Florida offers some of the most scenic and productive beaches to surf fish from in the world. From beaches as far south as Key West to the far west side of the panhandle, almost all of Florida's beaches are productive for the surf angler.
When surf fishing many anglers have been successful using multiple different types of equipment, but time and experience has shown that gear intended for surf fishing will most frequently out perform gear that is not. Here are some of the special requirements when fishing from Florida's beaches:
Rods
Fish of all sizes and shapes can be caught while surf fishing from Florida's shores. The most common fish range around 2-3 pounds while some of the larger fish can be well over 100 pounds, even a great white shark was once caught from a Florida beach. Because of the wide variety of fish that can be caught, and the need to often cast long distances, a strong, long rod works best for surf casting.
The most common surf rods range from 10-16 feet long and are all medium-heavy to heave action. This length not only gives them the back bone to fight large fish but it also allows for long casts of heavy sinkers when they are called for.
Suggested Rod: Lamiglas XS10 MHC - Aprox: $250.00
Reels
The reels that are most commonly used for surf fishing are spinning reels and open face bait casting reels. The reel should be able to hold an ample supply of 20lb or heavier line and have a strong enough drag to handle most fish that could be caught. When selecting a reel make sure that the reel is rated for saltwater use as it is sure to get wet when surf fishing and reels not rated for the saltwater will experience corrosion rather quickly after exposure.
Suggested Reel: Shimano Saragosa 6000 SW - Aprox. $250.00
Accessories
When surf fishing there are a few accessories that will make the experience more enjoyable and sometimes even more productive. Some of those accessories include
- Sand Spike
- Knife
- Pliers
- Fishing Cart (made for the beach)
- Cast Net (for catching bait)
- Sand Sifting Rake (to catch sand fleas / mole crabs for bait)
Other Suggested Items
There are a few items that are suggested to always have when surf fishing that are not directly related to fishing, but make the experience more comfortable and enjoyable. These items include:
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Waterproof, breathable jacket
- Waders (optional, but useful in winter)
- Cooler (with ample amounts of water, it gets HOT in Florida)
Stay tuned as this page will be updated with more gear suggestions and more detailed information!
