Written by Mary Syrett

hinking about flying to Baja California for an angling adventure? Or are you planning a fishing trip to the Caribbean? Before doing either, you might want to first check out the South Carolina coast. Surf fishing here, some anglers believe, is better than anywhere else in the Americas.

Such a claim is, of course, subjective. It depends partly on the kind of fishing one prefers. But considering such factors as angling variety, fishing infrastructure, and availability of huge numbers of fish, South Carolina’s Atlantic Coast can’t be beat. Among the fish that surf anglers go after here are sheepshead, black drum, redfish, whiting, red drum, striped bass, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, Florida pompano, flounder and speckled trout.

Surf fishing is the saltwater equivalent of fishing from the shore of a freshwater lake. It is a type of fishing that provides access to a wide variety of fish species, often in close proximity to home. For many people, the surf is the most convenient—or only—place to go, particularly if they don’t have access to a boat. South Carolina tidal waters offer exciting sports fishing opportunities atop breaking waves and in the winding marshes and jetties of the coast.

Infrastructure. Huge numbers of fish in the water are of little use to surf anglers if they can’t get at them. Piers, jetties, motels, grocery stores, restaurants and tackle shops, thankfully, lie in profusion all along South Carolina’s coast. Services are offered at a range of prices that allow anglers of every financial means to enjoy surf-fishing access. Such considerations distinguish local areas from distant wildernesses, which may have lots of big fish in the water but no easy way for anglers to get to them.

Tackle selection for surf fishing involves personal choice and fishing objectives. On any South Carolina beach, you are likely to find anglers using light, medium and heavy tackle. In some instances, surf conditions will determine what kind of tackle to select. The distances needed to cast bait to productive fishing areas will also influence the type of tackle chosen. Anglers casting long distances using heavy bait generally use long fishing rods, such as a 13-footer. However, it is not uncommon for anglers to enjoy surf-fishing success with 6 and 8 foot rods.

Because of wave action, it is oftentimes necessary to use a heavy sinker—six ounces or more—to ensure that bait holds near the bottom. Wave action also determines line weight. Most commonly, surf anglers use 15 to 30 pound test line, though the range can be great, leaning especially towards the heavy side.

A superb tool to bring along on any fishing expedition is a five gallon bucket for carrying gear. The bucket can hold several bottom rigs, a half dozen bottom weights, a round Styrofoam bait bucket with ice and bait, a bait knife and pliers, as well as sunscreen, a snack and fresh water.

Add a sand spike with a rod and reel, and you are ready to hit the beach with everything easily carried in two hands. The sand spike is especially handy when changing bait, giving you free hands to use around sharp fishing hooks. Do drill a small hole near the top of a PVC pipe and hang a towel on a shower curtain ring for wiping your hands before fishing.

How To: As in real estate, the keys to successful Lowcountry surf fishing are location, location, location. Setting yourself up on a prime slough or jetty spot and claiming it as your own can be more important than the tackle used or bait considerations. In many surf fishing situations, another key to angling success is casting distance. Anglers need to thoroughly understand proper casting techniques that allow them to cast far out into the ocean.

The best angling on the South Carolina coast is oftentimes from a pier or jetty. A surf rod with a saltwater jig cast from a jetty can be used to catch bluefish, Spanish mackerel and flounder, among other fish. Start fishing the slack tide half an hour before the incoming tide.

Sand shrimp bait works well for surf fishing, but you might also try tube worms. Rig your outfit with a weight located near the bottom of the line with two hooks set 18 inches apart. When surf fishing on coastal sand, be careful. Sneaker waves can quickly, with no warning, wash your rump into the water. Never turn your back on the water and always fish with a friend, or around others who are nearby.

How to “Read” a Beach for Surf Fishing: Each section of a South Carolina beach has a combination of characteristics that help determine the presence of fish. The key to “reading” a beach is being able to locate sections of it that are most likely to attract fish.

A slough is a deep trough that runs parallel to the beach, bordered by a sandbar on one side and beach on the other. The distance from the beach to the bar will determine the width of the slough. Fish travel up and down a slough looking for food, such as small fish and crab.

It’s easier to locate a slough at low tide, when sandbars are easily visible. The width of a slough may be critical. Big fish such as red drum tend to prefer wider, deeper sloughs, with shallow, shoal water at either end. Speckled trout and flounder can be caught in narrow sloughs where the bar may be as close as 15 to 20 yards off the beach, but the water between the beach and the bar is several feet deep.

Fish oftentimes travel this ocean “highway,” but they need a way to get on it. They can do this through a break in the outer bar, easily discovered after watching the waves for several minutes. If there is a break in the bar, a wave will pass over the bar but not crest. If the occurrence consistently repeats, that indicates a cut in the bar.

Sloughs are not the only beach formations that attract fish. Currents and winds may scallop out the beach and form points. Oftentimes, the water is deep on one side of a point, an ideal location for fish to congregate.

Hard structures such as jetties, piers and bridges are also locations that encourage fish to linger. Usually these structures don’t change, but the beaches around them do often change regularly.

Remember: beach formations are constantly appearing, moving, rearranging or disappearing, as the winds, currents and waves change. Keep that in mind as you scan a South Carolina surf line, looking for an ideal slough or perfect point.

Tips for Better Surf Fishing: South Carolina beaches can, as we all know, get crowded, especially in the summertime, from around 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To catch fish and find some solitude, I go just before sunrise and fish until 9 a.m., then return around 6 p.m. and fish until dark. Angling at these times generally is very productive in terms of catching fish; witnessing incredibly beautiful sunrises and sunsets is a delightful by-product.

Consult a tide chart and pick up the latest Marine Fisheries Fact Sheet from any tackle shop. A tide chart helps identify times during the week when an angler can maximize his or her chances of catching fish. Although I seldom keep more than two fish, I still check creel and size limits in case regulations have changed. Taking time to check could help prevent getting an expensive ticket for a violation.

A sand spike made with aluminum angle iron and bolted securely to a heavy gauge PVC pipe is ideal for general surf fishing. To prevent tangles, place individual surf rigs in Zip-Lock-style sandwich bags. Or adapt a Tackle Logic worm bag for your various bottom rigs.

Because many fish in the summertime have smaller mouths, downsize your hooks. Generally, a size 2 is as large as I go, preferring instead a 4 or even a 6. Too much bait gives fish more of a chance to miss the hook.

Keep bait up out of the ice to keep it fresh. In a cooler, place bait in two layers of sealed plastic bags covered with ice. Drain water from the cooler at regular intervals.

Why do people surf fish? One practical reason is that because many South Carolina beaches are managed by government agencies, there is good public access to them. Something else that brings anglers to the surf is the fact that there is no need to own or borrow a boat to catch fish. This saves money and time, particularly with regard to boat maintenance and travel. Also, some anglers do not like to fish from a boat, preferring to keep their feet on relatively solid ground.

Other anglers choose to fish from shore because they believe better opportunities exist there for enjoying the surrounding sights and sounds of the surf. For many nature lovers, it is a more peaceful fishing environment. Still others are attracted by the challenge presented by conditions that seem to give every advantage to the prey, rather than to the angler.

Whatever your reason for surf fishing, be sure to take time to smell the flowers along the beach and do keep in mind that you are engaging in an environmentally friendly activity. I could wax eloquent, but won’t, and simply urge you to enjoy. Life is short. Boy is it short, especially when you keep getting ads in the mail for Medicare supplement insurance.

SIDEBAR—RECIPES

With a flavor more delicate than even that of king mackerel, Spanish mackerel are highly sought after by anglers who know a good meal when they taste one. You can make a mackerel dip using one onion, two cups of sour cream, your choice of seasonings and two mackerel fillets. Poach the fillets and let cool. Once cooled, remove the skin.

To make a smooth dip, use a blender to purée the meat and onion. This purée is then added to the sour cream. Add seasonings. If you desire a chunky spread, chop onions and fillets into the size you prefer and add to sour cream or salad dressing.

For grilled Spanish mackerel, you need fillets, two cloves of chopped garlic, a fourth cup olive oil, two lemons, and half a cup chopped parsley. Combine all the ingredients and marinate for one hour. Then place fillets in a grill basket and place over a hot grill for 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve with lemon wedges.