South East Fishing Meets

Scored a Squall 15 sql and okuma 12 foot casting rod on eBay for $160

 

Added you to the attendees list as tentative.

OP updated! I've never surf fished and have no equipment for it...I should try to figure it out because this seems like it could be a blast!

Nice! I scored a Spinfisher V combo on eBay last night for $107 using the 20% off code they had. "Needed" another rod and reel so I didn't have to keep changing out setups.

 

It totally is. Kinda like Forest Gump said, "You never know what you're gonna get."

I've targeted different species with specific bait and rig setups, and there's still times I pull something in and I'm like, "Wtf... Why did you bite that?"

Also something about launching an 8 oz. weight and a chunk of cut bait on a 9/0 hook 150 yards or more out into the ocean with a 12'-13' rod that's just fun.

It's pretty much ruined any other kind of fishing for me. I tell my friends I freshwater fish to keep me sane between my saltwater trips.

 

Not a bad price at all. I paid $150 for my Squall early last year. And another $100 for my rod .

Same seller? Package deal? Got a link if they have any more? I've got a couple hundred bucks in my PayPal I keep forgetting about, so I probably wouldn't miss it if it turned into another rod.

 

Well shit...time to turn on the googler and look into it.

In for details...

 

Be careful, it's a lot deeper of a rabbit hole than you might expect. I'll give you the same advice I give every one of my friends that ask me about it and then drool all over my setups (which aren't drool worthy, imo)...

I've probably caught more fish on a old $85 combo that I bought when I was 15 than I have on any of my $200-$300 ones. Granted I've had it way longer, but the point is, it'll still catch fish.

I only recently started buying the pricier stuff, but it's like the Snap-On vs. Craftsman debate. Is it nicer, yes. Do I need it to do something I only do once a year? No.

I've gone from fishing the coast once a year to almost once a month. The nicer stuff is worth the money to me. I had a friend who didn't listen and has a $300 rod/reel setup that he's used twice in 4 years. Money well spent, right?

 

Very good reasoning right there. Since all my good stuff is sitting somewhere in the sound/ocean from a hurricane most all the stuff I replaced it with have been cheaper stuff and I can still catch fish on that the fish don't care all they care about is the bait and your rigging if they can see it or not.

 

Great advise for sure. I literally live on the coast so there’s no shortage of fishing here. When it’s too windy/cold to get on the water and I want to fish, I’ll usually hit a pier. I’ve been wanting to get into surf fishing and proper motivation is all that was lacking. I don’t know anybody who surf fishes down here but now that I know a few of you guys do, it’s good to know I’ve got access to real-time opinions/knowledge.

Like anything I first get into, I’ll probably go middle ground on gear to stay away from the crap but also stay away from what’ll break the bank until I know more about it.

 

Ouch. That's one thing I worry about when I eventually end up in the Outer Banks. But I guess it comes with the territory.

Agreed. My $85 combo is still kicking though . Nineteen years and counting. Still use it when I go on my week long trips just to do it.

Middle of the road is definitely a good place. I'm about 3.5 hours from the Outer Banks. The friends I tell to buy cheap are the ones who might go once a year with me, or might go once and not go back. I've moved some of my older cheaper stuff into the "loaner" category for people who come but don't have anything to fish with.

Look into the Penn spinning combos (again, Penn whore), unless you want to go straight to a casting reel. Same concept as a baitcaster, but way bigger, and way bigger blow ups.

I'll talk about surf fishing all day long, so any questions, just ask.

Yup. I picked up a Penn Fierce II combo (10' rod and Fierce II 6000 reel) for $110 on special one year down there.

 

how far is it from Cape Lookout? would like to do some beach driving/camping

 

@uurx maybe can think about the beach camping trip?

 

I’ve started down the rabbit hole of YouTube videos on surf fishing...the bad thing about that is that recommendations are all over the place and weeding out the crap videos gets cumbersome.

What would you recommend for somebody who already has lots of fishing gear and loves to fish but nothing in the surf category?

What do I need to get started in regards to rods, reels, tackle, etc.? I’m thinking budget friendly (again, middle of the road and good quality) but not limited by budget either.

 

Negative ghost rider...but you can ride a bicycle on the beach if you wanted.

The only beach around here that you can drive on is The Sands Beach in Port Royal, but it’s tiny and not much to drive on.

 

no budget build?

 

https://www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/camping.htm

 

Yes.

Hahaha...I just don’t want a $30 Walmart special that’ll break on the first cast. I’ll spend some money on quality but also don’t want a $500 rod.

NC is friendlier to beach driving and camping than SC is.

 

I forgot you guys were in SC. Disregard my comments about Cape Lookout.

 

There are plans for OBX trips listed on the first post...so don’t disregard too much!

 

It is the Carry On you can get from Lowe’s but it’s a 3.5’ x 5’ and the perfect size for a lot of stuff around the house and double duty for the RTT, kayak, etc.

I flipped the axle to raise it and when I went back to trailer tires on it, I ditched the 12” wheels and put 15” wheels on it. With the axle flip and 15” wheels it raises the trailer to a perfect height. You’ll have to modify the tiny fenders though. I cut them off for the full-size wheels and they wouldn’t have fit with the 15” trailer wheels either. I kept the small fenders and will weld them back on after opening them up a bit.

You don’t even know it’s back there when dragging it around.

 

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Carry-On-Trailer-3-5-ft-x-5-ft-Wire-Mesh-Utility-Trailer/3680952

They now have it listed cheaper than what I picked it up for...and I got it on sale.