LONG & SURF CASTING: Basic needs, equipment, tools and lines

Part 1: History and Background to Competitions

Part 2: LONG & SURF CASTING: Rods and Reels

WORDS: Hennie van Rooyen*  IMAGES: Supplied

It is hard to comprehend but February is upon us and one month in 2025 has soared by rapidly. May all readers enjoy a prosperous new year filled with the joy of casting those extra-long record casts and having that once in a life time achievement catch. In this article we will continue to discover the art of long casting as we get down to the nuts and bolts of preparing and utilising our equipment and casting techniques itself.

Selecting a rod that has been set up to suit your specific needs and comfort is essential. In previous articles Ie have touched on rods and reels comprehensively. It is now a personal choice what action and length in your rod will give the optimum distance you desire. Setting your reel on your rod at the bottom or higher up are just a few of the choices you have that may make a world of difference when casting. Coasters make life easy to achieve these changes quick and easy. My personal choice is to set my reel at the bottom of the rod.

Surfcasting rods should ideally be between 12 and 15 feet. This length provides the leverage needed for longer casts. Ensure that the eyes are smooth and properly attached to the rod. It is common practice that casters will temporarily set the rod’s eyes with insulation tape and will be removed when traveling especially when using flights to and from venues. Inspect the rod guides for any damage that could fray the line.

Basic needs, equipment, tools and lines

Before setting off to break the record long distance casting record there are some crucial basics that need to be in place.

The illustrations will also give a clearer understanding of why these essential equipments are required.

Access to your long casting equipment and necessities should be easy but ensure that especially reels are well kept and protected. There is no golden rule but transport to and from events with your equipment must be simple and space saving.

Line

The brand of line is a personnel choice. I use in general affordable line rather than brand line as they all perform relatively the same for long casting. Breaking strain therefore has little influence on my choice of line. However, when fishing, braking strain plays a crucial role and I will utilise a better-quality line or braid.

Line categories have to be complied with as discussed in previous articles. Therefore, I always keep 600-meter spools of 0,35, 0,31, 0,28 and 0,25 mm line in my bag. It should be high vision line as lines need to be followed and picked up by measuring officials.  High vision colours that seem to be very popular are red, yellow fluorescent and orange. Just be reminded again, line thickness may not be less than prescribed for the weight category. A leader line or shock leader always needs to be attached to your main line. I use 0,65 mm for 100- and 125-gram weight and 0,75 mm for the 150- and 175-gram weight. Casting without a leader is among others almost impossible for long casting as the immense pressure on the line will have a break-off as a result. Secondly break-offs can be dangerous. This is even more applicable when long casts are made for fishing between other anglers and visitors.

An example of the different types and thickness of line I use

The knots utilised from the main line to the leader line should always be smooth and as small as possible. For long casting competitions a mushroom knot is utilised where the leader line is lightly melted at the start of the leader line with a lighter. A lighter is essential and should be standard when packing your bag. A normal Figure 8 knot will suffice to join the two lines. Just take note, this knot has little strength and will not be effective when fishing. Rather use conventional knots that guarantee strength. You may give up a bit of distance but it will be minute in the greater scheme of casting. The rule of thumb for a strong shock leader is 10 pounds of breaking strain per ounce of lead weight to handle the stress during the casting motion.

Mushroom shape melted into the main line and knot to main line.

Weights

I have touched on weights in previous articles. However, for easy reference I attach an illustration. You don’t have to use these exact weights when fishing and may vary from species to species and areas where you fishing from. For competitive casting the prescribed weights need to be utilised. The moulds are normally calibrated and are termed a bullet weight mould; these moulds are available on the market but are normally imported. We have ample moulds available to cast weights for the federation but you are welcome to enquire assistance to acquire weights for use.

Physical practise

Long casting is a physical athletic activity that cannot be mastered if regular exercise is not part of your routine. Strong core muscles provide the stability needed for a powerful cast. Your shoulders, arms, and back are crucial for casting. Pull-ups, push-ups, dumbbell rows, and shoulder presses is also recommended. A stronger grip ensures better control and power transfer. Farmer’s carries, grip trainers, and deadlifts are also essential.  Power starts from your lower body, so strong legs and hips are vital. Squats, lunges are effective. Stretch your shoulders and arms to enhance your casting range. Shoulder rolls, arm circles, and dynamic stretches like overhead reaches. These exercises are specifically important just before an event and a practice round. Rotation in the torso and hips is key for a longer cast. A fluid wrist flick adds distance. Wrist rolls, forearm stretches, and resistance band exercises will always be to your advantage.

Casting Drills

Practice Regularly:

Distance casting requires muscle memory and precision, so frequent practice is crucial. By preparing the right equipment and consistently practicing your casting technique, you can significantly enhance your long casting ability. Whether you’re targeting fish beyond the breakers or practicing for competitive casting, these steps will ensure you achieve both distance and accuracy…

Practice the timing of loading the rod and releasing the line. Focus on a smooth acceleration and a crisp stop to generate line speed.  Practice in windy conditions to improve control and power. Ensure that the wind always blows from the back from where your casting position is. Use a piece of bicycle tube over your thumb to prevent the spool slipping under your finger when casting. Avoid overpowering your cast; whatever casting method you apply ensure the timing is as smooth as possible during the acceleration.

Experiment with different rod lengths, reels, mag controllers, and line types to find the combination that works best for you. Consistency in these exercises will lead to noticeable improvements in your casting distance over time. Select a large, open area like a field, beach, or casting range. Avoid areas with trees, power lines, or other obstacles that might interfere with your casting.

Casting methods

Overhead Casts are the most common and straightforward casting methods. The rod is held at a slight angle behind your shoulder. Use a smooth, controlled motion to propel the weight forward. Time the release point to maximize distance. I can remember being taught by my dad to cast with this method when I was 5 years old and is in my view the best method for casting for beginners and general-purpose angling.

Pendulum Cast is high-power casting method often used by competitive casters and surf anglers. The weight is swung in a pendulum motion behind and around you. Use the swing’s momentum combined with an overhead motion to launch the cast.

Off-the-Ground (OTG) Cast is a popular surf casting technique designed for power and distance. This is at this stage my preferred casting method as it gives a lot of distance, accuracy and control over the cast. To execute the cast lay the sinker on the ground about 90 degrees behind you. Use the rod to load energy by pulling the sinker off the ground and launching it forward. Focus on timing and even acceleration. It is especially effective for heavy weights and if you are angling for long-distance surf casting.

The Hatteras Cast is a simplified version of the pendulum cast for surf fishing. To execute the cast position the rod at a low angle. Swing the sinker to create momentum, then cast forward using the rod’s power. It is a good method when learning to use the pendulum cast, learning to maximize distance. This method combines pendulum or off-the-ground methods with specialized casting equipment. The focus is on optimizing technique, rod power, and line management. To improve your technique, focus on timing, evenness, and building rod energy during the cast.

Readers should check on YouTube where our members and various other International distance casting champions run full tutorials on the casting methods discussed above. I included a few videos on this month’s event at the Grassmere casting field. 

As undertaken we will henceforth include a short report of the monthly regional competitions. The January event took place on 25 January at the Grassmere Plaza casting field hosted by Gauteng South. 6 members attended as KZN was absent and attend only on a bi-monthly basis depending on traveling circumstances to the inland. Results are attached and you will notice that some distances are extraordinary. Any distance over 200 metres is already an achievement in itself. Distances of 220 metres are excellent. Distances of more than 240 metres were world class under weather and wind conditions that were not supportive of record casts. Marius Coetzee, our current SA long casting champion, scored the longest casts in all four weight categories.  In 3 categories distances achieved exceeded 240 metres with a distance of 227 metres in the 100-gram weight category. Our oldest member, Pat Vosloo is nearly 70 years old and achieved a 3^rd place overall with distances exceeding 210 metres.

The National Protea team has been approved consisting of 4 casters and a team manager by SASAA and SACOC to attend the 27 World Long Casting International competition in Argentine from 6 to 12 April 2025. A team photo will be published in our next submission.

The next event will take place on 22 February hosted by Gauteng North at the same venue. Please contact us at the long casting to direct you to the venue and come and join us to test your abilities, or better, come join us.

In our next publication the rules and procedures applicable to distance casting will elaborated. The casting field and measurements will also be covered. We will record more detailed videos during practices and events and will cover each method used for casting and discuss these in detail.

*Hennie van Rooyen is President of the SA Long Casting Federation. Contact him on Email: vanrooyenhennie64@gmail.com; Tel. 072 281 5277; www.sasaa.co.za. 

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