Surf Fishing

By John Detmer

Jon Hardy caught this three foot bonnethead shark in the trough, on a heavy duty 6-0 circle hook with wire leader and a large chunk of mullet.

With the arrival of the summer months we surf anglers will have to make a few concessions while fishing the beach.

School is out and families/visitors will flood the public beaches daily to swim, sun, jog or just stroll. There will be a great many people on the beach and the surf angler will have to adjust to the added humanity. Below are some of my summer time surf fishing survival tactics for the recreational and avid surf angler.

One: Fish the small beaches not the large public ones.

Two: Go fishing before the sun is up and be prepared to leave the beach before 10 am.

Three: Watch out for individuals in front and behind you while casting and/or retrieving your tackle.

Four: Don’t get to close to the posted life guard areas. This is where the families/visitors go first.

Five: Keep your eyes open to who and what is around you. If you feel cramped it’s time to move.

Six: Don’t even think of going surf fishing on Saturday or Sunday. The beaches are just too congested.

Seven: I suggest that you fish from 6 to 9 pm on any summer evening. You will find the beaches are cooler at that time of the day. So, if you want to beat the summer morning heat, crowds or you work during the day the evening hours are a prime time to fish.

See you on the Beach.

John Detmer
Owner/Operator of J&H Surf Fishing the Space Coast
321-777-5554 or email
jandhsurffishing1@att.net
www.jandhsurffishing.com