of tackle on the end of your line. You’re also trying to cast as far as possible offshore. If you’re good and have balanced gear, with practice, you can get a hundred yards or more distance with a good cast. That’s what gets your bait out where the fish usually are.

The line I removed from my reels was 20-pound test monofilament. I have snapped off terminal tackle on that weight line with other gear when I screwed up a cast with freshwater tackle. Doing the same with the much heavier saltwater gear would be even easier with the old line I had on the surf reels. I also wanted to use a line which tends not to twist and doesn’t take a set from being on the reel for a long time.

I’m planning to replace the old monofilament with a braided line, probably around 50-pound test strength. Braided line is more expensive but lasts much longer than monofilament, being unaffected by UV light, and casts well off a spinning reel. It also doesn’t stretch, which can help in getting a good hook set. I also think, if I screw up a cast (which I will), the odds of breaking off the terminal gear are slim and none.

In my experience, most fish that are caught surf fishing are under 20 pounds weight, unless you happen to hook into a larger halibut in the 50- to 100-pound range. I have read of 70+ pound halibut being caught while surf fishing on the west side of the Kenai Peninsula, so I want to be able to deal with a fish that large with my gear (hope springs eternal…).

I have one rod which is rated to handle up to 10 ounces of sinker weight. The rod is a 12-footer and will be my primary rod when fishing in most locations. I have two other 15-foot rods which are only rated to handle 6- to 8-ounce sinkers. These will be my backup rods and will be used primarily where the tides aren’t as strong as along the Peninsula. The Homer area comes to mind here.

I saw the first surf fishing weekly report online earlier today, as I write this. Randy Sisco, the “godfather of Alaskan surf fishing,” usually is the one posting these reports. This week’s report discusses the upcoming beach cleanup and fishing derby and reports that only a few access points to the saltwater are currently open. He also commented that the fish haven’t moved into the area yet but that hooligan are starting to show up. Randy is in the Ninilchik area and operates a guiding business for surf fishing.

His business is called “Compassion Thru Fishing” and he specializes in teaching folks how to surf fish while helping them catch fish. He demonstrates casting techniques, explains how to set up your rod and reel, suggests line weights and terminal tackle options, and many other aspects of the surf fishing experience. I’ve been fishing with Randy, and the trip was a fun and enjoyable time. I even caught a halibut!

The species of fish available to be caught are varied. Most folks are hoping for halibut, but dogfish (a small shark), Irish lords, pacific cod, skates, and other types are all possibilities. The sharks fascinate me, but I’ve never eaten one. Rumor has it that you will either like or hate the taste, depending on how well and knowledgeable you are in handling the fish.

I hope to make at least a few trips this summer and hope to bring some fish home. I’m sure the first trips will be major learning experiences, but that’s fun too!