Learn Saltwater Fly Fishing on the East Coast
By John Harrington, Jr.
If you’re accustomed to fly fishing in the freshwater and live on the East Coast, you may be missing out on a lot of new opportunities right within driving distance to your home. In the salt, the fish are typically larger and stronger, the environments are dynamic and constantly changing with tides and currents. And the wide variety of species means you can travel up and down the coast through the year pursuing different types of fish.
Unlike the delicate presentations required in freshwater, saltwater fly fishing tends to be more aggressive and visual. You'll often see your target before you cast, whether it's a cruising striper in the surf or a laid up tarpon in a FL bay.
If this sounds intriguing and you are ready to test your skills in the salt, this article will help you understand what you need to know to make your jump a successful one.
Saltwater Fly Rod, Reel, Line, and Fly Considerations
When you dip your toes in the waves or the flats, you’ll quickly realize: you’re not in Kansas anymore. And this means you’ll need to come prepared with the right gear!
You'll want at least one setup in the 8 to 10 weight range. A 9 weight is the equivalent of a 5 weight in the freshwater, serving as an excellent all around salt fly rod. It can handle everything from stripers to redfish to baby tarpon.
Perhaps even more important than the rod, the saltwater fly reel is the most important investment. Look for a sealed drag system that is capable of keeping out sand and salt. And make sure it is spooled up with ~200 yards of 30lb backing. Saltwater species will test your drag in ways freshwater fish rarely do, and many will easily run you into your backing on the first run.
You'll need different lines for different situations, which is where having different options spooled up and ready to go can be extremely handy. A floating line handles most scenarios, an intermediate sinking line is invaluable for deeper water or current. A fast sinking line helps you reach the bottom in channels.
Pro Tip #1:
No matter what line (or lines) you are going with, definitely invest in a stripping basket which will help you manage your fly line amidst the current while casting consistently. If it doesn’t have holes in the bottom, you can drill some in to help it drain, which is especially useful in the surf. You may also want to consider some stripping guards to keep your fingers protected from the friction of line retrieval.
Saltwater species are not as leader shy as trout, and therefore the leaders are typically 7 and a half to 9 feet long. They’re also thicker in diameter than freshwater leaders. Also, if you're pursuing toothy predators like bluefish, you may want to bring some wire bite along if you're looking to bring fish to hand.
No matter what you decide to start out with, one major difference between fresh and saltwater is that salt is very corrosive. So after each outing, hose off all your gear, including rod guides, your reel, and fly line. Remove your reel from the rod and rinse both separately. This simple routine will add years to the life of your gear.
As far as flies go, the Clouser Minnow is an absolute essential, and you’ll find that using it in various colors will catch pretty much anything you’re targeting. Some good rules of thumb that you may already be aware of: dark sky, dark fly (like black, purple, or even blurple) / bright sky, light fly (like blue, white, yellow). And of course, “if it ain’t chartreuse, it ain’t no use!”
Deceivers work well in the surf and on flats. Crab patterns are essential for redfish and permit, while poppers create explosive surface strikes from stripers and tarpon. Don't be afraid to throw larger flies. 3 to 5 inch baitfish patterns are often appropriate, and for tarpon or big stripers, flies of 6 inches or more aren’t uncommon.
Pro Tip #2:
Just like you may use snips or hemostat pliers in the freshwater, it doesn't hurt to have a pair of pliers available that you can use to remove hooks. Keep fish wet, and practice fast and safe catch and release the same way you would handling a trout.
Taking Your First Steps into the Salt
Now that we’ve addressed what gear to get started with, let’s discuss the basic techniques you’ll need to hook into fish no matter where you’re casting or what saltwater species you’re targeting.
First things first, dial in your double haul casting technique. This is essential for saltwater fly fishing success. It increases line speed, helps you cast in wind (which you’ll encounter plenty of!) and allows you to chuck larger flies. If you haven't mastered this technique, practice on your home water or even in a grass field near your home before heading out to the ocean.
Next, make sure to learn how to read the tides, and plan ahead based on what you know. Tides truly drive everything in saltwater fishing. Fish move with tides to access feeding areas, and moving water concentrates baitfish and triggers feeding. By learning to read tide charts and focus your efforts around moving water, you’ll find success. You can start by downloading a free tide app on your phone, like Ocean Watch. As you’re getting started, you’ll find that incoming and outgoing tides are typically more productive than slack water.
And just as important as the tides, in the salt you need to read the water (just like you know every bend, run, riffle and pool in your local trout stream). For example, look for current seams where different water speeds meet. These spots are where baitfish will be concentrated. If you see rips, these form where current flows over structure. Deeper channels through shallow flats are basically highways for moving fish. Look for birds working over the water. Nervous water or surface disturbances could be baitfish being pushed up by the fish you’re targeting. And of course, oyster bars, grass beds, and rock structures all provide habitat and ambush points for fish. If you don't see anything, move around (if the fish aren't finding you, you will need to go find them).
Also, jump right in and start casting on two feet. Don't worry if you don’t have a watercraft. Of course it helps, but you do not need a boat to catch saltwater fish on the fly. Surf fishing for stripers, wading for redfish in shallow bays, or fishing from jetties and rock piles are all productive approaches that allow you to learn and get on fish.
Pro Tip #3:
If you do decide to go the jetty route, make sure you have studded or spiked footwear that will protect you from slipping.
Just like you match the mayfly hatch in your local freshwater stream, saltwater fly fishing is also all about matching the local forage. Learn what bait species are present in your target area. Depending where you are, mullet, menhaden, silversides, shrimp, or even crabs could be on the menu. Your fly selection and presentation should match up accordingly.
Where and When to Saltwater Fly Fish on the East Coast
Now that we’ve broken down the gear and techniques at a high level, let’s get you in the water and on some fish.
Florida
Florida offers world class sight fishing for bonefish, permit, and tarpon. If you’re looking for some warmth and a change of scenery, December through May typically offer the best combination of favorable and comfortable conditions. Redfish and snook are also popular targets in the spring and fall while tarpon season is at its best from April through July.
The Carolinas
The shallow grass flats and oyster bars of the Carolinas have become renowned for excellent redfish populations. Fall is prime time when large schools gather in shallow estuaries.
The Mid-Atlantic
The Chesapeake Bay and surrounding coastal areas provide exceptional striper (or as the locals say, “rockfish”) fly fishing The spring run brings massive schools up the bay, while fall sees the return with fish feeding aggressively. The Delaware and New Jersey coasts offer excellent surf fishing opportunities.
The Northeast
As we head up the northeast to the New England area, you’ll find some of the most exciting saltwater fly fishing on the east coast. The spring striper run begins in April/May and continues through summer. Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Cape are legendary destinations for a reason! Fall brings the albie blitz up north, from mid September through October, while the stripers make their way back down south along the coast.
George Costa of TCO State College will be hosting a trip to Montauk, NY targeting blitzing striped bass, false albacore and bluefish. Learn more here.
Pro Tip #4:
No matter where you are going, chances are if you're near the ocean, there's a high degree of probability you'll need sun protection. Don't make the mistake of coming unprepared. This includes polarized eyewear and sunscreen. You won't regret packing a few UPF-rated clothing items, like sun hoodies, buffs, and gloves.
You're Now Ready to Fling Flies in the Salt
Although this was a crash course article, we hope you found it useful. By now you have a general understanding of the type of gear you will need to get started, tips you can follow to have success no matter where you are, and places you can try out along the coast and what types of species you can expect to target.
You've learned that a 9 weight setup with a quality sealed drag reel will handle most East Coast saltwater situations, from redfish in the Carolinas to stripers in the northeast and mid-atlantic. You now understand that mastering the double haul and learning to read tides are table stakes that will make or break your success on the water. And now you know that you don't need a boat to get started. Some of the best saltwater fly fishing happens from shore, whether you're wading the flats or casting from a jetty. No matter where you live along the Atlantic, world class saltwater fly fishing is likely reachable within hours (or less!) from your car.
The transition from freshwater to salt is easier than you might think. The skills you've developed on trout streams reading water, matching the hatch, making accurate casts all translate. You're just doing it with bigger gear, bigger flies, and fish that pull a whole lot harder. Now it's time to get out there – just remember to rinse your gear and check the tides before you head out.
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