Surf fishing once a year

[Kris]

I surf fish in Ocean City, Maryland a couple of days each October.  I have an aluminum surf cart, Fish Mate Jr., that carries all my stuff.  I had three surf rods, two twelve foot and one fifteen footer.  I just sold the fifteen footer because my back hurt every time I used it.  I use mostly finger mullet and cut baits of several types.  Been known to use cut bluefish if I run out of bait when the rockfish/stripers are biting. 
That Jimmie rig looks interesting.  Never seen anything like that around here.  Since I don't surf fish a lot I just buy the made rigs from a tackle store in OC. 
My family's favorite thing is fishing for Tautog in rocks at the Inlet.  I started fishing for them with bass tackle years ago when I watched people using boat/surf rods.  I'm watching the tip move and they aren't doing anything.  My biggest Tog there is 18", 14 to keep.  Two things I have learned about Tog.  One, never seen anything that can clean a hook faster, sand fleas.  Two, I swear they have shoulders.  Kris

[Pferox]

I've never fished the North Atlantic, as compared to Texas and Florida, but would like to some day.  I hear it gets a lot deeper quicker than it does in the Gulf.

Thanks for the interest in my rig, it was something I came up with when I couldn't fish, and it actually worked, a lot of them that I come up with don't. 

My wife gave me a FishMate for Christmas a few years back and I use the heck out of it.  It is a very well built cart.

I ran into the same thing with long rods and heavy weights.  Heck even tossing a 10 footer bothers me, but after watching some casting vids, I adapted a different technique and it is a lot easier on my back.  The secret is to get the lead moving before you start the cast, it cuts down on the initial "jerk".

Do you tie down your baits to your hooks to keep them from flipping off?

Ya know you can always share some pictures.  (hint hint)  We love pictures on this part of the board. 

Can you tell us more about your rigging?  Hook size, type, double drop, single drop, Carolina?  What people use has always been interesting, and educational, even if they are store bought.