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Brevard County Surf Fishing Report

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Brevard County surf fishing report by Capt. Lukas Our surf fishing charters last week saw a great amount of big bull whiting, a few large pompano, bluefish and mackerel. Water clarity and conditions were inconsistent on a day-to-day basis, which made it hard to set up a pattern on the fish. Fishing around Sebastian Inlet provided catches of large pompano midway through the week that had surf fishing anglers fighting for position. There weren’t any extremely high numbers of pompano coming through, but the ones that were caught ranged from 15-18 inches and weighed over 3 lbs. This is a good sign the fish that are staged currently in Vero Beach south to Fort Pierce and Stuart are charging back for the spring run.

Sebastian Inlet Surf Fishing Charters

Sebastian Inlet Surf Fishing Charters

Indian Riverkeeper Surf Fishing Tournament

The Indian RiverKeeper surf fishing tournament that took place over the weekend near Hutchinson Island and Fort Pierce had great catches of pompano hitting the leaderboard. The winning pompano was over 5 lbs and plenty had weighed-in fish that were 2-3 lbs, but were reluctantly knocked from the placing category. Seeing these larger numbers of pompano and larger pompano south had me excited for the weeks to come. Surf fishing charters in Brevard County have recently provided mainly small undersized pompano with a few large ones to celebrate the day. Once the fish down in the southern beaches continue to push up into our waters, be ready to hit the beach, because this transition is already underway.

Space Coast Pompano Surf Fishing

Space Coast Pompano Surf Fishing

Pompano Surf Fishing Tips

Pompano always holds that namesake and reputation for intrigue, but if you’re missing out on the absolutely stellar whiting bite, you need to change the game plan. These bull whiting continue to average over 15 inches and 1.5 lbs, while ranging up to 18 inches were all caught this week in high numbers. Family fun trips had clients of all ages enjoying this red hot whiting bite. Pompano rigs with live sand fleas, Fish Bites and fresh dead shrimp were the key. The fresh dead shrimp out-fished live sand fleas multiple days this week so keep an assortment of bait to find success. With that being said, the big pompano were all caught on live fleas tipped with shrimp or crab Fish Bites. Be prepared to release heaps of undersized pompano in your surf fishing endeavors, and do so quickly to ensure a healthy survival rate. Pompano in the 7-9 inch range are abundant and don’t need to be measured as it wastes time and increases mortality rates. Become proficient with what a legal size fish looks like to save time.

With the reputable food fare species covered for the weekly catch, let’s discuss the reliable bluefish and Spanish mackerel that continue to persist in local waters. Oftentimes on charter, while not directly targeting these bluefish and mackerel, we have been catching them on the retrieve to the shore. These ferocious predators love movement and action to entice their bite. If specifically targeting these fish, use cut bait on a pompano rig or use the silver spoon or gotcha plug in chartreuse color. I have many clients who love eating fresh bluefish and mackerel, especially if you plan on smoking them or making jerky. It’s delicious. Target the second trough to the sandbar as the fish have pushed off the beach in most areas.

Brevard County Surf Fishing Charters

Brevard County Surf Fishing Charters

Surf Fishing Forecast

The forecast is calling for southern winds on multiple days which will decrease the water clarity. Make sure to hit the beaches after the northerly winds clean it back up for optimal success. Get out there and have fun!

Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

March 2, 2021
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Guided Surf Fishing Charters

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Guided surf fishing charters caught big bull whiting, pompano, drum and sharks. Last week saw an upswing in not only the number of pompanos, but the larger pompano mixed in with higher numbers than previous weeks. This can be attributed to the increase in water temps from the lows we saw weeks prior. While we still weren’t catching recreational limits of pompano, the ones we did catch were averaging between 13-16” to the fork of the tail. Beautiful 2-3 lb pompanos on the sandy shores of our Space Coast had clients grinning with joy.

Space Coast Surf Fishing

Space Coast Surf Fishing

Surf fishing Brevard County still lacked the consistency one would prefer so it was optimal to fish multiple days to find a bountiful catch. Without a steady number of pompano hitting the shoreline, we continually counted on whiting to save the day. Thankfully that situation played out particularly well for the better part of the week. Large bull whiting over 1.5 lbs weren’t uncommon and that’s a welcomed sight for any surf fisherman.

Pompano Surf Fishing

Pompano Surf Fishing

Surf fishing Cocoa Beach provided good numbers of these whiting schools, while we saw single digit catches of keeper pompano as well. Target the whiting using a standard pompano rig with Pink Shrimp Flavored Fish Bites and live sand fleas or small pieces of shrimp. Generally these whiting can be caught closer to shore, but this week seemed to have them further out in the surf with longer casts producing better results. When fishing multiple rods, I have been dedicating more numerous casts to the outside zones while dropping one or two rods short to medium for a wide pattern, then dialing in as the bite dictates.

Space Coast Pompano Fishing

Space Coast Pompano Fishing

Surf Fishing for Sharks

Shark fishing has been phenomenal off the beach the last couple weeks and that pattern continued to hold true this week. Pictured in this report is Hugh from Ohio who booked a guided shark fishing trip and won the thrill of what it’s like to battle an acrobatic black tip on spinning tackle. This shark put on an absolute show jumping multiple times and screaming drag up and down the beach. As mentioned in previous reports, be sure to beef up the surf fishing equipment for these heavyweight contenders. Heavy braided line in the 80 lb class with a 200-300 lb monofilament shock leader with a foot of wire trace will do the trick. Fresh cut bait has been the ticket with the added scent and hands down outfished the frozen baits.

Surf Fishing for Sharks

Brevard County Shark Surf Fishing

Surf Fishing Forecast for the Space Coast

The week ahead looks like good conditions forecasted up until the weekend with a blow coming. Get out in front of the weather and storms this coming week to have an opportunity for success. There’s plenty of large whiting, roaming pompano and black drum to seek out. Not to mention the sand fleas have been plentiful at area beaches around the lower tide. There’s two large schools of black drum roaming off the coast between Patrick Air Force Base and Melbourne Beach. I spotted these fish three days ago milling around the Indian Harbour Beach area. The schooling black drum ranged between 20-60 lbs! Be sure to loosen your drag up when placing fishing poles in the rod holders. These fish won’t be stopped without a handful of screaming runs, and if the drag isn’t set properly you won’t stand a chance. Hit the beach and have fun!

 

Sebastian Inlet Surf Fishing

Sebastian Inlet Surf Fishing

Surf Fishing for Pompano in Cocoa Beach

Surf Fishing for Pompano in Cocoa Beach

Sebastian Inlet Surf Fishing Charters

Sebastian Inlet Surf Fishing Charters

February 18, 2021
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Cocoa Beach and Sebastian Inlet Surf Fishing Report

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Surf fishing near Cocoa Beach was anything but spectacular last week. Shore-based fishing charters had much more success south beach fishing near Sebastian Inlet. The small pompano brigade was out in full force! Many days our clients were landing undersized pompano in the double digit numbers around 20-30 a day. The bigger fish just weren’t very prevalent at all, but with persistence we managed to bag a couple bigger legal-sized pompano a day. Whiting, bluefish, croakers and black drum rounded out the species list for the majority of catches per day. There’s no shortage of sharks at the moment with each of our shore-based shark fishing trips hooking up multiple sharks and landing numerous black tips per trip.

Pompano Surf Fishing Charters

Pompano Surf Fishing Charters

 

Brevard County Surf Fishing

Brevard County Surf Fishing

Surf fishing Brevard County proved especially trying the past week with water clarity and temps taking a dive. The “extreme” cold snap sent ocean temps plummeting below the ideal temperatures preferred for the prestigious pompano. Matching cold temps with murky water doesn’t bode well for our surf fishing trips. With that being said, the whiting, drum and blue fish kept for a steady bite in-between the elusive pompano catches. As the week wore on the water clarity improved and the weekend provided more consistent numbers.

Surf Fishing for Pompano

Surf Fishing for Pompano

Pompano rigs with chartreuse and bright orange floats seemed to be key. Rigged with white clam flavored Fish Bites or the chartreuse shrimp flavor, the best bites came from the sunrise or sunset bite and the first two hours of outgoing tide. These tidal swings can make all the difference in the world when out surf fishing. I constantly remind clients and fellow surf fishermen that specific tides will trigger fish which will commonly result in more fish being caught during a one to two hour span than will be produced over the course of the other hours cumulatively. Make sure to put in your efforts around the tide changes and identify which time the tide has been productive to focus your efforts and increase probabilities.

Sebastian Inlet Pompano Fishing

Sebastian Inlet Pompano Fishing

 

Sebastian Inlet Surf Fishing Charters

Sebastian Inlet Surf Fishing Charters

The week ahead looks encouraging for shore-based fishermen to hit the beach and find the fish. Water clarity steadily improved over the weekend and Monday and Tuesday produced better results with keeper pompano and large whiting. Warmer temperatures should raise the water temps, which could stimulate the surf fishing accordingly. The sand fleas have also been making appearances on local beaches around a low tide so be sure to bring the rake with you and keep your eyes peeled. If you are looking for one heck of a battle on spinning gear, target shark fishing from the beach for cheap thrills. Baits deployed during shore-based shark fishing trips didn’t soak 10-20 minutes before being terrorized by local sharks. Be sure to have your shore fishing shark permit and course complete, which can be done on the FWC website. Catch and release to ensure a healthy survival rate following the appropriate protocol listed in the course. Heavy action surf fishing equipment brings in the sharks quicker with a better opportunity for healthy release. Have de-hooking tools on hand to remove the circle hook and thrust these sharks back into the water quickly. Have fun out there and be safe! Book a trip easily online.

Surf Fishing in Sebastian Inlet

Surf Fishing in Sebastian Inlet

 

surf fishing for sharks

Surf Fishing for Sharks

 

 

February 15, 2021
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Guided Beach Fishing Charters

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Guided beach fishing charters produced plenty of action on local beaches this past week. While the beginning of the week had pristine conditions with water clarity and calm seas, the bite didn’t mimic what the appearance depicted. The bite remained slow for target species like pompano, whiting and black drum. With that being said, the immense amount of bluefish, mackerel and small jack crevalle kept surf fishing anglers busy between the more prized species.

space coast surf fishing

Space Coast Surf Fishing

As the week wore on the bite picked up in tune to flurries of pompano at area-specific beaches. While many reported a slow to minimal action on pompano, anglers that were willing to seek out that bite found tremendous success. Limits of pompano were had by many over the weekend on southern Brevard beaches. The majority of these catches came on the incoming tide, which triggered a fast action bite not seen by those not allocating fishing times to coincide with the tide. Flurries of whiting and pompano filled coolers on these hot bites.

pompano surf fishing space coast florida

Surf Fishing for Pompano

Beach nourishment projects impacted the water clarity correlating with a diminished opportunity for surf fishing anglers. Surf fishing anglers did find black drum and whiting near these nourishment projects, but the prized pompano prefers contrasting conditions. Pompano are a sight-feeding fish with extremely large pupils meant to see their food in crustaceans, clams and glass minnows. If you’re not keen on this criteria, you could be setting up with hopes and dreams with little to show for a day of surf fishing efforts.

Surf fishing near Cocoa Beach continues to produce small to midsize black drum, whiting, croakers and bluefish with the lonesome pompano in the mix. While the majority of our guided surf fishing charters catch pompano in larger numbers accompanied by whiting, mackerel and bluefish near Sebastian Inlet. Larger schools of pompano have been roaming south of Sebastian Inlet with sporadic days producing big catches in a random sequence making it difficult to dial in on their patterns.

Looking forward to the weeks ahead and the changes in water temps. I’m hopeful we’ll get a nice run on our local Space Coast beaches. Pay special attention to the wind to clean up certain areas with southerly winds making it dirty. Currently west winds have had a similar effect with the sand nourishment projects and the combination of this sand getting blown out into the surf zone. With the current front coming later in the week, I expect water clarity to clean up with northerly winds and opportunities to be created at more locations.

sebastian inlet surf fishing

Sebastian Inlet Surf Fishing

Pompano rigs with live or blanched fleas tipped with the chartreuse crab flavored Fish Bites and the white clam flavor have been seeing success. If you want to diversify for bluefish, then switch to fresh cut bait like mullet or croakers. Light tackle action near the first trough throwing a spoon or gotcha plug will also keep you entertained waiting for the surf rods to take a dive. All in all, it’s going to take some searching and fishing multiple tides to find real success as the fish and bite hasn’t been broad and general. Do your homework, put in the time and your probability for finding those gem days will increase exponentially. Good luck and tight lines!!

January 29, 2021
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Pompano fishing Florida’s Central East Coast

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Pompano fishing Florida’s Central East Coast remains the hot topic for this week’s surf fishing report. Substantially favorable weather patterns have taken hold providing surf fishing anglers with plenty of excuses to hit the beaches. With conditions like this, it behooves anybody who’s been waiting for the right opportunity to hit the surf now. Minimal swell and ideal winds have persisted throughout our Space Coast region creating clean water and light current. In response to the weather patterns and water temps, the fish have responded positively. Consistent catches of pompano and whiting are being reported throughout the entire region with southern Brevard County beaches having more consistency on a day-to-day basis.

cocoa beach surf fishing

Surf Fishing Charters in Cocoa Beach

Surf Fishing for Pompano on the Space Coast

Depending on the day and location, it’s been common to find high numbers of short pompano coinciding with the keeper size fish. If you’re engaged in the above-mentioned scenario, you have two options to pursue. Option one is to change location and try to locate larger size fish, or, two, you can weed through the shorts as bigger fish will roam through at periods throughout the day. Whichever method suits you best depends on the duration of your surf fishing day, tides and ambition. It’s always encouraged to make a move if you’re seeing little to no activity. With that being said, if there’s enough activity to keep you hopeful, then it may pay off to stick it out. Tide changes have proved critical this week with the ability to turn on and off like a light switch. Be sure to fish through these tide changes to realize what opportunities await for those surf fishing anglers willing to stick it out.

surf fishing for pompano

Surf Fishing for Pompano

Surf fishing charters this week had clients reeling in pompano, large bull whiting, and Spanish mackerel. The highlight species being pompano reigned in attention while larger bull whiting exceeding 1.5 lbs didn’t go unnoticed. Commonly these multiple species are caught around a mass of fish feeding in schools. Once located, it’s very common to have pompano and whiting hitting the beach in rhythm one after another. These “hot” bites may diminish with a specific tide and then fire back up when the water reaches suitable depths. If you find these larger bull whiting and mackerel around be sure that you are in a good position to capitalize on the pompano that mix in together.

Surf Fishing Tips

Surf fishing tactics for the week would be to hit the beach early for that first light bite, which has proved particularly effective as of late. Second, have live or blanched sand fleas as it seems to be the most productive option for preferred species this week. As mentioned before in prior articles, be sure to fish multiple zones from the shore especially at a higher tide. Surf fishing equipment built to send pompano rigs past the breakers need to be reined in and and disciplined to cover the troughs closer to shore. I personally have a tendency to overcast fish before I have a strategy talk with myself. Proportionally larger numbers of pompano are running the outer zones of casting, but plenty of days have produced well in the short and medium range casts. Good luck and tight lines!

sebastian inlet surf fishing charters

Surf Fishing Charters in Sebastian

January 15, 2021
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Let the games begin for the pompano fishing enthusiasts!

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Let the games begin for the pompano fishing enthusiasts. Surf fishing charters near Cocoa Beach all the way to Sebastian Inlet produced phenomenal results this past week. Apparently, our guided beach fishing charters weren’t the only ones that either had luck or heard the word get out. Towards the end of the week, numerous beach accesses were packed with eager shorebound anglers seeking a bounty. With that being said, there’s no better time than the present to search for that hot bite.

Space Coast Pompano Surf Fishing

Surf Fishing Tips

Water temperature coinciding with water clarity is the name of the game when finding a favorable opportunity for pompano. A plethora of other species generally accompany these pompano feeding frenzies. Pompano rigs tipped with Fish Bites and shrimp or sand fleas caught the majority of these species this week. Everything from black drum, ladyfish, whiting, mackerel and jacks rounded out the assortment that was hauled to the beach shore. I encourage anglers to use a variety of baits exactly for this reason. Let the fish dictate their preference and dial in to those feeding patterns.

Pompano Surf Fishing Charters

While pompano have definitely been the headliner species, so to speak, the fantastic catches of large bull whiting and sheepshead shouldn’t be ignored. Whiting are one of the most reliable and delicious species we target in the surf. Anywhere along the Space Coast, surf anglers can depend on pulling in a few of these fish even on tough days. This week has been outstanding with whiting coming in well over 1.5 lbs and numbers to back. These larger bull whiting resemble a silvery redfish more than the typical whiting catches and have been concentrating with the larger pompano. Pompano exceeding 17 inches have been a frequent catch during surf fishing charters the past week.

Learn How to Surf Fish

Surf Fishing Lessons and Promo

There’s tons of information out there to learn how to catch pompano from the beach. Many people ask, is it hard to catch pompano? No, it’s not the most difficult species to target or catch, but where it becomes extremely scientific is catching way more than the guy next to you and being able to catch those numbers consistently day in and day out. If you want to become more productive and consistent fishing for pompano or any of the above mentioned species, be sure to give us a call to book your surf fishing lesson. Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters is offering a 50% off four-hour surf fishing lesson for locals of the community. Make sure when you call or email to mention where you heard about the promotion, whether it be Space Fish Report, Sebastian Inlet State Park, or Coastal Angler Magazine. This promotion is valid for one month until January 15, 2021. Be sure to take advantage to turn your luck into fortune for surf fishing expertise.

December 17, 2020
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Surf Fishing Brevard County

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Surf fishing Brevard county this past week brought with it a new variety of  species to lure. The cooling water temperatures brought in flounder,  redfish, bluefish, pompano and more. Finally the weather has diminished  for a sustained period of time bringing with it a cheerful holiday spirit to be  celebrated by all. After months of grueling easterly flows, dirty water and  seaweed galore the welcomed sight of calm seas and clean water is worth  cheering about. The winter surf fishing season has finally taken hold and  there’s no better time then now to get out and enjoy the offerings along  our coast.

Surf Fishing for Sheepshead

Surf Fishing for Sheepshead

This time of year is favored by many tried and true surf anglers for the  prestige of our famed pompano run. It’s finally underway and consistent  catches can be had by those who make the effort. Pompano fishing  tactics can be thorough or broad based on approach. Pompano  particularly require skill and patience, often times both simultaneously.  Fisherman will be seen littering the shores of the sun dotted Space Coast  waiting eagerly for the rods to bend. Persistence and study will be the key  to multiple banner days of surf fishing glory.

Surf Fishing Charters Cocoa Beach

Surf Fishing Charters Cocoa Beach

Surf fishing anglers paying special attention to tides, water clarity and bait  concentration will find the most success. Pompano catches may fulfill your  inner fever for the species but don’t underestimate the other species that  accompany the season. Black drum, spanish mackerel, redfish and  flounder won’t be an uncommon beach catch. Pompano rigs remain the  go to choice for the above mentioned species, rigged with live or dead bait  tipped with Fish Bites. Look for sloughs, troughs and tidal rips to find  higher concentrations of predatory fish feeding. Work these zones with fresh clams, sand fleas, shrimp or lures to entice opportunistic fish.

Surf Fishing for Redfish

Surf Fishing for Redfish

December 14, 2020
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Countdown for Pompano

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Countdown for pompano continues for surf fishing anglers eagerly awaiting the pompano flood gates to open. Besides that, there’s still plenty to keep one entertained with tight lines and delicious table fare. The whiting fishing has been extremely productive with double digit catches of these delicious flaky morsels. Small pieces of fresh shrimp and live sand fleas have accounted for a steady twitch of the rod tip signifying a whiting on the line. While the whiting bite keeps you busy and gratified, there’s still plenty of productive shark fishing charters that have put a major bend in the rod for our clients.

Surf Fishing for Sharks

Surf Fishing for Sharks

Pompano roaming our coastline were all but invisible on the multitude of days where the water clarity was trash. While we waited for northerly winds and subsiding seas to clean the quality up, it was a full on catfish bonanza for many frustrated beach fishing anglers. Bonnethead shark catches were another species to round out those tough fishing days along our coastline,not to mention all the various other species that have been chewing steady and keeping the species spectrum wide open. Species along the likes of blue runners, Atlantic croakers, jack crevalle, and bluefish had our family fun trips running with a steady assortment of fish.

Surf Fishing Charters Cocoa Beach

Surf Fishing Charters Cocoa Beach

Apprehensively watching the upcoming weather patterns shift and temperatures drop has everything on the brink of busting loose. The major schools of pompano are still being caught in north Florida; but for a few savvy veterans, success has been found much closer to our Space Coast. With water temperatures getting below those magic thresholds, soon it shouldn’t be long until we finally see our silver and gold nuggets hitting our local beaches. As mentioned multiple times before, pompano rigs on a standard surf fishing setup with rods ranging from nine to twelve feet will suit the job. Make sure to use a variety of Fishbites colors and scents to key in on the choice for the day. Match this surf fishing rig with fresh shrimp, live sand fleas or clam, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the results.

Space Coast Surf Fishing

Space Coast Surf Fishing

Now, with all this talk of the pompano run coming. we did squeak out a few larger resident fish on our beach fishing charters last week. I had the pleasure of taking a few families with children out during the holiday week and saw their excitement of joining in the fun!! Guided beach fishing trips are a perfect way to bring the entire family together with multiple generations getting in on the action. Rounding out the week with a few pompano in the 15-17 inch class, redfish and whiting up to 18 inches can make amazing memories for all involved. I’m so grateful to live on the Space Coast and share my love of the beach and fishing experience to all generations to a world unknown to them previously. Make sure to invite any extended family or friends on your next surf fishing adventure. You never know the lasting impact it can have on the kids and families alike!

December 3, 2020
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Space Coast Winter Surf Fishing Report

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

Space Coast winter surf fishing this time of year should be lighting on fire. The the recent  weather patterns have been sustained and unfavorable to say the least. With all this wind and weather there’s going to be plenty to be thankful for during this holiday week. Although fishing for sharks, catfish, sheepshead, and drum has been good for the windy weeks past,  I’m definitely looking forward to a break in the weather and different  species to target.

Surf Fishing for Sheepshead

Surf Fishing for Sheepshead

Weather Conditions

Cooler weather patterns begin to take hold for a much needed catalyst in decreasing the water temperatures. This pattern will bring with it our  infamous pompano run to Brevard County beaches. As the major  pompano schools began their decent marching south to optimal water  temperatures, surf fisherman on the Space Coast eagerly await. If you’ve  never been a part of the seasonal beach fishing scene, it’s widely known to  be a favorite time of year for local surf fisherman. Scouring the coast for  the higher numbers of fish will be a common theme once the much  anticipated pompano arrive.

Surf Fishing for Redfish

Surf Fishing for Redfish

Bluefish and mackerel will also be a part of this upcoming theme for cooler  waters. Surf casting rigs with heavier leader matched with a silver spoon,  pompano jig or gotcha lure should do the trick. While working the dead  stick rods for pompano, whiting, drum and more be sure to keep a casting  rod handy for the too their specimens mentioned above. Cast from the  shoreline into the first or second trough with a quick retrieval to initiate a bite. Mackerel, bluefish, jack crevalle and ladyfish add fun fighting power to a day of fishing local beaches.

Surf Fishing for Sharks

Surf Fishing for Sharks

Surf Fishing Tips

Pompano rigs made with fluorocarbon leader, multicolored beads and  floats should be the most widely used fishing rig for this time of year. Live or dead bait consisting of sand fleas, shrimp and clams bring the most success. While pompano maintain the hierarchy of the most sought after  species these rigs will catch everything else from whiting, sheepshead,  drum and more. By varying multiple rods with the casting distance from  shore ensures best results, be sure to pay close attention to the tidal influence the water poses. Higher tides have fish pushed closer to the  shoreline while a lower tide generally has fish scouring the outer troughs and sandbars. Pompano rigs fished correlating these tide and water depth variations find more production.

Contact us today to book your Space Coast Winter surf fishing charter!

November 30, 2020
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Surf Fishing the Space Coast

By Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters

SKeep your eye on the water temperatures to dictate what can be in store for a day spent on the beaches casting surf equipment. Holiday cheers abound when we see ocean temperatures falling below 75 degrees. Once this trend takes hold we can expect to see a healthy pulse of migratory pompano.

Surf Fishing for Pompano

Surf Fishing for Pompano

Fishing for pompano year round has its place in every surf fisherman’s focus. But this time of year kicks off the pompano fever that drives many to pack the Space Coast beaches, so expect a crowd once word gets out that the bite is on. Typically this time of year brings periods of ideal conditions with calm seas, only to be interrupted by northeasterly blows that send one packing up. With that being said, it’s of utmost importance to pounce on the cyclical windows that provide banner days surf fishing.

Surf Fishing Tips

What to look for when identifying these trends can lead to success or epic failures. The Atlantic waters that encompass our region are directly affected by these seasonal weather patterns. Northeasterly winds will clean up the water clarity to an emerald green and electric blue. These are the opportunities that will bring the best in pompano surf fishing. Due to the fact that pompano have large pupils used for identifying food sources, they will be more likely to catch in the cleaner water.

Pompano rigs by the hundreds will be sent into the surf for this frenzy. Traditional surf fishing baits that are the most productive for pompano are sand fleas, clam and shrimp. Whether I’m running a surf fishing charter or private lessons, I always encourage the use of Fish Bites as well. This synthetically scented product has developed into an incremental tool for the task at hand. Used as a stand-alone bait or accompanied with a tipped fresh bait has the best results. Fish Bites come in various scents and colors which begs the question which should I choose on a given day? I prefer to match the water clarity for color schemes, but always have a diversity of sand flea flavor, crab, shrimp and clam. Pay attention to what is preferred by the fish on that day and concentrate your assortment to the preference.

Surf Fishing for Ladyfish

Surf Fishing for Ladyfish

Other Surf Fishing Species

Keep in mind pompano won’t be the only species tugging a line. Assign a rod or two with live or cut bait for a multitude of predatory species. Expect bluefish, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and sharks to take the presented baits. Head to the local shops to prepare the proper surf fishing equipment for this seasonal run. Also, feel free to contact us at Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Charters with any questions on equipment or conditions as we service the entire region from Port Canaveral to Vero Beach. Tis the season to fish on!

Shark Surf Fishing Cocoa Beach

Shark Surf Fishing Cocoa Beach

November 10, 2020
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