By Marco Pompano, Surf Fishing Guide
I had surf fishers from South Africa, Turkey, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, and U.S. states like Georgia, Michigan, New York, and North Carolina. Come from all over the place to surf fish with me on the beach in Wilbur by the Sea (Florida) this month. It’s the end of our season, with the pompano leaving, the water warming up, and these people, from all points of the compass, showed up to try surf fishing.
Needless to say, the dwindling fish made me very nervous. I am always hoping to get these people some fish, because there’s nowhere on the beach to hide when you don’t catch. My mind is blown by all these people showing up in little Wilbur By the Sea and believe me when I tell you they all have a great time here.
We caught fish! Most of them took fillets home. Pompano, whiting and black drum. Things are turning very international! Ya, mon!
Most people had a few skills for fishing, but the beach is different. The poles are longer. You need to cast far and accurately. They learn how to bait, hook the correct way, use the drag, shut the bail, and reel them in, also. I show them the little crazy dance I do when I catch a fish, but they could do their own moves.
Right now it’s pretty slow. There’s an upwelling in the ocean. This is a phenomenon that happens when the water starts to warm up. All of a sudden you get a surge of bottom cold water, the warm water gets pushed down by the plankton, making the cold water from the bottom reach the top, which turns the water 15° colder, from 80° down to 60° to 70°. Brrr! Setting up this morning with four poles. The sand fleas are out in full force: five minutes and I’ve got enough for the day. I use my sand flea rake, though some people scoop them by hand. Still cutting up a few crab knuckles, just in case a big permit shows up. But mostly, I’m using sand fleas, and they’re working great this morning.
I’ve got a group from nearby Orlando here to surf fish. They don’t know much yet, but I’m gonna fix them up good. I set up four poles: anyone that gets a bite is theirs. Right now, something’s tap, tap, tapping on the one all the way at the end (as usual). I’ve got a father, son, and grandfather with me today, and they’re champing at the bit. They didn’t have to wait long.
One of my students grabs the pole and yanks back hard like it’s National Geographic, exactly what you shouldn’t do. My hooks are self-setting; no need to horse the rod, just reel and it hooks itself.
Just as the old drum sets in, my left-hand rod with the crab knuckles goes off. Nice hit! It’s starting to Bamba: All on board!
I send one of my trusted students, and he reels in a beautiful, 15-inch, to-the-tail pompano. Ya, mon!
