# Surf fishing rig? **URL:** \ **Category:** Hunting/Fishing\ **Created:** [July 28, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784 "2026-07-28T23:12:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fullstop](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/fullstop/32/4598_2.png) [@Fullstop](https://njgunforums.net/u/Fullstop)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/1 "2026-07-28T23:12:14Z")
Looking to put a rig together. In my area we have a lot of bay to fish from shore as well as ocean surf. I want to be able to fish both with one set up. I already have a 7ft medium power ugly stick with a cheaper Shimano 3000 with 15 pound braid.I kinda use that on the boat in the back bay areas. Any advice appreciated šŸ‘ ---
**Author:** ![DirtyDigz](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/dirtydigz/32/2609_2.png) [@DirtyDigz](https://njgunforums.net/u/DirtyDigz)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/2 "2026-07-29T00:44:36Z")
Paging @Sudsy ---
**Author:** ![JohnnyB](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/johnnyb/32/61_2.png) [@JohnnyB](https://njgunforums.net/u/JohnnyB)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/3 "2026-07-29T01:45:08Z")
Buy a boat! ---
**Author:** ![Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/sudsy/32/113_2.png) [@Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/u/Sudsy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 4:10am UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/4 "2026-07-29T04:10:40Z")
You can use the same setup for bay and beach - inlets and rivers with fast deep moving water require something very different For the surf the average length used is 10ā€™, although 9ā€™ and 11ā€™ (my favorite) are also common. From the surf you need the length to get distance on your cast, something not usually as important in the bay where you can wade much further out I donā€™t know where youā€™re fishing which makes it impossible to make a good recommendation. Atlantic City south requires some big casts to reach fish as the bottom recedes more gradually then it does up north. Getting to that second bar can be tough. 11ā€™ rods and longer are more common. Iā€™m not a fan of Ugly Sticks and other glass heavy rods as they have no feel to them and very gentle hits will be missed. Theyā€™re terrible for plugging as you canā€™t feel what the lure is doing. There are lots of options with the rods. To be honest the difference between a medium priced rod and a higher end rod is not that much. The differences between a lower priced reel and a better reel is huge. Put your $$ into the reel and upgrade the rods over time. Most important, stay away from Walmart and Dicks ---
**Author:** ![Fullstop](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/fullstop/32/4598_2.png) [@Fullstop](https://njgunforums.net/u/Fullstop)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 11:06am UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/5 "2026-07-29T11:06:17Z")
> [@JohnnyB](#): > > Buy a boat! Im looking.šŸ‘ ---
**Author:** ![planenut](https://njgunforums.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/ecb155/32.png) [@planenut](https://njgunforums.net/u/planenut)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/6 "2026-07-29T12:43:23Z")
He canā€™t theyā€™ve all been acquired for the emergency marine salvage operations that are being conducted right now by NJ gun owners šŸ˜† ---
**Author:** ![PJ-JJ](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/pj-jj/32/4199_2.png) [@PJ-JJ](https://njgunforums.net/u/PJ-JJ)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 1:42pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/7 "2026-07-29T13:42:59Z")
Iā€™m lucky my bil built me a custom surfrod, itā€™s 11ā€™ lamiglass rod. love it but havenā€™t used it in a long time as I rarely have time to get to the beach to fish since Iā€™m teaching everyday. I had a Shimano reel on it, I believe it broke now I have a penn. ---
**Author:** ![Fullstop](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/fullstop/32/4598_2.png) [@Fullstop](https://njgunforums.net/u/Fullstop)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/8 "2026-07-29T15:21:44Z")
> [@Sudsy](#): > > donā€™t know where youā€™re fishing Im in the Little Egg Harbor/Tuckerton area. Ill fish more north than south. Atlantic city probably the furthest south ill go. ---
**Author:** ![Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/sudsy/32/113_2.png) [@Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/u/Sudsy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/9 "2026-07-29T20:44:26Z")
Your best move is to buy something here. > **[General Buy/Sell/Trade Forum](https://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/forum/89-general-buyselltrade-forum/)** > > This is the catch all forum for buying/selling and trading all the items that do not have their own specific BST Forum. General merchandise, rods, reels, trucks, tools, clothing, waders, boots, etc, etc. I know I personally have probably moved $10k worth of gear though here in the last 20 years ---
**Author:** ![Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/sudsy/32/113_2.png) [@Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/u/Sudsy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 8:49pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/10 "2026-07-29T20:49:13Z")
> [@Fullstop](#): > > Im in the Little Egg Harbor/Tuckerton area. So youā€™ll probably be spending the majority of your time on LBI Youā€™re going to want a rod that can throw. My team won a surf tournament there only because I was getting 10 yards further than everyone else and was the only one getting fish. There are places in the island where the bar is pretty far out there. 11ā€™ Daiwa Ballistic Surf and a Daiwa Surf Saltiga spooled with 20 lb braid throwing a bank sinker teaser rig ---
**Author:** ![Fullstop](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/fullstop/32/4598_2.png) [@Fullstop](https://njgunforums.net/u/Fullstop)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2026, 10:55am UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/11 "2026-07-30T10:55:45Z")
You like the conventional reels over the spinners for surf fishing? ---
**Author:** ![Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/sudsy/32/113_2.png) [@Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/u/Sudsy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/12 "2026-07-30T14:55:10Z")
I do for both plugging and bait but Iā€™m in the minority - and Iā€™ve been casting with them since I was 10 years old. I donā€™t recommend plugging conventional to start with, unless youā€™re already comfortable with the platform, like coming from a largemouth background ---
**Author:** ![Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/sudsy/32/113_2.png) [@Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/u/Sudsy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2026, 2:57pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/13 "2026-07-30T14:57:18Z")
> [@Fullstop](#): > > You like the conventional reels over the spinners for surf fishing? And FWIW, the Surf Saltiga is a spinning reel ![SurfSaltiga](https://njgunforums.net/uploads/default/original/2X/0/0e444e75960e1819019449a6fe39ff2591b37c47.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![DirtyDigz](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/dirtydigz/32/2609_2.png) [@DirtyDigz](https://njgunforums.net/u/DirtyDigz)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2026, 3:09pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/14 "2026-07-30T15:09:19Z")
@Sudsy - Got a recommendation for an ā€œentry levelā€ pole/reel/lures to try ā€œfirst timeā€ surf fishing in the Manasquan/Bay Head/Point Pleasant beach areas? Might give it a try, donā€™t want to sink tons of money into it initially. ---
**Author:** ![Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/sudsy/32/113_2.png) [@Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/u/Sudsy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/15 "2026-07-30T15:47:37Z")
I like the Tsunami Airwave series for an entry level rod If you can find a used Lamiglas XS 101 MS (they donā€™t make them anymore) I think that is the best all around plugging rod for NJ/LI that Iā€™ve ever used. If I were to have just one rod, that would be it. Iā€™d put a vintage Penn 706 Z on it spooled with 20# original Fireline (the fuzzy stuff) Thatā€™s a super tough setup that can handle anything you throw at it. Packed with grease the reel can be used underwater (which is common in Montauk and was here as well when we had jetties you could fish the fronts of) This setup caught a lot of fish, I never should have sold it. ![Takin_A_BreakAtCaswells](https://njgunforums.net/uploads/default/original/2X/5/594d936fa0c49a29e3232fe4ce9c40f522685dc8.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/sudsy/32/113_2.png) [@Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/u/Sudsy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/16 "2026-07-30T15:53:23Z")
And FWIW the XS 101 MS is the factory build on the GSB 120 1L blank. If you ever stumble on a custom on this blank itā€™s worth grabbing ---
**Author:** ![DaddyNick](https://njgunforums.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/278dde/32.png) [@DaddyNick](https://njgunforums.net/u/DaddyNick)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/17 "2026-07-30T17:07:08Z")
I will 2nd the tsunami rods. This time of year the surf is loaded with the small fish. Croakers, spot, kingfish. All the fluke you want but keeper to throwback ratio is 1:50. For the small fish. Get a couple kingfish rigs. Some fish bites (bloodworm). Before going fishing cut them into 1" pieces. A couple bank sinkers of 1oz 2oz. Cast out and every minute or so reel in a few feet. Sometimes they are farr out or in close. Find where they are. For the fluke a 1oz bucktail with a 3" gulp on the back will usually catch you the fluke, bass and blues. Cast out and drag along the bottom. Crank crank pause. Wait 5-10 seconds. Crank crank pause. Repeat. ---
**Author:** ![Fullstop](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/fullstop/32/4598_2.png) [@Fullstop](https://njgunforums.net/u/Fullstop)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 2:19pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/18 "2026-08-17T14:19:44Z")
Wondering what braid strength for surf/pier/ jetty fishing. 30 or 40? And probably a dumb question but, does the reel spool need to be full for further casting? ---
**Author:** ![Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/sudsy/32/113_2.png) [@Sudsy](https://njgunforums.net/u/Sudsy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/19 "2026-08-17T17:31:57Z")
Depends on the braid, most break far over their rated strength. I use 20 on spinning, 30 on conventional plugging, and 50 on conventional bait heavers And the less line on the spool spinning, the less distance casting (more friction) ---
**Author:** ![Fullstop](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/fullstop/32/4598_2.png) [@Fullstop](https://njgunforums.net/u/Fullstop)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784/20 "2026-08-17T17:45:16Z")
Thank youā€‹šŸ‘ [Next page](https://njgunforums.net/t/surf-fishing-rig/4784.md?page=2)