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August 2020

Surf Fishing for Pompano

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Surf Fishing for Pompano in Florida

Florida pompano fishing roared back with vengeance last week. Towards the latter half of the week, surf fishing conditions improved tremendously. Seaweed mats lay dormant on the shoreline drying under the summer sun. Light winds cleaned up the water clarity and hungry fish took notice. Eager fisherman who’ve laid in wait pounced on the opportunity for surf fishing greatness. Fishing near Sebastian Inlet north to Patrick Air Force Base saw the best water clarity.

Surf fishing rigs consisting of chartreuse floats with sand flea or pink shrimp flavored Fish Bites combined with live sand fleas made a recipe for success. Pompano rigs with two to three small Kahle hooks or circle hooks embolden one to try different bait and float combinations. Our beach fishing charters last week had a diversity of colors and flavors to match the conditions. Pompano floats for surf fishing rigs can be quite the topic of discussion. With that being said, chartreuse, white, and pink were on fire. Take advantage of the ability to focus on color schemes for distinct adaptation to fishing conditions. If one color is consistently outperforming the others, adjust tactics to dial in.

Surf Fishing for Sharks

Shark fishing has picked up exponentially with the warm waters. It’s all one can do at times to get a catch to shore safely. Predatory sharks scouring the waters love to take advantage of a handicapped fish. To overcome this, don’t be shy to tighten your drag and skip ’em in with heavier tackles. If you’re constantly losing fish to sharks, then ramp up the terminal tackle. Put the heat on table fare worthy fish and opt out of losing a meal to the sharks. If targeting sharks for sport, now is absolutely an opportunistic time period. Bull sharks, black tips, nurse sharks, and sand sharks can be accessed throughout the entire Brevard County region.

 

Surf Fishing Tips

Pompano and snook fishing has been extremely productive recently. Small schools of mullet are starting to appear in local waters. This preemptive push is a sure sign things are soon to fire up. Heavier concentrations of mullet have been spotted north in Saint Augustine. With the majority of baitfish headed our way, be ready and have a casting rod on standby.

When a school of mullet comes careening down the shore, have a swim bait or casting plug at arm’s distance. Take notice of pelicans diving nearshore for early signs of what’s coming. Snook, redfish, and jack crevalle will be sure to follow these baitfish under the surface. Walk with the school taking long cast diagonally from the shore and work the lure on the edges and through the middle of the frenzy. These bursting pockets of baitfish will hold immense opportunities for those prepared. Don’t be caught trying to rig up as the fish are being blown apart in a feeding frenzy. Prepare accordingly for this scenario. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the dead stick rods being fished in the pole spikes. Pompano, margate, sheepshead and whiting are still being caught with great proficiency.

Get the family outdoors for fun in the sun and enjoy this window of prime fishing conditions.

Family Fun Surf Fishing

Fishing Report for Cocoa Beach

Surf Fishing Report for Cocoa Beach

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Surf Fishing Report for Cocoa Beach

The fishing report for Cocoa Beach to Sebastian Inlet has taken a turn for the worse. Contradictory to the conditions that were celebrated through the first half of July, conditions have diminished dramatically due to compounding factors of wind, water clarity and seaweed. The seaweed issue makes it nearly impossible to get fish on the line efficiently. Surf fishing with wind, waves and other obstacles can be overcome with various rigging and persistence. Bottom line, the seaweed makes it difficult to keep a line wet, but not impossible.

Pompano fishing has fallen way off due to the conditions mentioned above. On a positive note, we are still catching them sporadically on a daily basis while running beach fishing charters. The welcoming sight of a symbolic pompano strike excites all parties, including beachwalkers! Lots of undersized pompano continue to be caught. Oversize keeper pompano will be mixed in the same areas, just keep fishing through the shorts.

Fishing Report for Cocoa Beach

Surf Fishing for Pompano

Surf Fishing with Live Bait

Live sand fleas continue to be accessible on the entire Brevard County shorelines. Take your sand flea rake on a falling tide for best results. Look for the V-shaped ripples in the wash zone to depict a group. Approach cautiously, as they are sensitive to pressure. Dig into the sand on the oceanside end of the school and let the retreating waves wash them into your rake. Catching live bait increases your catch tremendously. Combine live sand fleas with Fishbites in the shrimp and crab flavor for best results.

Tips on Surf Fishing for Snook

Snook fishing has fallen off as well only because of the mats of seaweed and dirty water in the trough. Once again, they’re there but be prepared for unruly conditions dragging in mats of weeds on every cast. If you have the time and the patience, don’t be discouraged, but understand that’s what it’s going to take during these times. Deploy a live croaker where the edges of the beach fall off. Walk with your bait and the current direction to increase time of effective presentation. Dead sticking in the rod holders will diminish the bottom time on baits with the debris collecting more rapidly. Lures will be difficult to retrieve in the trough as well, recommend live bait tactics.

Tropical storms and hurricanes will dictate surf fishing conditions over the coming months. Take every opportunity to get out there regardless. When the conditions are prime, make sure to go earlier, often and fish longer. Inevitably, this time of year will consist of extended periods of sustained wind and waves. So make a plan to keep a pulse on the conditions for favorable opportunities. Snook, pompano, whiting and croaker will continue to be caught inconsistently until the water clarity and seaweed retreat. Look for a window of light winds and calm currents to settle the ocean and give us something better to work with. Challenging times, but so worth the thrill of the prize!

Check back every week for the latest surf fishing report for Cocoa Beach!

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