Surf fishing can be daunting. Standing on the beach looking at the crashing waves and vastness of the ocean makes you feel small. It’s not like a pond or river that you can more easily break down.

Surf fishing and be a bit intimidating to the uninitiated. It’s you against a vast ocean, and even though some lakes are huge, you still feel like the fish are confined enough that you have a shot.

Start with a 10-foot surf rod paired with a spinning reel that can handle 5-8 ounce weights. Focus on structure like jetties, points, and sandbars where baitfish gather. Cast beyond the breaking waves ...