if u can read the surf to find where the rips,holes and deeper water are longer casts arn't critical. Also the beach itself play a major factor in casting, longer casts are needed if the beach is flat where the waves just roll in one after another whereas steeper beachs indicate the channel is quite close to low tide mark so long casts are not neccssary ....as the mate who taught me how to cast "practise make perfect"