Last week we covered some scary stories about shore beak, surf and currents taking people out while fishing. Most of those who have surfed have learned to read the beach, waves and conditions. Those who are not as familiar with being in the ocean should play things a bit more conservatively. It’s best to watch the surf and conditions for twenty minutes or so before getting your feet wet. Look for the highest wave line at the moment, and for side sweeping waves that might be present. Learn to identify rip currents and the signs of strong sideways currents in the surfline.

One of the most compelling aspects of surfcast fishing for me is the simplicity. Coming from a lifelong surfing background, surf shorts and sandals are my daily uniform of sorts. Prepping for fishing when I get to the beach means kicking off the sandals. Then, I’m ready. Many beach anglers prefer to wear waders. Waders can provide more warmth and of course keep you dry on the side if used correctly. The attached boot waders seem to be the best for fishing the beaches. Separate boots with “sock foot” waders will allow sand into the boots which is uncomfortable and might affect balance and mobility. The problem with waders is they can become a big bag that fills up with water and drags an angler down if he’s fallen. A wading belt, strapped tightly over the midsection alleviates much of that potential danger. Wearing a good dry top over the waders before securing with the wading belt is even better.

Waders can also sometimes give angler a false sense of security. Often the angler will wade out to hip-deep water to cast, and remain at that depth while retrieving the line or fighting a fish. The problem that crops up with this technique are those sneaker waves we discussed last week. Even without an extraordinary sneaker wave coming though occasionally, there are always the regular “set” waves that can be twice as big as the waves just before and after. In other words, “hip deep” can become ‘underwater getting tossed” in just a moment.

Whether using waders or going Santa Cruz Style with board shorts and some warm clothes up top, we would recommend wading out to a comfortable (and safe) depth to extend the length of your cast, then backpedaling back up to dry sand before beginning your retrieve. Keep the slack out of your line while doing this to avoid tangles or knots in your leader. Last week it was mentioned, ”Never turn your back on the ocean.” We would add, “But also always know what’s behind you!” Tripping on a log, a pile of kelp or rock, someone’s dog or that kid digging for sandcrabs is not only embarrassing, but can leave you vulnerable to the wall of whitewater rushing in.