Achieving longer casts

[MikeH]

I used to do a lot of shore fishing in the UK as a kid and that usually involved beachcasting. I learned the pendulum cast, and the importance of matching the rod /reel with the correct line and weight to avoid snap offs. It was common to rig a streamlined paternoster setup with a float bead release clip that holds the bait tight in-line during the cast, but floats up the line and allows the bait to swing out freely once it has hit the water.

Over here I'm not sure that my old 16ft beachcaster and huge-ass spinning reel with the bail arm cut off and custom u-clip on the side would be the correct gear. Although It might give me a long range edge over the Salmon spooners at Port Credit, should I ever decide to go during the run. When I am fishing the eastern gap or trying to get across to the far side of the Island canals and under the boats I use my longer 11ft rod and larger reel, and swing a half pendulum cast which means I need room behind me.

If you want max distance you need to cast from the ground and set a pendulum swing out so that the rod is flex loaded before you pitch it forward.