Fishing off the beach in the surf can be a load of fun and on top of it you can catch some tasty creatures to take home for dinner. A long list of species can be caught off the beach including redfish, whiting, and black drum, but pompano are truly what most anglers are out there looking to catch.
Surf fishing is very relaxing and it’s also pretty simple to do, you don’t have to be an expert fisherman to be able to go out there and catch a few fish for dinner.
One of the most important parts of being successful surf fishing is finding a good spot. When you arrive at the beach you want to look for holes, washouts, or a drop-off if at all possible. Also, don’t spend all day sitting in one spot if you’re not getting any action, a lot of times moving a hundred yards down the beach can make a big difference.
A variety of rods and reels will work, but if you’re buying one to give surf fishing a try I would suggest getting a nine or ten-foot rod with a reel that will hold a good amount of twenty-pound mono or fifty-pound braid.
Having good bait can also play a large part in your success. I suggest using either sand fleas or shrimp. If you’re using sand flea’s live ones will be best, but frozen ones will work. For those who prefer using shrimp I would only use fresh peeled ones because frozen shrimp are soft and come off of the hook to easily when trying to make long casts.
You’ll want to use a two drop rig with a two to four-ounce pyramid weight. The triangle shaped weight will stick in the sand and keep your bait out in the strike zone. As far as hooks go your best bet is a small circle hook like an Owner Mutu Light #2.
If you want to learn a little more about fishing off the beach and get a few tips and tricks on landing more pompano be sure to check out the Hook, Line, & Sinker Seminar Series this coming Monday March 7.
The seminar will be held at Flounders Chowder House on Pensacola Beach. Flounders will provide a free dinner buffet while supplies last beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the seminar will start at 7 p.m.
Reservations are not needed and there is no charge to attend, but arrive early if you want a good seat. For more information on the seminar series call Joe Zwierzchowski at (850) 516-0709.