Gulp Sandworms for Surf Fishing: Best Rigs, Rods and How-To
Surf fishing is one of the most exciting and underrated styles of fishing. When it comes to picking the right bait, there are a number of options. Today, we’ll be talking about surf fishing with Gulp sandworms. Gulp sandworms are a soft plastic, artificial bait used by many anglers for the purpose of surf fishing. Is it the best bait for surf fishing? What can you catch surf fishing with Gulp sandworms? In this article, we’ll talk about what they are and cover some of the best rigs and tactics to use when fishing with Gulp sandworms.
What Are Gulp Sandworms?
Gulp sandworms are artificial soft baits designed to mimic the appearance and scent of real sandworms, a natural bait often used to catch fish from the beach.
These synthetic baits are made using advanced materials that not only imitate the texture and color of real sandworms but also release a potent scent into the water, attracting nearby surf fish. Their durability and convenience make them a popular choice for anglers who want an alternative to live baits like surf fishing with sand crabs.
Real Sandworms vs Gulp Sandworms for Surf Fishing
While real sandworms have long been a staple in surf fishing due to their natural appeal, Gulp sandworms offer some distinct advantages. Real sandworms can be challenging to keep alive and transport, and they’re susceptible to various factors like temperature and water quality.
Additionally, real sandworms are incredibly fragile and often aren’t thick enough to hook without the worm snapping in half. Gulp sandworms eliminate these concerns while providing a consistent scent and appearance that catch fish even better than their live counterparts.
Gulp sandworms are more durable, have more scent, and have generally produced better than real sandworms. Their track record says it all as they’ve grown to such popularity that often times anglers prefer them over sand crabs!
Are they better than sand crabs? Keep reading for the section on the best baits for surf fishing to find out.
Are Gulp Sandworms a Good Bait for Surf Fishing?
Gulp sandworms have proven their effectiveness in surf fishing. Their lifelike movement and powerful scent attract a variety of species including surfperch, corbina, croaker, and even larger predators like striped bass. Their convenience, availability, and ability to stay on the hook longer without falling apart make them a reliable choice for anglers looking to maximize their time on the water.
What Can You Catch Fishing with Gulp Sandworms?
Gulp sandworms open up a world of possibilities when it comes to surf fishing. You can target a wide range of species, from smaller fish like perch and croaker to larger predators like halibut and striped bass.
The most common catch on Gulp sandworms is far-and-away surfperch, but yellowfin croaker, corbina, spotfin croaker, striped bass, and much more can absolutely be caught using these baits.
The versatile nature of Gulp sandworms makes them suitable for different fishing conditions and locations, allowing you to adapt your approach based on your target species and the local environment.
How to Go Surf Fishing with Gulp Sandworms
Before anything else, you should understand the basics of how to go surf fishing. Once you’ve read through that article and let the links take you down the right rabbit holes, you’re ready to get your gear and get out there.
How To Hook Gulp Sandworms
Take a look at the image above for reference on how to hook Gulp sandworms.
- Insert hook in thick part of worm.
- Slide hook through about one inch.
- Exit hook out the side of the worm so it looks like the image above.
How to Retrieve Gulp Sandworms
To retrieve or to not retrieve. You can actually go either way with gulp sand worms, I’ve found that when surf fishing with Gulp sandworms, I yield best results when not retrieving, but leaving it where I cast it, and occasionally twitching it and reeling in the slack until it’s out of position or I get bit.
However, many anglers retrieve slow and steady and others let it sit altogether.
Best Rod for Surf Fishing with Gulp Sandworms
When selecting a rod, consider its length and power. An 8 to 9-foot rod with medium to medium-heavy should be right there in the sweet spot. My go-to surf fishing rod when using Gulp sandworms for bait is the Okuma SST 8’6″ MA spinning fishing rod.
Anything with similar specs to what I have listed below will do just fine. I wouldn’t go any “lighter” but you could go barely go heavier and still be okay.
No more than 10-20 lbs, up to 1.5 oz and definitely not heavy power. Stay in the medium to medium heavy range ( I lean medium).
For more detailed information on what size rod you should use for surf fishing, and what the best rods for surf fishing are and why, check out the linked articles.
| Line Weight | Lure Weight | # of Guides | # of pieces | Rod Length | Power | Action |
| 8-17lbs | 1/4 – 5/8oz | 7+1 | 2-pcs | 8’6″ | M | MF |
See below for an image and check the price and more details on the rod that I recommend.
Best Reel for Surf Fishing with Gulp Sandworms
A durable spinning reel with a smooth drag system is crucial for surf fishing. Look for a reel that can handle the corrosive effects of saltwater and one that offers a solid line capacity when carrying 15-pound test.
There are a few reels I like to use for surf fishing, but the one I would recommend for most people is the Penn Spinfisher VI 3500.
The best reel size for surf fishing depends on your species, but with Gulp sandworms, you typically need a 3000 to 4000 size reel. For a more detailed explanation of choosing the best reel for surf fishing and a list of the best reels for surf fishing, check out the linked articles.
See below for the reel I recommend and check the details and price on Amazon.
Best Rig for Surf Fishing with Gulp Sandworms
The Carolina rig is one of the best rigs for fishing with Gulp sandworms. These rigs allow the bait to move naturally with the current while minimizing resistance felt by the fish.
For a complete list of the best rigs for surf fishing, head on over to the linked article.
Choose the Best Beach
Research the best surf fishing spots in your area. Almost all beaches will hold fish, but more important than picking your beach, is learning how to read the surf and how to pick out which sections and zones along a beach will hold the fish.
I wrote a really detailed article on how to read the surf and there’s a video embedded within the article too for all you visual learners. Check it out and go from there.
Gear and Tackle for Surf Fishing with Gulp Sandworms
Below you’ll find my recommended gear and tackle. You’ll see that the rod and reel are different than what’s listed below. Both options are good so take a look at each and determine which you’d like to use.
- Rod: Okuma Celilo (8’6″ MA)
- Reel: Penn Battle II or III 4000 series
- Mainline: 15-pound monofilament
- Carolina Rig (descriptive article/video):
- Leader Line: 15-pound fluorocarbon
- Swivels: 15-19mm barrel swivels
- Hooks: size #2 or #4 owner mosquito hooks
- Weights: 1-oz egg weight
- Beads: 8mm fishing beads
What’s the Best Bait for Surf Fishing?
As for what the best bait for surf fishing is, it depends on your target, the article linked in the image below outlines the best bait for surf fishing for just about every common surf species out there. Generally speaking though, I favor sand crabs as the best bait for surf fishing. Although, Gulp sandworms have the edge in that they are accessible and productive year-round.
At the end of the day, Gulp sandworms are a good bait for surf fishing. Their convenience, effectiveness, and versatility make them a valuable addition to any angler’s tackle box. They’re worth a try at most fishing spots and at the very least, they should be kept in your tackle box as backup bait if you can’t find live bait like sandcrabs.
