surf fishing tips (stripers)

Just got home from fishing ocean beach this evening, and although I was trying not to be discouraged, I quickly realized I must be doing something wrong. My casts were only going about half the distance of the other fishermen out there. I tried heavier lures, & sinkers due to the fact that it seemed that the wind was knocking them back. No luck. Anyone have any practical advice for casting far? I tried to strike up a conversation with some other anglers, but they were extremely rude, & told me to leave!?!? Never been treated rudely by folks that were fishing. They had already caught 5 stripers, and I came over and congratulated them when the 5th one came in. Oh well, I kinda thought there was some code of etiquitte among fishermen, but they sure didn't seem to think so. Oh well I'm pissed, and a little embarrassed, so your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

What type of reel?  Spin or level wind?  What size line?  Is it too big for the reel.  Level wind reel, is the spool drag too tight?

I was using a penn captiva cv6000 spinning reel with a matching 9' rod. 15 lb test. tried frozen chovies vith a 3oz sinker, and 3 different weights of lures. May just be a technique issue, but it sure looked like I was doing the same things they were.

I was using a penn captiva cv6000 spinning reel with a matching 9' rod. 15 lb test. tried frozen chovies vith a 3oz sinker, and 3 different weights of lures. May just be a technique issue, but it sure looked like I was doing the same things they were.

I use 11' G-loomis and 20 lb test line on Okuma spinning reel with 6 oz torpedo sinker.  I was able to gain some extra distance by using the "Breakaway Cannon Casting Aid" (see product link below) especially when I you use braided line.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0002148315671a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=casting+aid&Ntk=Product_liberal&sort=all&Go.y=0&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&Go.x=0&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

If you load up 15lb test enough to get any distance it will snap. You need to put a 30lb shock leader on so you can really load up 9' is a little short but you should be able to get 75yd casts out of it. Go to your local football field and practice practice practice.

Surfcasting is pretty clicky
If you wanna mess with those guys that were so rude to walk way down the beach and toss in a couple of loafs of bread and start walking back their way when they see the birds diving on the bread they will run down the beach and laugh at you as they go by but you will have the last laugh as you fish their spot

If you load up 15lb test enough to get any distance it will snap. You need to put a 30lb shock leader on so you can really load up 9' is a little short but you should be able to get 75yd casts out of it. Go to your local football field and practice practice practice.

Surfcasting is pretty clicky
If you wanna mess with those guys that were so rude to walk way down the beach and toss in a couple of loafs of bread and start walking back their way when they see the birds diving on the bread they will run down the beach and laugh at you as they go by but you will have the last laugh as you fish their spot

:smt044thats awesome mickfish

That's hilarious Mickfish! I'll have to remember that one.

mr5900ar, don't stress about what some jerks said in the parking lot at the beach. If they were keeping 5+ stripers from the surf then they probably weren't the open-friendly-generous-talkative type of fishermen. Those dudes are there to catch fish and bring them home, and anybody else who fishes their spots is "taking fish off their tables." That's a crappy mentality and I may be over-generalizing, but there are guys like that up and down the coast...who fish the beach every day.

It sounds like you're using the right gear. Except I would say that frozen chovies aren't the most aerodynamic thing to cast. There's nothing like a solid metal spoon like a hopkins, mickeys, castmaster, etc. Those things cast a mile, even in wind. Your casting technique has a lot to do with distance. Try different angles, like overhead, three-quarter, sidearm, etc. And really let the rod load up as you begin the casting motion, then follow through with a snap at the end and point the rod tip at the lure.
Also consider trying braid. It does cast farther than mono.
Good luck!
PK

One other note is distance usually does not mean squat.  I have caught more stripers with in 20 yards of the sand then anything else.  Heck, i have had bass beach themselves chasing a pencil popper. 

Surfcasting is pretty clicky
If you wanna mess with those guys that were so rude to walk way down the beach and toss in a couple of loafs of bread and start walking back their way when they see the birds diving on the bread they will run down the beach and laugh at you as they go by but you will have the last laugh as you fish their spot

Tricky I Likey...

Cover some distance on the beach - don't stay in one spot too long if nothing's happening. There's a ton of info on the web about what to look for. Unfortunately, a lot of those guys on the beach are not the friendly types...

5+ stripers caught?  I thought the limit is 2?  They were dicks!  Plain & simple.  No need to be around them.

One guy pulled in three for sure. He was using a silver spoon, and was the rude one. I just found it odd that the guy catching all the fish, was the jerk. I am always happy to catch A fish, let alone several. Oh well I'll just try "breaking bread" with them next time. LOL...

Did he keep 3 fish? If so, he was an a-hole from the get-go & saw you as a threat to his poaching. Either way, he was a prick - keep the bread handy   . . . and 1-888-DFG-CALTIP, too!

PM me if you want to hit the beach some time. I was thinking about going down there this evening but I have a slight aversion to gale force winds... 

5+ stripers caught?  I thought the limit is 2?  They were dicks!  Plain & simple.  No need to be around them.

I second that!! I had the same experience at pacifica pier. I have a friend that live in Montera, he told me they are not open to teaching, showing, or giving any advice, even though I had my son with me. I totally love Mick's bread idea!! You can also get your phone out and take a video of them with over the limits; hopefully that will get them outa there. Hopefully those guys all shoot BLANKS. cause kids fallowing there foot steps is not wghat we need with all the envio's trying to shoot down our coast!

BTW, your gear sounds good. You will always get more distance with hard ware than bait. A longer rod will give you more distance as well.