Home Forums Fishing Saltwater Surf fishing question..

The defacto wife has seen fit to book a trip to Ocean City, Maryland towards the end of July. I want to try surf fishing. I really have no target species.. heck I'm not even sure what species are available down there. LOL

I've had enough of seeing you guys holding up cool looking fish I have never heard of in your hero photos on here!! I wanna take a turn. LOL

Can anyone help me out? I've got a some cash set back in the toy fund if I need to buy any particular gear. We usually hit the beach for a week each year, so picking up a surf outfit wont go to waste in the long run.

Ugly Stiks are called so for a reason... but they work.
I will depend if you want to cast/retrieve lures or cut bait and then wait.
I realize the gulf is not the north atlantic, but when I hit the surf I bring a long rod with bait to cast and wait for the big ones, while I use a lighter (med rod) for short range work, be it smaller baits or lures.
Any reel in 5000-6000 size range (eg, Shimano Fierce/Pursuit/Battle) should do you well, The battle being the more expensive. Of course there is Okuma, Daiwa, Shakespeare, etc. I think combos will have the best value money wise, but may not be the best of the best for either rod or reel.
Even for the big ones (minus sharks, huge rays, etc) freshwater equipment will work, rinse it well though. Even my saltwater rated stuff gets rinsed after each use.

PM Kamo Gari.

IIRC, that should be blues and striper time.

I've got an Abu Ambassador S.. or is it SX? I'd have to look. At any rate, I have one mounted on a Medium-Heavy Ugly Stick.. I use it for Ohio River Catfishing. Would that be sufficient to take down there? I didn't realize that freshwater gear was feasible.

As far as technique, I am not sure. Honestly, I'd be happy to toss out some bait and wait it out while taking in the ocean view. I'm not too particular about what I catch, as it will be all different and exciting.

We were down there last year, and I said I was gonna fish, but ended up not. I did eat well though, I didn't want to see another blue crab for the rest of the year.

Ocean City should have a wealth of online fishing reports and you should be able to find contacts there that will clue you in to the local traditions. Freshwater gear works well when the surf temperatures are warm. Fish will be feeding in the last break of surf right up to the shore in the morning and evening when swimmers are absent. They won't be whoppers, but with properly sized gear and FRESH bait, you can bring in a tasty catch.