With another stellar weather week and productive surf fishing over a beautiful holiday break how can one complain. Surf fishing anglers here in Brevard County hit the beaches in numbers catching whiting, bluefish, mackerel, black drum and sharks. There was also the accidental mana ray hookup as they’ve been perusing the shoreline as well. Warm weather, calm seas and crystal clear skies produced epic beach days for family and friends to get out and try their luck at surf fishing.
While the pompano fishing here along the Space Coast has definitely taken a breather from the earlier part of December, they’re still out there and catches are happening. The only thing is you have to really invest the time and weed through the bycatch of small pompano and little jack crevalle as well. If you’re willing to dedicate the time and effort, the rewards could be a nice whole baked pompano for supper! Pompano rigs with live sand fleas, fresh cut shrimp, clams and Fishbites remain the ticket for bringing home these silver delicacies.
Bear in mind the ups and downs of the pompano fishery in our region now can be frustrating so it’s recommended to also engage in the other fisheries that are producing at a higher frequency. For example, the bluefish and mackerel bite continues to thrive. Simply look out at the waters from the shore and you can see life teeming and boiling on the surface especially at first light. Setup with fresh chunked bait cut in steaks, cubes or strips and cast into the schools. Steadily retrieve these dead baits or have them sit and soak with a green or orange float. You’ll be reeling ‘em in like nobody’s business, until the sun and heat that have a tendency to shut it down mid to late morning.
Black drum, pompano and whiting continue to be caught in the dirtier waters in Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach and Patrick Space Force Base. Fishbites in the pink shrimp flavor and chartreuse clam have been the hot ticket over the previous week. Match those Fishbites with the above- mentioned baits and fish a couple rods very close to shore and another couple as far out as you can cast. It may surprise you that a lot of black drum and other fish have been caught right at the shore edge, or very close to the beach, while some of the bigger roaming pompano are way out.
All in all it’s been a quite diversified week with catches scattered across the board for table fare fish or fish that didn’t make the measurements. Big and small have entertained us all but the Blacktip sharks continue to steal the show. Our beach shark fishing charters have had clients in pure disbelief with the rod bending, drag screaming adrenaline rush only these species can provide. Heck they’re even biting off fish hooked up to our pompano rigs so it’s a very sharky time out there currently. With all that being said, make sure to have the knowledge and confidence to handle these beautiful species with care. It’s too often we see unprepared anglers frolicking around wildly confused and disorganized, and it’s to the detriment of the shark. If you choose to partake in this fishery, put in the time to be properly prepared, organized and efficient. When these species are caught and released in a matter of seconds it ensures the best survival practices. Tight lines everyone!
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