cocoa-beach, Author at Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Surf Fishing the Space Coast in April

By cocoa-beachCocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Surf fishing the Space Coast will bring its share of challenges this month. Traditionally this time of year brings good fortune as a transitional month. Surf fishing anglers would expect to catch pompano, whiting, snook and flounder. But needless to say, this year will be all but pleasant.

The reasons I’m expecting it to be so challenging for surf fishing anglers in Brevard County are listed below. First off, we have the largest concentration of seaweed in history headed this way. Furthermore, the state continues to dump dirt from the interior of state causing the water quality to degrade. These two factors contributing to an already haphazard sand flea situation looks to culminate with difficult fishing conditions. With that being said, there are opportunities for those with persistence and patience, but things won’t be easy in April or for the foreseeable future.

To summarize and lead into May we can first go over April’s surf fishing report. The surf fishing for April continues to be very inconsistent for Brevard County anglers. Large whiting which are typical this time of year were few and far between, although they did show up in spurts. Pompano we’re being caught north and south of us with very few caught with any consistency on local beaches. Finally, bluefish, sharks, and catfish were just about the only fish one could rely on during April’s surf fishing so far.

It’s not all doom and gloom for those looking to hit the surf for fishing fortune. Flounder will be on the top of some shore-bound angler’s priority list. Fish the first and second trough with swim baits, jigs and diving plugs. Work the shoreline with long casts at forty-five degrees to maintain the lures presentation in the strike zone the longest. In addition to lures, live mullet or shrimp rigged on a jig head or fish finder rig will be an effective method of targeting flounder and snook.

Surf Fishing for Sharks

Lastly, shark fishing charters are red hot in April. Thankfully these apex predators held up to the challenging conditions and provided epic battles that had our anglers rejoicing. Shore-bound shark fishing charters should continue the hot bite into May and beyond. Fresh-cut bait rigged on a steel leader with a 12/0 circle hook is the rig of choice.

As mentioned prior, make sure to have your Florida shore fishing shark permit active for taking place in this fishery. There’s nothing quite like a giant Blacktip shark screaming across the surface of the ocean and throwing in massive jumps and twists. For this reason, we recommend booking the shark fishing combo when contacting us for a spring or summer surf fishing trip. All in all it should be a challenging yet rewarding tasks for this who chose to take on the surf fishing in May.

Feel free to contact us with any questions at www.cocoabeachsurffishingcharters.com or at 321-205-4672.

April 16, 2023

Love0

Surf Fishing Along the Space Coast

By cocoa-beachCocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Surf fishing along the Space Coast looks to remain strong with pompano, whiting, bluefish and flounder available on local area beaches. The sand renourishment projects will absolutely deteriorate the beach and surf fishing conditions, so make sure to stay clear of those “projects”. Additionally, the blacktip shark migration will be in full effect! So if chasing trophy sharks is in your wheelhouse then spring months have a lot to deliver.

Shark fishing Melbourne Beach

Pompano fishing looks to remain consistent if you can stay with the pockets of fish. As these fish charge back to the north we should get another shot at higher-quality pompano fishing. Although finding cleaner water will continue to hold the keys to success. Be sure to look for shades of blue and green waters with a translucent look when the waves roll through. Consequently, fish the edges of deep troughs and sandbars for the highest probability of finding a concentration of fish feeding.

Family Fun Surf Fishing

In addition to the pompano coming back through, we can celebrate the whiting bite that’s typically very good this time of year. Traditionally March and April have a phenomenal whiting bite of large bull whiting. This year has been on the slower side when compared to years past. Certainly, I’m looking for that to change for the better as we approach this spring fever and really get an opportunity for insane whiting bites.

The go-to rigging for pompano, bluefish, whiting and drum will remain the standard pompano rig with circle hooks, beads and floats. Using multiple color beads and floats is a sure fire bet to find the optimal color combination fish prefer that day or tide. Rig your pompano rigs with live sand fleas, cut shrimp, or clams for the best opportunity to catch pompano and whiting. With that being said if it’s bluefish you’re after then make sure to use chunks of fresh cut bait on the same pompano rigs with a heavier leader.

Surf Fishing Charters on the Space Coast

In conclusion, it looks to be an outstanding month of surf fishing from Port Canaveral and Cocoa Beach south to Sebastian Inlet. Spring marks one of my favorite times of year because of the diversity on tap. With everything from pompano to blacktip sharks to catching flounder on jigging rods it’s a fun time to fish the beach. Make sure to get out there and spend time on the beach and surf fishing with the family. If you want to book a beach fishing excursion, then please contact us online or directly at 321-205-4672.

Family Fun Fishing in Melbourne, FL

March 16, 2023

Love0

Surf Fishing Florida in January

By cocoa-beachCocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Surf fishing Florida in January delivered big catches after a hit-and-miss December that had many wondering if the fishing, conditions and weather would ever align. The previous weeks we’ve been blessed along the Space Coast with ideal surf fishing conditions, cooperating fish and pleasant weather. You can’t beat Florida this time of year when one can hit the sand and enjoy the spoils of the surf fishing species on tap. Everything from pompano, black drum, bluefish, whiting and sharks were active and frequently caught during our surf fishing charters and seminars.

Surf fishing for Pompano

Surf Fishing for Pompano on the Space Coast

Florida pompano are clearly the talk of the town when it comes to surf fishing Brevard county beaches in the winter months. Anglers flock in droves to the Space Coast to try and catch this prestigious species. Known not only for the delicious table fare they provide, but also as a hard fighting fun species that can bend the rod and send surf fishing anglers into euphoria. For those that have been in a hot pompano bite they understand the pursuit of replicating those amazing memories day in and day out.

Surf Fishing Cocoa Beach Florida

The key to catching pompano consistently has been the mastering and understanding of reading the water. After the hurricane in November many of the sandbars and troughs have shifted about throughout our region spanning from Cape Canaveral to Sebastian Inlet. The technique of reading the troughs, run-outs and sandbars as a course study has directly resulted in those having success and others not as much. Fishing the different troughs and run outs throughout the region using Fishbites Clam and Crab scent has proven to be the hot ticket item on the Pompano palate. Fresh shrimp, sand fleas and clams in combination with the Fishbites and rigged on pompano rigs proves to be irresistible as of late.

Pompano isn’t all that’s on offer though as we’ve experienced a red hot month for catching black drum and bluefish. The black drum have ranged in size from undersize puppy drum to behemoth sizes pushing over 40lbs. Although you are allowed to retain one larger than 24”, I recommend releasing the large ones to sustain the fishery in addition to the fact they don’t taste well and commonly have worms when they grow larger. We’ve been catching the black drum on the same setups as used for the pompano fishing.

Surf fishing for black drum

Bluefish, as persistent as they may be, have offered a lot of relief for those looking to bend a rod and head home with somewhat of a guaranteed catch. Fresh shrimp, clams and chunked baits have accounted for most bluefish catches and the artificial lures used for them haven’t been quite as hot. This month I’ve seen a run of some of the largest bluefish hitting our shores as far as I can remember. Bluefish make a great fish jerky and for that reason we’ve kept most for the smoker, but be sure to bleed and get your fish on ice immediately for best results for table fare.

Surf fishing for blue fish

Shark Fishing in Brevard County

Lastly, the shark fishing charters spike way up once again in the previous weeks. December hit a bit of a slow spot but that seems to be in the rearview mirror. Blacktips have been the main shark species while shark fishing near Cocoa Beach and Melbourne Beach. Oftentimes when you lose your whiting or pompano catch on the retrieve you can attest that to the mighty blacktip. We’ve caught multiple blacktips in the last two weeks with surf angler pompano rigs attached as the sharks most likely ate your pompano or whiting on the retrieve. We’re always sure to untangle any remnants of anglers’ rigs and line and get the shark in its way in a hurry. Looks like another good week of surf fishing in the forecast so be sure to get out there and give a go. As a reminder, we’ll be running our monthly surf fishing seminar on February 11, 2023. If you’re interested in learning to surf fish like a pro then give us a call to book your spot. Everything is included in this 4 hour hands on seminar and we’ll be fishing during the interactive lessons. Look forward to seeing you there.

Shark fishing charters Cocoa Beach, FL

January 30, 2023

Love0

Winter Surf Fishing Report

By cocoa-beachCocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Brevard County winter surf fishing persisted with challenging conditions over the prior week. Large swells and heavy rip currents made it tough to present and maintain surf rigs on local area beaches. This combined with debris from the hurricane made it quite the task to effectively fish the surf. With that being said there are fish available to catch for those who can fire out the right equipment for the job at hand. Pompano, jack crevalle, redfish, black drum, whiting and bluefish were the most commonly caught species.

Surf Fishing for Pompano

As mentioned prior it wasn’t an ideal week of surf fishing along our coast. But the best bites came with our custom-tied pompano rigs with electric chicken Fishbites and fresh shrimp. Black drum are thick right now and most of the puppy drum are smaller, but fun to catch and beautiful colorations when they’re this size. Along with the black drum the smaller-sized jack crevalle persisted at times with a relentless attack.

Surf Fishing Charters in Melbourne, FL

Knowing of the challenging conditions it remains key to know how to read the beach and water. Too often surf anglers setup without that knowledge and are destined for failure when there’s swell and current happening. You want to be able to distinguish the depth changes, troughs and runouts for the best opportunities. These areas continue to hold fish even in the most trying conditions. Being able to locate these areas of fish concentration will get you an entirely different result then those who don’t understand this concept.

The highlight of this weeks surf fishing catches were definitely the keeper sized pompano, bluefish, black drum and redfish. All of the above species were eating similar rig colors in the ebbing waters off the rip currents. Worth the mention is all redfish must be released on our local waters. The fish pictured in this article was quickly released to ensure a healthy survival.

Black Drum Surf Fishing

If you’re interested in learning the sport of surf fishing at a professional level, we have another seminar coming up this Saturday, December 17. There are 5 spots left available. The cost is $150 per individual and we provide all the equipment and expertise to get you surf fishing like a pro. Seminar includes equipment, rigging, bait options, knot tying, how to read the beach, surf casting lessons and fish targeting techniques. Call 321-205-4672. With the fishing forecast clearing up for the upcoming weeks, nows the time to get dialed in for the holiday season.

Winter Surf Fishing on the Space Coast

December 13, 2022

Love0

Pompano Fishing on the Space Coast

By cocoa-beachCocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Pompano fishing reaches the Space Coast with a flurry. At last, the moment we’ve been waiting for, Florida surf fishing anglers anticipating the annual pompano migration rejoice. The recent reports have had mixed results but those in the know have been striking it big! Bait, rigs, location and tides hold the key to success or failure in targeting pompano. For this reason, we encourage all seasoned and new coming surf fishing anglers to brush up on their skills and put themselves in a position for success.

Pompano Fishing Cocoa Beach

Although pompano remains the highlight of our Space Coast surf fishery, there’s been plenty other species perusing the surf. Bluefish continue to feed furiously in waves of fish biting anything from cut bait to lures and anything in between. When bluefish are fired up in the first and second trough it seems you can’t keep them off the line. If bluefish are your intended species then be sure to use flashy pompano rigs or throw gotcha lures and spoons with a rapid retrieval for best results.

In spite of the bluefish flurries there’s also jack crevalle, black drum and ladyfish in the mix. Furthermore, these species are all being caught on similar rigs. Custom tied pompano rigs with floats and beads in various renditions prove the most successful. Adding small pieces of Fishbites in the chartreuse and electric chicken colors with flavors persisting of clam, crab and shrimp seem to be work the best. Knowing this we love to teach our clients how to tie these custom rigs. Store bough rigs are useful, but lack the capability to target specific patterns for detailed fisherman looking to catch exponentially more fish then others.

Pompano Fishing Charters

Certainly with all this life about the sharks are in no short supply. Blacktip sharks taking fresh cut bait in the first and second trough prove quite the battle for most shore-bound anglers. Heavy drag makes the battle quick work albeit some back breaking action when you really put the hammer down to get their heads turned. Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing shark fishing charters are a great way to experience the thrill of catching a shark near Cocoa Beach or Melbourne Beach. Especially if you want to learn the process of safely catching, landing and handling a safe release on these apex predators.

Surf Fishing Charters in Melbourne FL

With the holiday season coming up and the pompano season upon us, be sure to be up to speed on the fishery. For this reason, we are offering another surf fishing seminar this Saturday, December 10, 2022. Having such a good turnout for the previous seminar and so many happy clients we decided it’s time for another. We’ll be going over everything it takes from start to finish to successfully catch fish in the surf.

Specifically targeting techniques revolved around catching pompano, whiting, black drum and bluefish in the surf. We’ll also be covering how to read the beach, weather forecasting, tying pompano rigs, best equipment, one on one surf casting lessons and so much more. This once-a-month, four hour on the beach surf fishing seminar is available for individuals. There are 8 spots left available and the prices is $150 per individual. Be sure to book your spot so you don’t miss this chance to take your surf fishing game to the next level.

Surf Fishing Charters in Cocoa Beach, FL

November 15, 2022

Love0

Summer Space Coast Surf Fishing Report

By cocoa-beachCocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Currently, our surf fishing charters are catching whiting, pompano, catfish, blacktip sharks, and jack crevalle with the occasional snook in the mix. The red slime that’s plagued our central east coast region stretches from Fort Pierce to Cape Canaveral. This has definitely been the biggest factor impacting success of surf fishing anglers along the Space Coast. While many are deterred to battle with the slime there are fish available to catch for those determined few.

Space Coast Family Fun Fishing Charters

Whiting and pompano continue to show in spurts from Patrick Air Force Base to Sebastian Inlet. Many of the pompano are undersize with a few keepers in the mix. The whiting are also relatively small compared to the bulls we get in the winter and spring. But with that being said, if you can put a catch together with a handful of whiting, croakers and one keeper pompano that’s a good day under the current conditions.

Fishbites, sandfleas and peeled shrimp have performed the best for the whiting, croakers and pompano. Pompano rigs with white and chartreuse floats have seemed to outperform the rest. Currently, the first and second trough have produced more exciting catches then beyond the sandbar. I look for this trend to continue with the slime that’s taken over accompanied by the fact the bait fish are going to start pushing down the shoreline running in those inside waters.

Surf Fishing Charters Cocoa Beach Florida

Blast off with September surf fishing along the Space Coast. This time of year traditionally marks the beginning of the fall mullet run. Millions of baitfish will be migrating down the shore lines and evading all the opportunistic predators along the way. Big snook and tarpon along with jack crevalle, bluefish, ladyfish and sharks will be a few of the species electrified by this phenomenon.

Melbourne Beach Surf Fishing

Surf fishing tactics may very from angler to angler depending on their experience and species targeting techniques. Live bait rigged with or without a weight is always a good choice when presenting to these nearshore water predators. Also using a fish finder rig or split shot can be effective in presenting your baits down in the strike zone if there’s high surf. Alternatively casting a diving plug, swim bait or bucktail along the first and second trough will ensure a high probability for success.

All in all it’s an exciting time of year to hit the beach for surf fishing. If we could see relief from the slime then that would make it that much better.

It’s challenging to fight through the slime and sargassum, but for those willing to put in the work rewards can be had. Whether your targeting whiting or pompano or catch and release sharks it’s all out there for the opportunistic and ambitious few. Good luck and have fun.

Snook Fishing Charters in Melbourne Beach

August 5, 2022

Love0

Space Coast Surf Fishing

By cocoa-beachCocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

June surf fishing typically holds trophy catches for those looking for large snook and tarpon. While summertime surf conditions create a perfect scenario for these predatory species to roam the beaches feeding on baitfish. June, July, and August are personally my favorite times of the year to target them with live bait and artificial lures. Included with snook and tarpon we’ll see great catches of whiting, croakers and pompano.

Summer Snook Fishing

With that being said the shark fishing will continue a great addition to anyone looking at hooking blacktip sharks as well. The name of the game during the summer months is to get out early or later when the temperatures aren’t scorching hot. These feeding periods will consist of snook and tarpon crashing baitfish in the first and second trough.

Shark Fishing Charters in Cocoa Beach

Live baitfish including mullet and croakers either freelined or rigged with a split shot generally see the most success. Although another great way of targeting snook or tarpon will be to enact the use of swim baits, bucktails or suspended plugs casting diagonally to the shore with a steady retrieve. It’s worth mentioning that large breeding snook along with tarpon should be handled with care and to emphasize a quick release with minimal exposure out of the water.

Pompano fishing this time of year usually doesn’t make the headlines but it’s worth noting that our resident pompano will be out in force. The key to having success will be those surf fishing anglers willing to seek out the clean water and runouts. Surf fishing near Melbourne Beach north to Cocoa Beach should have tight concentrations of fish throughout the Space Coast region.

Summer Space Coast Pompano Fishing

Pompano rigs with shrimp or clam flavored Fishbites combined with live sandfleas or fresh peeled shrimp will have the most fortune. By far the most active species during the summer months are whiting and croakers. At times the bite can make for nonstop action reeling one in after another, often with two on at once. A great way to repurpose the croakers are to rig them on a live bait rig with a fish finder setup on a one to two ounce sliding weight and recast in the first trough.

Beach fishing charters catching loads of whiting make for a great family fun experience and on top of that whiting make phenomenal table fare. Everyone that hits the shore looks like a fish taco to me. In conclusion look for the weeks and months ahead to consider heading to the beach for surf fishing fun. Diversified setups with pompano rigs and live bait rigs will have you covering all your bases for snook, tarpon, whiting, croakers and pompano.

Family Fun Surf Fishing Charters

If your feeling extra ambitious get a large chunked bait rigged up for the shark fishing scene that is sure to be a hit. Get out on the shore before work or after work to enjoy the height of this summer surf fishing season.

June 4, 2022

Love0

Space Coast Surf Fishing Report

By cocoa-beachCocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

pompano bag

Shore fishing charters didn’t disappoint while surf fishing the Space Coast last week. Pompano, whiting, bluefish, Jack crevalle and croakers galore kept the lines tight. The red slime that has infiltrated the coastline is much of a nuisance, as one could imagine, making it difficult at times to effectively fish a diversified setup of beach fishing equipment.

pompanos

Pompano fishing continues the spring run with catches coming in bunches of paired fish. Needless to say, most pompano were caught roaming the outer edges of the surf zone with the water color change. The outer surf zone on the sandbar or beyond also has less slime and seaweed. The size of the pompano caught diminished from the giants weeks prior, but still are healthily in the keeper range.

3 pomps

On certain days it seemed impossible to keep a line in the water long enough to catch the desired pompano or whiting. The croakers flooded every section of the water and could be caught two or three at once. It’s fun to catch something, but at times it absolutely becomes an annoying nuisance reeling them in and having to re-bait. The croakers also roamed in cohorts with bonnethead sharks and seemed to move in and then off the bite, relieving the flurries. Those were the times when the targeted species had an opportunity to find one’s bait.

flounder

Preferred baits for the prior weeks consisted of peeled shrimp, sand fleas and Fishbites. Although we’re still lacking the clusters of sand fleas our area is prone to, there are a few around. The mid-tide coming off high tide has worked best for finding live sand fleas. With that being said, our fishing charters are finding plenty of production with fresh shrimp and fishbites rigged solo by a pompano rig.

beach

Consistent with the season, shark fishing charters brought smiles all around last week. Blacktip sharks and lemon sharks made up the majority of catches. Fresh chunked bait deployed in the first and second trough made short work of the incredibly resilient sharks. Never ceasing to amaze one in the fierce battling capabilities with violent head shakes and blistering runs, these catch-and-release species truly do make for a catch of a lifetime. Be sure to get out and enjoy the surf fishing on hand as it’s a lively time of year to catch!

April 27, 2022

Love0

Surf Fishing Report for Melbourne and Cocoa Beach Florida

By cocoa-beachCocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Surf fishing anglers scattered across Space Coast beaches celebrated many catches during the month of March. Pompano fishing near Melbourne Beach and Cocoa Beach hit spurts of schooling fish with excellent catches followed up by a whiting bite that created nonstop action. Everything from bluefish to Jack crevalle, croakers and bonnethead sharks made it a scenario where one could only guess what was on the line. Rounding off this diversified fish species list were the blacktip sharks that continue their presence off local beaches.

Family Fun Surf Fishing Charters

For the most part, the surf fishing conditions were optimal many days in the previous weeks with ideal water clarity and correlated temperatures to match. This in turn fired up the pompano to charge back north from south Florida beaches. The largest of pompano ranged from 16” up to 19” and were the majority of catches for multiple weeks on end. Fresh peeled shrimp or sand fleas were the baits of choice, rigged with Fishbites in the crab or clam flavor on a standard pompano rig. While many of the fish roamed the outside sandbars, there was a decent percentage that came from the first and second trough.

Join us on a fun surf fishing adventure!

Family fishing charters couldn’t get enough of the action with the whiting infiltration that ensued with kids reeling in doubled-up whiting cast after cast. This kind of whiting bite always brings joy when it heightens anglers activity level scurrying from rod to rod. Certain days brought as much whiting as one could handle while selectively keeping the largest for a fine meal. First and second trough casts pulled them in by the twos with Fishbites alone being all one needed to catch.

Pompano Surf Fishing

With all the pompano, whiting and bluefish catches to keep one running, the trophy catches in the mix are worth a mention. Giant jack crevalle and sharks were by far the largest species caught in weeks prior. Jack crevalle exceeding 40 pounds have been blitzing up and down the coast from Sebastian Inlet to Port Canaveral. While many of the fish tend to be out of range of surf fishermen they occasionally skim in range of shore-casting anglers. This has resulted in some giants being landed on light tackle and a feat to be recognized.

Jack Crevalle put on a hard fight for anglers!

Shark fishing charters paved the way for big time catches of blacktip sharks using fresh chunked bait. Often seen jumping and crashing through the surf this time of year, they are extremely prevalent currently. You might lose a few of your fish catches to them as inundated as the Space Coast waters are with sharks at the moment. Regardless, when targeting sharks they make for one heck of a fight and a memory for all. Heavy tackle with a quick battle to the shores and an expeditious release ensures we’ll maintain this fishery for generations to come. Take advantage of the good weather windows and hit the shores for beach fishing fun.

Surf Fishing for Sharks in the Space Coast

Book a shark surf fishing charter!

April 12, 2022

Love0

Cocoa Beach to Melbourne Beach Surf Fishing Report

By cocoa-beachCocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Pompano resurgence hits the Space Coast! Pompano and whiting came back with a vengeance last week while surf fishing near Cocoa Beach south to Melbourne Beach. Bluefish continued their seasonal onslaught while catfish and bonnethead sharks filled in the blanks. Clean water graced the coast for the latter half of the week before the front that hit over the weekend. To sum it up, it looks like we’re in for a good run of surf fishing lining up for the next couple of weeks.

The signature strike of a surf-roaming pompano excited our beach fishing charter clients. Towering rods bent over with the telltale signs signified a pompano on the line. The rig of choice was a combination pompano rig with pink floats and clam Fishbites tipped with fresh shrimp and sand fleas. This same rig accounted for multiple other species as well including black drum, bluefish and whiting.

Leaving no exception for the glorification of pompano had the whiting fighting for their shot at fame. They came in numbers and size this last week while surf fishing near Patrick Air Force Base and Melbourne Beach. On specific days these fish only wanted the Fishbites with a smaller profile in lieu of traditional surf fishing baits like sand fleas, clam and shrimp. As recommended, always try a broad array of baits to help isolate the feeding patterns of intended species.

Dirty water and high winds culminated on certain days to create an ideal environment for catfish and bonnethead sharks to shine. While interested pompano and whiting struggled to find bait over the scent-feeding species, it became a challenge to fish through these unintended species for our prized fish. When in doubt, make it stand out! Bright floats and color change rip currents minimize certain catches on days where conditions are challenging. Make your rigs custom to the day to increase results.

No matter the conditions or winds it never put a damper on shark fishing charters. Blacktips are in full force and we had at least one if not multiple hookups on each shark fishing trip. Fresh chunked baits along with live bait had them chewing. Heavy tackle and tight drag helps in fighting these sporadic sharks to an expeditious catch and release. In conclusion, I would say get out and take part in the surf fishing over the next few weeks. Conditions look favorable for this week and beyond.