Just Getting Started Surf Fishing...

[chris]

What surf fishing gear would you recommend for somebody just getting started?

[prican1]

Well my friend, first decide on your budget, then where and what you are going to fish for. Best bet is to go to your local tackle shop and talk to the fellas there, Good Luck.

[basswipe]

Budget is everything.With that being said a great plugging(lure fishing) setup:

For a very 1st setup I would recommend the 9' Tica Dolphin series surf rod with a Shimano Spheros 8000 reel.At that point you're still under $200 and have a quality setup and it'll cover a great deal of situations.

Plug wise get yourself some Storm or Tsunami swim shads for Spring fishing throw in several colors of Bomber A-Salts and/or Gag's Mambo minnows and a few Creek Chub poppers.A couple of Kastmasters are essential in any bag.When looking into some good "custom" plugs Saltybugger and Superstrike are great plugs that won't break the bank.

[jschlesi]

I have a 10' tsunami that was given to me and after talking to Pete I believe I will put a Spheros on it. I expect it to be a decent combo for not much dough ( 200+/- with line).
I however can not wait till next week when I try out the Lamiglas and G.Loomis surf rods for working weighted slug-gos.

[yemslave]

9' St. Croix Avid and a Shimano Spheros 5000(8000 is too big and heavy)

[Dick O'D]

I would not buy cheap equipment, I would look for mid to high end stuff used on the net. I like the penn Slammers very much (460or 560) on a 8 ft Tica for about 200$ nice entry level equipment that will last a long time or untill you get serious and go nuts like most of us, and when you have all the stuff you could ever use you can take up Fly Fishing and start all over again, like me.
O'D

[basswipe]

Originally Posted by yemslave

9' St. Croix Avid and a Shimano Spheros 5000(8000 is too big and heavy)

Ya.....but no.

The 5000 and the 8000 are the same size bodied reel.Here's the difference.
SP5000FA 10/240, 12/195, 14/165, 16/140 weight20.0(oz)


SP8000FA 10/390, 12/320, 14/270, 16/220, 20/160 weight19.8(oz)

The 8000 actually weighs less than the 5000 by .02oz. and holds much more line

[ChiefLinesider]

Maybe Tica has changed. But I had one for a season that saw occasional use. The guides were of low quality. Here is a pic of one of the guides. The rest of the guides have similar corrosion.

St Croix puts together a nice production rod (Avid series ASRS90M). And the shimano spheros is a quality reel (8000).