Surf fishing advice.

[Gaultheria]

Hi everyone, this is my first post and I greatly appreciate the posted advice that I've already sifted through.

My question is regarding surf perch; I am aware that it is popular to use a Carolina rig, but I live walking distance from the beach and would like to open as many opportunities as I can, so I'm putting together tackle for a hi-lo rig as well.
How strong of a leader do I actually need? Most information regarding surf casting implies that a shock tippet is necessary for serious surf casting; my rod is rated to 4 ounces and I am running 30 pound Fireline. I had intended to use a relatively light leader (6-10 lb Ultra Green or 15lb flouro,) but now I'm worried about creating a dangerous projectile. I was hoping to use as little hardware as possible; I'd like to avoid using three-ways and stick to dropper loops, but if that isn't feasible I understand.
I come from a fly fishing background, so 4 ounces of weight is a lot in my mind, and I'd rather stay lighter but the winter swells are nothing to sneeze at.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!
-Ben

 

[Fummus]

Personally I don't use three way swivels or pre-tied Crappie rigs. Dropper loops have worked just fine. As for line weight, far as I know perch aren't line shy so flouro shouldn't be required and I'd think 10lbs leader would work well enough. Don't know about shock tippet, never heard of that for surf perch. Agree that 4oz is a lot of weight, in fact that's my cutoff point. If 4oz won't hold it down, I'll go do something else, somewhere else. My standard baits are sand shrimp (lashed to hook with thread), mole crabs (little grey decapod crustaceans), and Berkly Gulp sandworms.

 

[plumbertom]

Oregon has stopped me from surf fish with the requirement of an ocean endorsement to fish from the beach.
As if they weren't already picking our pockets with the highest priced fishing license in the nation, they chose to make it invalid without extra taxes if you want to fish salt.
Now I can see how that might be okay for offshore fishing from a boat, after all if you can afford a boat what's a little more for another tax on top of the higher than heck tax to register it.
But for Old retirees living on the fixed income from Social security, the extra taxes for things like salmon tax and Columbia River drainage tax, and now the new ocean use tax, it almost seems like Oregon's thieves in the legislature are trying to make this state as undesirable as possible for retirement.

 

[MartinH523]

Hi everyone, this is my first post and I greatly appreciate the posted advice that I've already sifted through.

My question is regarding surf perch; I am aware that it is popular to use a Carolina rig, but I live walking distance from the beach and would like to open as many opportunities as I can, so I'm putting together tackle for a hi-lo rig as well.
How strong of a leader do I actually need? Most information regarding surf casting implies that a shock tippet is necessary for serious surf casting; my rod is rated to 4 ounces and I am running 30 pound Fireline. I had intended to use a relatively light leader (6-10 lb Ultra Green or 15lb flouro,) but now I'm worried about creating a dangerous projectile. I was hoping to use as little hardware as possible; I'd like to avoid using three-ways and stick to dropper loops, but if that isn't feasible I understand.
I come from a fly fishing background, so 4 ounces of weight is a lot in my mind, and I'd rather stay lighter but the winter swells are nothing to sneeze at.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!
-Ben

I have always had my reel spooled with 30lb SpiderWire braid and I make my dual dropper loop rig with 15lb Maxima Chameleon line with a 2oz Tractor weight at the end.
Then I put sand shrimp on one hook and a gulp camo sand worm on the other.
I use 15lb for the dropper in case of the occasional Salmon that swim the surf.

 

[FisherPete]

I've got a 9' medium heavy rod with 50lb braided line, which is probably not needed but I don't think it hurts anything either. I used premade leaders I get from Amazon for different riggings. I go with heavier line and tackle due to the water, not necessarily the fish size. All kind of bait works it seems. I've used Gulp! sand worms and thawed frozen shrimp from the grocery store covered in scent.

That's just what I have. I don't think any of that is perfect. There's no one right way, I like to figure out what I'm good with, what I have and have access to.

 

[plumbertom]

That's just what I have. I don't think any of that is perfect. There's no one right way, I like to figure out what I'm good with, what I have and have access to.

If you are catching fish, you are doing it the right way.

 

[Gaultheria]

I appreciate everyone's responses. I've been doing too much reading online and not enough fishing; I think that I'll remedy that.