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Fish We May Catch - Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters Skip to main content

Snook

A highly respected inshore gamefish, Florida’s linesiders are caught from the surf nearly year round if temperatures stay above 70 degrees. However, April through October are the best months to target them in the surf. They are an aggressive fish that puts on an incredible fight to any angler fortunate to hook into one. The world record is fifty-three pounds but fish over twenty-five pounds aren’t uncommon during the peak spawning months of July and August. Booking a surf fishing charter in Port Canaveral or Cocoa Beach south to Melbourne Beach and Sebastian Inlet will ensure your opportunity for a chance at a Snook during these time periods.

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Pompano

The prince of the surf, Pompano are not only popular because they are delicious eating, beautiful fish, but they are also hard fighting. While they are caught year round surf fishing along the Space Coast beaches Pompano prefer cooler water temps that arrive fall through spring. Pompano love to travel in schools and provide a memorable day when fishing a feeding school with non-stop action. The record Pompano catch is over nine pounds!

Book a beach fishing excursion near Port Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne Beach and Sebastian Inlet from October through April to find the best opportunity for Florida pompano fishing.

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Tarpon

Surf fishing on the space coast of Florida during the months from March to October will have you finding Tarpon ranging from 20 to 220 pounds. Tarpon typically show up along the Space Coast beaches when pods of baitfish like menhaden and mullet are present. A catch and release sports fish that provides anglers an acrobatic and hard fighting tug of war battle. The Florida record for Tarpon is 243 pounds.

Book a Florida shore fishing excursion near Cocoa Beach or near Sebastian Inlet during spring, summer and fall months to provide the best opportunity for catching a tarpon in Florida.

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Blacktip Shark

They have speed, strength and they are available year round in the Space Coast surf. They are more abundant when surf temperatures are above 70 degrees. They prefer fresh cut baits like Ladyfish, Mullet, or Jack Crevalle. The Florida record for Blacktip Shark is 152 pounds. Book a shark fishing charter near Cocoa Beach to Sebastian Inlet.

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Bonnethead Shark

They stand out because of their shovel shaped head, and may not rival the black-tip and spinner sharks in size, speed or muscle, however, when caught on light tackle this very hammerhead looking shark puts on a great battle. They feed on crabs, shrimp or clams, and will occasionally take artificial baits. Year round species but are caught at a higher frequency during spring and summer months. The Florida record Bonnethead Shark is 28 pounds. Book a shark surf fishing experience on the beaches of Florida’s East Coast year round to enjoy catching bonnethead sharks.

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Spinner Shark

Spinner sharks acrobatic display when hooked, breaching the surface and  spinning through mid-air provide an exceptional experience during our Florida shark fishing  charter. These sharks can reach a maximum length of eight feet and are well known to travel in  large numbers during migrations along the Central East Coast of Florida. Hooking into these  species while shark fishing will give everyone an event to remember.

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Blacknose Shark

Shark fishing charters targeting Blacknose sharks will be caught using a variety  of live or cut bait. Blacknose sharks caught during beach fishing charters in Florida will be  juvenile sharks around four feet in length. This amazing sports fishing opportunity provides an  incredible fight on light tackle saltwater fishing equipment. Book a shark fishing charter near  Cocoa Beach or Sebastian Inlet for the best opportunity.

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Thresher Shark

Shark fishing charters near Cape Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet provide the best  opportunity to hook a Thresher shark. Mainly juveniles roam coastal waters and bays while the  larger adults reaching up to 750lbs prefer offshore waters. This incredible fighting species  make a seldom catch during shark fishing trips in Florida. But there’s always a possibility to  find yourself fighting a powerful Thresher Shark.

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Lemon Shark

A frequent catch for shark fishing charters in Cape Canaveral. Cocoa Beach,  Melbourne Beach and Sebastian Inlet. These inshore/ nearshore species max out at ten feet in  length and feed on fish, crustaceans and rays. Similar to the bull shark in its tendencies to  enter estuaries along Florida’s Central East Coast, this shark species is a main target when  shark fishing near Port Canaveral to Sebastian Inlet.

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Hammerhead Shark

Hammerhead sharks can be caught shark fishing Florida’s nearshore and  offshore waters. A subtropical shark species that can reach length’s upward from twelve to  eighteen feet who feeds primarily on fish, crustaceans, and rays. Shark fishing charters near  Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet provide the best opportunity for shark fishing Florida’s  Central East Coast beaches, as these species prefer inlets and mouths of bays.

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Nurse Shark

Shark fishing charters in Cape Canaveral and Sebastian Inlets nearshore water see  frequent catches of Nurse sharks. Nurse shark can reach a maximum length of nine feet and  feed primarily on crustaceans and mollusks. With this being said, they will also eat a variety of  live and cut fish baits. Book a shark fishing charter near Port Canaveral or Sebastian Inlet year  round for your chance at hooking into a trophy Nurse Shark.

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Sandbar Shark

Sandbar sharks are often caught during our beach shark fishing charters as they are  a coastal species that prefer nearshore sandy areas. The space coast beaches provide a prime  habitat for the Sandbar shark to feed primarily on small fishes. Book a shark fishing charter  along the space coast’s many sandy beaches for the best opportunity at a Sandbar shark.

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Bull Shark

Shark fishing charters in Florida never disappoint when hooking a species  infamous for its reputation as an apex predator. An opportunistic feeder that maxes out at 11  feet the Bull shark frequents the coastal Atlantic waters year-round. Often utilizing coastal  lagoons and inlets as nurseries for their pups. Florida’s Central East Coast prime habitat makes  shark fishing for Bull sharks such an amazing fishery. Book a shark fishing charter to  experience the adrenaline of a once in a lifetime catch.

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Flounder

Another year round species for Florida surf anglers to catch, they’re abundant in all areas along the Space Coast. Flounder love to eat live finger mullet, shrimp, and aren’t shy to artificial lures either. They prefer clean water over muddy water and the Florida record for flounder is over twenty pounds, while fish up to five pounds are common.

Book a beach fishing charter during spring and fall months to catch flounder in the surf along Florida East Coast.

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Black Drum

Black Drum typically get much bigger then their close cousins the Red Drum (aka Redfish), sometimes reaching weights in excess of 80lbs. But these fish are more slow moving and rarely are caught on any baits other than sand fleas, shrimp, cut clams, or crab. These stout body bottom feeders favor cooler water temperatures and are frequent catches from fall to spring. The Florida record is 96 pounds.

Book a beach fishing charter in Cocoa Beach, south to Sebastian Inlet for a shot at a monster Black drum along Florida’s East Coast beaches.

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Redfish

One of everyone’s favorites, red drum, aka redfish, are abundant in the surf. Like their black drum cousins they seem to favor cooler water temperatures, but are caught in numbers in the Florida surf year round. While they love to eat sand fleas, cut clams, shrimp and crabs they’ll take a lure, jig, crank bait or spoon. The current Florida state record for a redfish is 52 pounds and was caught right here in Brevard County, Florida.

Book a surf fishing trip to learn how to catch Redfish in Florida’s surf. Brevard County provides some of the best beaches for shore fishing for these trophy fish.

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Sheepshead

A broad bodied fish with human like teeth, the Sheepshead is at times referred to as the prisoner fish because of its lateral black stripes covering the length of its darker silver body. A sly feeder, it is often said to set the hook just before it strikes because of their ability to steal an angler’s bait. The best catches generally come during winter months , but they are year round residents to the Space Coast area while surf fishing. The Florida record for a Sheepshead is over 15 pounds.

Book a beach fishing charter in central Brevard County beaches that contain sufficient rock structure to hold these crustacean-eating delicacies.

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Jack Crevalle

Reputable as one of the hardest fighting fish in the ocean they are veracious powerful predatory fish. An opportunist when it comes to feeding patterns they can be caught on small baitfish, crustaceans, or lures imitating each. Charter fishing Cocoa Beach south to Sebastian Inlet will have anglers with a bent rod and sore back from a battle with these fish. They can be caught year round in the Florida surf with a variety of methods, live or dead bait or retrieving lures. The Florida record for Jack Crevalle is 57 pounds!

Book a surf fishing excursion that will have family fun entertainment for all if you run into a school of these tenacious predators in Florida beach waters.

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Bluefish

Bluefish can be caught surf fishing from Cocoa Beach to Sebastian Inlet and south year round, but prefer times of heavy bait migrations and cooler weather. They prefer to feed in large numbers and can create a flurry of chaos when they’re concentrated along the beaches feeding on schooling baitfish. Live or dead mullet work well along with one to two ounce silver spoon lure. The Florida record for Bluefish is 22 pounds and two ounces.

Book a shore fishing excursion with Florida family fun fishing packages provided to watch kids and family members catch bluefish during the months of October through April.

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Spanish Mackerel

Delicious, incredibly fast and hard fighting are the best three ways to describe Macs. They may not be caught year round but they are frequent visitors to the Space Coast surf fishing especially when glass minnows are present. They run in sizes between one to six pounds and have keen eyesight. The Florida record for Spanish Mackerel is twelve pounds.

Book a surf fishing excursion near Cocoa Beach, Melbourne Beach, or Sebastian Inlet to learn how to catch Spanish mackerel on the beach.

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Ladyfish

The acrobatic cousin of the Tarpon resembles a smaller slender version of its larger relative. Ladyfish are aggressive feeders swallowing their prey whole, followed by a blitzing run and several leaps from the water. Florida surf fishing anglers will catch them on small fish, crustaceans, or lures and provides for an exciting and plentiful gamefish. They often concentrate along the central east coast of Florida when large congregations of bait are present and can be caught in the mix of many other species of fish. The Florida record for Ladyfish is 6.4 pounds caught in Cocoa Beach, FL.

Book a beach fishing excursion near Port Canaveral for a family fun fishing trip near Sebastian Inlet to learn how to catch ladyfish in Florida.

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Whiting

Colored sand silver; this slender bodied fish seldom grows beyond two pounds. Caught year round in the surf along all of Florida’s coastline, whiting are a surf casters dream because they’re easy to catch, abundant, and delicious. They eat shrimp, sand fleas, clams or crabs, but can also be caught on small flies or jigs. The Florida record is 2.3 pounds.

Book a beach fishing charter with the Florida family fun package to learn how to catch whiting. Enjoy whiting’s savory flaky meat with the catch, clean, cook option provided by our local seafood restaurants.

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Atlantic Croaker

The Atlantic Croaker derives its name from the vibrating noise “croaking” caused by the muscles against its swim bladder. They are the loudest of the drum family and make phenomenal table fare, but can also be substituted as bait for larger predatory fish attracted to its croaking acoustics. Surf fishing in Florida can be a highly productive method for catching the Atlantic croaker, using small hooks and small crustacean baits to match their feeding habits and biological physique. The Florida record for Atlantic Croaker is 4 pounds 15 ounces!

Book a fishing charter in Port Canaveral, Sebastian Inlet, or Cocoa Beach to tangle with the Atlantic croaker. Their succulent meat makes them an all time favorite for the Florida catch, clean, and cook option.

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Stingray

Relative of the shark, the stingray also employs similar manner by which it feeds, equipped with electrical sensors positioned around the mouth that detect prey. Stingrays can be caught along the beaches of Florida year around on live or dead baitfish, but prefer crustaceans soaking on the bottom. They put up a tremendously tough fight using their irregular skeletoral form near impossible to keep them turned in any direction. A venomous barb-like tail whipped in defense is cause for concern and ensures treating each catch cautiously. Our Florida charter fishing service treats them as a catch and release species.

Book a beach fishing excursion near Sebastian Inlet or Port Canaveral for a knockdown battle with these winged species of marine life.

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Catfish

Hardhead catfish is a species of sea catfish that can be caught in Atlantic water along all of the Florida beaches including the Gulf of Mexico. An opportunistic consumer that can feed on anything from algae and seagrasses to shrimp, crabs and baitfish. Preferring dead bait soaked on the bottom increases your chances over live bait or lures.

Book a surf fishing charter with the Florida family fun package to do things outside on the beach with the entire group and enjoy catching catfish and more.

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