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Surf fishing is an awesome form of fishing as it is easily accessible and you don’t need a boat to catch fish, as you can do it from any shoreline on the planet. Plus, there is a plethora of different species to catch from rays to sharks, stripers, and more.
But, surf fishing isn’t as easy as it looks. A lot goes on in the first 100 yards from the shoreline, especially with different bottom types (sand, rocks, stones) to breaking waves, gusty winds, and strong currents.
So how do you keep your baits in the right place and create a rig that entices the species you are targetting? By using the four essential surf fishing rigs every shore angler should utilize!
Join me as I run through these surf rigs, how to tie them, and when to use them. By the end of the article, you will have a surf fishing rig for pretty much every surf fishing situation!
What Are The Top Surf Fishing Rigs?
You will find the top surf fishing rigs listed below and each one is great for a different occasion or reason than the next.
- Whole Mullet Rig
- Fish Finder Rig
- Carolina Rig
- Dropper Loop Rig
Let’s look at them in more detail below.
The Whole Mullet Rig
The whole mullet rig is, surprisingly, an excellent rig to use when you want to fish with a whole mullet as a dead bait. You can use it when targeting sharks, tarpon, bluefish, and any predatory fish that strike at the tail end of a fish.
What Makes This Rig So Good?
The great thing about the whole mullet surf fishing rig is that it allows you to rig a whole mullet and fish it floating off the bottom. This makes it easier for fish in the surf to find and more appealing as it moves around with the swell and current.
Also, the hook sits at the back of the mullet making it an excellent rig for fish that attach the back of baits like bluefish.
What You’ll Need To Rig It
- 1 x 3-way swivel
- 1 x 2 to 4-ounce bank sinker
- 1 x swivel clip
- 1 ft stainless steel wire
- 1 x single or double hook
- 1 x styrofoam float
- 3 ft of mono leader (lb is up to you)
How To Rig It
Attach the bank sinker to the 3-way swivel with the swivel clip. Tie on your main line to the 2nd loop on the 3-way swivel, and your leader to the 3rd loop on the 3-way swivel.
Add the styrofoam float to the end of your leader, tie it onto the stainless steel wire, and slide the float over the knot (an Albright knot is best).
Take your whole mullet and slide the wire down the mouth and out through the anus. Now add your hook to the stainless steel wire and have it sitting inside the mullet.
When To Use The Rig
This is an excellent rig to use in open water or over sandy bottoms as the weight will sit on the bottom. Do not use this rig where there are lots of snags or rocks as the weight will get stuck and you will lose the whole rig.
Another benefit to using the whole mullet rig is that the crabs will not be able to reach the bait, resulting in fewer false bites and longer-lasting bait.
The Fish Finder Rig
The fish finder rig is incredibly versatile and can be used to catch any bottom-feeding species in the surf zone including the likes of bluefish, stripers, snook, and larger species such as halibut, sharks, and tarpon.
What Makes This Rig So Good?
This is an awesome rig to use in strong currents and heavy waves as it utilizes a sliding sinker which helps to keep your bait in position instead of sliding around. This gives the fish more time to find your bait before it is moved off.
Also, this rig uses heavier sinkers than others in order to keep your bait in the zone when the shore currents and waves are intense.
What You’ll Need To Rig It
- 1 x Sinker Slide Clip
- 1 x 2-3 oz Pyramid Weight
- 1 x Fishing Bead
- 1 x Barrel Swivel
- 3 feet of 18 lb fluorocarbon
- 1 x size 2 or 4 hook
How To Rig It
Rigging the fish finder rig is incredibly easy. Simply add the sinker slide clip to the sinker and slide it onto your main line. Then add the fishing bead and tie it to the barrel swivel.
Tie your 18 lb fluorocarbon leader to the other end of the barrel swivel and then add your hook to the other end of your leader.
When To Use The Rig
Since the Fish Finder Rig has your hook and sinker sitting on the bottom of the surf you should only use it over sandy areas and in open water. This way it will not get snagged on the bottom and you won’t lose your rig.
If the current is strong, this is the most effective rig to use as it will hold your bait in place for longer. You can also up the weight of the sinker to match the currents/waves so the bait fishes as well as possible.
The Carolina Rig
The Carolina Rig is one of the most popular surf fishing rigs out there as it is super versatile, effective, and easy to use. It is pretty much a simpler version of the fish finder rig we looked at above.
It is awesome for all surf fishing species that like to hunt close to the bottom but it suffers in strong currents and heavy waves. If the current and winds are intense, then choose the fish finder rig over the Carolina option.
What Makes This Rig So Good?
There are lots of great things about the Carolina Rig which is what makes it the top choice for surf fishermen around the globe. It is easy to tie, streamline, and more sensitive, resulting in better bite detection.
But using a sliding egg sinker, when a fish takes your bait, the sinker stays where it is and the line slides, giving you an instant bite detection.
What You’ll Need To Rig It
- 1 x 1 oz Egg Sinker
- 1 x Fishing Bead
- 1 x Barrel Swivel
- 3 feet of 18 lb fluorocarbon
- 1 x size 2 or 4 hook
How To Rig It
Slide the egg sinker onto your main line followed by the fishing bead and then tie it on to the barrel swivel. Add your leader to the other end of the barrel swivel and tie the hook on the end. Simple as can be!
When To Use The Rig
Like the Fish Finder Rig, the Carolina Rig also has your bait and sinker sitting on the bottom. This means it is perfect for use when you are fishing on sandy bottoms or in open water as it will not get snagged on the bottom.
This is not the best surf fishing rig to use in strong currents or heavy waves as it will easily be dragged around making your bait hard to find for the fish you want to catch.
The Dropper Loop Rig
The Dropper Loop Rig is incredibly versatile and it can be used to catch any surf fishing species you want to target. It is a little different from the other surf fishing rigs we have looked at already and this is how.
What Makes This Rig So Good?
This rig is designed for use in areas with rocky or snaggy bottoms, but can also be used for bottom fishing, and it is also great when surf fishing in deeper areas.
The Dropper Loop Rig has the sinker on the bottom with the hook sitting above it. This keeps the hook off the bottom, stopping it from getting snagged, and ensures a direct connection to any bites you might get too.
What You’ll Need To Rig It
- 1 x 1 oz Bank Sinker
- 1 x Barrel Swivel
- 3 feet of 18 lb fluorocarbon
- 1 x size 2 or 4 hook
How To Rig It
Tie your main line to the barrel swivel. Tie your leader to the bank sinker. Make a loop in the middle of the leader and then wrap the sinker in and out of the loop 8 times.
Once done, take the back side of the loop and thread it through the middle of the 8 turns. Moisten and slowly tighten to form the dropper loop knot. Here is a video as it is quite tricky!
Now slide the loop through the eye of the hook, around it, and pull it back. This has the hook sitting on the loop nicely. Then, tie the end of the leader to the barrel swivel.
One important point to note is that whilst I set up this rig typically as a single hook rig, it can be effective using 2 or even 3 hooks, staggered up to a foot apart from each other.
When To Use The Rig
This rig is best used when you are fishing in deep areas or locations with rocky bottoms or reefs. Be sure to tie a weaker knot onto the sinker so if it does get snagged you can pop it off and not lose the entire rig.
You can also use this rig when you are bottom fishing offshore as it keeps your bait close to the bottom but away from snagging it.
Winding Up
Thank you very much for reading my article. I hope you enjoyed it and have now learned the best surf fishing rigs when to use them, why, and how to rig them.
Using the right surf fishing rig at the right time is key to not losing your gear on the bottom and increasing your chances of catching more fish, so be sure to pick the right one based on the info above.
Why not check out some of our other articles? We cover everything from fishing tactics, such as how to fish from a pier to understanding why tides and seasons can affect your fishing results.
Steve holds a special place in his heart for the mighty Carp and the elusive Tench
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