Surf Fishing In October: Best Tactics, Baits and Rigs
Summer has come, summer has gone, and it’s fall once more. What’s biting this time of year? What works for fall surf fishing? We’ll talk this and much more today so stay tuned.
October is a transitional month for surf fishing on the west coast. Lucky for us, we have a number of different species to target by utilizing different tactics. Let’s break this down by each of the 3 methods of surf fishing listed below.
- Light Tackle (Carolina rig)
- Lures
- Sharking
Light Tackle Surf Fishing In October (Carolina Rig)
As the waters begin to cool off, sand crabs start to die and disappear, thus slowing the light tackle bite. If you follow along, you’ll know that sand crabs are the best bait for surf fishing when it comes to light tackle. So what should you fish for in the fall and what do we use for bait when we can’t use sand crabs for surf fishing?
During a normal solid year of surf fishing, October can be very good for spotfin croaker fishing. Similar to the fall striper run, spotfin can cruise through in large numbers and size in the month of October.
In 2023, we had a late start to the summertime species bite. Because of this, we were expecting a longer season and we received this. This has been one of the more normal/traditional, expected seasons we’ve had in a while.
In the last several years, yellowfin croaker have dominated where surfperch showed less. This year, surfperch have shined where yellowfin croaker haven’t. But that’s not what I mean by this season being more “normal”.
What makes this a more normal season is that we are getting that October heatwave, which has then stirred the spotfin back up for their fall run. Expect an October heatwave most years to bring a nice spotfin croaker bite and expect sunset to be the best time to catch these guys.
Bait For Light Tackle Surf Fishing In October
If sand crabs are still around, use them! Spotfin will go crazy for them this time of year if the weather cooperates. My go to bait when sand crabs disappear is mussel meat. Surf fishing with mussel meat will catch everything sand crabs catch (corbina, spotfin, yellowfin croaker, surfperch etc.) yet as an added bonus, you don’t catch many stingrays with mussels.
What Species Do You Catch in October?
As mentioned earlier, October is a transitional month for surf fishing. That said, you can still stumble across a really good corbina bite and sometimes more likely, a spotfin croaker bite. Yellowfin croaker are always a likely catch in the transitional months as well.
On the flip side, surfperch could be arriving early as their spawning season is just around the corner. And yes, surfperch can be caught year-round, but late fall through winter and early spring is when surfperch fishing is at its peak.
If it’s me, I’m going out in hope of spotfin croaker in October. As for rigs, I prefer a Carolina rig, but take a look here for the best rigs for surf fishing. Take a look at my set-up below.
- 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
Surf Fishing With Lures In October
While this year, sand crabs are still producing, often times the sand crab / Carolina rig bite tapers by now leaving lures and sharking as the only two alternatives. But what’s happening this year? Everything is still biting and lures might just be turning on even hotter than before.
As usual, I break lures down into two categories: jerkbaits vs swimbaits. Jerkbaits (in my opinion) will be better utilized in December through March for big spawning surfperch and halibut.
Jerkbaits
For jerkbaits, take a look at this list of the best jerkbaits for surf fishing and be ready for this coming winter when surfperch peak season comes. The spawn is a great opportunity to catch those 14-17 inch surfperch and since all the fries (baby surfperch) are swimming around, halibut are on the prowl too.
As mentioned, I’ll be throwing more jerkbaits in December, but take a look at the set-up that I use for surf fishing with jerkbaits.
- Rod: Okuma SST (8’6″ MHA)
- Reel: Penn Battle II or III 4000 series
- Main Line:
- Leader Line: 15-pound fluorocarbon
- Lures: Lucky Craft FM 110 and Shimano WM 115 SP
Swimbaits
Now is the time to be throwing swimbaits. Halibut, calico, and even big white seabass cruise through the shoreline reefs this time of year and swimbaits are best-suited for this style. Take a look at this list of the best swimbaits for surf fishing.
The halibut and seabass bite often tapers off after the end of June and remains hit or miss down south while it heats up a bit up north. October is a month that the halibut and seabass bite tends to turn back on before again tapering until spring.
If it’s me, I’m throwing weedless swimbaits for halibut and seabass in October. For swimbaits. I prefer a Texas rig with a weighted hook and a half-ounce bullet weight. Take a look at my set-up below.
- Rod: Okuma SST-S-902HA – 1/2-2oz | 10-30lb | 9ft | H | MF
- Reel: Penn Spinfisher VI (3500 or 4500)
- Main Line: 30-pound braid
- Leader Line: 30-pound mono
- Lure Options:
Surf Fishing for Sharks in October
Shark fishing from the beach typically starts off very well in April and peaks in June. July through August are also usually quite solid before a slight decline in September. Then, we often get a slight burst in October, but it will typically shut down pretty quickly after October through February.
If you’re looking to surf fish for sharks, October is a great month to get out there. Get out there soon though because once November rolls around, it will be slim pickings. Take a look below for my shark fishing set-up.
- Rod: Fiblink Moonsniper (12 or 13 feet)
- Reel: Penn Battle 8000 (II or III)
- Main Line: 50-pound braid
- Topshot: 100-pound nylon coated mono
- Leaders: Shark Leaders
- Weights: 8-ounce pyramid or 6-ounce sputnik
