How to improve surf lure distance

Lure fishing on white sand beaches or the seaside can be broadly divided into shore jigging and surf lure. Shore jigging mainly uses metal jigs (plugs), and fishing using metal jigs and plugs weighing 20 to 60 grams is called light shore jigging, while fishing using jigs weighing 100 grams or more is generally called shore jigging.

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In contrast, the biggest difference between surf lures is that they are fished not only with metal jigs but also with worms and other various tackle. Rather than trying to define the concept clearly, it would be better to understand both as a method of lure fishing done on the beach by casting far away and catching.

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I plan to cover this in more detail in several installments, but distance is a key factor in surf lures and shore jigging.

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Of course, using a heavy metal jig will allow you to cast a certain distance, but unlike the sinkers used in long-distance fishing, the tail of a metal jig can shake violently when flying. If you just reduce the rotation of the tail, you can increase the cast distance by more than 30%.

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Let’s take a look at what you need to keep in mind to improve distance, which is an important factor in long-distance fishing, even when using surf lures or shore jigging.

First of all, there is a lot of information on the internet about improving casting distance, so let me briefly summarize a few things.

① Suitability of the equipment used

To increase lure distance, it’s crucial to properly set up your tackle. A point that requires a jig weighing 100g or more will be difficult to reach with a 60g jig. Similarly, using a 30g metal jig with thicker line, such as a No. 2 or No. 3 braided line, will limit distance gains. Therefore, it’s crucial to set your tackle appropriately for the target point and the weight of your metal jig (or other lure) for the species you’re targeting.

② Use thin lines if possible.

Even with a heavy jig, distance is only achieved if the line is balanced. When casting, the line unwinds from the spool and passes through each guide. The thicker the line, the greater the load on each part, reducing distance.

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Therefore, if you were unable to exceed 100m using PE 1.5 before, you can get close to or exceed it by simply changing to PE 1.

③ Let’s practice pendulum casting.

This method is a popular casting method for long-distance fishing, especially sports casting. Since the length of the rod used for surf lure or shore jigging is shorter than that used for long-distance fishing, even beginners can learn it without much difficulty.

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The casting method is to swing the ball left and right and then throw it when it reaches its highest point. At first, focus only on distance and practice. After a certain amount of distance has been improved, it is best to work on accuracy.

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Of course, shortening the length of the line you drop will help increase accuracy, but it won’t help with distance, so it’s best to practice and figure out the length that’s right for you.

④ Other

Among the equipment or tools that help improve distance, the first one that  comes to mind is a PE line coating. I can tell you from experience that fluorine coating helps with distance, but since it is not appropriate to mention a specific product name, I will just say coating.