Paul Stackhouse is the outdoor editor for the Decatur Daily. Today he's served up a saltwater surf fishing primer suitable for anyone who has ever thought about casting a line from the beach.
You don't need a lot of fancy equipment. A little common sense and a couple of tips to shortcut the learning process will have you well on your way to a successful day of surf fishing.
It's a delightful read. One I'm sure you'll enjoy even if you're not a fisherman.
Salt water offers new challenges for some anglers
... Those were the good old days. But whenever it was announced that the family was going camping in Destin, Fla., the good old days turned into great old days. There was something special to me about casting in salt water. I think not having a clue as to what I might catch made trips to the Gulf of Mexico much more exciting than casting a bait in Flint Creek.
When we arrived at the coast, we usually bought frozen bait. There were usually three choices — shrimp, squid and cigar minnows. I usually chose shrimp and squid.
Rarely did we ever have a campsite that wasn't directly on the gulf. I remember waking up at daybreak without an alarm clock, collecting all of my gear, and walking about 40 paces to the beach. That was always a special time for me because I always had the beach all to myself for at least an hour or two.