Few tasks are more refreshing and rewarding than standing on the beach. Add a fishing pole or two, and the chances of catching a delicious and priceless meal, and this activity only becomes sweeter. For some of you the idea of surf fishing probably conjures up images of many different situations, depending on your perception and experience with beach fishing.
Maybe you imagine an aging, sun baked, angler standing next to his towering surf rods baited for pompano; poles positioned firmly in sand spikes setv deeply into a vacant beach; or a group of eager anglers wading in the crashing surf, shoulder-to-shoulder, casting to a blitz of bluefish and stripers feeding along the Outer Banks. The truth is, Florida surf fishing’s done in so many ways on so many different levels at so many different stretches of interesting beach that you could probably never imagine or believe how diverse this style of fishing has become in the past twenty years.
However, it really doesn’t matter so much as to what you think of surf fishing; what’s more important is if you haven’t tried it or never really experienced the many rewards, now’s the time to do so. So let’s take a look at the types of surf fishing, species and techniques one can utilize to catch these species from the surf.
Pick from several choices of surf fishing techniques including: casting artificial baits like a 1/4-to 1/2-oz. jig, spoon or lure from shore, wading or while paddling either from a canoe or kayak within a few hundred yards of the beach. This is an exciting way to target a gamet of gamefish ranging from bluefish and flounder to snook and tarpon. Replacing the spinning rod with a flyrod to cast a baitfish imitation fly adds to the fun and challenge; or perhaps you’d be interested in fishing the surf with a cane pole or a baitcaster.
Fishing for shark from the beach has certainly become more popular and productive since Florida’s 1995 net ban; shark catches from the surf have increased tenfold. Fishing from kayaks, small skiffs and canoes launched from the beach in search of tarpon, kingfish, cobia and sharks has recently grown in popularity There’s an army of anglers who chase nothing but snook in the surf and another group that target only pompano.
No matter what your fare the key is to just get out there. If you don’t know of any local beach access points open to fishing check with your local bait shops, they can give you directions and good advice. Also don’t forget your local piers, they offer great access to this fishery.
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