| There is much debate in surf fishing circles as to | | | | high-low rig will help keep the bait off the bottom, |
| which surf rigs work the best. Many surf fisherman | | | | and has the advantage of having two baited hooks in |
| use artificial lures and plugs, but after many years of | | | | the water. |
| trial and error, I believe that natural baits will always | | | | The Fish Finder Rig |
| catch many more fish. Detailed here are two surf rigs | | | | There are two main fish finder surf rigs, one is fixed |
| that have taken more fish than any other. | | | | and the other is free running. For the fixed rig tie |
| The High-Low Rig | | | | your hook to one end of a length of 18 to 25 inch |
| To tie the high low surf rig you will need about a 5 | | | | 40lb leader. At the other end tie on a three way |
| foot length of 40-60lb monofilament leader. At one | | | | swivel to which you attach a weight snap and your |
| end of your leader attach a weight snap. The choice | | | | main line. For the free running version of this rig |
| of weight is a personal preference, pyramid sinkers | | | | shorten your leader length to around 15 inches, and |
| work well in the surf, but if a heavy current is running | | | | put a weight slider on your main line before you tie it |
| a sputnik style weight would be better. 12 inches up | | | | to your three way swivel. The free running fish finder |
| from your snap swivel tie two dropper loops roughly | | | | rig casts slightly further than the fixed version, and |
| 15 inches apart for your hooks. Shorter dropper loops | | | | the fish will feel little to no resistance when the bait is |
| tend to work much better for bite detection. Size | | | | picked up. |
| and type of hook are again a matter of preference, | | | | Both of these surf rigs work extremely well with |
| but if you use circle hooks the fish will hook | | | | natural or live baits. If you are after striped bass try |
| themselves and stand less chance of being gut | | | | bunker heads or chunks on the fish finder rig and |
| hooked. 15 inches above the top loop tie on a barrel | | | | fresh clams on the high-low rig. |
| swivel to connect to your main line. Using the | | | | |