The Dropper Loop Rig - A Very Common Surf Fishing Bottom Rig

A very common bottom rig for surf fishing is the dropper loop rig. It looks just like the fireball rig in that it has two hooks tied in-between the sinker and the swivel. You can use it as is or add colored beads to attract attention from the fish.

Some surf anglers will add floats to the hooks so the bait is kept just out of reach from pesky crabs trying to steal it.

The advantage of the dropper loop rig is the ability to change the hooks or the sinker easily. If you need more weight to hold the bottom the sinker can be swapped out in a jiffy. The same things goes for the hooks. You may want a different size hook if you decide to go to a different bait. Hooks are always sized to the size of your bait.

Here's a link to a video showing how to tie the dropper loop rig.

Surf Fishing Rigs To Use

Choosing surf fishing rigs depends on the bait you will be using, surf conditions and the targeted fish in the surf. The hooks you decide to use for your fishing rig should be sized to your bait. Bigger bait = bigger hooks = bigger fish targeted.

The two most popular rigs are the fish finder rig and the fireball rig. The fish finder rig uses a sliding sinker connector attached above the leader, hooks and swivel. It allows the bait to be picked up by a fish without feeling the weight of the sinker. The bait also can feed out while the sinker stays in place on the bottom. You can leave the bail open on a spinning reel and let the bait work out with the current.

The fireball rig is set up with the sinker on the bottom and usually two hooks off the main leader above it. It may or may not have small floats attached near each hook. The purpose of the floats is to keep the bait just off the bottom so that the crabs can't get at it.

Try the fish finder with an out going tide and let the bait feed out with the tide. Use the fireball rig if you are targeting a specific location where you expect to find fish feeding. Learn to read the surf to target good spots to find fish.

Make up your own surf fishing rigs ahead of time and always have a few backup rigs ready to go in case of a break-off. Learn how to make your own rigs with The Encyclopedia of Fishing Knots and Rigs. If you prefer to buy ready made rigs there are surf rigs listed below available from Amazon.