How To Read The Surf

User1265 · 03-26-2010, 12:27 PM

Quote:

onemorecast (3/25/2010)I typically watch the wave action. On a day when the water is clear, finding washouts are fairly easy. Just look for the darker spots which indicates deeper water. However, that's not always the case. Observing the wave action can help you identify good deep washouts. While watching the wave action look for an area of somewhat smooth water in between wave breaks. Normally between 50 to 100 yards wide. The smoother or flat area between the wave breaks indicates deeper water. The waves breaking on either side ofthe flat waterindicate sand bars. Set up in between the wave breakers and fish the deeper area. I have noticed better success while fishing the west side of the wash. The water leaving out of those washes pushes bait out with it and fish like to hang or swim through those areas to catch the outflow of bait. The beaches have a really good diagram posted in most parking lots that help swimmers identify rip currents. Look for that diagram and it will add you in finding washouts and what to look for. I hope this helps.

Quote:

Telum Pisces (3/13/2008)

Quote:

Rover2cool (3/13/2008)Try this

http://www.pensacolafishingforum.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=34457&start=1

Copy and pasted for the non-clickers:

In case your like me and need to see what these guys are talking about.....check theses out.

This picture is common of what you may see at lowtide. Scouting the beach at lowtide helps you after the water rises.

The arrows show which way the water is moving. "B" are sandbars "C" are suckouts, where the water starts to return back and "D" is where the water breaks due to the rapid incline of the rising bottom.

This photo shows the break in the sandbar. Between the arrows is where the water is deeper. As described by the other folks, white water or tops of waves will indicate where the water becomes shallower.

Here is a cutout or side view. Notice the nearshore and outer sandbar. Both can have some wave action above them. Baits should be presented in the sloughs as the fish travel in them.

In this diagram, the breakers move towards the beach and over the sandbar. The water collects in the feeder area and returns through the neck where it finally returns at the head. This is a dangerous place often refered to as a rip current. Thats why you swim across it and not back to the beach. Fish wait in the head as bait is flushed back out. *Hint*

When you get to the water, take a moment to look closely as to what is going on. I hope this helps you read the beach....

69Viking · 04-08-2010, 12:35 PM

Craig great job on Pinning this too! Between this and the Sandflea Pinned post you have just about everything a rookie needs to Surf Fish with some success! I've read all this before and know for myself but I'll be taking Anthony Surf Fishing Sunday morning and I think I'll have him read through these Pinned Posts before we go! He's a smart 12 year old so hopefully by him reading these first it will cut down "some" on the questions.

Shiznik · 04-08-2010, 01:06 PM

What an "excellent" post. I've always been able to read the surf and pic my spots, but I think I will let the grandkids read this and see if they can pic out our spot to fish before I take them to the right spot. I bet they will be watching me to see if I'm paying attention too. Several times I been surf fishing and it just be an average morning, and before all the swimmers arrive, I pack up and make the move to another location a little further down, and the action is alive right when I deploy the baits! Never stay stuck in a bad gut!

Tight Lines!

ACTIONJACKSON · 06-24-2010, 04:52 PM

Thanks for posting this, I know it took some time, it is appreciated.

mike potter · 08-14-2010, 10:53 AM

Yep thanks!!!!

chris g · 01-04-2011, 12:06 AM

Nicely done. Need more of this good staff. Thanks.

fishingcanada · 01-12-2011, 08:03 AM

Thanks for the post ,Being able to read a surf report can save you a lot of time driving to and from the beach to check the waves.

gbliz · 01-16-2011, 05:15 PM

great info thanks

navy fisherman · 02-05-2011, 07:38 PM

none of the pictures were loading for me, is there another feed or place i maybe able to see those pictures?

mikesmith34 · 03-10-2011, 10:01 AM

Been Pomp fishing a few times with limited success. Never knew to read the surf like this. I will be using this in April at Cape SanBlas..thanx

04-08-2010, 12:35 PM	#2
69Viking Senior Member White Marlin Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fort Walton Beach, FL Posts: 2,644	RE: How To Read The Surf Craig great job on Pinning this too! Between this and the Sandflea Pinned post you have just about everything a rookie needs to Surf Fish with some success! I've read all this before and know for myself but I'll be taking Anthony Surf Fishing Sunday morning and I think I'll have him read through these Pinned Posts before we go! He's a smart 12 year old so hopefully by him reading these first it will cut down "some" on the questions.

04-08-2010, 01:06 PM	#3
Shiznik Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Walton County, Fl Posts: 2,102	RE: How To Read The Surf What an "excellent" post. I've always been able to read the surf and pic my spots, but I think I will let the grandkids read this and see if they can pic out our spot to fish before I take them to the right spot. I bet they will be watching me to see if I'm paying attention too. Several times I been surf fishing and it just be an average morning, and before all the swimmers arrive, I pack up and make the move to another location a little further down, and the action is alive right when I deploy the baits! Never stay stuck in a bad gut! Tight Lines!

06-24-2010, 04:52 PM	#4
ACTIONJACKSON Senior Member Trigger Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 384	RE: How To Read The Surf Thanks for posting this, I know it took some time, it is appreciated.

01-12-2011, 08:03 AM	#7
fishingcanada Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 96	Thanks for the post ,Being able to read a surf report can save you a lot of time driving to and from the beach to check the waves. __________________ fishing in canada

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08-14-2010, 10:53 AM	#5
mike potter Senior Member Mingo Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 103	Yep thanks!!!!

01-04-2011, 12:06 AM	#6
chris g Junior Member Cigar Minnow Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2	Nicely done. Need more of this good staff. Thanks.

01-16-2011, 05:15 PM	#8
gbliz Senior Member Snapper Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: oklahoma city Posts: 453	great info thanks

02-05-2011, 07:38 PM	#9
navy fisherman Junior Member Cigar Minnow Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: on the navy base Posts: 10	none of the pictures were loading for me, is there another feed or place i maybe able to see those pictures?

03-10-2011, 10:01 AM	#10
mikesmith34 Junior Member Cigar Minnow Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Leesburg,Ga. Posts: 17	Been Pomp fishing a few times with limited success. Never knew to read the surf like this. I will be using this in April at Cape SanBlas..thanx

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