I'm new to rock and surf angling and I'm strug

[Wil_2010]

I'm new to rock and surf angling and I'm struggling to get my cast past the 80m mark. This is far too short for sliding never mind surf angling.

 

I've attached a video of my cast.  Can anyone please help me with a few tips? I'm open to suggestions and positive criticism.

 

My gear: Torium30 and L&F shockwave. 450m braid and ±200line (0.5mm 18kg)

 

[kitefisher]

Wil_2010

The biggest advantage that you have at this stage of your casting is that it is rather smooth.I note however that your upper hand is very low on the rod and would that make your sinker feel even heavier than necessary.If you go through the cast in slo-mo,you will see that there is not really substantial bend/load in the rod,even though the sinker looks to be about 6-7oz.

If I were you ,I would go and measure a few casts ,with your regular style,and then under the same conditions/wind etc,make a few, but widen your grip on the rod a bit more,maybe 6 inches for a start.Make a few casts and measure to see if there is an improvement.

Lastly,and this is me being overly critical,you may want to look up at an imaginery target in the sky a bit sooner in the cast.

There are room for vast improvements ,but discussing it now may confuse you altogether.Always try to make only one change per session,that way you will immediately know if it has an advantage.

p.s. Many big fish have been caught at 80-100meters,so dont let that dampen your confidence when presenting your baits,fish also tend to come very close inshore at night,and even more so on a pushing tide.Also bear in mind that a big bait slided out at 80m(casting sinker only),is arguably better than small bait and sinker, casted out at 60m, if you are targeting fish/sharks to match your tackle.

Cheers.

 

[Wil_2010]

Many thanks Kitefisher, I'll give it a go and let you know how things went. My target for now is to cast in the 110m - 120m zone. Thanks again!

 

[Ray Hall]

Hi Wil,

Looking at your video

Firstly, keep both feet on the ground.  Stand firmly on one place.

Secondly make your drop longer. and then like kite said try put your right arm further up the rod.

Please take this as positive and constructive:

You will never learn to cast on any forum, you can get tips though, but it wont be able to help you cast a sinker 100m+....THE ONLY THING THAT WILL WORK IS.....

PRACTICE PRACTICE AND THEN YOU PRACTICE SOME MORE !!!!

Three rules:

• Right combo of tackle[/*]

• Balance / smoothness / technique
  [/*]

• Determination / practice !!![/*]

 

[Ziyz]

There's too much push and no discernable "Pull" in the cast. During the type of cast that you are doing, your right hand should be almost fully extended when the pull begins. Generally, the more 'pull' you get, the more power you will generate. That means your right hand sould be extended more above and not too far in front of or behind your shoulder when when you begin your pull.
I agree with Kitefisher about widening your grip.
Do a search for john holden, off the ground cast.
That techinique is an excellent place to begin.
Another good one to begin with is the unitech cast.
A google search for any of these terms or even "distance casting" will give alot of results

 

[Kumz]

Hi ,

I wud agree with all previous comments ..

& Kite Fisher is right on the button with regards to your hand placement .. thats what term Choking the rod ... try n open up yr hands a bit - right hand a bit further up teh rod ..

Keep practicing ....

Remember ..
Practice makes Improvement !!!

Tight lines buddy !!!

 

[mikesfb]

hey man. just practice . only been fishing for a short while and measures saturday that i was throwing over 100m. this is after about say 20days at the waters edge. id advise getting some plugs and casting those at the water than just throwing a sinker down the beach which is abit tedious whereas i really enjoy my plugs and gooing them at the ocean. just wade off the beaches. i picked up a nice raggie on slide on my  second fishing trip with a multiplier. every few casts loosen off the drag. and the big thing for me was to learn to gooi the sinker higher into the air than faster in a straight lign, gets more distance for a beginner by going up and aslo less overwinds. practice practice and more wait for it practice is all it takes.

 

[mikesfb]

just watched your vid now, agree that you should keep your feet down and with the stance you taking try a pendulum cast, longer sinker drop, swing sinker from side to side and as it reaches left side after a few swings bring you rod round over your shoulder at 75ish degrees from the ground and let the sinker go upwards, this is my version of the pendulum.

 

[Enigma]

As usual great advice by Kitefisher.

I agree fully that you are chocking the rod and you should look to hold the rod with your hands at least shoulder width apart.

Your Tackle seems to be in balance.

The first thing you could do to cast further is to cast harder. You are stroking the rod and not hitting it through the cast.

I have a lot of people asking me to modify their rods or build them a different rod for them to cast further with. Instead of making financial gain I first find out what rod they have and 9/10 times they have adequate tackle and I then take them to a local sport field and let them cast.

8/10 not getting distance is as a result of them not casting hard enough. We then use their rod and show them exactly how far his/her rod can cast. I then recommend, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE and more practise till they can cast as far or further than we did with the rod and if they then still want a rod modified or a new one then I'll do the job for them.

The other 2/10 time the release of the line incorrectly, you need to release theline that the launch trajectory is optimally around 52 degrees to get the best distance.

 

[Enigma]

Ray Hall is to modest.

Below is a link to a post he made on casting along with others additions to the post.

Watch his long range cast post, he nails a weight out a long way. He doesnt say anything on the post but flight time of the sinker was around 34 counts which will put it at over 150m, probably 170m

His stance and grip will show all the aspects covered in the posts above.

http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=21891&forum_id=73

 

[mikesfb]

howzit just sat and watched the video quite a few times now. i see your rod eyes are facing up as you start the cast and your left hand is very awkwardky placed on top. for the overhead cast have the rod eyes and reel facing down while rod is behind you and bring it straight forward over your head/shoulder, this will stop you having to twist the rod during your cast.

 

[griff]

Best words of advice.

Practice, practice and more practice.

We all started with a chuck. I don' have the luxury of the coast to practice, and have used dams in the area to empty fields and gone to one of the SA casting guys at the time(don't know if he is still about "Blakkie Swaart"). Dang this chap threw a sinker so bloody far I thought a pasport should have been brought to collect the weight, and that was with a mag elite Abu. Always make sure there is nothing behind where you are casting for at least 1 000m because if you do put your back into it and the leader parts it is a deadly missile. Heaven only knows how far it goes but rather safe than sorry.

Steal with your eyes whenever you are at a place where you see many class anglers. If you ask when there I'm sure all will give you a helping hand.

Cast every chance you get and keep your thumb away from the line on the drum. Use the side of your thumb on the edge of the drum and you will never cook the prints off. That yellow burn is something else.

It's been years since I measured my distance but have comfortably cast over 150m with my heavy Assassin with meduim tip 5 oz sinker. When you get it right you will feel how smooth and fluid your action feels. 

 

 

[Wil_2010]

Thanks for all the advice!!! I guess I need to get out there and practice. Thanks again!