surf fishing is the sport of catching fish standing on the shoreline or wading in the surf. a general term, surf fishing may or may not include casting a lure or bait, and refers to all types of shore fishing – from sandy and rocky beaches, rock jetties, or even fishing piers. the terms surfcasting or beachcasting refer more specifically to surf fishing from the beach by casting into the surf at or near the shoreline. with few exceptions, surf fishing is done in saltwater. the most common misconception about surf fishing is the idea that one must cast as far out as possible in order to reach the fish. at beaches on the west coast of the united states, and in fact, at most beaches around the world, you only really need to get your bait into knee deep water. this is referred to as surf fishing the "skinny" (the skinny water).