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The guide engine
Nine decisions, answered with today's water
Every guide is a table you can trust and a reading you can act on. The table is the knowledge. The live strip at the top of each card is what the surf is doing right now, and what to do about it.
- Tables
- 9
- Buoy feed
- 5 min
- Board refresh
- 30 min
The nine
Start with sinkers if you only read one. It is the decision that changes the most between a good day and a wasted one.
SINKERS
Start hereWhat size sinker do I need today?
Weight is how you read the water. Get it right and the bait stays where the fish are.
| Calm | 2-3 oz pyramid |
|---|---|
| Normal | 3-4 oz pyramid |
| Moderate | 4-5 oz pyramid or frog tongue |
RODS
How long a rod do I need for today's surf?
Length is distance. Power is weight. Read both before you buy either.
| Calm | 9 ft medium, 1-3 oz |
|---|---|
| Normal | 10 ft medium-heavy, 2-4 oz |
| Moderate | 11 ft heavy, 3-6 oz |
RIGS
Which bottom rig should I tie on?
The rig decides whether the fish feels the weight. Pick it for the water, not for habit.
| Calm and clear | High-low, 2 oz, 2/0 circle hooks |
|---|---|
| Normal | Fish finder, 3-4 oz, 3/0 circle |
| Moderate sweep | Fish finder, 5 oz, 50 lb shock leader |
BAITS
What should I put on the hook this month?
Match the bait to what is actually in the water this month, not to what your tackle box is used to.
| Cold | Cut mullet, blue crab, sand fleas |
|---|---|
| Cooling | Fresh mullet, cut bunker, finger mullet |
| Mixed | Shrimp, cut mullet, live mud minnows |
TIDES
What tide is it right now, and does it matter?
The tide is the clock on the whole beach. Same bait, same spot, two hours apart, two different sessions.
| Slack low | Read the beach, do not rush the cast |
|---|---|
| Incoming | Fish the slough mouths and the points |
| Slack high | Move to inlets, points, and the sound side |
BEACH DRIVING
How far should I air down today?
Tire pressure is the difference between a beach and a tow bill. Air down before you need it.
| Firm sand | 20-25 PSI |
|---|---|
| Normal summer sand | 18-20 PSI |
| Soft and deep | 15-18 PSI |
FIRST TIMER
I have never surf fished. What do I actually need?
One rod, one rig, one bait, and a license. That is a real session on the Banks.
| Rod | 9-10 ft medium spinning |
|---|---|
| Reel | 4000-5000 size spinning, 15 lb drag |
| Line | 20 lb braid, 40 lb shock leader |
KNOTS
Which knot do I tie, and does it matter?
A knot is the weakest point in the setup, and on the Banks it is the one you tie in the wind, with cold hands, in the dark. These six cover every join on a surf rig.
| Improved clinch | Mono to hook or lure |
|---|---|
| Palomar | Braid to hook or swivel |
| Uni-to-uni (double uni) | Braid to leader |
TACKLE BAG
What goes in the bag before I leave the truck?
The bag is the difference between a session and a drive home. Pack it in tiers, so a day trip on foot and a week on the sand are the same bag with more in it.
| Bare minimum | Day trip on foot |
|---|---|
| Solid | A weekend, or a keeper day |
| Full | ORV or camping |
How this works
No black box. The table is written down, the rule that reads the water is written down, and both are on this site where you can check them.
Step 1
The table
The condition chart, the shape catalogue, the tips. It is the same knowledge a shop wall chart carries, and it does not change with the weather.
Step 2
The live read
A buoy off Avon or a NOAA tide station feeds the page every time you open it. Waves, wind, water temperature, and where the tide is right now.
Step 3
The answer
The two are joined by a rule you can read and check: 3 to 5 ft of sea means 5 oz, wind over 20 kt adds a step, and a shape change beats more lead.
The other half of the engine
How to catch a specific fish
These guides answer the condition question. The species cards answer the fish question: when each species runs on the Banks, what to tie on for it, and whether today is worth the drive.
The engine, applied to places
Where to fish
Access-point cards for the point, the inlets, the piers, and the drivable beach. When each spot fishes, what it takes to get there, and today's call from the same buoy the guides read.
Open where to fishThe engine, applied to the calendar
This month
Twelve month pages built from the species data: what is prime, what else is running, the bait of the month, and the tactics that fit the season. The hub marks the month you are in.
Open the month pagesRefreshed every 30 minutes
Today's board
The whole setup on one page: the sinker for today's surf, the rig, the bait, the rod, both tide stations, sunrise, sunset, and how far to air down. Same card every morning, with new numbers.
Updated Oct 30, 2026