Cooler water and northeast winds will bring on the pompano, whiting, mackerel and bluefish. We are currently charging head on into the winter surf fishing season and one of the more exciting times for the surf angler.
You may ask me why I concern myself with the surf water temperature. Why does it matter if the water is colder or warmer on any given day, some fish will always be present. Yes that’s right but, which ones and how many will there be is the real question. The fisherman who knows the answer to the above questions has started on a transitional path leading from surf fisherman to becoming a surf angler. Knowing the surf water temperatures is one of those nuances that can help improve catches and the targeting for desired fish.
There is a great deal of information on the Internet that deals with water temperatures and saltwater fish. These charts are usually separated into four columns, one listing the fish, one showing the low end fish temperature (no good), one the ideal temperature range (best) and the last the high temperature range (no good). The idea being that one does not fish for a specific species of fish when the water is to cold or warn. Now if we know that pompano like an ideal water temperature of 70–82 degrees and the local surf water temperature is 67 degrees fishing for pompano that day was not the best choice. However, fishing for bluefish would have been because their ideal water temperature is 66 – 72 degrees.
Now before you write me, let’s all agree that this is not exact science but, guidelines that will assist an angler in picking the best beach and bait to catch the fish he/she is targeting. I can tell you first hand that spending four hours on the beach fishing with a bucket of live sand fleas and no pompano to show for it is no fun. Then later when I got home listening to the local weather channel announce that the water temperature was 65 degrees in the surf that day.
— I should have been fishing for blues with cut mullet.
I suggest that the surf angler check all available information before heading to the beach. Just like loading the car one needs to be sure all the fishing tackle has been packed. As for the surf water temperatures it’s as easy as turning on the NOAA radio weather forecast. This marine forecast gives the angler a great deal of information on waves, winds and sea conditions along with the current water temperatures along our coast. Finally, the NOAA forecast is repeated and updated throughout the day so when ever you go fishing you will be up to date.
Fishing nuances, water temperature is one of them and the surf angler should make the most of any advantage he/she can manage. Try the NOAA weather forecasts for starters and maybe it will help you improve you catch.
Forecast by: John Detmer: 20 year veteran Surf Angler on Brevard County Beaches. Owner/ Operator of J&H Surf Fishing the Space Coast. Contact John at 321-777-5554 or jdetmer@cfl.rr.com for information and charters.
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