Surf fishing is one of the most difficult sports you will ever learn to love and enjoy as the years pass by. It however is not a sport that everyone sticks to because it demands more of a fisherman than other disciplines. The best example I can give is an analogy between bowhunting whitetail deer and rifle hunting them. Be honest, most anyone can pick up a rifle and go into the deer woods and at least harvest a doe. The same cannot be said for bowhunting because it is a sport that asks a hunter to be patient and set personal limitations. Surf fishermen must not only be patient, they must deal with the fact that they can only cover a small fishing area in a vast sea. The challenge of surf fishing is the very reason so many cling to the sport while others leave frustrated scoffing at surf fisherman and the sport they love. There is a steep learning curve for beginners. One must be willing to listen to a lot of older fisherman's advice, along with misleading information they freely offer. To be a little vague, buy gear that you know how to use and adapt. Later you will learn what type of rods, reels, and other essentials that will transform you into a surf fishing machine.

When my fishing crew, affectionately known as the "Moore County Bottom Feeders" hit the beach nine short years ago we knew very little about the what/when/how of surf fishing. Normally we stormed Hatteras beaches and squatted on a 200 yard stretch of real estate. We had no earthly idea we were supposed to be mobile. We also soaked our bait way too long and we probably enjoyed our beverages over catching fish a little too much. As the years passed, we learned to move around and try and locate better looking water, searching for "holes" at low tide and "cuts" in the surf. We changed our bait more frequently and tried to buy fresh bait more often than using frozen. We also learned how precious our time was at the OBX and we adapted and maximized our fishing time, mixed with the appropriate amount of "happy hours". Let's face it, all time on the beach fishing is one big happy hour. Learning how to use "shock leader" and changing our line out each season became a mandatory practice. A true surf fisherman treats every cast like it will be the one to land the new state/world record fish. If you don't care and maintain your equipment, the rigors of surf fishing will eventually destroy it. Experience is always the best teacher and still remains the same in this game.

So what exactly do you need to tackle OBX fishing from the beach? Well, of course you need a good, dependable 4X4 vehicle. Once you reach the beach ramp, let your tire pressure down to 15-20 pounds of air. That's right! That low air pressure will assure you will go where you need to go. Plan to have some form of a rod rack/cooler carrier if you don't have a truck. Being able to transport lots of fishing equipment is a major bonus if you have done your homework. If you don't, you will be disorganized on the beach and you stand the chance of losing equipment while in transport. Cooler/Rod racks do not come cheap, but they are worth it in the long haul. What's the right rod and reel combo? This is a loaded question because so many feel their rigs are the perfect surf weapons. The majority of our fishing crew uses 7500 & 8500 Penn SS open face reels mated to 10-12 foot surf rods. A few have Ambassador bait casters and very few use conventional reels. My two largest fish (both NC citations) were fought on Penn spinning reels. I use a 12 foot Ugly Stik and 10 foot Bass Pro Ocean Master rods. Be certain to select a rod that can cast up to 8 ounces of weight plus your bait chunk. If you don't, you won't be throwing it very well or very far. You will need that big rod if you hook up with a trophy red. They pull like little freight trains. You will need a sharp bait/filet knife, waders or hip waders, hand towels, folding beach chairs, sand spikes, lantern, headlamp style lights(for night fishing), and plenty of coolers with ice, bait, and your favorite beverages. Being able to fish at night is a big plus and if you are unprepared with the wrong clothing in the Fall/Winter conditions, you will not be in the game for long. I suggest using exactly what you would use for waterfowl or deer hunting. A big parka, rain gear, and waterproof gloves are a must.