Beach Etiquette

Hello all, newbie here. Just want to start by saying thanks to all the old salts that post regularly. Great info on this site and I really feel informed regarding the technical aspects of fishing the area. I'm coming down for a family reunion and will be staying out on the spit near Ft Morgan. I have a pretty extensive freshwater background and I've done some surf and pier fishing in the past (Texas & Florida) but I'm really a saltwater novice. I wonder about the "local" rules for beach fishing as I don't want to be "that guy". What are the general rules/etiquette regarding interaction between anglers and beach walkers, combers, swimmers, spacing between fishing parties, fishing in front of your lodging versus 200 yds down the beach, etc? Thanks again for all of the great reports and information.

If your staying at the plantations or the beach club you will need to find a different spot away from people, you dont have to but if there is alot of people in the water or by you, its just alot easier for you to move than to tell a hundred people to get out of the way im fishing here. If you staying at a house on fort morgan this time of year, you should have no worries its pretty wide open. Even when its crowded its pretty wide open. One thing you might, do as another person on this site has suggested, is get a longer pole so the beach bunnies can walk underneath your line instead of walking behind you, so you wont crimp your neck too hard. If you catch anything please post.

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Originally Posted by Blueboy

Hello all, newbie here. Just want to start by saying thanks to all the old salts that post regularly. Great info on this site and I really feel informed regarding the technical aspects of fishing the area. I'm coming down for a family reunion and will be staying out on the spit near Ft Morgan. I have a pretty extensive freshwater background and I've done some surf and pier fishing in the past (Texas & Florida) but I'm really a saltwater novice. I wonder about the "local" rules for beach fishing as I don't want to be "that guy". What are the general rules/etiquette regarding interaction between anglers and beach walkers, combers, swimmers, spacing between fishing parties, fishing in front of your lodging versus 200 yds down the beach, etc? Thanks again for all of the great reports and information.

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For what it's worth, here's my take. When all of those swimmers come around with their movement, their suntan lotion, and their noise, you might as well pack it up anyway. My surf fishing days run from daylight to up to around 9:00 AM, give or take. Then I pick up when people leave the beach for dinner and go until I decide to quit. It seems that many people on this forum don't speak much of night fishing, but let me tell you, there are runs to be fished. The downside is increased catfish activity. You can hedge that some with your choice of bait.

Overall, fish the same peak times that you fish in freshwater and everyone will be happy, including you. I find that it makes for the perfect vacation. I get my "me" time in the surf, then I can go do something with the family.

Welcome to the Forum, Blueboy. I agree with everything already mentioned. Ft. Morgan surf fishing is our favorite vacation spot, and we will be down in Oct. I would add to use sand spikes to hold your poles. This will keep them up out of the sand, lift the line higher for shell walkers, and makes strikes easier to detect. There are always spikes at the house we rent, but I bring some every year and leave them for anyone else to use or have. 1 1/2" and 2" pvc, 36" L. with a 45 degree angle to push into the sand. Smooth drags, and post some pics!

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Originally Posted by bodebum

Welcome to the Forum, Blueboy. I agree with everything already mentioned. Ft. Morgan surf fishing is our favorite vacation spot, and we will be down in Oct. I would add to use sand spikes to hold your poles. This will keep them up out of the sand, lift the line higher for shell walkers, and makes strikes easier to detect. There are always spikes at the house we rent, but I bring some every year and leave them for anyone else to use or have. 1 1/2" and 2" pvc, 36" L. with a 45 degree angle to push into the sand. Smooth drags, and post some pics!

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Thanks again to all replies. I've cut my sand spikes at 48" because my new surf rods are only 10'. My old surf gear had 12' rods so I thought I'd make the sand spikes a little longer to try and get some lift on my set. Will there be problems with the longer spikes? Going to use my steelhead gear for casting and light line work. In freshwater I normally fish braid with a fluorocarbon leader up to 9'. Will a 6-9' fluorocarbon leader be sufficient for jig fishing/pitching spoons/etc?

I'd kind of forgotten about all the visuals associated with surf fishing until pokenfish's post reminded me...I'm sure my teenage boys would have picked up on this pretty quickly...it will be hard to keep them focused on the cast at hand.

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Originally Posted by Blueboy

Thanks again to all replies. I've cut my sand spikes at 48" because my new surf rods are only 10'. My old surf gear had 12' rods so I thought I'd make the sand spikes a little longer to try and get some lift on my set. Will there be problems with the longer spikes? Going to use my steelhead gear for casting and light line work. In freshwater I normally fish braid with a fluorocarbon leader up to 9'. Will a 6-9' fluorocarbon leader be sufficient for jig fishing/pitching spoons/etc?

I'd kind of forgotten about all the visuals associated with surf fishing until pokenfish's post reminded me...I'm sure my teenage boys would have picked up on this pretty quickly...it will be hard to keep them focused on the cast at hand.

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Those will be just fine. It's nice to have that length for several different reasons. I just made some new ones utilizing aluminum angle and I expect that I am going to wish that I would have made them taller.

We use fluoro leaders about 6'- 10' long for most of the time. I will sometimes use 5' for single jigs when I am targeting pomps or flounder.

I always use tall spikes. It really won't matter, just make sure that you loosen your drag every time you set a rod in a holder with bait in the water. You don't want to be the guy that watches his gear head out to Mexico.

You can fish all day in fort morgan. Just walk a little ways from the crowd, there's always room. If you fish anywhere near people they will inevitably swim in your lines. You also do not want to be the guy who hooks a swimming child.