By Marco Pompano, Surf Fishing Guide
As George Costanza said, “The sea was angry that day, my friends!” Setting up my fishing poles, wondering what’s the matter with me. Ya, mon! It still turns cold and windy every other day and today’s no different. Even with the big wind, it’s still sort of fishable. The current isn’t so bad. I’m holding the bottom with 3 and up to 5-ounce weights. I always give thanks to the Sinker Guy. Two of my fishing poles have sand fleas and two have live crab knuckles.
It’s springtime. The fish should be here. As I’m thinking this, something’s nibbling my line. I’ll just hold it to make sure. Through the chopping waves, a tremendous tug on the line snapped me out of my trance. The reel is on fire, spinning. Stopping and going again, I’m not tightening up the drag yet. I’ll wait. After 10 minutes, whatever it is, it’s on the bottom and holding on. It may be a stingray or a nice black drum. As luck would have it, I get a good look: The black drum is coming in, and it rolls onto the beach. A real stud, a big ugly. I’ll put this one back.
Every other day, a front rolls in and brings a strong undertow at high tide, making it impossible to fish. But today, despite the same conditions, my fishing rods are telling a different story. Right now, my far pole is getting that familiar tap… tap… tap… and as I’m running toward it my first pole goes off. I’ll put that one on hold till I reel in this other one. Zig zagging again, I reel it in quick and nice. Pompano on the other rod! This one’s got some heft to it. It’s running, swimming straight in. Got it! Pompano number two. Ya, mon!
The water is now 70°, which means only one thing: the Pompano should stick around for awhile. They like it between 65 and 80°. Even with it being hit and miss every other day, it’s so worth it to be out here getting great exercise and breathing the pure air coming right off the ocean. I always remind people that surf fishing is a core exercise: Bending, pulling, running, reeling, casting. And of course, my favorite: filleting. As the sun starts to set, the fish aren’t biting. Right now, we’ll put on some nice reggae music and wind down. And of course, me and these fish are heading to the smoker.
