Soon thereafter by November the proverbial coconut telegraph will ring with the news that the fish are in around Sebastian, Vero Beach and Fort Pierce. Hope you enjoyed these Florida surf fishing tips! But, such large poles mask much of the strength of these spirited little fighters. Though I couldnt see the fishermen, I could hear them. When I first hit a beach that I want to fish off of I will look around for life of some sort. Pompano will generally be on the move as water temps approach 62 degrees. really? 9 w mullet head and 4 oz weight is fine for bull reds . Do you like how to fishing articles like this one? But, I found that I prefer the sand spikes available from Dicks or Academy Sports that are made a little more lightweight. Some people even go so far as to peel their shrimp before placing them on a hook. Before this i lived like 1 block from the beach so it was hard to get used to. Tie one end of the line to the snap swivel using a clinch knot. This website is owned by FYAO Saltwater Media Group, Inc. If youre using a spinning rod and reel, we recommend a 6 to 14 pound monofilament or fluorocarbon line. Ultegra is slow oscillation. Or, you can even put a strip of Fishbites on the same hook as your sandflea in order to soup up your offering. While staying at Surfside Resort, visitors can check out St. Martin's Episcopal Church (0.3 mi) and Indian Mound Park (0.4 mi), some of Pompano Beach's top . Country-mile casters like metals and pencil poppers put stripers on the beach for daytime surf-fishermen throughout the Northeast. Look at the fishfinder! one of them said. Go Australia! When pompano start migrating south, the first place you want to fish is the beaches before the pompano settle into deeper estuaries. Since I typically only use circle hooks, I dont set the hook. To this point, knock on wood, I have caught bull reds and sharks, and they never pulled my lightweight sand spikes out of the sand. Finding an ideal quaint motel in Pompano Beach does not have to be difficult. . Free use of tennis court and hot tub. This will happen quicker than you might imagine. You can make your own surf spikes out of pvc from the hardware store, and I have done that. 8.8. Unfortunately, without a stiff wind at my back and an extreme low tide that allows me to wade closer to the drop off, I cant get an eel anywhere near the structure. And, those work just fine. I challenge you to lift a 20lb dumbbell off the ground with a surf rod the way you might fight a fish. If youre fishing the gulf for summer pompano you can usually find them in deeper channels of estuaries. 50 The cheapest sandflea rakes Ive seen were at local wally worlds near the beach. However, cleaner water is definitely better than dirty water, and you should generally seek it out. This should give you plenty of power to cast far enough to reach pompano. Pompano regularly eat crabs, clams, shrimp, mussels and small fish. Nags Head Fishing Pier, Nags Head, (252) 441-5141. To catch pompano from a beach or pier, look for schools of fish on the far side of wave breaks and sand bars. I typically tie my own so I can get them just like I want. Use a 6- to 12-lb test line that can comfortably cast a 1/2- to 1-oz egg sinker, depending on surf conditions. Learn more Pompano is a popular food fish that can sell at a higher price per pound than beef. In this video Capt. Collect the sand fleas in a dry bucket. Rigging for pompano and other species such as whiting that occur in the surf isn't difficult. Several reel manufacturers have been giving the line lay more attention in recent years. Like most things, there is a sweet spot that offers the best conditions. Tie a second dropper loop another 10 inches up the line and a . This makes sense because they are from the jack family of fishes. The large loop allows the teaser to slide up and down between the jig and the knot while retrieving the lure. | Contact Us. Sand fleas also known as mole crabs are known as one of the best baits you can use. You really have two ends of a spectrum when it comes to surf fishing gear a minimalist approach, or one that leans more towards a commercial fisherman. Florida Pompano are primarily a bottom feeding fish, mainly feasting on crustaceans. But by the time Id reached the water and saw just how far away the channel marker was, I began to doubt my long distance casting ability. You might have to modify your casting distance from the beach out into the sea. It all depends upon the tide levels when determining how far out to cast to catch pompano in the surf. Pompano can have dark or yellow-colored fins and may have black markings down the side of their bodies. If there is a large colony around, there will be an obvious discoloration in the sand as the waves roll back over them. If the weather is warm, and Im wearing swim trunks, I might simply make a scoop with my rake, and place a handful in the pocket of my swim trunks. But, other colors can also be productive. Great tips though! You would want the bait of another rod to be in zone 2 and you would want the bait of the third rod in zone 3. I have been focused on distance for the last three decades and I think you hit the important points, but I have two comments. The water was shallow and the current was slow, making it the perfect place to fish 1- to 1 -ounce bucktails. If the bite is on and you see feeding fish in the surf, then you have a great chance to catch some pompano. I can reach that, I thought, while eyeing the charts legend and estimating the distance. Typically when Im using multiple rods, I like to have 1 bigger rod with me. Many anglers swear by bucktail jigs for fishing pompano in the surf. The place is home to 72 miles of shorelines, beyond which the Atlantic Ocean lies in wait. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 136,722 times. Another option, which I have used before, is to take 2 plastic containers that nest together. So, find out when the water temps normally hit the desired temperature zone in your area, and then hit the beach. We recommend an 8-to-10 foot fast action casting rod. Fishermen in rocky areas may be leery of changing to a thinner diameter line, but a long monofilament leader, spliced into the main line by an Albright knot, will give some added abrasion resistance against boulder-bound stripers. You can just stick a pack in your tackle bag, for use when you either run out of bait, or you cant find sand fleas. If the water has too much freshwater runoff, then it will have brown hues to it. Where do you catch stripers in NS? Instead, go to the bait shop and ask for fresh dead shrimp, or buy some from a local supermarket. Look for bridges and piers over deep channels. Sure, you can catch a pompano in 64 degree water or 81 degree water but it will be hard to catch large numbers of them in water that is uncomfortable to them. In second place, Joel Parkinson stands with 34,6 km/h. These rod holders stick into the sand and free your hands to fight fish rig and re-cast lines. You want to have some wave action because that stirs up the sand and uncovers crabs, sand fleas, small clams and other creatures that the pompano like to feed upon. These are the ones, available from Amazon, that I use most often:Fishbites Strips in Sandflea (15 Ct). It depends on where the sand bar is. If you dont have a cooler, one alternative for keeping your catch fresh is to bury them in sand deep enough to where they will remain moist and cool. Besides focusing your efforts around the ideal water temps and tide movements, the next thing to consider is the surf conditions. I throw this extra rod out with a larger bait to target bigger fish, like bull reds. According to the chart Id studied that afternoon at the officeat the expense of doing actual workabout 200 feet away from where I was standing, the bottom dropped sharply into a channel. We recommend an 8-to-10 foot fast action casting rod. This article has been viewed 136,722 times. There is nothing wrong with using a single rod. The best leaders for pompano are 2 hook pompano rigs. Rather than tossing that little fish back, Ill put it on a hook and throw it back out on my larger rod. Additionally, if the stretch of beach has an abundance of sand fleas, then thats obviously a good sign that you are in the right place. T he lifespan is commonly only 3 to 4 years. Lets say that you are fishing 3 different rods. On one hand, I really like my long 12 foot rods so that I can really get the bait out there when necessary. Choosing lures to reach far-off stripers is a little easier in the daylight. Your own casting stroke is more important to casting distance than any equipment. When using live shrimp, you want to use the smallest ones you can find. When it comes down to it, any rod will work fine for catching pompano. These are most common for inshore fishing but can also be used in the surf if the conditions arent too rough. In the article below I will talk in more detail about how far to cast for pompano off of the beach. Pompano fishing is popular in the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusets down to Brazil. First, your reminder Wind from the West, fish bite the best Wind from the East, fish bite the least Wind from the North, do not go forth Wind from the South blows bait in their mouth Now take a. Bring one light spinning rod rigged with a pompano jig in case the fish are right in the trough just a few yards off the beach. You can also target them by fishing inshore. Beach chair, bucket and cooler. You can still find. If youre trying to identify pompano they have silvery and thin bodies with forked tail fins. and no pic I bet? Pompano are primarily bottom feeders with a diet that consists of small crustaceans and shellfish. Pompano travel in schools, so catching 1 fish indicates a school is nearby. If you don't want to catch live sand fleas before fishing for pompano, you can try using a sand flea lure. I have an entire article about all the baits that can be used for pompano, if you are interested: The Best Baits For Pompano. Many anglers also just begin to reel in their bait when they feel action. Learn how to tie a dropper loop here. This can happen in October or December, depending on how cold it gets. You can even tip them with dead bait to make them even more effective. You can also look for them in troughs between sandbars. There are other baits that will work great as well, but if you are able to obtain live sand fleas on a given day, thats what you should use. P.S. Heavy, long-casting lures that sink too quickly will drag bottom or pick up weeds. For me, no other bait has proven to have a better combination of being both convenient, and effective for pompano. Step 4: Tie the first dropper loop about 10 inches above the sinker. Place some rags in a bucket and just cover the crabs with seawater. For these reasons, I prefer to tie my own pompano rigs. During the right time of year, they are easy to catch and they taste great. My favorites are the orange sand flea flavor, and the pink shrimp flavor. Holes or cuts in the sandbar are good places to look. I went to school with alot people from Nova Scotia and had no idea any of them fished. Before you can catch pompano, you first have to find them. Water temps are the name of the game and will dictate where you find pompano. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Most of the time,sand fleas are unquestionably the best bait for pompano. Water temps are the name of the game and will dictate where you find pompano. The first zone for me would be from the beach to 20 yards out. Speaking of transient. You could be casting less than 20 yards, 30 yards, or over 60 yards. This should give you plenty of power to cast far enough to reach pompano. I like fishing from a boat or kayak as much as the next guy, but there is something special about pursuing a favorite pastime, and doing so while on a beautiful beach. If you can stomach the up front investment, and you have a vehicle (truck) that can transport it, I highly recommend one. If you dont wish to tie your own, these Sea Strike 2 hook rigs on amazon look pretty good, A 2 hook rig serves several purposes. Of course, many spots depend on an in-your-face breeze to bring in the stripers there. Thanks! Dial in the surf bite with rods, reels, and lures capable of reaching fish far off in the distance and in snotty conditions. How to Tie a Pompano Rig. Florida pompano do not have teeth on their tounge, A pompano's head slopes back gently with no abrupt change in angle - no hump, Pompano have more rays than a permit; 22 to 27 dorsal rays and 20-23 anal rays, The beginning of their anal fin starts further back than the beginning of their dorsal fin, Pompano sized permit have teeth on their tounge, Permit have dorsal and anal fins that are longer and drape back toward their tail, Permit have sort of an appearance of a bump on their forehead, due to the change of angle to the slope of their head, Sometimes they have a dark spot under their pectoral fins, Have fewer rays than a pompano.