Reading the Beach - Identifying Sandbars, Troughs, & Cuts 

I have been surf fishing on and off for 30 years. I now live at the beach and you sir just explained in 16 minutes what I've been trying to do for all those years! You just added a valuable tool to my tackle box. So, when my wife and I go walking on the beach she'll be looking at the water, sunrise or sunset and I'll be identifying cuts, troughs, and sandbars in preparation for my next fishing trip! Thank you!

Mr. Troxler, you leave me somewhat speechless. You are by far one of the most informative instructors on Reading the Beach. Thank you so very much for these videos. You just made me a better fisherman...

Great video. No meandering artsy fluff like some of these videos, just vital information clearly delivered. For a surf fishing neophyte, this is pure gold. Thanks a million, Rich!

This seems to be incredible information. I’ve been watching a lot of surf fishing videos. They all seem to be people just trying to show you the rig they are using. This guy is actually showing you where to fish rather then just tossing your bait out and hoping for the best

Excellent presentation! You teach at a masters & doctorate level with well chosen content, words and visual images. Your detailed planning is apparent, making this an extraordinary learning module worthy of a subscription. Thank you, sir!

i'm a surfer and am super grateful for this video. also involved in education lol and this is an excellent use of examples.

Thank you Seymour. What keeps fishing interesting is that there is always something more to learn, for me, for you, for everybody. It never grows old.

Fantastic video. Thanks so much for taking the time to help others.

This may be one of the most informative videos I've seen in a long time

Thank you for putting together such a well made video along with informative as well as enjoyable narration!

Rich, this video series has been great. I really appreciate the time you've put into this.

I was that person just sitting at the beach waiting today! And I knew something was off and I found this video. Thank you! -Paula T.

Amazing explanation. So throughly and eloquently done!

“Fishing is a lifelong process that never ends ..” Indeed! Same could be said for Catching! This was a really good Succinct and seaworthy tutorial. I definitely learnt something from this video, cheers bro! New Zealand here.

This is the most informative video about the beach and movement of the fish. I love fishing and I would use this knowledge not just for myself, but to pass through my future kids. Thanks a lot, Mister...

Very informative. Been coastal fishing for years in Port Aransas, Corpus, and surrounding areas. Never understood how to tell the sandbars without walking out into them. lol. Thank you for you time in making these videos. You are appreciated!

Thank You for sharing your fishing knowledge. I have been striper fishing for 40 years and was still able to gain some knowledge on this fabulous video. 👍🏻😎🎣🎣

I almost drowned in a rip current when I was a kid. I didn't know any better and tried to fight it but luckily a nearby surfer saved the day. Anyways, since then I've always looked for rip currents even when I wasn't swimming. It never clicked that those cuts would make for good fishing but I have never surf fished before. Thank you for giving me a better chance at success when I do get to surf fish this summer. Cheers

great presentation, you should have just taken a decade off most new surf fishermen and women and helped clarify a lot for us "old-timers" who thought we figured it all out! Thanks.

No audio problem for me. Your lessons are succinct and logical, and the videos are well produced. Thanks for taking the time to think through the topics and present them so well in this excellent series of tutorials. I'm about to leave for 3 weeks in Florida and I'll be flyfishing the beaches a lot. I'm a midwestern fresh water fisher who knew nothing about beach structure. Your videos will help me get off to a great start.

I'm a kitesurfer and I just wanted to say I found this video super informative. It really explains why certain waves break the way they do, especially after bigger storms

Excellent video on how to read the beach. This is how I have been doing it for many years and when you can find these cuts, you will find fish.

Thanks very much for sharing an excellently organized lecture on fundamentals of fish behavior and beach structure. The video very nicely compliment the clear explanations. Very generous of you Rich thank you, I have never fished on the beach and was browsing for tips as I am going to siesta key in a week. This is priceless!

Great video. Expertly explained and easy to understand. Thank you so much.

I have been trying to understand this stuff for so long. Finally a video that really makes sense and defines all the terms. Great Job! thank so much.

You're detailed descriptions and analylses are outstanding. You effectively breakdown a complicated topic into easily understood concepts. Yours is the best presentaion on RU-vid! BTW, I'm on my wife's computor so it's not her commenting but me.

Great video! As an avid beach goer, I've seen this action thousands of times. Your video secured what I already thought and cleared up a few things for me. Thanks!

Thank you very much for this video. Now I'm so excited to go to the beach and apply what I have learned. I usually fish on the jetties but more options on where to fish is gold.

Thank you so much!!! Ive been doing it all wrong! now that i think back at the beaches i fish on hear in Australia i see the exact same structures you have pointed out and ive had NO idea how important those sand bars are. In one video you have clearly explained every thing the surf fisherman should know.

I will try to remember these tips next time I go surf fishing 👍

This is one of the best videos I have seen. very informative. Thanks a lot.

I watched your series and went to my local beach..I understand everything you teach. I see though very different eyes now. And have decided to buy my self some fishing gear. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge

Hello, Mr. Troxler I don't surf fish very much but i love it. In the past i have not had much luck maybe catching one or two fish when my wife and i visit the beach. This year I decided to do all the research possible and get the necessary tackle. Well I had most of the tackle i needed and while researching surf fishing i ran across your video specifically this video. After watching this video i decided not to watch another video because i felt that the information seemed to be sound and good; in addition i did not want to confuse myself. I visited Destin Florida and walked right out on the beach and stuck my rod in the sand but i didn't put any bait in the water. I took 10 minutes to watch the water and implement everything that i could remember about this video( I watched this video for about a week prior to going) I was able to identify what i felt would be the best fishing spot it was about 60 yards to my left. Oddly there were people all around me fishing but there was no one in that spot. After i convinced my wife to move we set up. I had three rods with me and two rod holders. I baited one threw out into the trough about 20-25 yards out. I believed the trough was fairly deep because of how the wave were breaking plus there was a guy walking out casting and it was nearly to his neck lol. While everyone was casting 50 yards or more out. I started catching fish two at a time. twenty minutes in i had about 15-18 fish (whiting) before i knew it my wife was reeling in and i was left baiting and taking fish off of the hook. After about 25 whiting we stared catching pompano then red fish. In all we caught about 40+ fish when people around me were catching nothing. I am so grateful that you sheared this information my wife now understands my passion for fishing. Thank you Thank you Thank you. PS. people started walking up to me asking me what i was doing what bait i was using and you know the usual questions I don't know who was more proud my wife or me. Again thank you.

thank you for diving directly into the subject and explaining very well all aspects of the surf fishing. your contents are amazing.

I'm on my way to a beach and usually when I fish from the surf I adopt the "they'll come by" strategy. I can't wait to try this stuff out, thanks so much for the video!

Thank you for producing such a comprehensive guide on this subject, really appreciate it!

This makes so much sense.....I'm thinking of all the wasted hours on the beach doing exactly what he said......sticking a rod in the sand and hoping for the best. I'm ready to get back to the beach and learn how to read those bars.

Most helpful video for fishing the surf I have seen. Thank you and great video!

Great video, spent hours on the beach after the storm hit northeast U.K. Spotting the places where the cod would gather other than the already known marks which must move after a bit storm or spring tide. It makes you feel a lot more confident when fishing..

This is awesome I want to thank you for giving any of your time to give us this overload of knowledge. 👏 you are THE MAN!! WISH I COULD FISH A DAY WITH YOU.

Great video! I really appreciate the time you took to explain the details. Combined with the footage, it made the concept much easier to follow.

Excellent advise from a seasoned surf fisherman. Going to use it in two days. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you! Really well done. This video helped me immeasurably.

Hello Rich, this is a great video, everyone talks about this but not many explain it as good and as simple as you did.

Thank you for this. Not only for fishing but just going to the beach on a outing in general. I've alway known how dangerous the sea can be. With a better understanding I can make sure I respect it even more!

Great information. Thanks for taking the time to produce.

Perfect. I'm new to surf fishing and was looking for a video like this. Thanks very much.

I would like to thank you for sharing important information regarding surf/shore fishing. I reside on the east coast of South Africa and I am sure that the knowledge that you have provided will definitely improve my results. Once again thank you sir.

I've not had much luck fishing the surf of the outer banks. your video is very insightful and helped me learn even more. I'm sure I'll be able to apply this on my next trip this summer. thank you!

This is great, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I'm going to finish watching the rest of your videos and probably watch them again. Hopefully the next time I go fishing I might finally start catching something.

Wow Thank You for sharing this info. After watching your video I can finally make a little more sense of what I'm looking at out there. Going fishing tomorrow!

I have been looking for a video like this all day. I googled the place I am going to fish next month. And I think I can see it what you were talking about. Thank for the video

This is great. Thank you for sharing the knowledge and secrets! Cant wait to try it out on the beach soon.

Rich, thanks for taking the time to share this. The video is outstanding and full of great info.

wow amazing how well you explained. I cant wait to go to the beach tomorrow and try to read the water as you have explained it.

Thank you very much for your information. My son and I went surf fishing for the very first time. We did really well catching surf perch. Thank you again for your knowledge.

I'm getting a very low audio signal on this video, anyone else having this problem?

Thank you for your kind words. I hope it helps you get on the fish. I'll have another one out on holes and points in the near future. Holes are the hardest to spot, but they really produce.

Great informative content, will help any surf fisherman find the Fish. Thanks for posting this type of video.

Thank you Rich for this awesome video ! We appreciate the time you took to produce and share this amazing video ! I learned a lot from you ! I can't thank you enough !!!

Thank you so much for the expert insight... I'm so tired of getting SKUNKED. Looking forward to fishing Morrow Bay and Pismo Beach with this newly gained knowledge.

Very informative video. Thank you for taking the time to make this series.

Cheers mate ive learnt a lot from just watching your video far the best out there not only on the fishing side but from a safety perspective for my kids

Thank you so much for this video, I had to watch it a few times to fully understand but I feel like I know what I am looking for now!

Very detailed, I got a lot out of this video. Thanks Rich.

wow... i've learned a lot within those 16 minutes... Thank You! Can't wait until this weekend to start fishing again. :)

excellent explanation! was not boring. im headed to the texas coast soon and needed this info. thanks man

Very nice and informative. Beware... I will be watching you!

Hi Im from South Africa, been waiting soooooooo damn long for this kind of info...so thank you very much, highly appreciated :) !!!!!!!

Great video. Extremely effective instruction. Thank you.

Thank you. I learned a lot from this video. I surf fish on Dauphin Island. Next time I go I will look for these things.

Just saw part 1 & 2, Great video...Hope to put what I just learned to use. Thanks for a great lesson. Very informative...

Thanks a Lot ! This is probably the best and specific video for beginners. Very well done 🙂👍

Thank you for taking the time to produce such an informative video. I've learnt so much.

This video is some awesome sauce! Now I'm REALLY looking forward to our next family fishing trip to the South Texas coast (Port Aransas/Corpus Christi) so that I can be a hero for a change.

best video on bottom structure and wave action!

Exceptional video, all useful information. And I'm glad you combined still shots and diagrams instead of using only video - very helpful. Thanks.

Thank you for the video. Great information for beginners like myself.

👏👏👏👏👏👏 fantastic video, an absolute education on reading the beach.

Excellent explanations. Thank you

Thank you so much for this valuable information and taking the time to share this with others!

Excellent video - extremely helpful and to the point!

Wow amazing content and excellent video, tamsak done, new friend I love fishing 🎣 you catch a better big fish,after my duty when our vessel is on anchorage all the way fishing, thanks for sharing Sir Idol keep safe.

Great video. Informative and easy to follow. Thanks.

Great info. Need to remember this next time I'm down to the beach.

I came here to learn for metal detecting but now I feel like I want to start fishing thanks for the tips they were very helpful.

Why all the thumbs down? This is an excellent video for surf fishing newbies

Thanks a bunch, Im a new beach angler and this was so helpful. I fish Melbourne Beach not much luck yet but this vid changes luck to intent success.

Thank you so much for this tremendous effort. 👍👍👍

Thank's Rich Very nice of you to leave a set of foot prints in the sand, I've lived half my life on the Ocean. I'm moving to FL very soon and I intend to watch every posting you share. How about saltwater tackle,bait ,jigging etc. Again thanks just hearing the Ocean and gulls was Great!!

I came across this by accident and this is fantastic!!! Thanks

I have to say, sir, I have learned a lot from your videos. Nearly as much as I learned from my dad. I have to say though, I went to CA for a few weeks, but ended up staying 9 months. I went to a pier north of Half Moon Bay (I forget the name) and I spent 3 days. THREE DAYS. Lol, I used every type of bait, I casted anywhere I could find any structure, and yet I didn't even get a nibble for 3 days. I feel confident in saying that there are no fish in the Pacific Ocean, lol. In reality, I am sure that I just had no clue on how to account for the differences between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Im back in NC and I plan to take my dad fishing as a reward for his recovery of a full knee replacement. Since I'll have a permit to drive on the beach, I plan to put your lessons into action, especially since I know how to catch fish in the Atlantic. Those 3 days shook me hard, as I have never been skunked that bad. I gotta get my confidence back, lol. Great video, keep up the great work.

Well I finally broke down and ponied up the dough for a GoPro camera, so my video quality should take a quantum leap. Got the headstrap so that I can fish and shoot at the same time, so I'll be mixing in some fish catching video with the informational stuff. Fish catching video footage is fun, but most of my videos are an attempt to stuff as much information as I can fit in them. When ever I finish a video, there's 20 more things I wanted to talk about and didn't get to lol.

Great video! Gonna try applying the tips from this video out here on the washington coast in the next few months for sand perch. i will let you know how it goes

Very useful information Thank you Welcome back

I learned some good information from your video.Very well explained and diagrammed .That is they way I like to learn.Like a good teacher in school would do.Thank you.

Thanks for posting this very informative video, and for the other one also on waves and wave action. These should help me considerably read these beaches in New Jersey

Thanks for the beach reading tips! Very helpful!

What a wonderfully informative video. Thank you.

Went surf fishing today for the first time. Used a few of your tips to scout the waves and landed a 12 inch barred sand bass. Wasnt too much going on but I tried to focus on the troughs and outflow areas which i believe led to not getting skunked. I appreciate the awesome tips. Thanks :) i would love to post a pic of what i got but i dont know how