Alternatively you can dig the shallower water and a few meters deep of shoreline where fish congregate with a pickaxe creating a channel. The fish will drift into the channel during high tide and become trapped when the tide recedes, leaving them beached. beached fish are dead and can simply be picked up w/o fishing pole. You wont get a steady supply or alot of them, but its simple to do for the occasional few fish until you get a rod.

To answer your actual question, cast as close to shore as you can, near visible fish. Stamina helps but you can drag them back a bit enabling you to pick them up w/o reeling all the way in.