Surfcasting means wading into salt water with corrosion-resistant gear that’s up to the challenge. These rugged essentials let you focus on the fish.
Here are all the essentials you need.
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SIMMS PRODRY JACKET $550
Few jackets are better suited for nasty beach weather than the ProDry, with a waterproof Gore-Tex shell, an oversize collar for blocking spray, and hand-warmer pockets for cold-ass mornings. simmsfishing.com
PENN SLAMMER III FROM $250
This is a beast of a reel with a metal build that stands up to the toughest abuse. The sealed body and spool means that even after a spritz in salty ocean water, all you have to do is rinse it off with a hose. The Slammer III comes in 10 models. pennfishing.com
ODM SURFWAY BAG FROM $249
Made from a two-ply sailcloth, with industrial-strength Velcro and stainless-steel grommets for draining salt water, this bag is as burly as it gets for the beach. Smart details like a pull-off compartmentalized front pouch make fishing with it a cinch. odmrods.com
VAN STAAL PLIERS FROM $314
After an outing or two, you’ll find these rustproof titanium pliers indispensable. Made with replaceable tungsten cutters, the Van Staal will slice through even the thickest monofilament lines. Tethered to a lanyard, it’ll be hard to lose them in the surf. vanstaal.com
SHIRMANO TIRALEJO SPINNING ROD $300
Made from two kinds of carbon in a four-layer wrapping build, with stainless steel frame guides, the Tiralejo rod has serious backbone for casting even the heaviest plugs with accuracy. Shimano designed the rod to work in harmony with its Ultegra surf reel (and the combo fishes perfectly), but it will cast just TRIMfin:e with a similar pairing. The two-piece rod comes in five lengths up to 12 feet. fish.shimano.com
HOWLER BROTHER MATAGORDA SHIRT $89
With a mix of classic styling, including the choice of three plaid combinations, and useful features—like a zippered chest pocket, button-up sleeves, and a quick-drying nylon weave— the Matagorda is right at home on the shore or a boat. You’ll appreciate the microfiber swatch, sewed into the hem, when it comes time clean your sunglasses. howlerbros.com
PATAGONIA MIDDLE FORK PACKABLE WADERS $349
Forget that clunky feeling of walking around with mud on your feet with Patagonia’s new Middle Fork waders. These are engineered with the company’s seamless-bootee technology: A synthetic rubber makes it feel as if you’re walking in a pair of comfy socks. patagonia.com
COSTA DEL MAR OCEARCH SLACK TIDE SUNGLASSES FROM $179
Built for all-day, on-the-water comfort, with padding on the nose and arms, the lightweight Costa’s 580 six-layer, polarized lenses help absorb harmful high-energy blue light. Plus, a percentage of each sale goes to the marine research non-profit OCEARCH. costadelmar.com
