What are your secrets for beach fishing?

There are a few basic secrets to beach fishing, or as it is more commonly referred to surf fishing. First it helps a great deal if you have the capacity to cast your line a long distance. It is not imperative but if you can make casts over one hundred yards in length your efforts will be enhanced greatly. This of course requires a very long surf rod, I have used them as long as twelve feet for maximum casting distance with a large amount of weight. You will also need a reel that holds at least five to six hundred yards of line and is made for long distance casting. I do have one excellent secret that will help greatly in fighting a fish. When you cast your line out do not cast it straight. Assuming you are looking at twelve o’clock you should cast between one and two o’clock. The key to this is how the line lies in the water. If a large fish grabs your line you want as much line as possible lying on top of the water. You want to fight the fish on an angle. The line sitting on top of the water creates drag; the more line creates more drag. A fish will tire out much faster when he has to deal with more drag. This is why it is always better to fight a fish as far away from shore as possible. My last bit of advice is when you feel a pick up give the fish sufficient time to move with your bait before you set the hook. Many anglers set the hook too quickly.