17 Best Surf Fishing Reels in 2023

Surf fishing is a fun and productive way to catch many types of fish. Anglers commonly surf fish from the beach but similar tactics and gear can be used when fishing from any shoreline. Surf fishing reels often have a tall spool to allow for further casting. Baitrunner reels have an independent low drag system to allow the fish to swim with the bait before setting the hook and work well for surf fishing.

Surf fishing rods are usually very long to allow for far casting. Typically surf rods are 9-13 feet in length. Any rod will work but longer rods allow for further casting which is often advantageous when surf fishing.

It is common to use a surf fishing rig. These rigs have a lead weight attached to a slider. A barrel swivel connects the leader line to the hook. More info on surf rigs can be found on the striped bass fishing page. It is also common to catch sharks and fish with sharp teeth so a shark rig is sometimes needed. Surf fishing can also be done using, plugs, jigs, spoons, and topwater poppers.

Surf fishing success is often location and tide dependent. Many anglers choose to relax at the beach with several rods placed in holders that are secured in the ground. Other anglers try and search out rocky points or look for bird and surface activity. The proper size of reel depends on what size fish is being targeted. Personally, I like larger reels that can be spooled with about 250 yards of 50-pound braid. However, I also like having a smaller set up to pitch at smaller fish with lighter lures.  The list below shows the best reels that I know of for surf fishing.

Here Are the Best Surf Fishing Reels

1. Shimano Ultegra CI4 Plus

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The Ultegra Ci4+ is a high-performance surf fishing reel that works to catch small snapper size fish to medium size sharks. Shimano has several reels made with the Ci4+ build style. This means that it is reinforced with carbon fiber to be extremely rigid and lightweight. Key features of this reel include X-protect for water resistance, X-ship gear design, high speed drag that switches from free spool to the normal setting, and super slow oscillation to allow for far smooth casting. The reel comes with two spools so you can be ready with monofilament line and braided line depending on what type of fish is being targeted.

2. Shimano Ultegra XTD Surf Casting Reel

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The Shimano Ultegra XTD is a top-quality surf fishing reel. This XTD reel is made with stiff durable materials good for catching large fish. With over 33 pounds of drag, this reel is set up to work with a strong braided line. The spool has grooves for a braided line.

Tall spools are great for surf fishing because there is less line drag which allows for further casting. The reel also has the Aero Wrap II which is a two-speed spool oscillation system that places the line in a pattern that reduces line drag and allows for far casting. It also has the super slow oscillation 5 which wraps the spool 55 times per cycle. This allows for further casting and greater casting accuracy.

The reel is made with forged metal X-ship gears, g-free body, instant drag, and has 4+1 shielded S A-RB corrosion resistant ball bearings. It also has a sealed waterproof high-speed drag. The reel does not have a Baitrunner lever but just a small turn of the drag knob takes the reel from free spool mode to fight mode.

3. Penn Spinfisher VI Long Cast Surf Reel

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The Penn Spinfisher VI long cast spinning reel is designed for saltwater surf fishing. It has a rubber gasket within the spool which makes it so that a braided line will not spin on the spool. This allows a strong light braided line to be used for far casting. There are three sizes which are the 5500, 6500, 7500 that come with the tall long cast spool that is designed for surf fishing.

The reel is made with a full metal body, metal CNC gears, and 5+1 stainless steel ball bearings. A key feature of this reel is the IPX5 sealed metal body. The IPX5 rating ensures the reel can resist sustained low-pressure jet spray. It has a sealed HT-100 drag system and gearbox. The Penn Spinfisher is a top-quality durable reel that is wildly used with recreational anglers and charter fishing operations. Below is a video that provides more information about Spinfisher reels.

4. Penn Surfblaster III

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The Penn Surftblaster III is a new reel designed just for surf fishing. The tall spool allows for the line to come off smoothly to allow for casting far distances in the surf. The shallow spool is nice for braid as less then 300 years of line will be needed. It comes with a deep spool that is great when using thicker monofilament line. Both the 7000 and 8000 are great size reels for fishing from the beach. These can catch small pompano and small croakers up do adult tarpon and medium sized sharks.

Features of this reel include HT-100 carbon drag, 5+1 sealed stainless steel ball bearings, one shallow aluminum spool and one deep aluminum spool. This reel is very similar to the spinfisher IV with the longcast spool. However it is it bit lighter and the drag value is slighter higher on this Surfblaster. Also notice that the reel knob is round on the spinfisher IV and flat on the Surftblaster III.

5. Penn Conflict II Long Cast Surf Spinning Reel

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The Penn Conflict II is a lightweight reel that is designed for surf fishing. It is made with a rigid resin RR30 body and rotor to be strong and light. The gears are metal and it has 7+1 stainless steel ball bearings. Due to its lightweight and strength, this is becoming of the most popular surf fishing reels. The regular Penn Conflict II is an ultralight reel that is become widely used for both freshwater and saltwater fishing.

Key features of this reel include the HT-100 carbon fiber drag system and a braid ready Superline spool. This reel is perfect for anglers that hold the pole while fishing. Its low weight reduces fatigue when fishing for long durations. The only feature missing on the reel is a Baitrunner which can be nice when live lining baits.

6. Okuma Surf 8k Surf Fishing Reel

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The Okuma Surf 8K is becoming a popular surf fishing reel. There are high capacity and low capacity tapered spools. I am pretty sure this comes with the lower capacity spool which holds plenty of braided line for surf fishing. The high-capacity spool is better when using a monofilament line.

This is a good reel to use with braided line and cast far distances. The rotor slowly moves up and down making the line lay in a way that case with minimal friction. The reel is made with a braid-ready aluminum spool, graphite body, 5+1 stainless steel bearings, and powerful carbonite drag washers. This reel is built for saltwater fishing and has a sealed drag system.

7. Okuma Rockaway Surf Fishing Reel

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The Okuma Rockaway is a new surf spinning reel released in 2020. It is made with a graphite body, anodized aluminum spool, brass pinion gear, rigid metal handle, EVA knob, and 4+1 stainless steel ball bearings. Key features of the reel include the hydro-block drag, precision-balanced rotor, cyclonic flow rotor, and a roller system to evenly place the line on the spool.

There are also Okuma Rockaway surf fishing rods to match the reel.  The two-piece rods come in lengths from 9-feet to 12 feet and have medium-light to medium-heavy action. Okuma rods and reels are very popular with surf fishing anglers.

8. Shimano Thunnus Baitrunner Surf Reel

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The Shimano Thunnus Ci4 is a Baitrunner reel that works well for surf fishing. It has a front primary drag and a second rear-drag for the Baitrunner drag system. A propulsion line management system helps for further casting and helps to prevent tangles in the line.

Key features of the reel are the Baitrunner system, one-piece bail, large knob handle, and 6+1 S A-RB corrosion-resistant bearings with shields to prevent salt, dirt, and dust from entering the bearing. This reel comes in 4 sizes that are all capable of catching large saltwater fish.

9. Shimano Baitrunner D Surf Fishing Reel

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The Shimano Baitrunner D comes in size 6,000, 8,000, and 14,000. These reels are designed for surf fishing with both a tall spool and a Baitrunner design. The Baitrunner feature is good for surf fishing with fresh or live bait as it allows the fish to swim with the bait before setting the hook.

The reel is made with a graphite composite body, aluminum spool, and machined aluminum handle. The 3 ball bearings are corrosion resistant and have extra shields to help prevent dirt, sand, salt, and dust from entering the bearings. This is a great reel to place in rod holders when fishing from the shore or beach. In free spool mode, a clicking noise helps alert anglers that the line is being pulled off the spool.

10. Penn Spinfisher VI Live Liner Surf Reel

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The Penn Spinfisher VI live liner is a great reel for surf fishing and boat fishing. This reel is made with a full metal body, CNC metal gears, aluminum Superline braid ready spool, and 5+1 stainless steel ball bearings. Key features of the reel include HT-100 carbon fiber drag, IPX5 sealed body, IPX5 sealed spool, and the live liner system.

This reel has two separate drag systems a front drag and a rear drag. The reel drag is used as a low drag setting so that when fish initially bite they can swim with the bait before the hook is set. Some fish bit slow and early hooksets just pull the bait out of the fish’s mouth. Live liners are used when fishing with dead baits, scented artificial baits, and live bait. It is common to fish for carp, catfish, striped bass, sharks, and bluefish with the live liner turned on.

11. Penn Fierce III Live Liner Surf Fishing Reel

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The Penn Fierce III is a live liner spinning reel that works great for surf fishing and shore fishing. This reel is made with a metal frame, metal side plates, Superline braid ready aluminum spool, and 4+1 stainless steel ball bearings. Features include a Techno-Balanced rotor, HT-100 carbon fiber drag, and a live liner system.

In the video below I am fishing for tarpon in the Florida Keys using a Penn Fierce II 6000 size reel. When fishing for tarpon the live liner would be useful. Otherwise, you have to fish with a little slack in the line. You do not want tarpon to swim too long with the bait though because you want a good hookset in the top lip or corner of the mouth for a good release.

12. Okuma Avenger New ABF Baitfeeder Surf Reel

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This is the latest Okuma Avenger ABF Baitfeeder reel. The Okuma Avenger reels are very popular among surf fishing and shore fishing anglers. Key features include the Baitfeeder system, multi-disk oiled felt drag system, precision elliptical gearing, and a computer balanced rotor. The reel is constructed with a graphite body, diecast aluminum handle, brass pinion gear, anodized spool, stainless steel bail wire, and 6+1 ball bearings.

This is a good reel for the price point. I had one that took some abuse before it eventually broke. It has a patented on/off auto trip bait feeder system. There is an adjustable top primary drag and a second rear drag for the Baitfeeder drag system.

13. Penn Slammer IV Surf Fishing Reel

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The Penn Slammer IV is one of the highest quality big game spinning reels. There are size options that can work for average size freshwater fish all the way to the 10500 which can be used to catch bluefin tuna. Not that you are going to catch a bluefin tuna while surf fishing. Larger reel sizes would be good when targeting fish such as large groupers and sharks.

The reel is made with a metal frame, metal side plates, metal rotor, braid ready aluminum spool, and 7+1 stainless steel ball bearings. It has a sealed Slammer drag system with Dura-Drag. This reel is made with a sealed body and spool that has an IPX7 waterproof rating.  The Penn Slammer III is one of the best saltwater spinning reels on the market. Below is a video with more information about Penn Slammer reels.

14. Penn Wrath Surf Fishing Reel

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Models and Specifications

The Penn Wrath is a saltwater spinning reel that will work for surf fishing. It does not have a tall spool or Baitfeeder but is a very affordable reel option.

This reel is constructed with a lightweight graphite body, braid ready aluminum spool with line capacity rings, 2 shielded stainless steel ball bearings, and an instant anti-reverse bearing.  There are size options to catch freshwater fish like bass, crappie, and trout to larger reels that can catch striped bass, tarpon, and salmon.

15. KastKing Sharky Live Liner Surf Reel

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This KastKing Sharky is a live liner reel that works well for surf fishing. KastKing reels are popular with freshwater anglers and the reels are rated for saltwater fishing. This reel is made in china and is certainly not the best surf fishing reel but it is a decent option for anglers on a budget.

It is made with a graphite frame, braid ready aluminum spool, and stainless steel gears. Key features include a carbon fiber drag system, 10+1 shielded stainless steel ball bearings, and a computer balanced rotor. The Live liner works by flipping the lever on the back of the reel. There is a separate rear drag for the live liner feature to allow for a proper drag setting based on the bait size and targeted species of fish.

16. Penn Squall Two Speed Big Game Reel

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The Penn Squall 50 VSW is a conventional fishing reel. This style reel can not be cast but is still occasionally used by surf fishermen. It is mainly used when targeting large sharks on the beach. Rather than casting the bait, it brought out to see using a kayak or flown out using a fishing drone. The large line capacity and powerful drag help to reduce the likely hood of getting spooled by a large fish.

This particular reel is very similar to Penn International reels but has a graphite body that significantly reduces the weight compared to aluminum. The level drag allows the angler to easily adjust the drag level at various points while fighting the fish. There is also a high gear setting and low gear setting that help balance the proper line retrieve rate to the torque level for the fishing situation. The reel has an aluminum spool, stainless steel gears, and 4+1 stainless steel ball bearings.

17. Telescopic Surf Fishing Rod and Reel

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The Plusinno reel comes as a telescopic fishing rod and reel combo. This is not a quality surf fishing setup but it is a decent option when traveling. The rods come in lengths of 5.91, 6.89, 7.87, 8.86 feet. For all lengths the reel is a 3000 size.

This setup will work for casting lures and weights that are less than two ounces. This is not a true surf fishing setup. There are lots of smaller fish to catch in the surf such as pompano, bluefish, snook, skates, fluke, and small sharks. The reel can hold about 120 yards of 12 pound monofilament or 140 yards of 30 pound braided line. If you are planning to use this everyday for serious fishing it will eventually break, however it should last for a couple vacations or about one summer of use.

Surf Fishing Reel Features

Tall Spools for Surf Reels

Surf fishing reels are known for having tall spools. Many people think this is so the reel can hold more fishing line. However, in many cases, the tall spools hold less line than the same reel with a wide deep spool. The reason for the tall spool is so the line exits the reel with minimal drag. The result is further casting. It is important that the line freely comes off the spool when casting heavy surf fishing rigs. The reason is that to much drag might jerk the reel as the line is peeling off the spool. This can cause the bail to close. When the bail closes during a strong cast it can cause a high instantaneous force that can break line.

There are bailess spinning reels to make it so the bail can not close during a cast.  The bail closing during a cast might not seem like a big deal. However, I have lost nice heavy lures using a 50 plus pound braid line during casts. At first, I did not realize how the lure could break off during a cast. It is because the spike in force happens so fast the drag of the reel does not have time to work properly.

There are sever other ways reels try to reduce line friction. First is the lip design of the spool. A blunt top spool lip can cause unnecessary line drag. Second, the oscillation of the spool can be two speeds to place the line in a criss-cross pattern to reduce line drag. Finally, the oscillation can be very slow allowing up to 55 wraps per cycle. These features help the line come off the spool with less resistance.

Baitfeeder for Surf Reels

Baitfeeders are also called live liner reels. These reels have two drag systems. First, there is the front primary drag that is a standard feature on all spinning reels. Second is the rear drag that is for the Baitfeeder. Sometimes light resistance is better and other times having more resistance on the bait is beneficial. If there is a strong current, for example, the resistance of the Baitfeeder might have to be increased.

When surf fishing sometimes the Baitfeeder will be used and other times it will not be used. Baitfeeders are mostly used when the rod is placed in a holder and anglers are waiting for a fish to bite. When surf fishing it is common to set out more than one line. After a fish takes the bait, the reel will make a clicking noise letting the angler know to pick up the fishing pole. When casting plugs, spoons, and jigs the Baitfeeder is not used as it is better to quickly set the hook.

Line Capacity of Surf Reels

The needed line capacity of surf reels depends on the type of fish being targeted. It is common to cast 4-6 ounce weights around 100 years to get beyond breaking waves and into deeper water. For this reason, the reel should hold a minimum of 150 yards of line. When fishing for medium-sized fish between 10-50 pounds it is good to have a reel that can hold 300 plus yards of line. For fish over 50 pounds like sharks, it is good to have over 400 yards of line.

Surf Fishing Equipment

Surf Fishing Rods

A surf fishing rod is designed to cast heavyweights a far distance. Typical rod lengths are between 9 and 13 feet with 10-12 feet being the most common. These are much longer than bass fishing rods which are typically around 6 feet 6 inches.

The power rating of the surf fishing rod should be between medium-light to medium-heavy. Power ratings describe the stiffness of the rod’s overall length. It should be stiff enough to support heavy weights but still flexible to load up like a spring for far casting. The Okuma Solaris shown above is a mid-quality surf fishing rod. Another mid-quality rod is the Okuma Longitude. For a budget option, the Okuma Tundra is a long rod that is rated to cast up to 5 ounces.

Surf Fishing Rod Holders 

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This Sea Striker sand spike comes in lengths of 28 inches and 42 inches. The tube is a high impact plastic and the spike is made of aluminum. There are several other kinds of surf fishing rod holders as well. The simplest is just a PVC tube with the end cut at an angle so that it can be stuck into the ground.

The best surf fishing rod holder is the Beast Sand spike which is 57 inches in length. It has a foot stomp pedal to help secure the rod holder. It is tall enough that it can be in the surf and still keep the rod and reel dry.

Surf Fishing Weights

The most common surf fishing weight is a pyramid sinker. These weights can dig into the dirt or sand and prevent the bait from getting swept away by the currents.  Round weights and eggs shape weights can work as well and are less likely to get snagged up on the bottom. When surf fishing heavy lures over 1 ounce are used to be able to cast a far distance. Some anglers wade into the water to be able to get lures and baits out as far as possible.

Surf Fishing Floats

Surf fishing floats are often overlooked by anglers. A shark float or balloon can be used to suspend baits from the surface. Rather than casting the bait, it is carried out to sea by the wind or current. This does not work in all conditions but can be a great way to set baits far from shore. This method even works with large conventional reels. Floats can also be used when fishing from a bridge or pier.

Surf Fishing Bait

The best bait for surfing fishing depends on the fishing location and the target species. When fishing for striped bass the best baits are bunker, clams, eels, and sandworms. If you do not know what to use squid is a bait that most fish will eat. In Flordia, good surf fishing baits are crabs, mullet, shrimp, squid, and pilchards. For smaller fish, many anglers even dig up sandfleas and put them on the hook.

Surf Fishing Lures

If fresh bait is not available using lures can be a productive way to surf fish. Especially when there is bait activity in the area. The most common surfcasting lures are bomber plugs and topwater plugs. Spoon style lures like Kastmasters can be effective on aggressive predators like bluefish. When fishing near a jetty or drop off casting and retrieving jigs and swimbaits is a good option.

Frequently asked Questions

How do you surf fish?

When most people think of surf fishing they think of a sandy beach with a rod holder stuck in the sand waiting for a fish to bite. This is a common way to surf fish but it is not the only way. Surf fishing tactics can be used when fishing from any shore and casting baits far out is desirable. This can be a rocky shoreline, muddy shoreline, or even a pier or jetty.

To cast far reels with low line drag during the cast is desirable. Since the pole is often in a holder having a Baitcaster allows the fish to bite and run with the bait. This also gives the angler time to get to the rod and then set the hook. The most common setup is a piece of cut bait placed on a surf fishing rig with a 1-6 ounce lead weight.

What kinds of fish can be caught surf fishing?  

The most common types of fish caught surf fishing are striped bass, bluefish, sharks, pompano, flounder, skates, croakers, red drum, Spanish mackerel, jacks, salmon, and speckled trout. In Florida is it also common to catch snook in the surf and tarpon in the flats. One of the fun things about surf fishing is that you never know what you might catch. That is why is it important to have gear that can catch big fish.

Best surf fishing location? 

The best surf fishing locating depends on what type of fish you like you catch. My personal favorites are striped bass fishing in New Jersey or fishing in the flats for tarpon in Flordia. What really gets me excited is when there are schools of bunker or mullet in the area. It is very common for big predator fish to follow the bait. Surf fishing on a beach is a relaxing way to fish. If you are going to be hanging out at the ocean you mind as well have a few poles in the water. The fun thing about fishing at the beach is the variety of fish that can be caught.

A very popular fish for the angler to target from the beach is sharks. Shark fishing is often done at night when sharks tend to be closer to shore. There are certain times of the year when shark migrate and shark fishing can be really good.

Locations known for surf fishing are the Jersey Shore, Outer Banks, all the beaches in Florida, and the California coastline. If you are at the shore of the ocean there are usually cool fish to catch.

What size reel should I use for surf fishing?

For surf fishing, a 6000-8500 reels sizes are the best. These reels have high line capacity and are strong enough to catch large fish. It takes a large reel just to retrieve the surf fishing rigs that have up to 6-ounce weights. The reel should be rated for saltwater with a sealed drag system and shielded ball bearings. Reels that are used for surf fishing take some abuse from the salt and sand environment so it is good to get quality gear that will not break.

What is the best length for a surf fishing rod?

The best length rod for surf fishing is between 10 and 13 feet. Typically longer rods can cast further and are typically considered the best. However, there are other considerations such as transporting the rods and the type of fish being targeted. When targeting very large fish a short stiffer rod can be better than a long flexible rod.

What is the best pound test line for surf fishing?

The best pound test line for most surf fishing is a 50-pound braided line. This is a strong lightweight line that is as thin as a 15-pound monofilament line. Because the braided line is thin it can hold much more line on the spool compared to the same pound test in a monofilament. Since it is lightweight it has low line resistance and can be cast a far distance. Some fish species can be line shy and adding a fluorocarbon leader is a good idea. Other fish found in the surf like sharks, mackerel, and bluefish have sharp teeth so using a wire leader is a good idea.

How do you cast a surf fishing rod?

Casting a surf fishing rod is done with a powerful behind-the-back cast. It is similar to a basic cast with a spinning reel. With the bail aligned with the rod, the line should be held with the index finger.  The sinker should be a few feet from the tip of the rod. Bring the rod back until the weight hits the ground. Then bring the rod forward quickly in the direction you want the rig to go. Let go of the line with the index finger when the weight is moving forward quickly.

The drag on the reel should be set tight enough that the spool does not spin. Lines should be set at different distances from the shore to find out where the most fish are located. Often time angers wade into the water to get the line out as far as possible.

Does a longer rod cast further?

Yes, in general, longer rods allow for further casting. However, there are many factors the affect casting distance such as stiffness of the rod, the weight of the lure, line type, line weight, and resistance of the line coming off the spools. So a short rod can definitely cast further than a long rod depending on these other factors. Also, the eyes for a spinning reel should be large to reduce line drag. With similar size rods, the weight of the lure will be the biggest factor that affects casting distance.

Is it better to surf fish at low or high tide?

The general rule for all fishing is that you want a changing tide. That is not a slack tide with no water movement. For surf fishing in areas without large tides like Flordia a few hours before the high tide is a great time to fish. In areas further north with larger tides fishing through a tide change can be very effective. Fish bites can be sensitive to the tied but every day is different.

In areas with small tides, large tides around, for example, the spring tide can increase fish feeding activity.  There are better times to fish because of the tides but it is not like lets not even bother surf fishing because the tide is not right. Spending time on the water is the best way to catch fish. Sometimes it is slow for hours and then like a light switch there is tons of fish activity. This is often a result of the changing tide. Luckily there are lunar and solar tides that bring four tide changes each day.

What is a long cast spinning reel? 

A long cast spinning reel has a tall spool to reduce line friction and allow for far casting. These are often called surf fishing reels because they are commonly used for surf fishing. The reels are typically placed on very long fishing rods as well. The intent of the setup is to be able to cast about 100 yards and get past the shallow breaking water near the shoreline.

Captain Cody Wabiszewski

Captain Cody has worked on charter fishing boats in the Florida Keys, Virgin Islands, and Alaska. Growing up in Pennsylvania Cody has also done extensive freshwater fishing including bass fishing tournaments. Cody strives to provide detailed information about the best fishing gear and tactics to help both novice and experienced anglers have a more productive and enjoyable time on the water. Cody also has a background in aerospace engineering and neuroscience but really only takes pride in being good at one thing and that is fishing!