How to Carolina Rig for Surf Fishing [BEGINNER Tutorial Part 1 of 2]

[@Smallaut]

Aww man, I’ve been doing it wrong. I use 3/4oz all the time no matter the conditions lol. Your voice is so soothing Benjie! 😂

[@marcomunoz7453]

6/8 oz is the way to go

[@CevicheTheory]

12/16ths will catch more than either of the above weights.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

might be the first time anyone's called my voice soothing...especially my kids lol! and lmao to Marco and Fetty! Wishing everyone a terrific start to the week!

[@raulsarmiento7326]

Thank you Benjie - taking your advice. I fish Hermosa, Redondo, and Manhattan beach and piers.

[@manamike13]

Being a C-rig kinda guy myself really enjoyed watching this video.. lets me know I’m doing it right.. 🤙🏽 Another awesome tutorial Benjie.. Can’t wait for part 2..

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thank you Mike, I know that most folks have got a handle on this but just wanted to make as thorough and simple of a tutorial as possible for anyone that might just be starting out from scratch. Hopefully it can help a few folks! You did awesome this past weekend brotha, love seeing your reports and stoke. Wishing you a terrific start to the week!!

[@RollinRollinReelin]

Hi Benjie! Another wonderfully informative and interesting video. Thanks brother! Tight lines! John

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thank you John, wishing you a terrific start to the week! Tight lines!

[@addicted2fishing119]

Awesome info, I’ve been experimenting with C-rig, drop shot, and T-rig… In my personal opinion, I prefer the T-rig… Almost the exact set up but tie a leader, use the slide sinker, bead optional, hook and soft plastic… Less tangles and jewelry, same amount of bites 🍻

[@CevicheTheory]

I would think a t rig would have more tangles.

[@addicted2fishing119]

@@CevicheTheory the leader line on a c-rig tends to tangle around the main line as the hook and lure is usually lighter than the weight, the T rig the weight is on the hook (like a knocker rig)

[@CevicheTheory]

​@@addicted2fishing119oh your just talking about a Texas... I was thinking of a halibut rig with the leader hanging off the side of a three way swivel.

[@addicted2fishing119]

@@CevicheTheory no worries, just meant Texas rig, those 3 way swivel’s definitely tangle 🍻

[@theoldsurffisher1943]

The best rig for no tangles is the high low rig; highly used in Oregon but less down here. Does it catch fewer fish????

[@pitchman2010]

Excellent video. Very informative

[@mikeroll9868]

Beautiful primer. I have all the gear now I need to get out surf fishing. I’ve been targeting bay halibut and just did some sheepshead fishing, Now deep water rock fish is open and soon yellowtail and tuna, white sea bass. Man we have it good here. You have inspired me to target surf halibut. 😅

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Heck yea Mike, we certainly are blessed with our fishery....so many different applications and techniques to keep us busy year round. Tight lines!

[@bb3866]

Great video. My favorite rod is still my Lamiglass G1311. It’s a medium heavy rated up to 1 1/2 ounce. Good back bone and still has a light top section. I can Carolina Rig with it or throw hard baits. That Rockaway rod has my attention. Looks really nice. First day back surf fishing this morning after a long break and my shoulders really aren’t liking the constant casting of the hard baits right now.

[@ayejay4681]

I have the Rockaway 10' 3/4-3Oz paired with Penn Conflict 2 4000 . Here in Rosarito Baja I throw anywhere from 1oz-2oz with my Carolina rig depending on the condition . That's my confidence rig . Now trying to improve my dropshot for halibut . Pretty versatile Setup feels really nice and light and no problem throwing and feeling lures swimming thru the surf 🎣 Picking up an okuma Komodo and pch custom this weekend for Yellowtail jig fishing

[@MohammedM66]

Benjie! King of the surf

[@BenjieKimFishing]

lol Mo! Much love brother, grateful to know you man!!! Hope your week is off to a great start!

[@MohammedM66]

@@BenjieKimFishing same here my man! You make great videos. Keep it up

[@Ralph-h3f]

Thanks for the footage sir 🤙😎

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Always appreciate your encouragement, thank you so much. Tight lines!

[@theoldsurffisher1943]

BK an excellent summarization of your surf fishing rigs/techniques and very clearly stated! Would a longer rod (like: A Custom Hawaiian) be better in different (rougher) surf conditions?

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thank you always Ron, appreciate you so much sir! There's certainly a place for longer rods but in SoCal I'm spoiled with calmer surf (most of the time) and when timed correctly, your typical perch/corbina/yellowfin croaker can all be caught extremely close to shore. Still, many folks will use longer rods here too and do absolutely fantastic, I would just say that's it's more of a stylistic difference than a necessity. But to answer your question, sure, a longer rod would helpful in rougher conditions as it can help navigate above incoming swell and such. When I fish further north, I'd be taking my 10' Rockaway SP or my 10' Rockaway (standard). This is just my personal preference, but I'm not the biggest fan of parabolic/noodly rods which is one of the reasons (along with the weight) why I don't use the Hawaiian Custom. Tight lines!

[@snipergene]

Good video Benjie. I was thinking about getting the 10 Rockaway SP but now I'm really interested in the 8'6" ML Rockaway SP now. It's listed at 4 oz. Should be really nice for Surfperch and Corbina.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thanks Eugene, both rods are really nice. I REALLY like the 8'6" ML for our typical light line stuff. I really have no complaints - ultra sensitive, plenty of backbone, yet still super light. I guess my only gripe might be the lure rating but I've been fishing 3/4 ounce on it more than any other weight and it handles it with no issue. Tight lines!

[@chanceninh]

UNCLE BENJIE LET'S GOOOOOOO

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Dude Chance, great to hear from you man! I hope you're well and maybe getting out there as our season gets going. Tight lines!

[@sliknix3165]

Awesome!!! Thanks

[@BenjieKimFishing]

I hope it can be helpful for those just starting out, thank you for the comment!

[@beansan11]

Spot on man.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thanks Werner!! Bummed our trip got rescheduled but can't wait to get on some trips with you man. Also, I'll be sending 2 months worth of stuff for ya this month, my bad man I was gonna give you last months when I saw you on the trip that got cancelled. Hope your week is off to a good start!

[@Sweetaccord]

I like the soft rubber glow beads instead of hard beads. 😉

[@chrisrimero7131]

Are in San Diego like the del heights are? I’d love to join you.

[@Nickporter17]

Thank you for the video! What do you think about the Rockaway SP 10 ft and 11 ft rods? They're are supposedly M+ but have away higher ratings of 1/2oz to 3oz lures. Will they be sensitive enough for the average perch?

[@BenjieKimFishing]

I fish the 10 ft primarily for throwing the Lucky Craft but it is actually a phenomenal rod for surf perch. If I'm fishing calm/good conditions in SoCal, I'll go with the 8'6" ML...if the water is rougher or if I'm fishing up north, I'll switch to the 10' which allows me to comfortably fish up to 2 ounces or higher if needed. So yes, very very sensitive even for the average perch.

[@Nickporter17]

@@BenjieKimFishing thanks! I saw it in the video you dropped today with the butt. Nice!!

[@garrettmartinezstone2655]

But did you ever find a maxed out tackle box of lucky crafts I spooked about and left them in s.p. sunken city

[@scruffy7443]

Benjie, I know you use lures out on the surf, but have you ever tries using just shrimp to catch Sheep Head, they are out there, not in the deep as people think, they are out in rocky the surf and small bank cliffs.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

I've yet to target Sheephead but I know it is more than possible to target, would love to try one of these days! Tight lines!

[@ham5765]

hwaiting!

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thank you always Francis!!!! Tight lines and hoping you're having a great start to the week!

[@BlackArcher221]

Benjie, Great information!!! I would only add that folks should be careful of the type of bead they use. You want a bead that has an inside diameter that will be go completely over the knot. Otherwise, that bead will tear your knot up as the weight bangs into it and the next thing you know you will be replacing a whole leader and all for no apparent reason.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Hi Chris, this is a fantastic observation....one that I never even considered. Which is super silly considering not being aware of this defeats the purpose of using the bead in the first place. Yikes. Thank you 🙏 Tight lines!

[@BlackArcher221]

@@BenjieKimFishing I caught it when I was tying some salmon leaders and watched how the bead just bounced the knot to death. Cheers.

[@roxamir]

Hey Benjie, I just started fishing on the Central Coast and impulse bought a couple rods. I first bought the Shimano Symetre 7ft MH combo and a Penn Squadron III 10ft. I was wondering if the Shimano was good enough for surf fishing with a Luckycraft 110 and C-rig or is it worth it to upgrade to the Okuma? The specs are almost there except it's a medium heavy rod and a bit shorter. Thanks for all the videos you put out. It's been really helping me out.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

So I've never fished the Symetre but from what I can see and what I've been told, it's a solid bang for buck rod. I'm not sure what the reel is on that combo so I can't speak to that too much either. Also I'm not familiar with the Penn Squadron. I looked up the Symetre specs as best I could but I wasn't able to find a line and lure rating. With that said, if you're fishing the Central Coast, I would recommend a 9' to 10' rod. Many will go longer. Casting distance does matter up there in my experience. It's hard for me to accurately say how those rods will perform with throwing the LC but for the c-rig, almost any rod will work just fine. The deeper you get into this game, the more you'll refine your gear based on your preferences. Just make sure the rod is rated to throw up to 2 ounces and you'll be good to go for the c-rig. In the short time I've been using Okuma rods/reels, I've been pleasantly surprised by how nice they are, especially at the price point. If you decide to give Okuma a shot, I'd recommend the Rockaway SP 1002 M+. Super light and sensitive but rated to throw all the way up to 3 ounces! Perfect for the c-rig but it also throws the Lucky Craft extremely well. My guess is that you're just getting started with the surf fishing game and assuming that's correct, I would say don't overthink your gear too much at this point. More important is getting out there and getting a feel for dealing with conditions and practicing finding fish. You can still get bit with what you have but as you refine your gear, you'll get more enjoyment moving forward. But most of the time, gear isn't what catches fish, it's the fisherman putting in the work and getting better. Tight lines!

[@roxamir]

@@BenjieKimFishing Wow! Thank you for the in depth response! I was able to return the Penn Squadron so I'm just gonna opt for the Okuma rod and reel you recommended. And yes I am a beginner, but I like having nice things 😁 Thanks again!

[@edgarnolasco5627]

What kinda braid. Would be best for both Surf perch to striped bass and Flounder? And specs?

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Really depends on what part of the coast you're fishing. In SoCal, we tend to run pretty finesse so I'm on 15 to 20 pound braid. NorCal, 30 pound braid will probably suffice but I know that many might go even higher.

[@edgarnolasco5627]

@@BenjieKimFishing Any Specific brand u prefer or think is a lot better then others? I’m a go with a dark green

[@BenjieKimFishing]

@@edgarnolasco5627 jbraid is just fine, power pro has been ok for me too. Xbraid just launched in the us and I’ve been using it the past couple months and it’s absolutely fantastic.

[@entername5706]

I’ve been using a 2 oz weight for forever I’ve caught a couple of 15in perch plenty of 12in perch and too many smaller ones I understand that people love to keep a low profile but I can’t imagine a fish being scared by a half ounce difference in anything above 400 wave power. You really can’t cast those half once weights that far!!

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Hey there, thanks so much for your comment! Actually so much to dissect here but I'll do my best....and this is all just my opinion. The purpose of light line surf fishing is not done to prevent scaring fish. In my opinion fish in the surf are not line shy nor weight shy nor anything shy haha. In my experience, a light setup allows for a couple of things - easier for many casts while covering lots of ground. It's a more mobile style of fishing and while one can certainly do the same with heavier setups, I think most would agree that lighter setups help prevent fatigue. Another reason is that in SoCal, much of the critters we catch can be on the smaller side and having finesse gear makes catching these guys that much more fun. In my opinion and experience, a 15" perch is a fantastic size but even a fish of that caliber will be a pretty easy fight on your typical heavy bait and weight gear. For those doing it to harvest and simply bring food home, that's more than fine but I do it for the enjoyment and lighter gear simply magnifies the experience for me. In SoCal (not sure where you're located), critters like perch, corbina, yellowfin croaker, spotfin croaker, etc. can all be caught extremely close to shore (I know they can be caught very well further out too). For me a 20 fish day is a good day not a great day and a 60 to 70 fish day, while not normal, is absolutely not out of the question. So for me, casting distance is not as important for me fishing SoCal waters. A lot of my wide open fishing sessions have been tossing no more than 10 to 20 feet in front of me into the inner trough. With all that said, does that make light line fishing BETTER or more right than those using heavier gear? Absolutely not! Even in SoCal, there are plenty of folks throwing 5 ounces on high low rigs and doing extremely well. In my humble opinion, it's just a matter of personal preference and how one enjoys fishing the surf. Whatever works, works and however one chooses to catch fish should be the way one does it. Thanks again for your comment, I wanted to respond to this as thoughtfully as I can because this is a perfect example of an opportunity for differing viewpoints to learn and respect each others perspectives while still enjoying what works best for us individually. Tight lines!

[@casterakabadman805]

​​@@BenjieKimFishingmuch respect for this response. I've personally noticed that later in the afternoon or evening many beaches start getting too big of swells to easily bag fish, what your take on this? I've been getting my hide whooped trying to wrestle with the surf lol Think I gotta get out there in the mornings.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Hey there, thanks for the comment. Typically in SoCal, afternoon/evening fishing can be just as good as the morning. Personally, I don't plan my sessions on time of day but rather whenever the conditions line up to what I like. Some of my best fishing sessions have been in the middle of the day. But this year has been a bit gnarly with wind so I hear what you're saying regarding the afternoon. With that said, as a general rule of thumb, "bad" conditions and "good" conditions are not explicitly tied to morning or afternoon. I'm actually working on a video right now that explains the tools I use to fish when the conditions are best...and I don't use am or pm to determine those times. Without getting into the details, tomorrow's conditions are the best to fish out of everyday this week and the wave energy is virtually identical for 6 am and 6 pm (around 150 kj). There is a bit more wind in the afternoon though but still more than fishable. Sorry for the long winded response, but to sum it up, just because it's afternoon/evening doesn't mean that it's always going to be big swell/heavy surf. Tight lines

[@casterakabadman805]

@@BenjieKimFishing legit, well articulated brotha. It's gotta be the wind and the beach I've been hitting lately. Now that I know it's not directly time related I'll check some other spots, I bet I'll find a more sheltered less chaotic beach 🤣🦾💯

[@rubenmartinez4559]

Beginner here! The Rod says 6-12lbs but you suggest 10-20 lb line do I have that right? Does it not matter? Also did you use the 6lb or 10lb lead? Thanks!

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Hi Ruben, thanks for taking the time to comment! I apologize for any confusion, I believe you're asking about the info graphic in the video? If so, I was showing the range of rod specs that would be acceptable to use. So the left side was the 6 to 12 option and the right said was meant to show you can easily use a rod that's rated up to 10 to 20 as well. But to be clear, if you're using a rod rated 6 to 12, you should try to keep your line within that range, with 8 to 10 pound being the likely sweet spot for a rod rated with those specs. I was using multiple sessions as b-roll in this video so I can't remember what pound I was using...but generally speaking I'll use lighter line on calmer days and heavier line on rougher days. Not for visibility but because heavier line is not as malleable and I believe it can help prevent knots in the leader when the water is rougher. Hope that helps. Tight lines!

[@234kwon]

the link to opsin leader didnt work. is there a code i can use for it instead?

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Uh oh, so sorry about this, and thank you for letting me know. I just messaged them and I’ll comment right back here with a new link or at least an update.

[@234kwon]

@@BenjieKimFishing awesome thank you!

[@BenjieKimFishing]

@@234kwonok, the link is up and running! So sorry for the inconvenience and thank you so much for letting me know. It should be good to go but if there are any other issues, please let me know.

[@234kwon]

@@BenjieKimFishing awesome that worked! thank you soo much

[@Nickporter17]

Where is part 2? lol 😊

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Ahhh, my fault, never ended up filming part 2. But thank you for the reminder, it is definitely an episode I will film and edit...eventually.

[@Nickporter17]

@@BenjieKimFishing thank you Benjie!! Appreciate the info.