How To Cast Farther Surf Fishing (Try This Technique)
Surf fishing is a form of sport fishing that is increasing in popularity on the Atlantic coast, the Pacific coast, and in the Gulf of Mexico due to the access to saltwater these places have. You may be asking yourself, “What is surf fishing?” Allow me to answer that for you. Surf fishing is defined as catching fish standing on the shoreline or wading in the surf. One of the most interesting aspects of surf fishing is that you can choose to fish with or without bait. Surf fishermen can be found fishing from any type of shore, from rocky to sandy beaches. This is typically referred to as “surfcasting” or “beach casting.” However, if you do not know where the fish are gathering, your surf fishing trip will be unproductive at best.
When casting for distance, the following factors can have a significant effect on your casting distance:
● The type of lure you are using
● You’re casting technique
● The weather conditions where you are fishing
● Your personal capabilities
While there is usually nothing you can do about the weather conditions or to compensate for a lack of personal ability, I recommend using the pendulum casting technique to get the most distance from your casting.
By mastering the pendulum casting steps suggested by Manx Sea Fishing, you can improve on your casting distance, reaching casting lengths of between 60 and 100 yards:
● Point your left foot at your intended target, and place your right foot anywhere from 70 to 125 degrees from your target.
● Twist at the waist, facing the opposite direction of your cast.
● Look toward the direction of your intended cast, and load the rod.
● Release your waist, pulling with your leading arm and punching with your trailing arm.
Foot Positioning
As is the case with sports like football and baseball, the proper foot positioning is just the beginning of being able to master perfect casting techniques. When you are throwing a baseball or a football, your foot must be pointed in the direction you intend to throw the ball. Without the proper foot positioning, your castmates end up in a completely different spot from where you originally intended.
The proper way to position your feet when using the pendulum casting technique is to place your left foot in the direction in which you intend to cast. Your right foot should be placed anywhere from 70 to 125 degrees from your left foot, according to the website Sea Angler. The reason that this is so important is that your foot positioning is the foundation of the perfect pendulum casting technique. You cannot expect peak performance from your body if your feet are positioned in any way or form.
These are just a few of the many reasons I find that the perfect pendulum casting technique begins with the way your feet are positioned. If you begin your task with your feet in the wrong position, you cannot expect it to land where you want it to go. Besides, without proper foot positioning, your balance will be nonexistent. I don’t know about you, but I have always found it pretty hard to cast from the ground.
Waist Positioning
When you are taking martial arts, one of the first things you are taught is to generate power in your kicks from your waist and hips. The same applies when you are trying to cast for distance when you are surf fishing. I firmly believe that the positioning of your waist and the torque generated from your waist and hips is essential to the distance you will get on your pendulum cast.
The proper technique for the pendulum cast is, to begin with, your waist facing the opposite direction of your cast. You should turn your waist as you cast, generating torque and power to cast your line farther. This is due to Sir Isaac Newton’s second law of physics, also known as the law of inertia. Encyclopedia Britannica states that Newton’s second law says that a body at rest will remain at rest, while a body in motion will remain in motion.
This is one of the few areas in the pendulum casting technique where I will stress the importance of both strength and proper form. Generating enough torque from your waist and hips is pivotal to perfecting your pendulum casting technique. This is why waist positioning is critical to not only your casting distance but also to the perfect casting technique.
Here are five species of fish that can be caught while surf fishing along the coast of Florida.
Eye Direction and Rod Loading
Again, I am going to refer to the baseball and football analogy when you think of the pendulum casting technique for surf fishing. Just as it is important to keep your eye on your target when you are throwing a ball, it is equally as important to look in the direction in which you intend to cast. The same can be said for hunting. You will never hit your intended target if you are not looking at your target.
To give you an idea of how important it is to look where you are casting, the website In-Fisherman states that the direction to which you are looking is just as important as your line, rod, and bait selection. Besides, I know that I can’t be the only person who hears my parents telling me to watch where I’m going every time I accidentally run into something. I always knew that their advice would end up paying off, but I never expected it to pay off in regards to fishing and casting techniques.
Once you have visualized where you intend your calf to land, it’s time to load the fishing rod. There is a fine line between loading your rod too lightly and loading it too heavily when it comes to the perfect cast. Loading your rod too lightly will result in your cast not going out far enough while loading your rod too heavily May yield the same result.
Arm Usage
Next to achieving the proper torque with your waist positioning, I believe that how you use your arms when casting is possibly one of the most important aspects of fishing. While most of the power in your task will be generated from your waist and hips, your accuracy will be determined by using your arms.
You should utilize punching and pulling motion when using the pendulum casting technique, with your lead arm pulling while your trailing arm punches. This action results in feeding a sufficient amount of line for your cast to go as far as you need it to go. The Marlborough Surf Fishing Club suggests that the arm technique and energy utilized during the pendulum cast is even more critical than sheer arm strength.
Most of the strength your body generates comes directly from your hips and your waist. Very little of your street comes from your arms. Besides, overexerting your arms can result in a severe and debilitating injury. This is the last thing you want to occur during a relaxing fishing excursion. This is why positioning and using your arms properly is essential to perfecting your pendulum casting technique, and it is also why arm positioning is listed as one of the most critical steps in pendulum casting.
Bonus Tips
Learning to perfect the pendulum casting technique is one of many tips that will benefit you when you are surf fishing. Many outside factors can determine whether or not your surf fishing trip was a success or a failure. However, by learning to follow a few helpful tips and suggestions, you should see way more successes than failures on your surf fishing expeditions.
Penn Fishing has made a list of several tips for getting the most out of surf fishing. Some of these tips include:
● Streamlining your gear to include the essentials.
● Start your fishing trip with a scouting mission.
● The best fishing is either early in the morning or late in the day.
● Try using live bait.
● Don’t be afraid to use jig baits when surf fishing.
● Remember that persistence pays big dividends even surf fishing.
Of course, even the most experienced Anglers are bound to experience some form of trouble when fishing. Part of the fishing experience is not knowing what to expect. Perhaps there is no bigger joy in surf fishing than Queen everything comes together, working in conjunction to land you that fish you have been dreaming of catching.
Conclusion
Surf fishing can be both a relaxing and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. The most rewarding aspect of fishing is usually being able to catch fish. While one of the biggest misconceptions regarding surf fishing is that you need to be able to cast farther out into the surf to be able to catch fish, the larger fish are usually found farther out in the sea.
By ensuring that your feet are aligned at the proper position; positioning your waist to ensure the correct amount of torque; making sure you are looking in the right direction and using your arms properly, you can master the pendulum technique of casting and experience cast anywhere within the 60 to 100-yard range.
Depending on who you ask, being able to significantly increase your casting distance can yield much bigger results and not only the amount of fish you catch, but also the average size of those fish. What is equally as important to remember is that the correct technique will benefit you just as much as pure strength when it comes to casting. Perhaps, it may benefit you even more. Now that I have told you all of the steps required to master this technique, the only thing that’s left for me to do is to wish you good luck!
Related Questions
What types of fish can you expect to catch while surf fishing? One of the most thrilling prospects when surf fishing is the potential to reel in a fish anywhere from 40 to 80 pounds. Sea bass weighing an average of 35 lb are not uncommon when surf fishing. Just a few of the different species of fish you can expect to catch include striped bass, red drum, flounder, spotted sea trout, and bluefish. It is also not uncommon to catch the occasional shark when surf fishing.
What conditions have the biggest impact on surf fishing? Many different factors can determine when the best fishing can occur. However, three of the most influential factors regarding surf fishing or the time of day, the weather conditions, and the condition of the tide. The most optimal time to fish is during low light hours at high tide. Water temperatures between 61 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit are perfect for surf fishing.
What is the best tackle for surf fishing? The website takemefishing.org says that the best tackle for surf fishing includes:
● 7 to 12 foot medium to heavy action rod
● 17 to 20lb test line with a 30 to 40lb test leader line
● Lures such as jigs, plugs, and metal spoons
● A variety of hooks ranging in size from 1/0 to 10/0
● 3 to 8 oz. sinkers
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a legal expert or medical professional to address your specific needs.