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Surf Fishing Seasons
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Overview
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Winter |||
Spring |||
Summer |||
Fall
While surf fishing along the Space Coast
is a year around activity, the seasons
do play a role in species diversity and
activity and by knowing what to expect
and how to react at any given time of
the year your chances of success are
greatly increased. Here in Central
Florida, the average summer high
temperature is about 90°F while the
average nighttime low is about 70°F.
However we do have times where the
daytime temperature can rise into the
high 90s with a low in the 80s at night.
In winter the averages are 72°F high
during the day and 52°F low at night.
When a cold front moves through however
nighttime lows can drop below freezing
with a daytime high in the 50s. Knowing
what, when and where to fish during
these times can make all the difference.
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Winter
Surf Fishing along the Space Coast in
the "dead of winter" can mean enduring
numbing cold one day and warm shirt
sleeve weather the next. After a few
cold spells have cooled the water a bit
the pompano will begin moving out
through the inlets and running along the
surf. The bluefish and spanish mackerel
have been here since the fall. Whiting,
margates, black drum and sheepshead are
also being caught with the majority of
the sheepshead coming from rocky
beaches. Winter storms can put the
fishing off for a few days, as most of
these species prefer clean water. But
after the front passes and the water
clears a bit they will return.
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Spring
Spring can be a tough time to fish the
surf here due to windy conditions.
Unlike the lagoon or various freshwater
locations here, finding a leeward shore
on the beach is not an option if you
prefer to stay on the same continent. By
getting out early in the mornings you
can usually avoid the windiest
conditions. As we move farther into
spring the winds will usually subside as
the weather warms. When the weather does
permit fishing you will find a variety
of species in the surf to target.
Flounder are returning from their
offshore spawning runs and can be found
particularly around structure such as
the Jetties of Sebastain Inlet, Jetty
Park at Port Canaveral, the coquina
ridges of the Satellite Beach area, and
the Cocoa Beach Pier. Bluefish are
beginning their northward migration and
the fishing for them should contiunue a
while longer. Pompano should still be in
the area until the water warms too much
for their liking as should the black
drum. Whiting and croaker are spread out
throughout the surf.
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Summer
Throughout the Space Coast, whiting and
croakers will fill the troughs and
cruise along the coquina ridges where
they can be easily caught with shrimp
cut clams and sand fleas on small # 2
hooks. These fish are a great way to
introduce kids (or yourself) to the joys
of surf fishing and the normal heavy
surf tackle is rarely a requirement
unles a tropical storm has roiled things
up a bit. While snook can occasionally
be taken along all Spoace Coast Beaches,
Towards Sebastain Inlet, they can be
specifically targeted by fishing a live
croaker on a sliding sinker rig. However
this is a catch and release fishery at
this time as the season is closed. Later
around July, tarpon and jack crevalle
will make an appearance along with the
mullet. Areas of structure such as
pilings, jetties and coquina ridges will
be holding flounder. As the summer heats
up into August and early September most
of the fish activity will be before the
heat of the day. Probably a good thing
because this is also our afternoon
thunderstorm season, not the time to be
on the beach.
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Fall
When the mullet are running south on
their fall southward migration, the surf
fishing can be great. Snook, tarpon,
jack crevalle, bluefish, spanish
mackerel and redfish will all be in hot
pursuit. Expect to see sharks in the mix
as well. Meanwhile, the whiting,
margate, sheepshead, and croakers are
holding their own. Towards November the
mullet runs will subside and the snook,
tarpon jack crevalle, and redfish
fishing will subside. The blues,
spanish, whiting, and croakers will
remain in the area
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Good Luck!
Dean Pettit
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