pompano

Surf fishing in Central Florida has been impressive this past week. Up and down Brevard County beaches, 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.

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 halve 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 in the surf

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. Use a 40-60lb Fluorocarbon leader with a 4/0 to 6/0 circle attached (this is a MUST).

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.

pompano

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.

Prepare surf fishing equipment at home prior to the planned day so everything will be in order for success. Fishnites, 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!