Surf fishing tips for beginners

A whole range of species can be caught off the beach, and you can find plenty of good eating-size fish at your fingertips. Coastal varieties include tailor, salmon and mulloway. 

Personally, I like to fish gutters in the surf that are close to shore, targeting species such as whiting, dart, bream and the occasional flathead.

The biggest mistake people make when going surf fishing is to load themselves up with tackle that is way too heavy for the task. 

Big sinkers and heavy lines are sometimes not ideal, as they can make it very hard to feel the bites. 

Keep it simple and fish with light gear. You will catch more fish this way and have more fun bringing them in.

I like to travel nice and light when beach fishing, with just a rod, bait bucket and a small tackle that fits into my bag. There’s nothing worse than walking kilometres down a beach lugging a heap of gear. 

The outfit I choose to run includes a light rod paired with a 3000 size reel. 

My tackle setup has a small running ball sinker, usually a size 2, a small swivel, and about 50cm of 10lb fluorocarbon below the swivel rigged with a single size 1 Gamakatsu baitholder hook, perfect for chasing different species. 

Using natural bait from the area works well, so try pipis and worms. However, most species will also take to prawns and pilchards. 

If I’m targeting a feed of whiting, I will use a small size 4 hook rigged with a live beach worm.

I like to fish when the tide is rising, as this is when I tend to get the most action. 

Look for gutters in nice and close where the waves are breaking near a sand bar beyond the gutter. 

The most common mistake I see is people thinking they have to heave their line out as far as possible over the breaking waves. Most of the time, the fish are congregating in close to the shore and a simple lob cast is all that is needed to find where the fish are at. 

Keep your line relatively tight and you should be able to feel even the smallest of bites. 

Once you hook up, use the waves to help wash the fish up onto the beach.

One of the best tools I use is a length of PVC pipe with an angle cut on one end to stab into the sand. 

Use it as a rod holder, but stick one in the ground near the bait bucket so that each time you re-bait, the rod sits in the holder to ensure you won’t get sand on the reel. 

I have ruined many reels from sitting the rod in the sand and have learnt the hard way that you must never do this. It is a simple, affordable way to keep your gear running smoothly. 

Don't forget to keep an eye on your gear as the tide rises up the beach. It sounds simple, but I’ve been the victim of waves washing my gear into the surf. It’s easy to forget how quickly the tide comes in. 

As always, check for bag limits and closed seasons for the species of fish you catch. Also, check to ensure you’re not casting into a marine park where fishing is banned.

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