This may be a rehash of an old thread...sorry if it is....bbbuuttttt....back when I started surf fishing I was often told you don't need a long cast as most of the time they(fish) are right at your feet. The more I fish, the more I realize getting it way out there is very important, particulary for real large fish. Most of the time they're not in close.

How critical is casting distance to you when surf fishing and why? As usual, give some real life examples of what you've experienced....

Not as important as most people may think....they are at your feet more often than not! I think the only advantage of a long cast is you can cover more water on your retrieve. No need to kill yourself trying to "go long". Read the water, choose your zones and work them accordingly! Most of the time I get my takes halfway through the retrieve! If your pride is how far you can cast.....then have at it. I am out there to catch fish!:fishin:

The structure at high tide ends up being 70+ yards off the beach from where I scouted at low tide. I think depending on the tide stage you fish, a long cast can be very neccesary. Most of my bigger fish, where not right in the wash. With an on shore wind though, it seems they are closer than a calm night with a full moon.

There are some canal holes that you need to be able to cast to as well.

Most of the time I get my takes halfway through the retrieve!

I think they somtimes follow it a ways before striking, thus you're well into your retrieve before anything happens.....

I think casting distance from shore is much more important during the day than at night. As someone who fishes from a boat as well, I have frequently seen that fish will be only at certain depths (which often equates to certain distances from shore). Maybe they're at 30-40 feet (which could be 150+ yards from shore) and you won't see a single fish at 25 feet or shallower. During the day, the fish tend to prefer deeper water (thus longer casts required).

At night it's a completely different story. My shore experience is that the fish are much closer to the shore and less spooky at night. Also, if there's some good wave action and moving water the fish will, literally, be right at your feet (as in the first break from the beach).

My 2 cents.

I've seen breaking fish out of my range that I wish I could have had a chance at but I agree with Larry that it's not all about distance. With that said I am gearing myself this year with a rod that has more distance than my current setup. Glad I could be of absolutely no assistance to you on this!:wave:

I think it all depends where one is fishing to having an relevance, distance wise.

A long cast is very important at times.... I have had several large fish hit it as soon as it hit the water...

alot of times especially in the fall when your on the beach birds over busting fish and there that extra distance you don't have.

If you can't reach the fish it is....

Somtimes you get them on the end of your cast .. have also had them swim behind me .. I think long cast just adds to your game.. One real life example ,, You have a inlet way down the beach to your left ..(larry?) You can see a cross current visibly in the water out in front of you .. When the tide is lower you can reach this fish highway as the tide comes in, you loose you access to it . You can still see it out there and many times boats will anchor in it and catch while your out of reach . not always ,,but sometimes they'll stay out there . seen it 100 times . I think casting/swimming is a big plus at Cutty as seen recently . Even in the club glory days a chummer and walking out on a stand were necessary . given antique tackle i know . A good cast is a plus overall ..

I think they somtimes follow it a ways before striking, thus you're well into your retrieve before anything happens.....

agree ,, I think they are much like fresh water bass .. If it starts getting shallow they fear thier prey might escape and take ..

Sweetwater put it well. We fish the same piaces, if you can't let it fly 100yds or better you can't hit the edge of the drop off. Which is usually holding fish. We specifically use gear to let us do this, as does 2na. It's not always necessary, but some spots need the ability of distance. Like golf, at times you have to to be able to bring out the Big dog to play the course.

For me, it depends on when and what I'm using. If tins and pencils max distance is a lot more important during the day and at 1st light than when throwing swimmers at night. But if I'm throwing eels at night I found a few more feet can be the difference from getting the attention of the fish out a little further and drawing them in or not (and that is why I prefer eels 14-18" long with some heft rather than shoestrings - heft=rod load=distance). I believe with eels a lot of times the bass will follow into the 1st wave where they have all of the advantages - the eel is pinned to the beach so it can't escape towards shore or down, and the eel can't swim through the wave action like the bass can. Many times when I was just about to pull the eel out of the water for another throw the bass would strike 5' away (it made me learn to complete the whole retrieve, just like finishing a check in hockey). You think that that bass is just in the 1st wave, but I think she's been stalking and it's time to strike.

Then again, when I'm sight fishing in the spring in daylight it is not uncommon to seen a cow run the gutter 5' from shore straight down the beach.

It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

very good Bobby - the Big Dog is what I refer to my #1 long rod as. Tin Cup reference!

i think it depends on the spot and what you're using. some places like the canal when the fish are busting in the middle a long cast is required. other places like in Gansett or Jamestown you have deep water right at your feet so distance isn't too much of a factor(except in one place we fish where getting your eel out to an offshore reef is critical). when fishing eels, i think having the ability to cast further is only going to put you at an advantage. eels dont cast that well and the longer you can keep them in the water the better chance a fish has at finding it...

i personally have gained alot with distance...not because i am fishing deeper water but because i can reach structure that i would otherwise not be able to reach...not to mention the greater water coverage on the retrieve...although i must say several times i cast almost parallel to the shore with my plug only about 5 yds off the beach/rocks which is usually the most productive...

If you are plugging, casting distance is crucial. It gives you something to do while you're not catching anything.

I don't know what happens at night, but by day a plug or even a small fly moving towards a large fish at the same depth will spook it. Prey doesn't act that way. I'm sure this is one of the reasons fooling fish in current (where your offering is swept to them naturally) is easier. Because of this, I usually try to make my first casts short and with a surface plug, then extend and go deeper from there.

Another factor that I think is going on at night is that fish hear the splash of your offering and come to investigate (provided it is not too close). Landing your offering in deeper water (i.e., a longer cast) probably startles/spooks less fish when it hits.

I'm also pretty certain that in shallow rocky places fish feed differently by day than at night. By day they seem to either set up ambushes, or patrol in very close looking for bunker/herring that hug the shore in inches of water. By night they are often out hunting lobster in deeper water..........which is what I think these big needles imitate.

Finally, the depth of your retrieve often becomes important. With plugs there is often only a short distance when your plug is at the ideal depth. Longer casts give you more chance to work on getting your plug down to where it needs to be.

"The Dad Fisherman" has it perfectly correct...

Depends on where you are. But all and all, the long cast is a definite weapon you should have in your arsenal.

If you can't reach the fish it is....
Ha:kewl:

The longer your cast, the more water you cover no matter what lure or bait you use. This is a great advantage I think.

still trying to invent the Handy Dandy Pluggzooka 3000.

able to reach Fall Blitzes 1/4 mile away,
able to send eeeeeeels into gale force winds,
able to launch PoJee #7's into the cockpits of spotter planes!!!
:bl: :bl: :bl:

most my takes are within 20 yards of shore, and
i agree with numby on the follow of plugs, depending on the size of the fish.
i don't think the BIGGUNS are going very far to suck down a snake, neddle, darter, or jig.

distance seems to be the most important for me from shore when blitzing fish are out of reach,
or the off shore reef is too distant. that's why i seek those honey holes that ARE castable and not
nearly as frustrating. for me, as others have said, casting distance is spot specific.

i think that IS why God invented the wetsuit??
:hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

Depending on the situation it may or may not be important to me. In the surf I prefer to wade/swim out to deeper water so I don’t have to worry about casting too far or working fish in through shallow boulder filled water. In other situations it really matters for example fishing the river in the spring when a lot of times most of the fish are in the deeper channel far offshore.

For this thing we do, one has to be able to get out there when one has to. All of the time? No, just when needed. And there will be those times.:kewl:

All depends on where the fish are, most of the times they are at your feet

A guy from breakaway rods was asked this question and he said if it wasn't important why do people buy boats. Truth be told, being able to cast far is just one more tool you can use and some times it makes all of the difference between fish or no fish.

Why DO people buy boats?? They are always casting into the shallows????:tm:

[QUOTE=BigFish;665189]Why DO people buy boats?



Because you can't Yo Yo from the surf :hidin:

My game has lots of emphasis on long casting...If you can't bomb it out there you'll never know what your missing that is for sure..
Are there times when I feel I am wasting time casting way out.Absolutely, But I can always throttle back.
I can tell ya what, there's a spot in the canal lots of folks fish with jigs today.They did not know this spot existed when they fished it with mono.I was talking with Slip about this this smorming.
This fall I was fishing in Montauk through one of the blitzes.I could see a obvious shelf about a hundred or more yards away.While everyone was catching 10-15 lb keeper fish right at their feet with these little bucktails.I put on a pencil and made a looong cast's.My friend looks at me like I have a third eye.Well he was changing lures quick when he noticed the size of the blow-up I had and the mid 20 lb fish I was reeling in.There was three of us in the middle of about fifty guys catching these much better fish that IMO where riding along the edge of the shelf.While everyone else was just awestruck.
I can list many many times the long cast has worked to my advantage..
One night a few years ago in Montauk we had a decent bite on needles and darters the usual fair.10-20 lb fish.
Well as the tide dropped the bite slowed down.I could see the boat guys working the ripp out in front of me still catching em.I ALWAYS pay attention to the boat guys.
Anyways this told me the fish dropped out and not down tide as they sometimes will at this spot.The next night I was prepared.I put a lure on that I could cast further than the SS darter.When the same thing happened about mid tide I changed it up..I had six fish in a row the last one easily over 35 lbs that straightened my siwash hook in front of me.I kept asking my friend who continued to go fishless,if he wanted what I was using but he declined.Determined to figure it out with his own lures...Till I dropped the big one right in front of me.
I could go on and on..

I do admit there are times when you have to launch.....and I have no problem getting it out there, but over the last several years if there is one thing I have learned.....its that you do not have to throw your back out on every cast! Read the beach, read the water, pay attention to the structure that shows as the water moves......watch the birds. 10% of the time maybe you need long...the other 90% you need to fish smart!:btu:

It's all relative to each individual location.It's important to survey each location and have a game plan.I like to start short and work my way out.I feel I can catch em all like this..
When I fish off a jetty at night I usually don't put any emphasis on long casts.The structure is at my feet.
I have a technique I use in one spot I fish where I have to make a long cast and the drift my take me 2-3 minutes to catch em not far from right in front of me.I cannot replicate this presentation in a shorter cast no matter how hard I try.
I think if your fishing sand structure there will be lots of times you won't have to throw far at all.I can remember one night I was not getting any.As I walked along there was this log set perfect on the beach.I took a breather to reflect on the situation.
As I walked to the beach I made a cast prior to getting to the waters edge.Wouldn't you know I hooked up.Thats was It, I was standing on top of em.I caught a few more that night the same way fishing off the waters edge..You never know..

In the Canal distance means success (along with knowing how to work whatever is on the end of your line)

On the beach it all depends on the terrain in front of you, most times if your a nightprowler it isn't that important, if you a first light of day guy in the northern reaches of the outer cape, better tape that finger because you are going to need to get all you can out of each cast to be succesful.

I fish New Jersey and in the Southern part of the state the beaches are very flat. Distance is everything on some days.

I have for the last 25+ years cultivated and refined equipment to have a couple set-ups that are at the cutting-edge extreme of casting performance. Today's Japanese Domestic Market reels, the high modulus, zoned action carbon rods and ever evolving braided lines have put so much more water and structure into play.

There are days when the longcast stuff stays in the rack and other days it has saved the trip.

.I can remember one night I was not getting any.As I walked along there was this log set perfect on the beach.I took a breather to reflect on the situation.


Thoughts and prayers to that log

Thoughts and prayers to that log


You have no idea.I played some hoops the other day.
There was a 2.5 earthquake..:err:

You have no idea.I played some hoops the other day.
There was a 2.5 earthquake..:err:

Please tell me someone put that on You-tube:wave:

What..NIB is a athelete.Or was one.I'm kinda sore today..Good sore.BBall is kinda like hockey when I play it.:chased:
I played Hockey over 20 years.As a defensemen you did not want to come down the ice on the NIB...:doh:
Of course that was a while ago..I go on the ice now and they throw me off telling me it's not safe..:rotf2:

In the Canal distance means success (along with knowing how to work whatever is on the end of your line)

Generally distance is a plus in the canal, but it is not always a necessity, especially in the spring when herring and macks hold tight to the shore looking for protection. I've had much success within 25 yards of the shore; however, being able to chuck it 3/4 of the way across the canal helps when fish are breaking and when jigging. Now that I'm able to cast far, believe me I let it ride, but more often than not my fish are taken closer than I expect.

Generally the guys that say distance does not matter can't cast:bl:
Only kidding.
I think distance seems more important down here on LI.
Sometimes the structure, whether a bar , rip or reef is farther out and a good cast is needed to reach it. The guys with the right equipment and can cast are into fish while the rest of the crowd get casting practice and are left scratching their heads. I've seen it many times.
A perfect example occurred a few years back at Montauk. There was a good run of quality fish, 20 - 50 pounds nothing small, laying on a reef way out feeding mostly at dawn and dusk. At dawn there were a couple of fish taken but nothing spectacular, so most of us left after a little while, to get coffee and breakfast. We went back after, just to take a look and a couple friends met us saying the bite turned after we left, but died out again. The 4 of us figured we would check it out anyway.I consider myself a very good caster. One other guy is the best caster I've seen, another is not far behind him and the fourth is a good caster. Well, the fish were still there, but the other guys could not reach them. To hook up you had to have a monster cast and get the lure working within the first 5 cranks or just reel it in and try again. The two guys that could really put it out there had a rise or hook up on every other cast for a couple of hours. My casts were landing about 20 yards behind and i wound landing a few fish. The fourth guy who's casts were about ten yards behind me caught nothing.
Another reason to be able to cast for distance is when standing in a line up most the the guys are pounding the same stretch of water, by reaching a fresh patch of water you can often pick a few extra fish.
A guy who can cast can always shorten his cast if the fish are in tighter.

NIB & Numskull posts... too funny...

If I thought casting did'nt matter I'd go flyfishing

many times the fish are out in that second trauf running up and down the beach. That is about as far as I need to cast. I think more importantly if you have a head wind you need xtra power to get where the fish are.

but over the last several years if there is one thing I have learned.....its that you do not have to throw your back out on every cast! Read the beach, read the water, pay attention to the structure that shows as the water moves......watch the birds. 10% of the time maybe you need long...the other 90% you need to fish smart!:btu:

I really resent this line of thinking; that one is either strong or smart . . .

Why is it presumed that longcasters just whump it out there with no regard to "reading the water?"

For a longcaster to be effective his water reading skills must be refined to an even greater degree than someone who only fishes the slough at their feet. Anybody with a pulse can read a hole 20 yards out; tell me what's going on under that "busy water" 110 yards out . . .

I can't believe that people who can't throw long are so willing to exclude themselves from having a chance to catch the majority of the fish that swim past a spot . . .

In the Canal distance means success

Not always .. I use to fish a spot (chunk) you need to get it out about 5',, then feed the line so it drops .. They are there. This thought must really disgust you . :yak4: :wave:

I think the ledges or edges of the canal are hugely underutilized by most lure fisherman..When you think about it.If your casting out 90 yds and fishing in 45 ft of water your basically fishing straight down.Just imagine your fishing off the roof of a 4 story building.
Them edges got to be filled with all kinds of striper hidey spots.There is no doubt in my mind this is where the really big ones live..The thing is, it is tough to make a decent presentation of any great distance and keep it close to the bottom.The swing in the lure and the irregularities of the sides/bottom along the edge are what add to this. I would bet if you are patient enough you can find the little nuances that might make a 50 ft pc of it very productive.With good sized fish.

I think presentation is more important than distance, but there are always exceptions to the rule: If the fish are breaking farther than you can cast, and they're moving AWAY instead of TOWARDS you.

I have had more success DURING the retrieve, not at the very beginning, so the distance wasn't the deciding factor but was involved to some degree.

Think about it: Fish don't care that you could cast a lure 100 yard, but more on what your lure looks/acts like.
You would get very similar results if the fish hit at 100 yards, 50 yards or 25 feet.
A lot has to do with the marketing position that we all NEED to be able to cast faster, longer, and with heavier weight in order to catch fish.

Remember, most lures are designed to catch 2 things: fish and the fishermen's eye!

I think the ledges or edges of the canal are hugely underutilized by most lure fisherman..

True ,, chunkers know this .. run the rips in close .. Running chunks thru the rocks can turn a fresh spool of ande pink to junk in about 2 hrs.

I really resent this line of thinking; that one is either strong or smart . . .

Why is it presumed that longcasters just whump it out there with no regard to "reading the water?"

For a longcaster to be effective his water reading skills must be refined to an even greater degree than someone who only fishes the slough at their feet. Anybody with a pulse can read a hole 20 yards out; tell me what's going on under that "busy water" 110 yards out . . .

I can't believe that people who can't throw long are so willing to exclude themselves from having a chance to catch the majority of the fish that swim past a spot . . .

Resent away ReelinRod. I was not singling anyone out or putting down how anyone else fishes??? Just expressing my own view and what I have learned since I started fishing. If you for some reason believe I can't throw long....you may want to re-think that as I have no problem going long when and if I need to! I can hang with the big boys if needed!;)

By the way....I am 6' 5" and 300 pounds.....if I am both strong and smart that would be something!:laugha:

Resent away ReelinRod. I was not singling anyone out or putting down how anyone else fishes??? Just expressing my own view and what I have learned since I started fishing. If you for some reason believe I can't throw long....you may want to re-think that as I have no problem going long when and if I need to! I can hang with the big boys if needed!;)

By the way....I am 6' 5" and 300 pounds.....if I am both strong and smart that would be something!:laugha:

6'5" 300! Good thing you haven't been on my skiff Larry! We'd max out the capacity! At 6'2" 280 I'm a close 2nd! I hope one day I can fish with you and Matt here locally.

So it shall be written....so it shall be done!:jester: This year looks wide open right now!:bounce:

You can always cast shorter than your max ability but not longer. Being able to cast far for the 10% of the time it matters is worth learning. At the canal , being able to cast far is definitely an advantage so that you can work the largets area and catch the drift you want where currents form or go into eddys. Thay are not right at your feet in the canal usually.

Ever notice how that peole fishing from boats try to cast toward the shore, and every body from shore cast out to the boats.