J anuary was a good month for those who got out and braved the weather fronts. Pompano and black drum showed up with whiting and blues mixed in for a good run of surf fishing. Sand fleas were present on the beaches from Cocoa Beach to Sebastian Inlet. One day I watched a fellow catch a 5 gallon bucket of sand fleas in about 2 hours just by walking up and down the beach and catching them as he went along. There will come a time this winter when anglers will be willing to trade a good rod and reel for a cupful of sand fleas.
February will see northeast winds pushing colder temperatures and rougher surf conditions into our area. These conditions will force anglers to study the fine points of their individual angling abilities and make adjustment as required. The angler who puts in the time to know the tides, surf conditions, weather reports etcetera will be the angler who goes home with fish. I suggest live sand fleas and clams for pompano, sheepshead, whiting and black drum. Cut mullet can’t miss for the snapper blues in the surf. Try fishing a raising tide in the following two surf areas, the trough and either side of any sandbar you can reach with a beach cast. Predator fish tend to occupy those areas because that’s where their food is present.
Interested in one of our Surf and Shallow Water Fishing Workshops drop me a line or call. We will be conducting eleven (11) workshops over the next three months from Jensen Beach, at the River Palms Cottages and Fish Camp to the Palm Coasts’ Bing’s Landing and the Captains BBQ & Bait and Tackle Shop.
John Detmer