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cocoa beach surf fishing report

East Coast Surf Fishing Report

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Florida Central East Coast Surf Fishing Report

Central East Coast surf fishing continues to thrill during the last few weeks with no end in sight! The entire Florida Central East Coast region has had reason to celebrate. The current conditions have held the opportunity for any number of species to grab a bait. Properly displayed baits have continued to be irresistible. Pompano fishing remains consistent from southern Cocoa Beach, Indiatlantic, and Melbourne Beach. Snook, sheepshead, whiting, and croakers are also frequent visitors to our beach fishing charters this week. With that being said, the end of this last week’s deteriorating water clarity conditions caused the catfish catches to increase. Areas were still holding fish, but the effort it took to shake through the catfish was only for a dedicated few. Tide changes and cleaner water are the key to success under the circumstances.

Surf Fishing for Sheepshead

Pompano fishing will always ebb and flow with the water clarity being a main ingredient to this fishery. Pompano feed with their sight due to their huge eyeballs, which gives them a distinct advantage in hunting out food. When the southerly winds blow hard enough over a sustained period of time, this increases the likelihood for dirty water. Combine this with any kind of swell and the ocean water can seem less attractive than the day or weeks before.

Family Fun Surf Fishing

Helpful Surf Fishing Tips

Pay close attention to color shades when observing the surf. Greens and blues for water color creates higher probability of success. Brown water equals catfish mania. In conjunction, I always recommend a network to obtain information. Call Black Dog Bait and Tackle for a recent report for the southern end of the county or Man OverBoard Bait and Tackle for the central county report. Shut Up and Fish can provide detailed surf fishing information for the Cocoa Beach area. Also recommended is to use the surf cams to get a real-time perspective of current conditions. Do your homework before loading your surf fishing equipment for success.

Surf Fishing for Snook

Surf fishing can be super rewarding under the challenges of dirty water, but it takes persistence for it to pay. Don’t hesitate to make a hard charge at it. Yes, some days you’re going to catch a lot of catfish. Each of our beach fishing charters near Cocoa Beach south to Sebastian produced nice big pompanos along with sheepshead, whiting, and snook. So don’t be discouraged when the ratio is not proportional. Lying in the midst of the catfish are the delicacies you desire! Fish on!

July 25, 2020
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Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Report

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

The latest Cocoa Beach surf fishing report.

Snook fishing Florida has gone wild these last couple of weeks! The Central East Coast of Florida has been having epic conditions for hooking a snook in the surf. Snook catches from Cocoa Beach to Sebastian Inlet are red hot. Tactics for surf fishing rigs, including pompano rigs combined with Fish Bites and sand fleas, accounting for an incredible amount of trophy snook. Your chance of hooking a pompano or snook and other species, by using diversified bait setups, should remain successful through the next few weeks until the large bait fish runs start to infiltrate Florida beaches.

Surf Fishing for Snook

Targeting Snook While Surf Fishing

Traditionally, targeting snook in the surf requires live bait or artificial lures. With that being said,these line-siders haven’t shied away from the classic dropper loop rig with pompano floats and sand fleas. Analyzing the stereotypical surf fishing equipment to adjust for the opportunity at hand. Store bought surf fishing rigs lack the increased terminal tackle required. Inherently leading to many failed attempts at landing a big snook. Surf fishing equipment consisting of anything less than 30lb fluorocarbon leader will increase the probability of a missed opportunity.Make sure to confirm the terminal tackle of store-bought rigs or simply tie your own. YouTube has many great videos teaching a universal surf fishing setup. Customizing hook size and leader distance allows the individual angler to dial in the tackle.

 

Snook fishing Florida from the surf can be accomplished in various forms. As discussed in prior reports, live bait, artificial lures or dead chunk bait. With so many fish around at the moment, it’s more important now just to get out there and get bait in the water. Live croakers and mullet hooked in the back with a split shot or free lined have accounted for the majority of snook catches. Artificial swim baits and diving plugs allow the angler to cover more area and have also resulted in a hefty percentage of fish.

Family fun surf fishing excursions!

In regards to the first two traditional methods comes the standard pompano rig:

The dropper loop surf rig tipped with Fish Bites and sand flea has been knocking them down the last two weeks. As mentioned in the introduction, this pattern doesn’t seem to be slowing down until the bait runs begin. Until they start keying in on different food sources, this pattern will continue. Making this an incredible time for the surf fishing angler. Deploy any or all the methods listed above to make a memorable catch from the surf. There’s nothing fancy to consider, just take the initiative to get out there and get fishing! You may be surprised by what you bring in!

Surf fishing from Cocoa Beach to Sebastian Inlet!

July 20, 2020
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Space Coast Surf Fishing

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Space Coast surf fishing in Florida over the last week has been impressive around the state. From the Gulf Coast to the East Coast surf fishing anglers are reaping the rewards. Pompano catches continue to impress for this seasonal time period. In addition to the pompano fishing, there’s been consistent catches of big snook, whiting and sharks. Pick a target species to have the proper surf fishing gear required for the task at hand.

Surf Fishing for Snook

Typically, this time of year, Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters runs a multi-rod setup to acquire the smattering of species available. Based on beach fishing charters this last week, we have half the rods dedicated to pompano, whiting, sheepshead and drum. The remainder of our surf fishing rigs are dedicated to predatory species like snook, redfish, flounder and sharks.

This approach can lead to the most effective way of targeting the diversity of fish available. Snook fishing the beach from Sebastian Inlet north to Patrick Air Force base has been red hot. If you’ve ever dreamed of hooking into a large snook, now is the time! Surf casting a live bait rig for these giants has yielded astonishing results. Mullet and croakers, which can be caught in the surf and hooked onto a live bait rig, has been the ticket to success. With extremely calm summer surf conditions, a variety of rods can be easily maintained due to the lack of wind and current. Cast live bait rigs into the deepest part nearest to the shoreline referred to as the trough. With the use of a 40-60lb Fluorocarbon leader with a 4/0 to 6/0 circle attached is a must.

Surf Fishing for Pompano

Proper Snook Handling

With that being said, always match the size of the bait to the hook size to correlate. These giant Snook are out of season currently so make sure to have a healthy landing and clean release. Don’t take them out of the water too long and always support the belly with your other hand. Also be careful of the gill plate on the side of the head, which can act as a serrated blade causing deep lacerations if improperly handled.

There’s no telling how long this exceptional opportunity will exist. Visit your local bait shops like Black Dog Bait and Tackle or Man Overboard Bait and Tackle for the most recent trends in the bite. If there was anytime to attempt a grand slam of surf fishing, now is the time to go surf fishing in the Space Coast area!

Pompano Surf Fishing Charters

Prepare surf fishing equipment at home prior to the planned day so everything will be in order for success. Fish Bites, sand fleas, and shrimp for the pompano and whiting fishing have been the ticket. Dedicate the other rods with a fish finder rig with the live baits mentioned above. Then hang on and have fun!

Captain Lukas
To plan a fishing charter, please call: 321-205-4672

July 13, 2020
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Pompano Fishing Florida

Pompano Fishing Florida

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Pompano fishing Florida beaches came back with a fury last week along with multiple other target species. What more could one ask for during a beach fishing excursion in the middle of the summer? Surf fishing anglers rejoiced as the wind and seas finally subsided from the first half of June that brought with it unfavorable conditions. With that being said, water clarity improved and swells settled. This, in turn, created a phenomenal opportunity to get out there and do some pompano fishing or snook fishing. These headliner target species definitely are the main attraction for most. But let’s not forget about the supporting cast that was also firing off.

Pompano fishing Florida

Pompano fishing Florida

Surf fishing charters near Sebastian Inlet north to Satellite Beach produced great catches of pompano, whiting, margate, croakers and snook. Family fun for everyone when the bite gets this hot. If you have any impatient anglers that are difficult to wrestle into a day of beach fishing, now is the perfect time. Take a kid fishing to provide him nonstop reeling action with a blitzing croaker and whiting bite. Greatly benefiting from the lack of distance from shore, makes it an accessible and exciting fishery for families. Use Fish Bites, shrimp or sand flea for best results.

Pompano fishing Florida – inherently a fall through spring fishery with the occasional resident fish hanging around the Central East Coast. This year has more to offer for the shore fishing anglers willing to put in the work. Surf fishing reports from Indiatlantic to Sebastian Inlet produced pompano catches in the double digits last week. This uncommon event should be celebrated and seized upon. With that being said, get the surf fishing equipment together, round up the family, hit the the beach for fun in the sun!

 

Surf Fishing Pompano

Surf Fishing Pompano

Sebastian Inlet Pompano Fishing

Sebastian Inlet Pompano Fishing

July 5, 2020
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Florida Beach Fishing

Florida Beach Fishing

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Florida beach fishing report along the Central East Coast has been touch and go this past week. While the rainy weather snubbed out a lot of days, when chance has presented itself, rewarding opportunities have been found. Rain and easterly wind created murky water for surf fishing from Cocoa Beach to the Sebastian Inlet, however, anglers have been doing well catching fish that don’t rely on optimal water clarity.

Beach fishing charters and individual anglers are catching sheepshead, margate, whiting and snook. The beauty of fishing from the shore is that you never know what’s going to grab hold and bend your rod. Be ready for anything and have a mixed bag of bait and presentations. The majority of “dead stick” fishermen with rods in pole holders have been consistently catching margate and sheepshead on the rocky beaches of Central Brevard County. Bait of choice are fiddler crabs, fish bites, sand fleas and peeled shrimp. Dedicate time to observe the structure off the beach before casting surf fishing equipment. The majority of concentrated catches will come from areas where large rock ledges drop off on the west side of the shelf. Casting accuracy plays a vital role in your rate of success for catching or snagging rocks and losing surf fishing rigs. Properly positioned pompano rigs with extra small hooks combined with the bait mentioned above will increase your probability of snagging one of these sought after species.

Snook fishing in Florida this time of year heats up at a feverish pace. If you’ve always wanted to land a beast snook in the surf, now is the time to gear up. Surf fishermen are reporting catches from the north end of the county near Cocoa Beach south to the Sebastian Inlet. While fishing near Melbourne Beach provided some hot snook reports, catching a snook this time of year will depend on how much time you dedicate, as well as the snook fishing rigs you utilize.

Highly successful anglers are employing snook fishing rigs that combine live bait with mobility. This approach allows you to present a live croaker, mullet or pin fish naturally while covering larger areas of shoreline. Recommended surf fishing equipment and snook fishing rigs for this task would be to combine a 7.5 – 8’ medium to medium heavy action rod, 4000-6000 thousand series reel, 20-40 pound braided line tied to a 2-3 foot, 30-50 pound fluorocarbon leader, followed with a 2/0-5/0 live bait hook or circle hook depending on bait size. Use this snook rig to walk up and down the beach deploying your live bait into the first few yards of the shoreline. Focus on fishing the trough and current run-outs for maximum effectiveness. These ambush predators use these areas to lay and wait for opportunity. Fishing Florida beaches with this snook fishing tackle will allow you the possibility of hooking a trophy fish. Good luck!

Florida Beach Fishing

Florida Beach Fishing

 

June 18, 2020
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Sheepshead for dinner!

Central Florida Surf Fishing Report June 2020

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Central Florida surf fishing report

Central Florida surf fishing report covering areas from Port Canaveral to Sebastian Inlet. Beaches are open, sun shining and people are smiling. This is what we are supposed to be doing this time of year. Families and individuals alike enjoying the beach and the things to do outside. With that being said, we had a great week of surf fishing here in Central Florida. A smattering of species being caught off Brevard County beaches with a wide array of tactics and strategies being employed.

Multiple reports from the rockier coastline areas including southern Patrick Air Force Base down to north Indialantic have reported great catches of sheepshead and snook. Believe it or not, multiple snook have been landed on fresh sand fleas, which is not the typical bait for that target species. In regards to that, I would draw the conclusion that their feeding patterns are adjusting to the lack of baitfish compared to late summer and fall when they mainly focus on live baitfish. Right now they’re heating up and being opportunistic feeders, including any crustacean that crosses the wrong path. So don’t be surprised if your pompano rods go off with a nice snook.

The sheepshead bite has proved best on either side of the high tide.Be sure to cast smaller hooks with small baits near structure to increase your opportunities. How to catch sheepsheads : Use small hooks size 1/0-2/0, makes sure they’re very sharp. Bait choices: sand fleas, clam or shrimp, use small pieces the size of your fingernail, get tension immediately when they begin to bite. They have hard small mouths perfect for bait stealing, so be ready to set the hook.

Surf fishing near Sebastian Inlet has been up and down depending on the time of day and tide. Fishing around a high tide recently has proved better with fish chewing in the stages of the tide change. Don’t count out an outgoing tide completely though. Just with recent catches, more water seems to be key. Look for cleaner water clarity with the greens and blue tints north or south of Sebastian Inlet to be the best grounds. A handful of nice sized pompano continue to swing through and provide that excitement only that they can. Whiting will generally be caught in larger numbers closer to the shore near outflows and rip currents. Fish bites and sand fleas continue to be the successful baits of choice, with fresh shrimp having a nice catch ratio as well.

Sheepshead for dinner!

Sheepshead for dinner!

Snook in the surf.

Snook in the surf.

Florida Pompano

Nick with a couple Florida pompano

 

June 9, 2020
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Florida Pompano

Florida Central East Coast Surf Fishing Report May 2020

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

May 2020 Florida Surf Fishing Report Central East Coast 

Surf fishing Florida during the month of May has offered family fun fishing experiences due to the opening of beach accesses across Florida. Getting to the beach has been one of the top things to do outside on the Space Coast. Incredible weather and social distancing measures are a few factors that make beach fishing Central East Coast of Florida a top choice. Use the opportunity to get surf fishing equipment down to the waters edge to provide a fun-filled fay for all members of the family.

Florida Surf Fishing Pompano

Florida surf fishing pompano

Surf Fishing Treasures

Surf Fishing Treasures

The cooler weather patterns that graced us during early May made mornings crisp and clear. Look for that to become a thing of the past as we steadily creep towards the dog days of summer, accompanied by high temps and humidity. Surf fishing conditions from Cocoa Beach to Sebastian Inlet for the first weeks of May were challenging due to the wind, waves and onslaught of seaweed that blitzed our coastline. Water clarity was one of the few positives that kept things interesting amongst the negatively contributing factors.

Pompano fishing the surf in Brevard County continued to remain consistent. Moreover, fish that have stuck around are providing beach fishing anglers with the perfect chance at catching, cleaning, and cooking this Florida delicacy. Catching your limit of six fish has proved more difficult compared to months prior when the water temperatures were more conducive. With the surf fishing water temps currently holding in the 75-76 degree range, anglers have been reporting fewer fish. How to catch Florida pompano: Cast pompano rigs with a variety of colored floats and no floats, baited with Fishbites (sandflea, crab, clam) and a live or frozen sand flea. Cast surf fishing equipment various distances from shore to ensure you’re targeting areas of concentration. 

Snook fishing the surf has steadily increased as the water temperatures continue to climb. Focus your efforts on area beaches around Sebastian Inlet and Melbourne Beach. Beach fishing for snook around a high tide with live mullet or croakers have received the best results. Catching snook in the Florida surf requires slightly different equipment than traditional surf fishing. Make sure to beef up your tackle with braided line, 30-50lb fluorocarbon leaders and hook sizes that match the bait size accordingly. Snook fishing Florida beaches will continue to heat up, so get out there and dialed in for the rest of the season. 

Surf fishing equipment

Surf fishing equipment

May 22, 2020
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Pompano and Whiting

May Cocoa Beach, Melbourne Beach and Sebastian Inlet

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Florida Surf Fishing Report, Central East Coast, May 2020

Florida surf fishing along the central east coast has provided plentiful opportunities for the beach fishing anglers prepared for multiple scenarios. The weather patterns have provided an abundance of calm days and clean water. These ideal conditions make it suitable for individuals and families to do things outside on the Florida beaches. This time of year truly has an amazing assortment of catch options beach fishing in central Florida. Targeting the Atlantic Ocean waters from Cocoa Beach to Sebastian Inlet gives fisherman the chance to land a 200 pound tarpon, snook, sharks, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, pompano, or whiting.

Shore fishing the beaches from Melbourne Beach to Sebastian Inlet has provided a red hot bite for Spanish Mackerel and bluefish. How to catch Spanish Mackerel and bluefish effectively in the Florida surf requires fishing with smaller spinning rods 7-8 feet in length and reels in the 2000 to 4000 series range. Rig light tackle fishing set-ups with 10-20 braided line attached to a two-foot piece of 20-40lb fluorocarbon leader. The lighter the leader generally leads to more strikes, but at the expense of lost tackle due to the toothy predatory fish at hand. Using Gotcha lures and silver spoons retrieved rapidly have provided the best results for beach fishing near Sebastian Inlet.

Surf fishing charters in Brevard County utilizing live baits have resulted in great catches of snook, tarpon, and flounder. The annual bait migration of pogies and thread fin herring is underway. In other words, large predatory fish will be taking advantage of the all-you-can-eat buffet line. Beach fishing Snook and Flounder in Cocoa Beach, Fl south to Sebastian Inlet is best utilized with a live mullet, pogie, or thread fin. Rigged on a fish finder rig cast in the nearest deepwater trough closest to the shore. Learn how-to catch a tarpon in Florida by exercising the benefits of a free-lined mullet allowing the bait to swim weightless into the outer surf zone where the tarpon can be seen crashing schools of baitfish. Use large capacity reels ranging from 6000-9000 series with heavy braided line and a 60-80 fluorocarbon leader. Our surf fishing trips in central Florida provide ample gear to stand any chance against these leaping and charging acrobats.

While the widely recognized snook and tarpon are beginning to make appearances regularly in the Florida surf, the recent cool weather has dropped ocean temperatures to keep the pompano around a bit longer. However, best bites have been at dusk and dawn on the first few hours of a falling tide. Fishbites (sandflea flavor), clams, shrimp, and live sand fleas have been producing consistent results of Florida pompano and whiting.

Surf fishing can be a fantastic opportunity to get out and make memories especially during these social distancing times. Make sure to give us a call or book online to learn to surf  fish Florida like a pro or take a family fun fishing excursion charter on our local beaches.

Pompano and Whiting

Catch, Clean, and Cook

Sunrise

Florida Surf Fishing Setting

Florida Whiting

Family Fun Fishing

 

May 10, 2020
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Beach Fishing Florida

Surf Fishing in Florida April Report: Cocoa Beach to Sebastian Inlet

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

April 2020 Central Florida East Coast Fishing Report 

Surf fishing in Florida during the month of April has provided fantastic opportunities for anglers able to gain access to area beaches. Under the current social distancing guidelines, all Brevard County beach parking lots have been closed. Fishing is currently considered a recreational activity that satisfies the state guidelines. Finding where to park has become a major obstacle in accomplishing a successful day of surf fishing in Florida at the moment. There’s accessibility with parking across A1A, then shuttling your equipment over to the beach. 

  • Fishing in Cocoa Beach
  • Pompano
  • Surf Fishing in Florida
Spring Surf Fishing Florida

Days continue to become increasingly warmer making it important to get out and fishing before the heat of the day overwhelms the bite. Early starts have anglers fishing in Cocoa Beach and Port Canaveral reporting  good results of catching whiting, catfish, black drum and pompano. Learn more about these species here. Catching these species on surf fishing rigs with sandfleas, shrimp, and fishbites as the bait of choice. Look for areas where the water clarity color goes from brown and murky to shades of green with hints of blue  mixed in. 

Surf fishing in the Sebastian Inlet  area north to Indiatlantic catches of pompano, Spanish mackeral, whiting and Ladyfish have been stellar. The most successful results have come at times when the glass minnows are present in the surf fishing zone.  

The best results as of late have come on a falling tide. Try to align the days when the winds aren’t brutally whipping from the south dirtying the water. The catfish and sharks at first light seem to be feeding heavily,  but that bite has been waning as the morning progresses and target species turn-on. 

Pro Tip: Make sure to stagger your beach fishing equipment to locate the target fish concentrations during tide fluctuations. It’s the best way to diversify your portfolio and dial in on a school.

April 24, 2020
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