Sea shore fishing question, please help, beginner in distress?
Hello, today I went out to Key Biscayne in Florida to go fishing at the shore, it was a little fishing spot they had all the way at the end of the key. Anyway, I noticed that almost all types of non boat fishing have a bunch of rocks at the shore.
I was fishing with a 20 pound line and a reel rod, using a weight and hook only. I threw my line out about 50 feet or something, and reeled it a little and just stood there.
My problem was, after a while I noticed that my line ended up at the shore, when I went to go reel it back in, bam… it got stuck on rocks (about 9 times in 2 hours).
My friend says he doesn’t really fish in the sea, but I probably should have been using a bobber so the hook wouldn’t be on the ground. Can you guys please give me any tips? (I might have been throwing my line out further than 50 feet, just FYI.
Also note, I am not looking to catch any specific types of fish. I just want to catch something that’s edible, and doesn’t taste bad. I wouldn’t mind catching anything truthfully, going home empty handed is no fun.
My fishing pole is exactly 7 feet including the handle if this matters any.
Edit again, Fishing Rod* with Reel.
Do I need a fishing bobber or something? I imagine the hook is on the ground the entire time without one, do I need one to catch a lot of fish?
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By catfishingonalowbudget, February 11, 2010 @ 4:33 am
When fishing under the conditions you described I noticed several things that went wrong. The first thing when fishing new places is to go to a local tackle shop and ask the usual where, when how questions because they live there and know the area and seasonal fishing.
Your tackle was way undersized for the water you’re fishing in. Ten to fourteen foot rods, 50-80 lb. test line spinning or bait casting reels is what the locals will be using. The long rod is needed to not only have the power to cast a heavy 1-3 oz. sinker but powerful enough to haul in a fish. Your weight hook wound up back at your feet because of the tide wave action, that’s why you need a heavy weight. Salt water and fresh water fishing is nothing alike. Salt water fish have triple the strength pound for pound over fresh water species.
Find a tackle shop near by and get them to rig you up for jetty fishing (where you were at the rocks) and very likely they’ll recommend getting some fiddler crabs for bait, then put the biggest pound test line your reel will hold and some real weights. Chances are you’ll hook into some Sheep heads or Bonitos.
By Cookies, February 13, 2010 @ 9:41 pm
well, i dont fish in the sea but i would say take of the weight and dont let the bait go to the bottom, and wen it comes to rocks just kinda jerk it into the air wen it gets close so it dosent get stuck
and i dont think u need the kinda test line hes talkin about, i wen shore fishin like that a while ago and just used shrimp and 10 test line and got good size fish, i dont know how big he expects u to get if ur shore fishing
By Master of Disaster, February 14, 2010 @ 7:51 pm
By the nature of the structure, you will get snagged, to prevent it from happening as often, when reeling in, reel as fast as you can and keep the rod pointed almost straight up. This will help keep your hook away from the rocks during the retrieve. Also what kind of sinker are you using, make sure its a torpedo or egg sinker, anything like a river sinker or a pyramid sinker will get snagged a lot easier. Dont listen to the guy that said use 50-80# line, thats just ridiculous. The heavier line you use doesnt mean you will get snagged less, it means its a lot harder to break off when you get snagged. 12-20# line is fine. Plus with such heavy line (50-80#), you probably wont catch much fish. Dont use a bobber, thats freshwater stuff. Do talk to a tackle shop, they will help you out. Join a local online fishing foru,.
By chimp dancer, February 17, 2010 @ 12:18 am
You don’t need a bobber. What the problem was is that you were using a weight that was not big enough to hold it to the bottom. If I knew where in Key Biscayne ( hopefully not the light house end at Bill Baggs…that place ***** for fishing!) I could help ya better. If you were at the light house, you actually passed up 2 spots that were worth looking into right after the toll. Drop me a line, I’ll tell you some hot spots that way and when to fish them. ~good luck catchin’.
By Bob, February 20, 2010 @ 2:37 am
I haven’t fished in Florida, but have done so in similar conditions to what you described. First off your rod, reel and line are OK, don’t go heavier. In fact you could go lighter 15-12 lb without problems. I would change the terminal tackle, that is what is attached to the end of your main line.
Check with your local tackle store and see if they have any Surf Leaders. These will fasten to the main line and allow you to put your sinker at the very bottom. Above the sinker you can attach pre-tied leaders and hooks. This will place the weight on the bottom and hold your bait suspended above the ground and not get lost in the rocks. I would use a torpedo sinker in these conditions as it will slide through the rocks easier. You can also use a light leader at the bottom of the surf leader and attach your sinker to it. This way should you get snagged in the rocks the sinker will break free and you could save a fish if you are hooked up. I used to use old spark plugs as sinkers when fishing in the conditions you described. If lost you are out nothing, just make sure that is not an environmental issue in your area.
Finally don’t just cast out and let it sit. Keep your line fairly tight, maintaining contact with the sinker. If you let it sit the current and tide will move it and you will get snagged all the time.
By ☮ Wild Thang, February 21, 2010 @ 9:01 am
I’m in agreement with the first guy. You need big equipment because of abrasion, the weight of the sinker needed to bottom fish and by all means a longer rod. Watch the local guys, you won’t see them with a bass rod or 10 lb. test line.
You’re probably fishing in a area with a lot of boat traffic which in my opinion you’d want to bottom fish. A bobber is only going to hurry up and wind up on the bank. So if you really want to have some fun, rig up a Carolina rig and catch what the locals call Gaff Tops which is a salt water catfish and use shrimp for bait. Those suckers average around 20 -30 lbs. and using wimpy equipment is only going to make you mad when they break off, that’s why you need the heavier line and tackle.
By seahawk, February 21, 2010 @ 9:11 pm
You need a Float not a bobber . Go buy a bag of small balloons. I’ll try to run this down for you quick. The balloon will hold your weight and bait up because you’ll need 1-2oz in a strong tide just to keep your bait down. Set the balloon about 7-8ft up the line if your fishing a channel. Forget fishing on the bottom to much coral rubble. Cast out as far as you can now don’t engage the bail let the line out 75ft or so. Don’t worry about super heavy line 20lb is fine. Make sure you adjust your drag. Make sure you know your fish a jewfish aka. Goliath grouper looks a lot like a *** grouper but the jew is protected by federal law and the fine will break the bank. Good Luck
By KIKEENONO, February 25, 2010 @ 7:24 am
i use spider weights to anchor the bait where you want.I’m assuming the rocks are off to a side if they are all over then you may want to fish with a live bait and use a split shot.the movement of the bait will attract any gamefish that are hanging around the rocks and the split shot won’t let it get to the bottom since it doesn’t weigh that much.also hook your live bait on top after the last fin.it will make the bait swim just under the surface.