January Space Coast Surf Fishing Forecast This is the season for surf fishing anglers in the Space Coast to rejoice with bountiful catches and picture perfect weather. January marks the busy season for anglers fishing Brevard County beaches. As a result, the influx of residents that spend winters here in the Central East Coast of Florida take part in this recreation. Hence one can expect crowded beaches and busy shorelines filled with surf fishing anglers. As a result make sure to arrive at the popular surf fishing locations early or else you'll be stuck at a less than desirable spot. What’s all the hype about? A multitude of factors contribute when speaking on what’s special about winter surf fishing in Florida. Firstly, as mentioned previously, the outstanding weather Florida winters provide make for a great excuse to hit the beach. Secondly the surf fishing can be outstanding with big catches of pompano, whiting, black drum and bluefish. For instance, a good report of pompano catches contains the propensity to create a stampede of surf fishing anglers. Anglers looking to lay claim are worked into a frenzy by way of reading public forums and visiting their local bait shops. In order to beat the herds and be in front of the bite make sure to be consistent and do one’s homework when partaking in this local fishery. For one, choose days that suit your level of fishing experience. Beginners should look for days that have less than 15mph wind and three feet or less of swell. Local weather forecasting websites will assist you in dictating what days will be suited best. If you’re ever unsure or need some direction on weather, equipment, or where to go, feel free to contact us with the information below. Next you'll need the appropriate surf fishing rigs and bait in order to receive a higher probability of success. Surf fishing rods in the 11-12ft range are my personal favorite for long cast and backbone for heavier rigs. Paired with surf fishing reels in the 5000-8000 series. These reels make for the perfect combo to have enough line capacity to cast far and reel in the big one. Finally, use pompano rigs that contain a combination of floats and beads to maximize your efforts. Top baits of choice for winter surf fishing in this order are sand fleas, clams, shrimp and crab knuckles. Be advised we personally pair all these baits with Fishbites products in a range of flavors and colors. Not to mention one particular bait may work better on particular days or weeks. That’s why it’s always advisable to have a variety of baits on hand and pay attention to what's working best. Now that you’re rigged and ready it's time to hit the beach! Look for outflows, rip currents, clean water and bird activity in order to choose the best spot. Furthermore be sure to work multiple zones of the surf by casting different distances from the shore. This ensures you to cover all your bases and make sure not to miss fish that may be closer in or further from the shore. Expect to catch the prized Florida pompano, whiting, black drum, bluefish, and jack crevalle. While it’s worth mentioning these are the majority of fish species you can expect to catch frequently, there's many more that can be present at any given time. I recommend you fish as often as you can. This way you stay up on the bite and you’ll be the one writing the good fishing reports versus chasing old information on the public forums.

Space Coast Surf Fishing December Forecast - Pompano Fishing Mania December marks the initial phase of winter time surf fishing on the Central East Coast of Florida. The dog days of summer morphed through the fall season to transition into winter weather patterns. Cooling water temperatures bring with it an entire new cast of species perusing local area beaches from Cocoa Beach south to Sebastian Inlet. Pompano, whiting, bluefish, black drum and ladyfish to name a few. Surf fishing Cocoa Beach during December marks the peak season months to pursue pompano. Crisp breezes sweep over the cool sand. Nostalgic smells indicate the weather laying the foundation for what we know are prime Pompano fishing days. The days of remembering record catches in ideal conditions has everyone for their first big pompano catch of the season. For these reasons there will be plenty of surf fishing anglers out in numbers looking to strike it big! Surf Fishing Pillars To Success The keys to successfully catching pompano while surf fishing in Brevard County consist in the pillars of surf fishing. Water temperatures, water clarity and beach contours. First and foremost the water temperature. Ideally when the ocean water drops below 75 degrees is when we start to see a real push. Pompano running south from north Florida will stage in the area as long as the food is present. This migration is entirely driven by water temperatures and that’s one reason it’s vulnerable to deviate year in and year out. Secondarily, the water clarity influences which beaches and how far from the shore migratory pompano roam. Because of this, it’s worth doing your due diligence. Find areas that hold the emerald green waters along with the tropical blue shades. Pompano particularly feed by sight so these areas will provide the highest probability of success. Look for varied wind patterns to clean or dirty the waters. Traditionally northern winds clean the water up and offshore winds dirty the water. Due in part to the region wide “sand renourishment”. With the continued dumping of dirt and clay on the regional beaches there’s no end in sight to the negative effects we continue to experience. State and local agencies have made it an annual priority to import and dump this muck on the shores. In turn, crustaceans like sandfleas have disappeared and the reefs are being suffocated. Currently the dumping looks to begin right in the height of our initial pompano run November they January and into March. This will effect not only the water clarity but also the contours of each beach as the new dirt is shifted around with each wave. How to catch pompano surf fishing Pompano targeting tactics vary slightly but largely remain consistent throughout the state. Pompano rigs with multicolored floats and beads makeup the majority of what experienced surf fisherman employ. Furthermore the top baits for pompano fishing the surf are Fishbites, sandfleas, fresh clams, and peeled shrimp. Work the pompano rigs in a varied pattern. Meaning cast some fat out past the sandbar as well as working the inner troughs. Covering all the basis helps to focus on where the fish are feeding primarily. Whiting, Black Drum, and Spanish Mackerel - Winter Surf Fishing Species Along with the craze of the infamous pompano run don’t overlook delicious table fare species. Bycatch of pompano fishing can result with great catches of whiting, black drum, Spanish mackerel and even Permit. Knowing this leaves each tug of the line with a pleasant surprise of what might be at the other end. So be sure to include all the regulations and know before you go which species can be retained and legal limit sizes. Tis the season for great conditions to hit the beach and catch up the premium species.

Cocoa Beach Surf Fishing Conditions - Species On Tap Space Coast fishing looks to deliver mixed results for surf fishing anglers. With a plethora of species on tap it’s no wonder there’s no telling what each day may hold. Everything from jack crevalle, ladyfish, bluefish, pompano, catfish, black drum, margates, tarpon and sharks can be expected. Furthermore the water clarity holds the key for what probability any given species bites. Look for water conditions that hold green and blue shades for best results. This in turn increases the chances for sight feeding fish like ladyfish, bluefish, pompano and jack crevalle. But the windows may be short lived with each shift in the wind direction combined with sea conditions. Lastly we’ve began to see seaweed inundate certain beaches which makes the challenges of sustaining prime soaking time for target species. Brevard County Surf Fishing Species Targeting Tactics Species targeting tactics for the above mentioned species vary considerably. For the most universal approach to acquire a wide range of species the standard pompano rig remains the go to surf fishing rig. Pompano rigs baited with Fishbites combined with peeled shrimp, sand fleas, and clam strips have provided steady action. Everything from pompano, jack crevalle, bluefish, ladyfish and black drum can be expected catches when employing this beach fishing setup. Big Game Beach Fishing Surf fishing anglers targeting big game species such as tarpon, snook, and sharks require an entirely different approach. Big baits rigged live or dead will entice these predatory species to bite. Fish finder rigs or knocker rigs with a 4/0-7/0 circle hook and worked in the first or second trough will provide best results. In addition, I always recommend casting a swim bait or plug while the bigger live or dead baits soak. By doing so this ensures your covering all basis. Surf Fishing Forecast Looking forward to the following weeks we see changes on the horizon. Cooling temperatures will in turn cause the waters to shift from summer/ early fall conditions to winter surf fisheries. Meaning the much anticipated winter pompano run as well as schools of bluefish and whiting. Keep your eye on the ocean temperatures as each cold front will shift the fishery. The time of year when one can expect increased numbers of surf fisherman all in pursuit of the prized pompano.

September Surf Fishing Report September turned in a variety of catches surf fishing the Space Coast. Black drum, pompano, margate, palometas and snook recognize the main cast of characters. While the conditions weren’t always ideal, the time spent understanding the varying scenarios helped improve on the consistency of catching. Cleaner water and cooling temperatures are something that will invigorate the bite to the next level. Mullet Run Madness The mullet run has officially kicked off!! Early mornings and evenings are producing the best results for big snook. Look for birds crashing to illustrate the major feeding frenzies. Furthermore, walk the beach with a casting plug or swim bait to target the first and second trough. Remember not to retrieve to quickly when approaching the shore. Often times snook will hit directly at your feet in ankle high waters. Be sure to remain patient and creat action for the entirety of the retrieve. Tarpon Fishing The Surf In addition to the snook bite, there’s tarpon and bluefish in the mix as well. Live bait seems to be the key for getting the tarpon too bite. High tide combined with low light conditions will yield the best results. Not to mention there’s plenty of sharks mixed in. Don’t extend the fight longer then needed, as you risk losing your catch to an opportunistic shark. Black Drum Hitting The Shores We have been catching black drum in the first trough, along with margate, pompano, palometas. Water has not been very clean in august or the beginning of september. Fresh peeled shrimp continue the be the hot bait for targeting black drum at high tide. Furthermore the sandflea resurgence continues as we’re still seeing them in the surf. are still around. October Surf Fishing Forecast What’s with this weather? That can be the deliberation for surf fisherman during the month of October. Based on the winds and sea conditions the patterns began to become inconsistent compared to the summer months. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. For one it really fires up the movement of the fall mullet run. Furthermore it depicts a changing of the guard as we see different species pulse in with the changing water temperatures. So where does that leave the everyday surf fisherman? Flexibility is key for the month of October in terms of surf fishing the Space Coast. One day you could target snook, flounder and tarpon in the first trough. The next day possibly looking for black drum, pompano or bluefish using pompano rigs. Based on the conditions will dictate how each day or week should be approached. Leading me right into what conditions to look for in terms of how to most effectively spend your time surf fishing. Three variables that are the utmost important factors to consider when surf fishing. Water clarity, water temperature and sea conditions. Observations of these variables listed above, will result in the particular approach leading to the highest probability of success. For example, high winds and dirty water would lead me to live baiting or casting lures in the trough for snook, tarpon and flounder. As opposed to calm seas and clean water. These conditions would lead me to implementing a multiple rod setup. Consisting of live bait, pompano rigs with Fishbites and sand fleas, in addition a casting rod to work the shoreline. By making use of the diversified setups leads to increased opportunities to catch a large variety in short order. Pay special attention to the water temperatures! First of all, late October marks the early signs of our Space Coast pompano run. When the water temperatures begin to reach the mid to low 70’s you can bet those fish are already on the way if not already having reached to northern regions of Brevard County. Experienced surf fishing anglers privy to their homework will be ready for the prized pompano inbound. Nonetheless have your tackle ready for the opportunity as we know sometimes they can be short lived when a bite is hot. Fish multiple areas looking for those early signs of the pompano run and you just might strike gold early. Lastly the shark fishing will continue to be nothing short of phenomenal. Due to an all out assault of baitfish and predators in the water it’s peak season for shark activity. Space Coast Shark fishing charters make for a great way to make a memory and catch an apex sport fish. With the acrobatic jumps to boot and the speed to thrill it’s a one stop shop for a family fishing highlight. In conclusion, October highlights a changing of the guard and a wide array of species on tap. So grab your surf fishing gear and hit the beaches for fun in the sun.

Summertime Beach Fishing In Florida First and foremost it looks like the dreaded seaweed masses have arrived on local beaches. Fishing the beach in areas from Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Melbourne Beach and Sebastian Inlet are being affected. Based on the offshore waters and reports from recreational boat fisherman, there’s a whole lot more on the way. Don’t be too discourage by this daunting task though. Below we’ll give you some tips and ideas to make the best of what the current surf fishing conditions hold. Beach Pompano Fishing In the Summer As mentioned in previous reports and forecasts, there are residential pompano that stay in local waters year round. These pompano can be targeted year round, including summertime on Florida’s Space Coast. The key to finding these fish will be water clarity and depth changes. Use the calm days when the ocean has clarity to identify areas where there’s troughs and runouts. In addition, target these areas with pompano rigs, Fishbites and fresh bait. Shrimp, sandfleas and clam are ideal options when tipping your pompano rig. Surf Fishing Conditions: Seaweed The seaweed that was forecasted to arrive has finally made a big push. Meaning surf fishing conditions look to be extremely difficult for the foreseeable future. South of Sebastian Inlet will have opportunities at times when you really want to get a line wet. The seaweed conditions won’t be for the faint of heart. Despite that, relentless effort, cleaning lines and re-rigging will be what’s in store for those willing. Snook fishing is another option that heats up in the summer months. Surf fishing in Brevard county has world class snook fishing from June through September. Albeit the challenges presented by the seaweed will be enough to deter most. High tide generally holds better opportunities for a break in the seaweed and snook fishing the first trough. Live bait including mullet, croakers, and pinfish fished with or without a weight are extremely productive. Shark Fishing Space Coast Depending on the presence of bait and predatory fish, one can expect the shark fishing to be outstanding these next couple months. Early mornings and evening time when the temperatures cool will have a large effect. Chunked bait and live bait make for a recipe for success. Use shark casting rigs with the ability to target the second trough and beyond. Furthermore don’t be surprised if your snook rod gets a bite from sharks patrolling the first trough.

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. 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 the cleaner water will continue to hold the keys for 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. 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 heavier leader. 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 **hidden content**.