I've decided to dedicate more time to shore fishing this season, not only because I live 5 minutes from the shore, but because I want to really hone this craft and style of fishing. There are some similarities to this fishery with that of vertical jigging off the kayak or boat, but there are some distinct differences and so this article is all about shore fishing primarily for Salmon.
Times of Year
Where I'm located in central Vancouver Island we have a lot of Salmon species come near shore in the summer months right up to October. So the best shore fishing is July, August & September. These are salmon returning to their local spawning rivers and will often be chasing bait near shore to fatten up for that last freshwater swim.
However, there are local Chinook (King) salmon that stay here all year round, in BC we call them "Feeder Chinooks" or in the winter time we call them "Winter Chinooks". These guys are resident salmon who essentially live in area to grow big before their spawning time in the Fall. These guys can be caught all year round from shore. The winters Chinooks are caught from early December to late March.
Full Gear setup for Shore Fishing for Salmon
The best way to catch salmon from shore is to cast out weighted jigs. Typically 1.5oz to 3oz in size, with an "S" shaped profile. These jigs mimic a dying or injured Herring, Needlefish, anchovy or some sort of bait fish. You are launching them out as far as possible, letting them sink to the bottom then reeling them in a variety of different methods (more on that below).
The Rod
The ideal rod should be at least 8' long, doesn't need to be longer than 10'. It should have some backbone and rated to be able to throw at least a 1oz lure. Typically you want a rod that is rated for lures 1oz-2oz. This type of rod will have a weight rating of Medium to Medium-Heavy. I would NOT go more stiff with the power (e.g. rating = heavy) as you'll have less feel, and put too much pressure on the fish when hooked, can rip out hook from their mouth. I personally like the longer rod so I can cast further than other anglers, however the retrieval movements can be more challenging.
The Reel
Use a spinning reel 100%. Don't use a baitcaster as they're prone to bird nest when your casting hard/far. The spinning reel should be rated for a minimum of 30# braided mainline, and you want to be able to spool at least 200+ yards of braided line on in case you hook a monster and it runs. Remember your casting as far as possible, and if you get a big fish on top of that cast, you'll need the line to let it run. All spinning reel manufacturers are different but a rough model size to look for in a spinning reel is: 350 (3500) to 450 (4500). Lastly, you'll want to ensure the spinning reel is rated for Saltwater and make sure to rinse with freshwater after each use.
The Line and Leader
I use braided line for my mainline because it casts further, and I can put way more line (smaller diameter than monofilament) on a smaller spinning reel. I typically use a braided line rated 40# to 50# from shore. I wouldn't go less than 30# braid from shore.
At the end of the braided mainline I have a duo-lock (or barrel swivel) which connects my leader line. My leader line is either monofilament or fluorocarbon. Leader line length is usually 3' to 5' long. For monofilament I'll use 20# to 30# leader line. For fluorocarbon I usually use 20#, as the stronger fluorocarbon lines can be quite rigid and stiff. That's good for trolling a hoochie, but not as good for casting and jigging a 2oz lure.
The Lures and Pro Tips
Lures can be subjective. And like all fishing lures you want to match what the fish are naturally eating.
Lil Nib Jigs
My favorite jigging lures are the Lil Nib 2oz lures. The models I like are the Irish Mint (Silver or Glow), Hugh's Special (Silver or Glow) and Spring Slayer (Silver). One con of these jigs is their quality. They chip easily, loose their stickers and I've even had multiple trebles break off before. I often replace the trebles with a single hook or higher quality treble.
One thing I do to improve these lures is to replace the glow tape (especially once it starts peeling off) with flasher glow tape. I cut a tiny piece out and place on both sides of the jig. You can solidify the tape with UV glue that's activated with a dark light and it adds that extra glow! E.g. Loon UV Glue.
Macdeep
Another great jigging lure is the Original Macdeep 1.5oz size. These have been around for awhile and they work great. They're made really well and hold up better than the Lil Nib jigs.
A pro tip on how to improve them is to bend the jig for a more dramatic "S shape". Get some pliers and vice grip (or whatever you have) and give the jig a little more bend so the action in the water is more dramatic.
Buzz Bomb
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a Buzz Bomb. These lures are the OG's of Shore Casting for salmon. My personal favorite is a larger Blue Holographic Buzz bomb. The brand makes different models of lures (and every color), but I'm a big fan of the original buzz bomb especially the larger sizes like 2oz to 4oz sizes.
A pro tip on how to improve these guys is by adding a small hoochie skirt to the bottom of them (between the jig and hook). It mimics a small squid and are deadly for Coho (Silver) Salmon.
How to Retrieve
As mentioned earlier, you're looking to launch your lure out as far as possible and then let it hit the bottom (or as close to without snagging). From there you want to starting retrieving the lure in a fashion that mimics a dying bait fish. There is no hard fast way, I'd say this is a fun part to explore and try new tactics. If you're not getting bites, I'd encourage you to think of new retrieval approaches.
A common retrieval method is to lift your rod up high and do a fast reel retrieval as you bring your rod back down. This elevates the lure in the water column and then swims back toward you as it slightly drops. I often start with this sort of technique, but I'll often switch it up by doing erratic small twitches and longer pauses before I start reeling in. Often the salmon will bite the lure on the drop.
Combine speed and the drop
The big idea here is to get your lure moving so there is a chase and eye catching movement for the salmon, and have it drop (so the lure flutters) mimicking a dying bait fish. If you can get this combo you'll be successful if there are fish in the area. So try new techniques when the old ones aren't working. Sometimes I'll do straight up fast retrievals without any big twitches or rod movements, I'll simply add some pauses in between.
Try to mentally imagine what your lure is doing in the water column as your working it with your rod and retrieval speed. This mental exercise really helps me and reminds me to not be a robot out there doing the exact same movements over and over for hours with no results. Hope this helps.
Winter Chinook Shore Fishing
Here is a video I posted to my socials where I caught a 12# Winter Chinook (81cms) from shore. This guy was caught on a 2oz Lil Nib Hugh's Special Silver 2 days before Christmas!
Jigging Demonstration on Kayak but can be used from Shore
Here is an example of how I like to jig from salmon. In the video I'm in a kayak but this same approach applies from shore as well. At 9:18 point in the video is where the demonstration is at.