This week, the Tackle Box is brought to you by Cabela's, America's Foremost Outfitter. This week in the Tackle Box, we're going to talk a little but about what we are doing today.
We're surf fishing down in Baja Mexico, Northern Baja at Rosarito. We're right in front of the Rosarito Beach Hotel, right next to the peer, and this sandy area is just home for hoards and hoards of both Surfperch and Corbina, there is even halibut in here too. But what we're targeting today are surfperch and it doesn't matter if you're fishing down in Mexico like this for surfperch or up in Southern California or even up in like central California, it's the same technique.
And the lot of people think when you're surf fishing, you need to use a really long rod, 10, 12 foot rod, 15 foot rod to make a long cast, to get away out there, pass the surf line. But if you do that, it's a big mistake to do that because all you do is catch sand sharks and bat rays.
What you really need is a smaller outfit like this. This is basically a freshwater bass outfit. You could even use a trout outfit too. I like a little bass outfit, this is an ugly stick custom rod. Spinning reel, spinning Rod, Shakespeare reel, use either a Shakespeare Pflueger reel, it works great. You go a six, the most 8-pound test line. It's about what I would use. If you see a lot of halibut in the water maybe go 10 or 12 but for strictly the surfperch, the 8-pound test line is perfect. That's all I have on here.
And again, you want a shorter rod because all you want to do is cast out where the waves are breaking. You don't want to go pass that white water, because that's where the surfperch are, that's where the Corbina are. You've got their heads down, there are looking for food to eat. Every time the wave comes and kicks up that whites sand. Those fish are in there, looking for go shrimp, worms, anything they can find sand crabs. They're in there and looking with their heads down. That's why you don't want to cast too far.
This is the rod and reel that you need. Now as far as the terminal gear that we used for this, it's a very simple rig, using a Carolina rig. And what a Carolina rig, it's a hook on one end you got a bait holder hook here because we're using artificial bait, a little leader about foot-and-a-half, to two feet and then a swivel. And then from the swivel, we tie the line, mainline off our reel right to here. And as far as sinkers, you can go with either a half ounce to three-quarter ounce. If it's really windy, you're probably going to use one ounce but that would be the heaviest. So I would go, probably start with the half ounce. If you're having trouble casting it out far enough or there is lots of current then I would go to three-quarter ounce.
Really, if you need anything heavier than a one once it's probably not fishable conditions anyways. So that's the basic rig there and then when I'm using for bait today is a sandworm. This is by Gulp. It's a great product. You can get it in these big buckets, or in the smaller bags, this is what I'm using today. And what's a need about this is the chemical that rejuvenates the Gulp is right in here and this is what baits look like, just a little worm like that. And the way I put this on is just really simple. You just slide it on and, pin it right through the head of it there and just slide it down like a regular worm. All you do is just cast it out and working it back slowly and just want to look as straight as possible and that's it.
The whole trick to this is as you wind it back slowly and you let the current and the waves pick it up, as it moves around the current. The fish will come up, and bite it, and this Gulp bait works so good that the fish will actually keep chewing it and chewing it. You don't have to sit the hook too fast because the fish would just hold onto it, makes it really easy fishing. This is awesome bait to use for this type of fishing.
There is all kinds of different styles of the Gulp that works for surf fishing. The one I've been more successful with is this one, the sandworm. This one is just a great bait to use.
Now if you're not sure what hooks you need for this type of fishing. Make sure you pick up one of the Dan Hernandez Eagle Claw surf kits. It comes with all the different hooks that you need. The bait holder hooks for fishing with the Gulp, it's got the big wide gap hooks in case you want to go with go shrimp, or live baits like that. Those will work too and it's got a DVD that shows you how to tie the Carolina rig and all the different knots that you need for this type of fishing. It even explains what surf fishing is. You can find these at your local, you can find the hook kits at your local Tackle Store, or you find them on our website.
Well, let's get back on the water and show you more exciting action from Rosarito Mexico, right here on Sport Fishing.
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