The Fish Finder Rig is the most popular surf fishing rig for good reason. It’s versatile, beginner friendly, and catches fish. Heck, it’s called a Fish Finder Rig. If you want to catch fish in the surf, you need to know how to use a Fish Finder Rig.

This definitive guide answers:

*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.

What is a Fish Finder Rig?

The fish finder rig is a bottom fishing rig consisting of a hook, leader line, and barrel swivel tied to a main line with a sliding sinker sleeve and attached sinker. Waves and current can freely pull line through the sinker sleeve creating a natural bait presentation and the ability to cover water and “find fish”.

fish finder rig diagram

A Fish Finder Rig is comprised of:

Why Use a Fish Finder Rig?

A fish finder rig is an effective surf fishing rig. You can cast it a mile, it’s beginner friendly, you can cover tons of water to find fish, and it just plain catches fish. This rig is predominately used while surf fishing where the waves and current can freely move the bait around to entice feeding fish. We’ve also had great success with fish finder rigs in inshore tidal channels picking up fish like redfish, flounder, speckled trout, sheepshead, and black drum as they pass through.

How to Tie a Fish Finder Rig?

To tie a fish finder rig:

  1. Slide sinker sleeve & bead onto main line
  2. Tie main line to swivel
  3. Tie 1-2 feet of leader line to other side of the swivel
  4. Tie hook to end of leader line
  5. Connect sinker to sinker sleeve
fish finder rig diagram

A popular variation to the rig includes adding a peg float on the leader line. This peg float helps get the bait off the bottom which can help with bait presentation as well as get your bait away from nuisance crabs and saltwater catfish looking for a free meal.

fish finder rig with float diagram
Adding a peg float can help get your bait off the bottom

How to Fish a Fish Finder Rig?

Fish finder rigs are predominantly used surf fishing with live or cut bait. Rig up live shrimp, cut bait, mullet, squid, sand fleas, or crab on your rig and cast it out into the surf. Try to read the beach and find active feeding fish in troughs or cuts in the surf.

Cast your rig out and let it sit while you wait for a bite. You can either hold your rod or put it into a rod holder. If a big fish picks up your bait, you’ll know it as it starts peeling line off your reel! Circle hooks tend to hook fish in the corner of the mouth so there is no need to set the hook.

Periodically reel in your rig to ensure crabs or other fish haven’t stolen your bait.

If you don’t get a bite after 15 minutes in a spot, think about casting to a different spot on the area. Keep casting around until you find fish!

Fish Finder Rig vs Carolina Rig

The main difference between fish finder rigs and the Carolina rig is how the weight is connected to the rig. The fish finder rig’s weight is connect to the sliding sinker sleeve and can be easily swapped. The Carolina rig’s weight is in-line on the main fishing line and requires retying the whole rig to swap.

carolina rig vs fish finder rig diagram
The Carolina Rig and Fish Finder Rig differ in how the weight is connected

Carolina rigs are a great variation of the fish finder rig if you keep getting snagged. The in-line sinker on the Carolina rig snags a bit less than the fish finder rig’s sinker and sliding sleeve.

When to Use a Fish Finder Rig?

If you are fishing with live or cut bait in the surf, think about using a fish finder rig. It casts long distances, is simple to fish, and is a great tool to find fish. It is a great option for any beach, jetty, or pier fishing in the ocean.

Fish finder rigs are great for catching common surf species like redfish, striped bass, black drum, speckled trout, flounder, pompano, and bluefish.

Best Rod and Reel for Fish Finder Rig Fishing

The best rod for surf fishing with bait 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.

10 foot st croix triumph surf travel rod with penn battle iii spinning reel pier fishing
Casting distance can be a key consideration when using a fish finder rig. Bring a rod long enough to cast to the target zone!

The best reel for surf fishing with bait 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.

Conclusion

Fish finder rigs are popular amongst surf anglers across the country. It’s a powerful fishing technique that savvy anglers should always have in their back pocket. Make sure on your next trip to the beach, jetty, or pier that you have one rigged up!

Fish Finder Rig Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Fish Finder rig best for?

The fish finder rig is best for fishing in the surf with live or cut bait for striped bass, redfish, flounder, and speckled trout.

How long should a fish finder rig be?

Fish finder rig leaders should be 1 to 2 feet long. Too much longer and the rig becomes unwieldy to cast.

Can you use a fish finder rig with braid?

Braided fishing line is great for fish finder rigs due to it’s superior strength and small diameter. Mono or fluoro is recommended for the leader line portion of the rig.

andrew juran holding largemouth bass held vertically

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