In The Wash
Angler
In surf fishing it's important to work all the water in front of you, and that includes the water column. Don't get stuck on throwing minnow plugs, or jerk baits as they are, (although highly effective). I see a lot of guys doing this over and over with the same type of pug all night, only working the mid-water column, never trying other plugs with different action or even switching them up to change the depth and even the rate of their retrieve. These fish will change feeding behavior from night to night even.
Although most times the fish are at your feet, occasionally you need some distance. So always try a plug that you can whip out there. Needle fish are good casting lures and are matching the profile of bait present this time of year. (At least where I have been fishing). A bullet needle really has a short stout profile and has done exceptionally well for me the past few weeks reaching the larger fish hanging out in rips pretty well off the shore. Swim shads although also producing extremely well for me this summer don't cast very well, but work down in the water column and you can change up sizes to (or weighted jig heads on shad bodies) to really effectively target the area of water you are looking to.
On nights where I have heard fish slurping on top (and even nights when I haven't) I've had great success throwing surface working metal lips and Red Fin plugs. Red Fins cast like a potato chip, but fish just can't seem to resist them if they are working the top of the water column and are superb even in fast moving water. Had a pretty decent bite last year in an inlet to my surprise. They can be pretty aggravating because they are so light weight it seems the fish miss them quite often, or even push them out of the way on a strike. they seem to miss metal lips a lot less and although not an all-star casting plug they do mostly cast better than the Red Fin.
Pay attention to a fish's eyes when you catch them, are they looking up? down? are they right in the middle. This can reveal where in the water column these fish are feeding. Adjust accordingly.
These are my experiences. And some of the experiences of others I've fished with. I'm not an expert. Everyone's fishing techniques can vary.
Pic was a fish taken not too long ago on a bullet needle worked very close to the bottom and out a pretty good ways in fast moving water.
Although most times the fish are at your feet, occasionally you need some distance. So always try a plug that you can whip out there. Needle fish are good casting lures and are matching the profile of bait present this time of year. (At least where I have been fishing). A bullet needle really has a short stout profile and has done exceptionally well for me the past few weeks reaching the larger fish hanging out in rips pretty well off the shore. Swim shads although also producing extremely well for me this summer don't cast very well, but work down in the water column and you can change up sizes to (or weighted jig heads on shad bodies) to really effectively target the area of water you are looking to.
On nights where I have heard fish slurping on top (and even nights when I haven't) I've had great success throwing surface working metal lips and Red Fin plugs. Red Fins cast like a potato chip, but fish just can't seem to resist them if they are working the top of the water column and are superb even in fast moving water. Had a pretty decent bite last year in an inlet to my surprise. They can be pretty aggravating because they are so light weight it seems the fish miss them quite often, or even push them out of the way on a strike. they seem to miss metal lips a lot less and although not an all-star casting plug they do mostly cast better than the Red Fin.
Pay attention to a fish's eyes when you catch them, are they looking up? down? are they right in the middle. This can reveal where in the water column these fish are feeding. Adjust accordingly.
These are my experiences. And some of the experiences of others I've fished with. I'm not an expert. Everyone's fishing techniques can vary.
Pic was a fish taken not too long ago on a bullet needle worked very close to the bottom and out a pretty good ways in fast moving water.
