Beginner surf saltwater fishing - need tips

[m4gnum]

Hello. I am a saltwater fishing beginner. I am usually fishing on Robert Moses (Long Island) bay and open ocean from the shore. Here is what I have - 7' Penn Battle II with Penn Battle II 4000, 10' Penn Fierce with Penn Fierce 8000, 11' Tsunami TSTSS1102H with Penn Fierce 8000 and those which I never used - 12' Shakespeare Alpha, Tackle Industries 8'6 extra heavy, South Bend Condor 585 reel. I usually use 11' for bait fishing with clams or bunkers and spin with 10' and Marathon Diamond Jig with Latex Tail as a lure, all of my rods have 30lb power pro braids and I used 20lb Seaguar fluorocarbon leader, I also have lots of sinkers, swivels and hooks. I just bought a 50lb power pro braid, yellow Gulp swimming mullets, 1/2oz,3/4oz,1oz,2oz bucktails, 2 Ande 50yrd spools 40lb and 50lb for leaders (I dont know if its good) and few pre-made rigs.I am wondering about the Hurricane double bottom drop made from nylon rigs, is it worth anything? So far I caught lots of blue fish (biggest one was 27" so nothing amazing), few striped bass but none takeable , lots of sea rabins and sand sharks, just with using 10 and 11 inch rods spinning and bait. Okay I think I wrote everything about me thats necessary.
Can you give me any advice? What to change or what to do? Flatties and stripers are the ones that I would mostly want to get, I never seen a porgy so it would be also nice to get it.
I really want to catch flounders and flukes, thats why I bought Battle II combo and other stuff. Do you have any suggestions what to use and what to do? I tried fishfinder rig - 3oz sinker on a three way sinker and a teaser with gulp on the hook (fin strike premade) and a twister rig with a squid strip on each hook and a 3oz sinker. I reeled very slowly with quick stops every few seconds but nothing happened. Can you learn me something? What is "the best" rig and how to make it? What to use and how to do it?
Is it possible to catch a mako or thresher shark with surfcasting in NY?
I would also like to try topwater fishing as I seen is very effective, is any of my rods good for it?
Thanks in advance for any help.

[piemma]

OK, so you have put up a ton of info on what you are using. Some OK, some bad, some in the middle.
The best answer I can give you, without hiring a guide to show you the ropes of surf fishing is Google books on beginners surf fishing for Stripers and Blues. There are lots of good books that will give the basics.

If you want to catch stripers I'll give you the following advice:

10' Rod, your penn reels are OK. Switch to 40 or 50# braid and throw live eels at night. That would be a start to catching a decent fish. Now there's a lot more to throwing the eels but get a book and it'll be explained.

Tight lines and good luck.

[Nebe]

I agree with Paul. Eels at night where rocks meet the sand on outer beaches. On the sound fish where estuaries open up into the sound. Finding a mentor to fish with who fishes the same waters is probably the best thing you could do.
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[Clammer]

make our life more enjoyable .. go freshwater ><><

[m4gnum]

Thanks for your reply.
I am going to try again this weekend using your tips.
I tried to make a fluke rig with the 40lb leader material line that I bought but it seems very hard, is that okay or should I buy some lighter leader line?

[bart]

I agree with what has been said, read as much as possible and throw eels. If eels don't interest you try throwing pencil poppers at dawn and dusk.

And change that 20# leader to 50#

[Rappin Mikey]

Grab a black mambo minnow or black bomber. Throw at night near structure, and reel very very slow with a few stop and twitches.

[MAKAI]

Take up golf instead.
Marry a stupid rich girl.
Settle down and raise a small family.
You'll be better off.
Live long and prosper.
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