Surf fishing is a popular and exciting way to spend a day at the beach, jetty, or pier, but requires the right knowledge to be successful. Using the right surf fishing rig can be the difference between catching the fish of a lifetime or nothing at all!
This article breaks down the best surf fishing rigs including how to tie the rigs, when to use them, and how to fish them.
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
Best Surf Fishing Rigs
Surf fishing rigs are designed to get your bait to feeding fish. Surf rigs include hooks, weights, leaders, swivels, and beads in various orientations that affect how your bait is presented.
Fish Finder Rig
The Fish Finder Rig is the most popular surf fishing rig. It is especially popular amongst striped bass anglers on the East coast. The fish finder rig is a great all-around surf fishing rig that isn’t too difficult to tie, is versatile, and has great bait presentation. When in doubt, a fish finder rig is a good choice for surf fishing.
Pros:
- Great bait presentation
- Versatile
- Easy to swap weights
Cons:
- Time consuming to tie
- Snags easily
Part of the fish finder rig’s versatility is the sliding sinker sleeve. It allows quick changeouts of sinkers to match wind, current, and wave conditions. It also allows the angler to pay out line to cover water and “find fish”. The weight will stay in one spot while the current pulls the bait towards feeding fish.
Carolina Rig
The Carolina Rig, or C-Rig, separates the bait from the weight with 6 to 18 inches of leader line. This separation allows a more natural bait presentation in the water. Carolina rigs are popular in the freshwater bass fishing community, but are also effective while surf fishing.
Pros:
- Natural bait presentation
- Great to cover water
Cons:
- Somewhat complicated to tie
- Cannot change the weight without retying the whole rig
The Carolina Rig will pull through bottom structure slightly better than a fish finder rig because the weight is in-line with the swivel, bead, and hook. One downside can be if you want to change your weight, you need to retie the whole rig whereas with a fish finder rig you can just clip/unclip different weights.
Knocker Rig
A knocker rig is a sliding sinker on your main line, a hook, and an optional bead to protect your knot. More often than not, I find myself tying a knocker rig when fishing live bait in the ocean. The knocker rig is the simplest surf fishing rig short of free lining.
Pros:
- Simple
- Easy to tie
- Lose less tackle when snagged or bit off
Cons:
- No leader means it’s easier to be bit off by sharp-toothed fish
- Bait presentation can be worse than other rigs
If your line is taut, the knocker rig’s weight will be immediately next to your bait. This can cause unnatural bait presentation in the water column.
That said, many times the downsides of the knocker rig can be completely negated. I feel like if saltwater fish species see a tasty live shrimp, they don’t care that the knocker rig presentation isn’t perfect. Also, I have caught dozens of redfish, flounder, sheepshead, speckled trout, and black drum on knocker rigs without my line breaking due to not having a sturdy leader.
Drop Shot Rig
Drop Shot Rigs include a weight at the end of your fishing line with a single bait suspended 6 to 12 inches above it. Drop shotting is extremely popular in the largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing community, but is also an effective rigging for surf fishing!
Pros:
- Great bait presentation above the bottom
- Relatively simple to rig
Cons:
- Sometimes more bait is better in saltwater (go high low rig)
- No leader means it’s easier to be bit off by sharp-toothed fish
Drop shot rigs are a great option when crabs, saltwater catfish, and other smaller fish keep eating your bait off of bottom rigs. These critters are less likely to eat your bait if it’s suspended 6 to 12 inches off the bottom with a drop shot rig.
High Low Rig
The High Low Rig is similar to a drop shot rig but has two baits instead of one. One bait is ‘high’ and one bait is ‘low’ which is where the high low rig name comes from. High low rigs can catch all surf species, but it seems like anglers primarily use high low rigs for flounder, striped bass, and surfperch.
Pros
- Two baits in the water
- Cover multiple water depths
Cons
- Difficult to tie
- Can snag or get twisted up
Hopefully you can partake in a feeding frenzy where you double up and catch two fish on your high low rig with one cast! Like with the drop shot rig, high low rigs are a good way to get your bait off the bottom if you’re having trouble with crabs or other smaller fish stealing your bait.
Conclusion
In conclusion, having the right tackle to match the surf conditions is key to picking the best surf fishing rig. A fish finder rig is a great place to start, but some other options like a high low rig or knocker rig may make sense if you’re having problems with snagging or crabs and other nuisance fish stealing your bait.
Having the right surf fishing rig is only the start. Make sure you know everything about surf fishing, like how to read the surf, to increase your odds of a successful trip.
Surf Fishing Rig FAQs
Commonly asked surf fishing rig questions.
What kind of bait for surf fishing?
Most surf fishing rigs are used with live bait like live shrimp, mullet, cut bait, squid, or crab on a circle hook. Bucktails and gulp are good artificial options.
What size hook for surf fishing?
The best all-around size hook for surf fishing is a 2/0 circle hook. Circle hooks are designed to hook fish in the corner of the mouth and are less likely to gut hook fish.
What size rod is best for surf fishing?
The best rod for surf fishing with bottom rigs for most people is a 10 to 12 foot surf rod with medium to medium-heavy power and moderate to fast action. This type of rod can cast far enough to reach the current troughs in the surf that fish frequent, and have enough backbone to reel in big surf species. Check out our article on the best surf fishing rods for excellent options.
What size reel is best for surf fishing?
The best reel for surf fishing with bottom rigs is a saltwater spinning reel in the 4000-6500 size range. These reels are large enough to handle big surf fish species and can hold enough line to allow surf anglers to cast as far as the long surf rods will allow. Check out our article on the best surf fishing reels for excellent options.
What size sinker is best for surf fishing?
A 2 oz pyramid sinker is the best all around option for surf fishing. Bring sizes from 1/2 to 4 oz to cover situations with increased or decreased wind, wave, and current activity. Rougher conditions require heavier weights to stop your bait from getting pushed around.
Written By: Andrew Juran
Andrew is a seasoned angler with over 25 years of experience fishing across the United States. He has caught hundreds of fish using various techniques and mentored many in the art of fishing. An advocate for sustainable fishing, Andrew is an active member of the Coastal Conservation Association, an organization committed to marine conservation.
For frequent fishing tips, behind-the-scenes looks, and real-time catches, connect with Andrew on Instagram
