Surf Fishing Line, Reel Choice, and Learn Fishing Knots

Saltwater reels have sealed bearings. A push button Zebco is not suitable for fishing saltwater because you need an open spooled spinning reel or bait caster for shoreline fishing. Now, teaching your little guys on a push button reel even in the surf is a good idea. They get the feel of fishing without also having to learn how to handle a spinning reel.

Zebco Push Button Fishing Reel

When looking for a surf fishing reel, find one with at least a 20lb drag. This will get you going with Pompano, Redfish, Jack Crevalle, and we have even caught sharks with 20lb drag. Some rod/reel combo's are OK but finding the right reel and not having to rely on the manufacturer to have paired it to your choice pole is priceless. Looking for separate deals is fun anyway, you never know what you'll find.

Spinning Reel Old School

Line capacity should be stamped on the reel, We like braid for saltwater fishing.

Line spools come in like 100 to 2000 yards. They come in less, but for surf fishing, you need more line. When you hear the pulling drag sound, music to my ears, you want to know you have enough choice line to follow and battle the bite out.

Braid Fishing Line Moss Green

There is braid, mono, hollow core, and on braid there is 4, 6, 8 strand. Look at type of braid. Some are designed for bait casters and looks triangular. I don't care for that one because it will actually put grooves in the guide eyes of the pole with a spinning rod. Some braided lines are designed for or suited for bait casters or spinning reels.

Braid and Hollow Core are stronger lines constructed in a smaller diameter and won't fill the spool up as fast leaving more line capacity.

Mono Fishing Line Neon Yellow

Mono is basic fishing line found on most over the counter products. Nowadays, most store bought reels don't even come pre-spooled.

Braid fishing line is more expensive, 300 yards is at least $30. Also, taking your reel to a bait shop to spool your reel, it costs like $0.14 a foot, not a yard. 300 yards would be $126 for one reel. Better learn how to spool your own with braid fishing line. We have crushed the spool before because we overtightened while spooling. That was a rude awakening, our son was holding the pole while we were spooling and it imploded! Braid though gives more line capacity on your reel and strength. Braid is more abrasion resistant and hardly has any give. Tight Lines!

Freshwater to Saltwater Fishing What questions we have received from New Surf Anglers 

Part 1

Part 2

We have caught fish with a $20 reel from Walmart and we have caught fish with a much more pricey reel from Bass Pro Shops. They all do a basic job, fish with what you can afford to fish with but your fishing line choice matters. Learn how to tie your knots, more fish are lost from poorly tied knots.

A good knot to learn is the BG knot. The Brian Gibson knot is for securing your hooks, swivels, or leader. The RP or John Collins knot is for attaching two lines together. The Bimini Twist is also a good knot to learn for tying two lines together.

We have watched many How To videos, but found an awesome YouTube site for learning knots. This guy has been around awhile and really shows how to tie knots where it is easy to learn. John Collins is easy to follow and really teaches several knots more effectively than other How To videos.

Let's Talk Hook Up Radio Show is filled with too much knowledge for one show! The years of Fishing Experience gained from watching even a few episodes will likely give an edge to any fisherman or woman at any level of expertise.

Florida East Coast Surf Fishing

Tight Lines!