A chilly start ushered in the new year and AMI anglers were excited to hit the beach for surf fishing.
I use surf fishing loosely, as our surf fishing differs from many areas. Our Gulf shoreline waters are calm, clear and fairly shallow. Most of the species we target are within 100 feet of the sand, requiring lighter tackle and minimal gear.
Medium-light spinner gear, some leader material, a pair of pliers and an assortment of colorful jigs complete the preparation. Of course, a fishing license is required and, and if you’re harvesting fish, you’ll want to carry a tape measure and either know the current regulations or carry a copy with you.
Once prepared, it’s as simple as getting to the beach and casting jigs until you find the action. For such a casual way of fishing, you may be surprised by the results — if your timing is right.
Factors like tides, wind and water clarity can play a major role in your success.
Species like pompano, ladyfish and jack crevalle are a good bet because they patrol up and down the shallows along the shoreline in search of a meal. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are on the prowl and are notorious for striking a jig, resulting in a cut leader from their sharp teeth. So bring an ample amount of jigs.
The addition of a live shrimp to the equation can lure more species. Adding a small piece of fresh-cut shrimp to the jig will attract flounder, black drum, sheepshead and redfish, all of which are quite enjoyable when hooked on light spinning gear. And they make for a great tablefare, too.
And for anglers who aren’t into jigging, casting a live shrimp out on a weighted rig will get the job done, although this method requires some patience.
No matter the approach, the most appealing thing about beach fishing is the casual nature. A minimal amount of planning is involved, which is easy on the angler. You don’t have to gas the boat, trailer to the boat ramp, load a ton of gear and ice and plan to be out all day. In fact, some beach sessions may last an hour before you decide to head home — but if the bite is really good, you can stay out longer.
And when you’re done, you go home, rinse off your tackle, clean some fish and enjoy the rest of your day.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m working a variety of areas for an assortment of species. On the calmer days, venturing into the Gulf yields sheepshead, mangrove snapper and Key West grunts. Live shrimp on a knocker rig fished around structure are attracting the fish to the hook.
On days when it’s breezy, I’m finding redfish, sheepshead and black drum while working the canals and docks as well as in the passes.
Drifting over deeper grass flats and casting jigs tipped with shrimp works to get a bite, especially on pompano, trout, ladyfish and bluefish, providing great action on days when they’re really biting.
Capt. David White is working his charter trips on nearshore structure, such as hard bottom areas, ledges, reefs and wrecks.
When using live shrimp as bait, White is putting clients on hogfish, Key West grunts and catch-and-release gag grouper.
Other species, like sheepshead, triggerfish and flounder, are also in the mix.
Moving inshore, White has anglers hooking up with catch-and-release snook on live shiners as bait. Spotted seatrout and bluefish are also reacting to the shiners.
Lastly, drifting and jigging over deep grass flats is yielding pompano for White’s anglers.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.