I have fished the surf for many years with a lot of very experienced old timers and I know I will get howled down but their name for Alvey reels is "Idiot Winders". I myself have tried using them and if you want a reel to twist your line up in a very short time - they are the reel for you.
I use a Mitchell 499 - yes I know it is an old reel but it has no bail arm, few moving parts and a huge drag. I have paired this up with a Butterworth 5 wrap 14 foot rod. Up until recently I had Tortue 20 pound mono but have recently taken that line off, which by the way has been on the reel for 8 years and is still as strong today as the day it went on, with 15 pound braid.
What a difference the braid makes in the surf. No stretch means you feel the smallest of bites and when you need to strike, the hook sets good and hard.
I have used this combo to pull fish from small whiting up to 15 kg jewfish and 6 foot bronze whaler sharks with no problem at all.
Any good quality egg beater, like a Shimano or Diawa if you look after it and wash it with fresh water when you get home will handle the surf.
Rigs vary from a simple paternoster rig to a running sinker rig with a 3-4oz ball or bean sinker to get you out the back should get you in the hunt. I agree with other posters that the lighter you fish the better with sinkers but when the surf is pounding and you need to get out past the break then a larger sinker is the go. Hooks vary as well depending on what you areb targeting but a good long shank hook in the 1 to 1/0 size will catch most fish like bream and flathead.
It is suprising how close to the beach some fish will come if the gutter is deep. I have caught tailor and bream no more than 15 metres out from the sand.
Some memorable days have also been had casting metal slice lures for tailor and salmon on 7 mile beach near Shoalhaven Heads. Best morning was over 70 tailor - kept 5 for a feed and let the rest go.
The beach is great place to fish. I watched and asked the old timers and have learnt from them to read a wash, where the gutters are and what times and baits are the best for target species. Fresh bait is best and once you have learned to catch beach worms - don't worry you will master it after 20 or thirty failed attempts, you will catch plenty of fish.
Chenz
I do not wish to be a member of any club that would have me as a member
Former Owner of The Red Terror - 1992 Defender 200Tdi
Edjitmobile - 2008 130 Defender
. I do a bit of estuary fishing but i have never done any beach fishing and hence i am unsure of what sort of tackle i need to use. Can anybody advise me on suitable tackle i should purchase? (ie. hook types and sizes, swivels, sinkers etc). The rod is capable of taking 6-10kg fishing line. Which size would be the best to go for?
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