Surfcasting: Reading the Beach

Like all angling, success from the beach starts with understanding how, where and when to fish. Much is talked about the how – rods, reels, rigs, baits, etc. – but it’s the where and when that’s often the difference between triumph and drawing a blank. 

Our coastal nation is blessed with countless beaches, and I wouldn’t dare try to offer advice on which (or when) beaches or regions might fish better than others. Instead, the focus of this article is on finding the right water once you’re at your chosen beach, as this can be applied to any area around the country. The gurus call this craft ‘reading’ a beach, although most are coy when it comes to imparting their wisdom on the topic.