CaliSurfFishing

Sharing a love for surf fishing the amazing beaches of California

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My first attempt at a video. Don’t be too mean. Getting ready for some surf fishing. Hoping to catch a few big ones. Good luck and fish on!

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Even though this page is about my favorite type of fishing, from the surf, I started out like most other fishermen and women by fishing for Bluegill and Bass. Once I got old enough to tie on my own lure I was completely hooked on Bass fishing. My favorite lure to use being the classic spinner bait. As I got older I would try different techniques but I always stuck to lake fishing. It wasn’t until about 8 years ago that I discovered surf fishing. My father-in-law was an avid fisherman and hunter and he was the first person to introduce me to surf fishing. He was a very big influence on that part of my life and he taught me so much about fishing and just about how to be happy in life. We miss him every day. However, this post isn’t meant to be a sad one, because every time I pick up a fishing rod I remember the great times we spent fishing and all of the things that I learned. Surf fishing let’s me reflect on life with the sound of the waves crashing along the beach. It is my favorite therapy and without it I would go insane!

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Berkley Gulp! Sand Crab Flea Review

Product Description:

1″ plastic sand flea bait. Tested in Natural Flea and Amber Glow.

Cost:

24 count for $6.99

First Thoughts:

One of the best and most common live baits used for surf fishing is the sand crab. I have used them fresh from the surf many times and have been very successful catching with them. I normally use one of two baits while surf fishing: Berkley Gulp! Sandworms or live sand crabs. So why not try the best of both worlds. I knew I had to give them a try even though they didn’t have the most realistic look. 

Testing:

After first taking it out of the package I was not too impressed by the looks. It does look like a sand crab but it’s not quite as 3-D as I would hope. With that being said the colors are very natural and I felt good about casting this bait. Unfortunately, I have had very little luck with this bait. I have fishing with it many times now and have had a few bites and only 2 perch landed. However, I have never given up using it and it paid off! A few weeks ago I had to give it another try and landed my first Striped Bass in the surf! Although I might not have the best luck with this bait, it did catch my first ocean striper so it has a special place in my heart.

Results:

This bait has a spot in my tackle box simply because it landed me my first striped bass from the beach. Other than that it stays in the tackle box for those special days where I can see tons of sand crabs in the surf zone. I have not had much luck using this bait but I can see where it can come in handy. It is definitely a different looking bait also which gives it a few more points in my book. Even with the few great catches I have had with this bait, I have not had enough action with it to really say it is a great choice for everyone.

RATING:

6/10 Holds a special spot in my tackle box but isn’t the best producer.

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Berkley Gulp! Sandworm Review

*This is my first product review. Go easy on me and let me know how I can improve and/or if this was helpful.*

Product Description:

2.5″ realistic plastic Sandworm bait. Tested in camo and natural colors.

Cost:

24 count for $6.99; Walmart/Dick’s Sporting Goods

First Thoughts:

This was the first artificial plastic lure that I used for surf fishing. I had used live pile worms in the past and they work amazingly. However, they can be quite costly and sometimes unavailable. At first glimpse these looked very similar to their live counterpart so I had to give them a try.

Testing:

I wanted to really test the potential of this bait, so I decided to go with lighter tackle in order to see if the more abundant smaller perch would take interest. Within the first couple of minutes there was definitely something taking interest in the plastic worm. I was getting bites on almost every cast, but, it seemed to be small fish nipping at the tail of the bait. Furthermore, after a few of these misses the tip of the tail would rip off. This did not deter other fish though, as I ended up catching 5 good sized perch on only the first worm! I ended the day with 7 total perch.

Results:

This is definitely a go-to bait for surf fishing. I have used these many times now and have caught countless numbers of perch with a few unexpected catches also. They can be rigged on different sized hooks very easily and are rather durable. I have been able to use a single pack for over 10 fishing trips. When I am having trouble using other baits and not having any luck, I go straight for this bait. They are so cost efficient and so much easier to use than the live version and they get the job done just as well!

RATING:

9/10 A must have for any surf perch fisherman.

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This was my first Striped Bass from the surf. I wasn’t expecting to get much other than a few perch. This was an awesome surprise.

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Looks like this is going to be a great week for some surf fishing. After checking the tide charts I’m excited and ready to hit the beach Tuesday morning! Anyone else looking to get some fishing in this week or weekend?

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Using light tackle when targeting Surf Perch is my favorite way to fish. These guys put up a great fight.