BREVARD SURF FISHING

SURF FISHING FLORIDA’S SPACE COAST

LATEST SURF FISHING REPORTS

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Pomp, Whiting, Blues, Spanish Mack
March 24, 2024

Pomp, Whiting, Blues, Spanish Mack

cocoa beach surf fishing

The fishing in the Volusia County area has been pretty hot, with pompano, whiting, bluefish and Spanish mackerel being the main bite.

Getting out early and fishing thru the tide changes has been the best times. As far as baits live fleas, fresh dead shrimp, with fishbites and fish gum on a standard single r double drop rig with enough weight to hold in the current.

For those that enjoy throwing artificial plugs for bluefish and Spanish top water poppers and pencil plugs early while the conditions are flat and calm, and as the sun gets up and the bait pods start getting pushed switch to your silver spoons an match the hatch of mullet and glass minnows.
While out keep a close watch for rays working close to the beach for the shot at a cobia that might be with them.

by Byran Taylor
Southern Bred Fishing Charters | (386) 216-8025

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Find Your Spot and the Fish Will Come
March 18, 2024

Find Your Spot and the Fish Will Come

surf fishing report

March is here, and it’s like the sea and the sky are finally waking up after a long nap, showing off their true colors. The weather’s been pretty sweet, a bit of a mix, but overall, it’s making the waters inviting for our finned friends. And guess what? The fish seem to agree! With the water getting a touch warmer and the winds deciding to take a chill pill, we’ve seen quite a show. Some of us had our lines buzzing with activity, while others played the patience game, hoping for that rewarding catch. The week’s VIPs? The feisty bluefish, the hefty whiting, and the ever-elusive pompano, snagging the spotlight as the prized catches.

Now, onto the million-dollar question that’s been buzzing around: “Where’s the magic spot to fish along the beach?” Here’s a little secret – it’s all about finding those sneaky washouts, or as most folks call them, “rip currents.” Yep, the same spots those beach signs warn us about, jokingly saying they’ll whisk you away to Africa! But here’s the twist: those are the gold mines for fishing. But, you gotta play detective a bit. The best time to spot a promising fishing haven is during low tide. Look for those tide pools when the tide’s taking a breather. It’s a bit of legwork, strolling along the beach at low tide, but it’s worth it when you uncover those hidden troughs and pools. Just remember, these spots like to move around with the wind and currents, so keep your spirits up if you have to search a bit.

Now, let’s chat about what’s been happening fish-wise. Bluefish are still stealing the show, having a ball with pompano rigs breaking us off……. and we’ve also seen some nice-sized whiting, along with small black drum hanging around the Canaveral and Cocoa Beach areas. As for bait, bluefish have been going crazy for cut finger mullet, while the other catches have been loving the classic pompano rig, armed with either a live sand flea or a chunk of frozen shrimp. And don’t stress about the color of your attractant floats – seems like the fish aren’t too picky about fashion. Target those first or second troughs; they’re the hot spots as the water warms up.

Stop by the shop whenever for up to date reports! Tight lines everyone

by Nik Kaldor
Cocoa Beach Fishing Center | (321) 783-3477

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Fish Starting to Feed Again
March 11, 2024

Fish Starting to Feed Again

surf fishing report
Well, the fish finally emerged from their slumber. The water warmed up slightly, and so did the bite! Hopefully, this trend continues throughout the month. We experienced a significant temperature spike to 68-71 degrees along the Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach shorelines. The winds weren’t as strong as usual, allowing for a bit more water clarity than normal. We would certainly like to see some clean, green waters. However, the upcoming winds, blowing from the east and southeast directions this week until the weekend, might hinder the cleanup.

Regarding fish, there has been an abundance of smaller fish caught, along with some decent-sized fish suitable for eating. We’ve received mixed reports from our customers on catch ratios, but black drum, pompano, and bluefish have been the most prevalent, among others. Even sharks have started biting along the shorelines.

As for rigs, a standard pompano rig with pink, sunset, and green floats has yielded the most bites. Pair them with some Fishbites matching the color of your chosen floats, along with some frozen shrimp pieces or clams, and you’re all set.

People have begun fishing in the close-in troughs again, fighting the strong current to catch their fish.

Regarding weights to keep the bait in place, there has been a lot of debate over pyramid and sputnik weights due to the current and individual fishing preferences. Anglers have been using 4-5 oz pyramids and some 2-4 oz sputniks. If you want our personal insights, feel free to stop by the shop, and we can discuss.

As always, tight lines and talk to you all next week!

by Nik Kaldor
Cocoa Beach Fishing Center | (321) 783-3477

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Think Like a Fish
March 4, 2024

Think Like a Fish

surf fishing report

The brutality of slow fishing has abated, and we have returned to cold water fishing. This past week proved to be more promising than the week before. We had to change a few techniques to secure the good bites, but overall, it wasn’t a horrible week for most.

Numerous small fish were caught this week, along with a couple of decent catches of black drum and pompano. The key difference between the small bites and the larger ones was the distance of the casts. Those cast far out past the sandbars landed the sought-after fish, while the close troughs mostly held small fish. Frozen shrimp pieces and clam pieces were the preferred bait for the fish and will likely continue to be throughout March. Live sand fleas caught some fish, but the bite was slow. If you’re patient, having sand fleas in your cooler is essential, as they can produce nicer, more cherished fish despite the slower bite at the beach.

The standard pompano or Carolina-style rig with a triangle weight of 3oz to 5oz were the most productive setups. Orange and pink floats were popular items at our shop this week, giving you something to consider before your next outing. Fishing outgoing tides and targeting washouts were essential for getting bites. Be prepared for cold wading and casting, so bring your heavy-duty gear.

Talk to you all next week, and feel free to stop by the shop anytime. Tight Lines!

by Nik Kaldor
Cocoa Beach Fishing Center | (321) 783-3477

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Cold and Chilly Fishing
February 26, 2024

Cold and Chilly Fishing

bluefish surf fishing

This week has been brutal for fishing off the beach; the water has gotten really cold, and the fish do not like it at all. Finding the warmer breaks in the surf has produced some fish, but many are smaller ones. Jacks, small black drum, croakers, and spots have been reported this week. The bright moon phase has not helped either.

Frozen shrimp, live sand fleas, and clam have been the best baits this past week and likely will continue to be so this week as well. Standard pompano rigs have once again been getting the most bites. Just be sure the hooks are smaller, in the #2 or #1 size, to catch the smaller fish if you’re looking to do so.

One note I would like to add this week about the pompano rigs is the choice of weight has certainly played a role in hookups. The sputnik weights have negatively affected the hookup ratio of fish, and the opposite can be said for the triangles. People have been catching more fish with triangle leads. This is probably due to the smaller fish size and the fact that the rigs are ripping out of their mouths due to the sputniks’ outstanding sand-holding abilities.

That’s all I’ve got for y’all this week; not much more to talk about. We just gotta wait for some warmer waters to turn the fish on again for us! Tight lines.

by Nik Kaldor
Cocoa Beach Fishing Center | (321) 783-3477

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Surf Fishing Hot Spots This Week
February 19, 2024

Surf Fishing Hot Spots This Week

drum and sheepshead

I’ll dive straight into this report: Cape Canaveral and the northern beaches of Cocoa Beach have been teeming with the highest quality fish I’ve seen in the past week. It’s been quite remarkable, especially when compared to the catches from Melbourne and Sebastian beaches.

Somehow, the tide, currents, and winds have sculpted an impressive trough that’s been a hotbed for fish. And we’re not talking about just any small fish, but the kind that are worth bragging about! From black drum to redfish, pompano, and big bluefish, the variety is stunning. While I can’t guarantee catches, after all, it’s fishing, the chances of landing a substantial meal seem higher along the northern shores of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach right now. Standard pompano rigs with triangle leads have been particularly effective. In terms of colors, pink and sand flea hues have been most successful. Do not forget your Fishbites in the Electric Chicken shrimp color; the fish have been choosy, so ensuring you have the correct tackle and bait is crucial.

The water temperature has risen slightly to around 65-69 degrees on most beaches, which should, in turn, stimulate the bite across the board. We’re looking at predominantly west winds this week, with mild air temperatures and a pleasant swell, except for Tuesday night through Wednesday evening. The trough should remain deeper along the Canaveral area and Cocoa Beach, so giving it a try won’t hurt. After all, you’ve got to find the fish, right? Stick to the basics of locating washouts and areas where calm and turbulent waters meet.

I’ve been fine-tuning my approach to fishing these past couple of weeks, so stop by the shop to discover what I’ve learned. Tight lines, and have a fantastic week!

by Nik Kaldor
Cocoa Beach Fishing Center | (321) 783-3477

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
The Mysterious Blue Monsters
February 12, 2024

The Mysterious Blue Monsters

monster bluefish

Photo credit: CheckMate Fishing Charters, Capt. Nate Brady

Kicking off with the classic, ‘It’s called fishing, not catching,’ right? This past week was a tad on the slower side but didn’t skimp on the excitement with some monstrous bluefish giving anglers a run for their money. Besides these behemoths, we saw a nice mix of table-ready black drum, pompano, and whiting, not to mention a bunch of smaller catches keeping things interesting.

The surf threw us some curveballs with a few rough days and less-than-crystal waters influencing the game. Looking ahead, though, we’ve got a mixed bag of winds on the forecast. The silver lining? The surf’s expected to mellow out by Tuesday, making for some prime fishing conditions. The outgoing tide has been a friend to many, spotlighting the first troughs and washouts as hotspots.

For those on the hunt for a giant bluefish, fresh or frozen finger mullet chunks on a wire sliding sinker rig have been the ticket. As for the rest of the catch, sand fleas, clams, and frozen shrimp are the way to go. The standard pompano rigs, paired with a 2-4 oz sputnik, have been a hit, but this week you might want to lean towards standard triangle leads, 3-5 oz, to keep in stride with the conditions. Might just get a better hookup rate hint hint.

Let’s talk bait – Fishbite’s Electric Chicken shrimp bites are like gold; for reasons unknown, fish can’t resist them. If they’re sold out at your local shop, pink shrimp or chartreuse shrimp colors are solid backups.

That’s the scoop for this week. Swing by the shop if you’re in the area; we’d love to talk fishing we breathe it. And as always, tight lines!

by Nik Kaldor
Cocoa Beach Fishing Center | (321) 783-3477

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Pompano, and Snook Season
February 5, 2024

Pompano, and Snook Season

pompano season

Another week has gone by, and the reports have all been pretty decent, featuring black drum, pompano, and whiting. Oh, and we can’t forget the thousands of jacks out there. The water cleared up a bit in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral, allowing for quicker bites. I’ve noticed that the fish have been biting best at the turn of the tides, particularly on sand fleas and shrimp. Fishing close to the shore in the first trough has yielded the most fish. Even some snook have been caught in just a foot of water.

Some anglers have switched to using Carolina-style rigs with a 3-4 oz triangle weight. Using a standard pompano rig hasn’t been a bad idea either. Favorite float colors have been watermelon, pink/white, and orange.

Snook season is now open, and some of my customers have caught some nice snook in the first trough, as mentioned above. Casting Bomber’s, Hogy, NLBN, and R&R slidebaits along the beach will produce the most bites. DON’T forget the trusty 1-2 oz silver or gold spoon; they’re always the old-fashioned style of lure to use.

This week’s weather doesn’t look too nice, but later in the week, it seems to calm back down. I would also like to let everyone know that we are currently going through a name change process. We are now the Cocoa Beach Fishing Center and retiring the Fishing and Diving Center. Same great people with a new name! Looking forward to seeing y’all at the shop as always. Tight lines!

by Nik Kaldor
Cocoa Beach Fishing Center | (321) 783-3477

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
The Fish are Here
January 30, 2024

The Fish are Here

Hey everybody, it’s been a while since my last report, but I’m here and happy to say the fish are here — but it’s up to us to find them. Over the last few days that I’ve fished there’s a couple things I noticed that I’m going to point out.

1st. We have a sand renourishment and restoration project up and down the coast from South Cocoa Beach down to Sebastian Inlet. This has affected some areas more than others so don’t be afraid to check a couple of beaches for that clean water. We saw an influx of dirty olive brown colored water with the South winds that showed up, which made conditions challenging to fish but, if you didn’t mind weeding through a few Catfish there were lots of fish to be caught.

2nd. What’s in the surf? We’ve been catching Pompano, Bluefish, Whiting, Black Drum, Croaker, Bonnethead Sharks, Jack Crevalle, Crabs, and of course Catfish. All fish are caught on Pompano Rich (pompanorich.net) surfari and Pomp Hunter rigs with peeled shrimp or live sand fleas tipped with Fish Gum. I like to try different offerings on different hooks and rigs, for example one rig will have peeled shrimp on both hooks but only Fish Gum on the bottom hook. Experimenting is your best friend when it comes to fishing in difficult conditions.

3rd. The Fish We’re All After. POMPANO. We’ve seen lots of mixed reports, while some folks get skunked, we’re seeing reports of some anglers crushing it. Take that for what you will. The most important thing to consider when looking for these fish this season is to find clean water. Look for your sandbars, holes and run outs and start planning out your spread.

All in all there’s lots of fun to be had if you get out there, don’t be dismayed if you find yourself on a dead bite. There’s a time and place for everyone. Good luck!

by Shasta Sirju
EastSide Surf Fishing | (321) 872-5814

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Pompano and Bonnethead Party
January 29, 2024

Pompano and Bonnethead Party

cocoa beach surf fishing

This week should go down in history as “Bonnethead Week,” haha. Every customer in our shop expressed that they caught a baby bonnethead this week. The past week featured milky water with an occasional pompano, keeper-size black drum, and some forearm-size whiting. It wasn’t by any means “on fire” fishing. The past week was a test of whether you had the patience to actually fish.

The warm weather was a treat this past week, but look who’s back: cold weather. It’s a blessing and a curse this week. We get blessed with mild west winds but can’t wear our shorts and tee shirts! The good old stoic saying, “It is what it is, carry on.” We can’t have good conditions all the time.

On to the fishing report; that’s why I’m here. The fishing has been sporadic all over the beaches. Mixed reports from customers this week have made it hard to convey that certain areas have been producing more than others.

In Cape Canaveral, we have seen a few keeper pompano, even some limits. Cocoa Beach has produced some giant bluefish along with whiting, black drum, and schools of small jacks.

Pompano rigs have been the “go-to,” like always; even the bonnethead sharks like them. Pink, green, and watermelon floats have shown to be the best in these dirty water conditions. The current hasn’t been too bad, so a 3-5 oz triangle lead is enough. Sand fleas, frozen shrimp pieces, and clams have been getting the fishes’ attention.

Tight lines, see you next week, and feel free to stop at the shop for a daily fish report.

by Nik Kaldor
Cocoa Beach Fishing Center | (321) 783-3477

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