Help a noob :)

jedisme · 06-14-2009, 08:39 PM

Nice, forum you guys have here!

Hi all, I have been a fresh water fisherman my entire 29 yrs but, now all of a sudden the salt water fish have really been appealing to me I have no clue on how to fish for surf fish, I would mostly like to target Pompano..Today I purchased my first surf rig I might have went a little overboard with the rod and reel. My reel is a Penn 850 the rod is a 12' Offshore Angler 6-12 oz lures. Did I do ok on the surf combo? Help!

I live in Fort Walton.

welldoya · 06-14-2009, 10:30 PM

You did fine on the rod and reel. I might've gone a little lighter on the rod but the reel is a very good choice. What is the line range for that rod ?I use a Penn 6500, 7500 and 8500. All with 20 lb test.

Right now is not the best time to pick up pompano. March - May is prime time and they will pick up for a a short while again in October. You might pick up a stray right now though.

Getsome double dropleaders, some circle hooks (I believe I use #2) but I would have to check to confirm that. Some use bigger. Get some 2" pvc and cut them at an angle to a length of about 3.5' or even 4' to make rod holders. Get some 3 oz to 5 oz pyramid sinkers.

A sand flea rake is nice to have and so is an aluminum beach cart. It will just take experience to learn it all. I've been surf fishing a while and I still have a lot to learn. Best of luck and post here if you have any specific questions.

Strangerthanlife · 06-17-2009, 01:25 PM

Am new to surf fishing also. I have been doing my research and so far this it it:

Fish cart - $170 to $250 (to carry cooler and rods and things to beach)

Sand Flea rake - $35-$42

Rod Holders at Wally world - $4.00 - $6.00

Rod and Reel combos from $70.00 up to $150.00 (or what the wife allows)

Now if I could just know how to rig my line....darn can't golf anymore due to bad shoulder and now have so much to learn...

Larry:usaflag

saltfisher1 · 06-18-2009, 11:37 AM

""Rod Holders at Wally world - $4.00 - $6.00""

Save yourself a few bucks and buy PVC at lowes or home depot then cut it yourself...works great...get a rubber mallet to drive it into the ground.

jedisme · 06-23-2009, 03:39 PM

So, maybe I should go with the 12' 3-6 OZ LURE rod?

northpaw · 06-23-2009, 08:45 PM

For pomps your 6 - 12 oz. rod isa bitoverkill. I have an American Rodsmith 6 - 12 rod very similar to the one described and have landed 30# plus reds effortlessly. A 5' shark is a good match for this rod but pomps will barely be a tug for it. The 3 - 6 would make things more fun for you no doubt.

06-14-2009, 08:39 PM	#1
jedisme Senior Member Mingo Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 129	Help a noob :) Nice, forum you guys have here! Hi all, I have been a fresh water fisherman my entire 29 yrs but, now all of a sudden the salt water fish have really been appealing to me I have no clue on how to fish for surf fish, I would mostly like to target Pompano..Today I purchased my first surf rig I might have went a little overboard with the rod and reel. My reel is a Penn 850 the rod is a 12' Offshore Angler 6-12 oz lures. Did I do ok on the surf combo? Help! I live in Fort Walton. __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>><((((º>`·. ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>><((((º>`·. ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>

06-17-2009, 01:25 PM	#3
Strangerthanlife Junior Member Cigar Minnow Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 9	RE: Help a noob :) Am new to surf fishing also. I have been doing my research and so far this it it: Fish cart - $170 to $250 (to carry cooler and rods and things to beach) Sand Flea rake - $35-$42 Rod Holders at Wally world - $4.00 - $6.00 Rod and Reel combos from $70.00 up to $150.00 (or what the wife allows) Now if I could just know how to rig my line....darn can't golf anymore due to bad shoulder and now have so much to learn... Larry:usaflag

06-18-2009, 11:37 AM	#4
saltfisher1 Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,037	RE: Help a noob :) ""Rod Holders at Wally world - $4.00 - $6.00"" Save yourself a few bucks and buy PVC at lowes or home depot then cut it yourself...works great...get a rubber mallet to drive it into the ground.

06-23-2009, 03:39 PM	#5
jedisme Senior Member Mingo Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 129	RE: Help a noob :) So, maybe I should go with the 12' 3-6 OZ LURE rod? __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>><((((º>`·. ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>><((((º>`·. ¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>

06-23-2009, 08:45 PM	#6
northpaw Junior Member Cigar Minnow Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 21	RE: Help a noob :) For pomps your 6 - 12 oz. rod isa bitoverkill. I have an American Rodsmith 6 - 12 rod very similar to the one described and have landed 30# plus reds effortlessly. A 5' shark is a good match for this rod but pomps will barely be a tug for it. The 3 - 6 would make things more fun for you no doubt.

06-14-2009, 10:30 PM	#2
welldoya Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pace, Florida Posts: 2,050	RE: Help a noob :) You did fine on the rod and reel. I might've gone a little lighter on the rod but the reel is a very good choice. What is the line range for that rod ?I use a Penn 6500, 7500 and 8500. All with 20 lb test. Right now is not the best time to pick up pompano. March - May is prime time and they will pick up for a a short while again in October. You might pick up a stray right now though. Getsome double dropleaders, some circle hooks (I believe I use #2) but I would have to check to confirm that. Some use bigger. Get some 2" pvc and cut them at an angle to a length of about 3.5' or even 4' to make rod holders. Get some 3 oz to 5 oz pyramid sinkers. A sand flea rake is nice to have and so is an aluminum beach cart. It will just take experience to learn it all. I've been surf fishing a while and I still have a lot to learn. Best of luck and post here if you have any specific questions.

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