Getting Ready for Assateague Surf Fishing

[litofishing]

Hello, everyone. I am new to this forum. I live in Charles County, MD (Waldorf), and will be traveling with family to Assateague Island in Sept 09. We intend to RV dry camp on the island. I have not surf fished for years, since I was a kid living on the west coast. I am more familiar with charter boat fishing.

Any advice on how to catch well on AI. I will catch and keep Drum, Strippers, anything...really. My wife thinks that I am crazy planning this far out, but due to other hobbies, family, and work, I don't go fishing out much. For this surf fishing trip to AI, this is what I have for fishing gear right now, and other items:
- 6-8 feet rods (3 each);
- Spinner Reels (3 each);
- 17 lb line on two of the reels; 7 lbs on one (mostly for freshwater); 25+ on one;
- Assortment of lead weights and swivels;
- 1/0 up to 3/0 hooks; No octopus hooks;
- Artificial lures for saltwater is limited (mostly have freshwater stuff);
- Cat litter plastic bucket (5 gallon);
- ATV red wagon (bought for my son to carry around, but very good for rough terrain to carry);
- Portable folding chairs with a little umbrella to attach
- MD fishing license (saltwater);
- Waders (mostly used for freshwater);
- Net with handle about 3 feet long or so;

I think that I need, but please validate, the following:
- Spikes to hold the rods;
- Steel leader or rig for Strippers;
- Mullet for bait (don't have aerator);
- Propane lantern for night fishing (that is legal right for surf fishing??)

I have read about setting up a fish finder rig, and noticed that you can buy those also.

What else??

Thanks.
Lito

[highflyty]

I'd highly recommend bigger rods (I use an 11' and bring a 10' to throw plugs and catch smaller baitfish). A medium to heavy spinning reel is plenty for the surf if you are just out there to catch a fish. I would use 12-14 lb. test on your lightest reel, the 17 and 25 sounds good, but use a lighter line if you plan to throw lures. Make sure all your tackle is heavy! The Assateague surf can be rough, so use 3-6 oz. weights with heavy swivels (I try to stay away from snap swivels in the surf). Hook size really depends on what you wanna catch: the smaller the hook, the small the fish is that will be hooked on the end of your line and vice versa.

I generally use smaller size hooks for spot, small dogfish, kingfish, croakers, and other little guys, while medium and larger sized hooks are a must for bluefish, stripers, flounder, large dogfish, and sharks. I wouldn't worry about having a limited selection of saltwater lures... the only times I really throw them is when I can physically see a blitz or feeding frenzy... if you're out with the kids, I'd just stick to throwing out bait and kickin' it back. The 5 gallon bucket, red wagon, and chairs are always an extremely good idea, and YES, you need need need sand spikes!!! Don't ever let your reels touch the sand and make sure that each time you're done fishing, you clean your reels with hot tap water to prevent the salt from building up/corroding the metal parts within the reel. I surf fish in Delaware mostly and know that it's required to have a fishing license to all 17-65 years of age when surf fishing, and I believe Maryland is the same, so I'd buy the license (better safe than sorry).

The waders will likely be unneeded, but that's a personal choice. During September I usually still just wear shorts and flip flops, but you may decide that it's a bit chilly and the waders would work well. No net required: use the surf and waves to wash your fish in and you'll be fine. Heavy or even steel leaders are never a bad idea in September simply because it is when the bluefish run is in full force. Take caution though... bluefish have teeth and WILL bite you. If you begin have tear offs or the line becomes frayed near the hook, it is more than likely due to the mouths of blues. Make sure you use a needle nose pliers to remove a hook from a bluefish or any toothy fish for that matter. Mullet is fine to use for bait, but they really don't need to be live. Some of my favorite baits include mullet, bunker, freshly caught baitfish from the surf, clams (especially for stripers), Fishbites Articficial Bloodworms (good all around bait), and squid. Night fishing is one of the best times to fish! Assateague is notorious for the big toothy critters prowling the surf on those warm summer nights... yup, I'm talking about sharks.

By September, the sharkin' has died down a little bit as more anglers focus on the blues and the upcoming striper season though, and the sharks move to deeper water. Always always always expect to catch skates and dogfish at night. If you do hook up with a skate, don't bother fighting it to get your hook back, when it comes up to the beach, cut the line a safe distance away from it and let the surf run it back out... they have a nasty, spiny tail that'll hurt like hell if you get nailed by it! Some other things to take into consideration are bringing a sperate cooler (with ice in it) from your food cooler to keep your bait in. If you plan to keep some of your catch, make sure you know the regulations, limits, sizes, and season on all fish. Check your bait every 20 minutes or so.

Try not to "over shoot" the fish... this is especially true at night because many fish will come closer to the shoreline to feed when it is dark. The fish are often times just beyond the breakers, so manke sure you're out far enough that the surf doesn't bring your rig back into the beach, but also not too far as you can sometimes over cast the fish. Hopefully this has been helpful to you, please repost if you have any more questions.


-Tyler

[ffemtreed]

With the equipment you have I would be targeting flounder and bluefish in the surf. You might get onto some king fish if you get lucky.

Keeper stripers are a pretty rare catch for september (although not unhead of) and keeper drum within the slot is pretty rare also. Depending on which part of september you go you might get really lucky and hook into a huge bull red drum. I been trying for 3 years now and I haven't been successfull yet :(

PS-- no fishing license required to fish the coastal areas in MD

[litofishing]

Right now, late September is the targeted time frame.

What months are good in AI for Strippers, Blues, and Drum?

[Sam]

Blue Fish, Black Drum, Stripers: April - May, November - December
Red Drum: September - October

[ffemtreed]

Right now, late September is the targeted time frame.

What months are good in AI for Strippers, Blues, and Drum?

Late September ... go buy a 10 11 or 12 ft rod (tica rods are cheap) and toss as far as you can. use big 8/0 or larger circle hooks and bait with bunker or spot. This would give you the best chance at huge bull red's.

Do a search on these boards for a fishfinder rig and start tying some up now.

[litofishing]

How do you guys handle sharks? I have eaten them and like them, but have never caught one. Is it worth keeping within the regulations, or just cutting line and going for the blues, and red drums?

[ffemtreed]

How do you guys handle sharks? I have eaten them and like them, but have never caught one. Is it worth keeping within the regulations, or just cutting line and going for the blues, and red drums?

Sharks are pretty easy to handle. Just have a large pair of pliers or channel locks to get the hooks out. Obviously don't stick your paws in mouth of a shark. I find the bigger they are, they easier they are to handle.

I think they are putting Sand Bar sharks on the list of species you can't keep, so that only leaves pretty much blacktips and spinners that you can keep from the surf. Unless you really study shark ID I wouldn't be keeping any of them.

Honestly late sept its mostly sand tigers that you are going to catch and baby sand bar/duskys.

Now dogfish sharks on the other hand can be kept and some people say they are quite tasty. I never eaten one so I can't say.

[litofishing]

Thank you, all of you, for the extremely helpful tips.

What about artificial lures? What do most folks use at AI? Are there particular types for particular fish?

[Steve]

[ffemtreed]

[Steve]

[Coop]

Didn't realize sandbar was on the list..I always keep one a season...bummer.

[ffemtreed]

Didn't realize sandbar was on the list..I always keep one a season...bummer.

You will just have to get that big blacktip!

[Steve]

Coop, 12 foot Hammerheads aren't on the list either....
Just a thought.