Learn to fish the surf and you have opportunities close at hand and on practically every sandy coast in the world. For example, on business meetings in southern California I fish the surf very early.
Rod: 6 β 9 weight rods are all acceptable, but if you hook a big striper, leopard shark, halibut, or big piece of kelp and only have a 6 weight, you could be unhappy.
I recommend a standard, 9 or 10 foot 8 weight. Some of our folks are using switch not spey rods. Couple issues to remember: The longer the rod, the more issues with a tiny fish swinging around while you are trying to grab it.
You may be forced to drag it up on the beach to get hold of it. Line: Use a sinking line, either intermediate or faster sink. I use a shooting head, same gear I use at Pyramid Lake and the Forebay. Personally, I prefer grain T8 or T11 so as to quickly cut down below the waves and not have the line thrown back at me by the onrushing wave.
Leader: Expensive, non eco-friendly fluorocarbon leader, is not needed. Monofilament 20 straight or dropping to a 15 tippet is fine. For one fly, a 4 β 5 foot length is enough. Fish in the surf are not leader shy. Some of us run two or three hooks, but one hook is fine. You might try using a small swivel just below the butt section of your fly line if using multiple hooks to get a few get less tangles.
