In the old days surfcasters have been looked upon as anglers who couldn’t afford a boat. I have yet to meet a surf fisherman who would rather go fishing on his boat than stand waist deep in the surf, getting buffeted by waves. Boat anglers have the luxury of fishing in a somewhat protected environment and have at their disposal every lure or tool they can possibly carry with them on board. The surfcaster needs to have gear on him to keep him dry and comfortable. He needs a light to guide his way, a bag to carry his lures, a belt to keep the water out of his waders and a large scale to weigh in the monster he is about to catch.

Fortunately, today’s surfcaster has a bigger selection to choose from than any generation of anglers before him. Before the surfcaster can enjoy catching fish he must comfortable. If you are wet, cold or the wind is sending shivers down your spine; I can almost guarantee you are not going to enjoy yourself. Let’s take a look at some basic equipment every surfcaster should have and some not so basic items that in my view are indispensable.

Waders might be the single most important part of a surfcaster’s gear, yet many anglers concentrate strictly on price instead of the quality of the item. When choosing a pair of waders, I would suggest that you forgo buying cheap rubber ones, as they will make you sweat profusely during most of the season.

Those who are new to the sport generally forgo purchasing a jacket but they quickly find out that this seemingly unimportant item is indispensable when fishing in the suds. They figure the waders are keeping them dry and they already spent a good amount of money on a rod, reel and lures, the jacket is something they can live without. Then the fall run happens and they are pelted by freezing rain, buffeted by cold north winds and often greeted by angry, foaming seas.

The wading belt’s most important feature is a good buckle that will keep the belt in place regardless of your body motion. Secondly, the buckle should be easily opened in case of an emergency. If you are swept into deep water and you must shed your waders in a hurry you will have no time to fiddle with your belt clip.

Every surfcaster needs to have some kind of contraption to carry his lures, pork rinds and extra leaders. Today, there are many lure bags available in all shapes, configurations and sizes.

These items are considered “essentials” for any surfcasters but there are a few more items you should carry with you. A waterproof flashlight is an indispensable tool for fishing in the dark as is a good pair of pliers to aid you in unhooking the fish. Those that frequent South Shore jetties will need a pair of Korker shoes to prevent sliding on mossy rocks while some might opt for a full body wetsuit when climbing onto boulders around Montauk Point.

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