Based on research through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Marine Fishery Division regulations, there is no specific rule that limits the amount of rods that can be fished with at once when surf fishing (saltwater fishing from the shore). However, before you decide to put out multiple lines, you should first consider local regulations, how many lines you are physically able to tend, as well good surf fishing etiquette.
Florida Saltwater Fishing Regulations for Surf Fishing
Research in this article is specifically targeting fishing from the surf into saltwater. This article is not intended to address all rules and regulations for Florida fishing including freshwater fishing. I encourage you to review the regulations for freshwater fishing by referencing the FWCC's Division of Freshwater Fish and Wildlife if you're interested in freshwater regulations. As an example, rule 68A-15.065 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas – Northeast Region states for the Guana River Wildlife Management Area “Fishing with more than three poles or three rods and reels is prohibited”.
Additionally, this article does not account for the many local rules and regulations that might only to specific beaches. Before you go out fishing, it is best practice to check for local rules that may apply to the specific area you are fishing. Additionally local law enforcement or county life guards have the authority stop fishing in their area of jurisdiction.
As stated above, through my research of the regulations provided by Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC), there are no laws specifically limiting the amount of lines that one person can use while surf fishing. With that being said, the following rule can be loosely applied.
68B-4.0086 Hook and Line Gear: Tending Requirement.
“Beginning January 1, 1993, hook and line gear used in or on the waters of the State shall be tended. The term “tended” for purposes of this rule means that the person fishing the gear is physically present at the terminus of the gear.”
FWCC 68B-4.0086
Based on this regulation, one could argue that a fisherman could have too many lines out to physical tend all the lines. In such a case, the fisherman could be in violation of this regulation.
Managing Multiple Lines
Tending multiple at a time can become a chore at times if the bite is on or if the surf conditions aren't ideal. Picking the right amount of rods to surf fish with comes down to how much effort you are willing and able to put in to manage the lines and how good you are at line management. An obvious point to make is, the more lines you have out (assuming you aren't getting tangled all the time), the better you chances of catching fish.
Sometimes me and the family just want to get out and enjoy the day more so than wanting to fish. These are the days when I want to put in as little effort in as possible to manage my gear so I can spend more time digging holes and building sand castles with the girls vs maintaining my lines. On days like this I opt to bring one maybe two rods and my rod holders. If bringing two rods I space them out about 25 feet apart and only check them after about 15 to 20 min between bites. Obviously with fewer lines in the water the less the chance of a bite, but I am not too worried about this on the pure family days.
Other times however I am looking to meat haul. These are the days that I want to get as many rods out as I can handle or the beach conditions will allow so I can increase my chances of catching bait. On these days I will most often put out at least three rods and sometimes as many as five if the beach conditions will allow it. A little later in this article I will talk about beach fishing etiquette which is a very important thing to consider before you drop out multiple lines. Having multiple lines out will allow you to cover more areas as well as experiment with different bait and distances from shore. One thing to note here is that the more lines you have out, while increasing your chances of a catch, can also be very hard to manage. If the surf is rough then you are likely recasting every 5 to 10 min and are also more likely to get tangled in your own line. Also, when the bite is hot I sometimes reduce the amount of rods I have out in order to keep up with reeling in my catch, de-hooking, re-baiting, and re-casting. After about 30 min of a constant bite with 4+ rods you are slam wore out. Not only are you sprinting up and down the beach but you are also casting and reeling in fish. You are certainly breaking a sweat in this situation.
For most people with moderate line management skills and in decent health I recommend 3 rods at a time. This amount of rods are enough to experiment with different baits and different depths/distances. With adequate spacing three rods only requires you to cover an area of no more than 50ft which is not too bad. Additionally the symmetry of your setup can allow to to post up shop in the middle and have an equal run to either of the outer rods when you get a bite.
Surf Fishing Etiquette
Practicing proper etiquette is not only good for you and the people around you while fishing, but is also good for surf fishing as a whole. I hate to see posts online of people complaining about the “obnoxious fisherman” that takes over the beach and the water around him/her. This behavior not only can instigate confrontation with other beach goers but can also force the hand of local authorities to tighten up the local surf fishing restrictions. More importantly this behavior can give other surf fishing anglers a bad name.
Pick a secluded beach
If you are heading out on the water, I highly discourage you from heading to the most popular and crowded beach in your area. Picking a secluded beach is safer for you and the public, is more appealing to fish in the water, allows you to deploy more fishing lines, and in my opinion is more enjoyable. Even as an avid fisherman I get frustrated when I head over to Cocoa Beach with the family and see a fishermen out in the middle of the beach with lines out and people swimming all around him. This is a dangerous practice and is not benefiting anyone.
When fishing in an area away from dense population there is much less risk of accidentally hooking someone in the water or snagging someone during your cast. If you happen to find yourself in an area where there are a moderate amount of people around but you still feel it is safe to fish, I recommend limiting the amount of lines in the water to one or two. On the flip side, if you are alone on a secluded beach that is isolated from other people, then feel free to deploy as many lines as you can tend. I find that I can easily handle 4 lines on most days with a moderate bite. Additionally you are more likely to catch fish in general when there are fewer people in the water around you since passing fish likely see the mass of people as potential predators in the water.
Limit Beach Area
Another bad practice with surf fishing is taking up a large strip of real estate for your gear. It is important to have adequate spacing of your rods to prevent tangles but it is also important to be mindful of how much area you are taking up. If the conditions are so bad that you need to space your rods a large distance apart then you should probably limit the number of rods you have out. Not to mention the amount of sprinting you will be doing when the bite is on and you have 5 rods that are 20 yards apart…
When surf fishing I prefer to space my rods at about 15 to 25 ft apart depending on surf conditions. On calm days you may be able to squeeze a little closer but be sure the stagger the cast distance (or distance from the shore). My setup is usually a rod holder on either side of my beach cart. Three rods out at 20 to 25 feet apart is 40 to 50 feet or 13 to 16 yards. This is a good amount of space to take up when fishing in most areas. A 4th or 5th rod with this spacing starts to get hard to manage if the bite is on and is also a lot of beachfront being occupied by one person. That would be 20 to 34 yards of beachfront that you would be managing and occupying. You might be able to get away with this if you are pretty fit and aren't sharing the beach but this should be avoided with even moderate population.
Summary
To wrap it up it is important to know the rules, understand your limitations, and practice proper etiquette. No one wants to knowingly break the rules, become frustrated with tangled line, or make enemies with fellow beach goers. By reading this article I hope you have a better understanding of the FWCC rules as it applies to the number of lines you can use simultaneously while surf fishing as a better awareness of your fellow beach dwellers. When it comes to line management, practice makes perfect and start off small. While you're here, be sure to check out another article on our site, such as the Surf Fishing Lures one. Be safe out there, keep you nose clean, and as always Tight Lines Y'all!
