Happy New Year 2014 and welcome to the outstanding surf fishing that the New Year offers on our Space Coast Beaches. This is the time of the year that brings new challenges to the surf angler in the form of cold fronts and northeast winds. The cold fronts are one thing but, the northeast winds can bring havoc to an otherwise nice fishing beach. With sea conditions hard to predict and larger waves pushed into shore by northeast winds, picking your day and time to fish can be a real task. But, during all that, surf anglers willing to make the extra effort can be rewarded. Pompano, whiting and bluefish are the winter staple and here in abundance for the angler willing to brave some chilly mornings and rough sea conditions. So bundle up and head out early to catch your first Florida pompano of the New Year.
Sand fleas are the prime bait for the pompano and always my first choice. Clams and shrimp follow as far as bait goes for whiting, drum and bonnethead sharks. Bluefish are ravenous eaters and will eat just about anything but, dearly love a chunk of finger mullet. So with the right baits and some favorable sea conditions anything is possible and generally happens during January.
If the bluefish are running there is no better beach sport than catching them on a single hook/lure rig in the surf. Casting rods (8-10 Ft) and gator spoons with treble hooks can be deadly in the surf. Anglers can also fish with live or chunked finger mullet and if they hook into an 18-20 inch bluefish they’re in for a real treat.
Coming in January – Surf Fishing Workshops:
Back by popular demand, Capt. Rodney Smith and I will be hosting a number of Surf Fishing Workshops.
We will kick off the 2014 season 8 January in Daytona Beach at the Sunglow Pier. The program starts at 09:00 AM and concludes at 1:00 PM.
This clinic is for all anglers wanting to improve their surf/pier fishing experience/ skills. As an added bonus those attending the workshop will receive a surf fishing tackle package with our compliments. Don’t miss out, early registration guaranties you a spot at the workshop. For more information and registration please call John Detmer at 321-777-5554 or email jdetmer1@att.net.
January 15 we are in Vero Beach with the Vero Beach Community Center at their Bethel Creek House from 9-1PM.
The information presented in this clinic is the same as that presented above including the sponsor tackle package for all who participate. Pre-registration is required, call the Vero Beach Community Center at 772- 770- 6517 or email; covb.org, on the left of the main web page click on Forms, then click on Recreation Department under Recreating Department Forms look for Surf Fishing.
February 5 we are back home in Satellite Beach, from 9-1PM at Satellite Beaches “Pelican Beach Clubhouse.”
This is another full four hour surf fishing workshop that we are sure will be all the angler expects and more. All participants will receive surf fishing tackle package compliments of our local sponsors. Early registration guaranties you a spot at the workshop. For more information and registration please call me at 321-777-5554 or email jdetmer1@att.net.
A portion of the proceeds from these events will be donated to the Anglers for Conservation’s Hook Kids on Fishing Programs.
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