Swim Baits from Surf for Beginners

[BIGPOPPER]

Thanks Leif. This has been truly helpful. I do have a couple of the lures that you mentioned and have caught stripers on the spoon. No luck on the others yet. I agree with fishing heavy surf and not casting too far. My most productive days are usually under these conditions. Observation confirmed. Note: Wear eye protection, the wind can really do damage. And I guess now I won't get that 11' rod I almost ordered.
So the swim bait w/ jighead, would you consider that High, medium or low?
Or is it the retrieve that determines that?

[Leif]

Originally Posted by BIGPOPPER

Thanks Leif. This has been truly helpful. I do have a couple of the lures that you mentioned and have caught stripers on the spoon. No luck on the others yet. I agree with fishing heavy surf and not casting too far. My most productive days are usually under these conditions. Observation confirmed. Note: Wear eye protection, the wind can really do damage. And I guess now I won't get that 11' rod I almost ordered.
So the swim bait w/ jighead, would you consider that High, medium or low?
Or is it the retrieve that determines that?

Bigpopper,
You are welcome, glad this helped. The swim bait with the jig head like the paddle tail shad can be worked at different depths depending on the weight.
Generally if you are fishing off the beach you will be on the bottom most of the time. I had the most success with these types of lures off the ends of the jetties and like the storm shad in white in different sizes. The hooks and weights are secure inside the lure and won't slip off the hook like the paddle tail style with the jig head. They work really well though and can be fished with different weight. Ir you like these type of baits, try the Storm rubber eels with the lead lip at night. They can be deadly.

Leif

[BIGPOPPER]

Originally Posted by Leif

Bigpopper,
You are welcome, glad this helped. The swim bait with the jig head like the paddle tail shad can be worked at different depths depending on the weight.
Generally if you are fishing off the beach you will be on the bottom most of the time. I had the most success with these types of lures off the ends of the jetties and like the storm shad in white in different sizes. The hooks and weights are secure inside the lure and won't slip off the hook like the paddle tail style with the jig head. They work really well though and can be fished with different weight. Ir you like these type of baits, try the Storm rubber eels with the lead lip at night. They can be deadly.

Leif

Leif,
Thanks a lot Leif. Last season I used only fresh bait and didn't even consider lures. Probably because I was very new to fishing and I took my sons with me regularly. But when the weather got colder and they couldn't go and bait started to dwindle at the bait shops I figured it was time. So my plan is to try them all to figure out what lures work best where I fish. I have been to Sandy Hook, Keansburg Pier and shore, Seabright and Long Branch with plans to visit Island Beach, Deal, Belmar and the Barnegat Inlet for the 2013 season. The poppers, twitch and crank baits seemed pretty straight forward but the swims raised concern. Now I understand.