By Capt. Cody Roesner
It was a tough summer of fishing in the surf. It started off with some of the best trout fishing I’ve seen in several years but, Mother Nature put an end to it overnight with a cold water upwelling in mid June that never really dissipated all summer long. Needless to say, I’m ready for Fall!
Some of the best fishing of the year anywhere can be found in the surf during the Fall season for many different reasons. It is the time of migration for many different species in the animal world. After the first strong cold front of the year, the finger mullet migration will begin when the water temp hits around 72 degrees. It may start and stop several times as the water temperature cools and warms back up again. Each time this happens, mullet will pour out of the bay and into the surf zone for their migration southward for the winter. A dark line sometimes five to six feet across will be right at the water’s edge where the mullet are traveling the surf. As most of you reading this probably know, when you are fishing, one of the things you look for is bait. It’s kind of a no brainer in the surf this time of year.
Many different predatory fish can be found feeding on the finger mullet. There’s one fish that can really start the day off right on a charter. Jack Crevalle, or as some of the old timers put it, the bar room brawler of the sea. Jacks can be found in large numbers and size right at the water’s edge blowing up these schools of bait. There’s nothing like driving down the beach at sun up and watching finger mullet jumping out of the surf and onto the beach to avoid these predators. It’s a hoot to hit the beach at first light on a charter and find jacks as soon as you hit the beach before the client even finishes their first cup of coffee. Jump out of the truck, hook up and hand them the rod before they even know what happened. Those unfamiliar with something that big and strong at the end of their line get a blast of adrenaline before the sun rises over the horizon. And that’s just the beginning.
Driving down the beach sight casting to fish or setting up on good structure can be productive all day during the Fall. A good throw of cast net and you will have plenty of bait for the day. Two finger mullet on a double drop leader can lead to a hook up on any number of species of fish. Large numbers of redfish up to and over 50 inches can be caught. Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel will also be present in good numbers feeding on the hoards of bait in the water. Here’s a tip. If you get into Bluefish and they are taking half of your finger mullet, leave the rest of it out there. Redfish will follow the schools of Blues and pick up the scraps they leave behind. Smaller sharks will also move into the surf zone during this time of year. Black Tip, Spinner and Bull sharks in the 4 to 5 foot range are also very common during this time of year in the first gut looking for an easy meal.
There is more than just the good fishing that makes the Fall season a great time to be down the beach. During the summer, the conditions on the beach can deteriorate as the sand gets soft and the weed and debris piles up on the beach. Driving can be brutal at times and the heat of the summer can take its toll on any man. A good cold front can remedy all of this very quickly. A strong Northeast wind pushes the water to the dunes following a cold front. When this happens, all the debris, dead weed, soft sand and deep tire ruts get pushed up to the dunes and the beach is wiped clean leaving behind the best driving conditions of the year. That being said, before heading south down PINS, knowing the weather forecast is a must. Being 45 miles down the beach and having a front roll through could lead to a long 24 hours of sitting on top of the dunes waiting for the water to recede.
The Fall is a great time to be down the beach. Cool temperatures, great driving and good fishing is tough to beat. Especially after a long, hot, grind it out summer of fishing. See you on the beach!
[easy-social-share]