texaninflorida wrote
Thought I would give a fishing report and seek advice. I'm new to Florida from east Texas and don't know the first thing about Atlantic coast salt water surf fishing. I hit up hammock park south of marineland about 2 miles for 4 hours today from 11-3. Caught last bit of tide going out and all of low tide. Mullet were running big time. Hooked up a couple of whiting, a couple of stingrays, and a turtle on live shrimp.
I've been reading and experimenting with rigs. I have a 10 foot ugly stik, using 20lb test that runs to a dropper rig with three oz of lead and a size 1 "shrimp recurve" hook. When the tides not running too fast it tends to sit still over the breakers. I toss on a 4 oz lead with the "wire feet" when the tide is running. I've only used live shrimp thus far.
Any recommendations/tips for netting some of the mullet? What kind of rigs are you using for the mullet?
You are gonna like Florida, lots to do round here Texan. Of course our deer are alot bigger than what you are used to seeing in Texas. Alot bigger. Everything is bigger here in Florida.
Anyways, you are going to need a license. Several options here, but there is a residency clause that requires six months of living here full time in order to qualify for the cheap ones. The minimum for surf fishing is the "Shore Bound", free to residents, but still required. I suggest Googling "FWC" and reading about the various choices for licenses, prohibited techniques, and then printing out the size restrictions for our fish, it can get a bit complicated. The most popular fish for your area are going to be: redfish, black drum, bluefish, flounder, whiting and pompano. Our wardens are friendly, very nice folks, just so long as you are legal. Also, knowing what you just caught is important.
I like the experimentation with rigs....keep at it. You are only as good as your rig and your bait. Search our site for the "Earl Brinn Pompano" rig, with the Fish Finder also being an important rig to master. Tying your own is best. If you spike the rod in the sand and relax, use circle hooks and consider obtaining some good spikes.
There is alot of specialized equipment, and of course it gets all involved. Post up your desires before they become your paid for selections and we can save you some money and a whole lot of aggravation. Difficult for folks to recommend rods to people. Best to see you cast first, then match the reel to the rod that fits you.
The mullet run is an annual event, with it occuring earlier than expected this year. They hang out pretty much all summer in the intracoastal and surf zone, but come fall, they school up and try to run for their lives somewhere down south. The mullet are herbivores, vegetarians, and while they can be caught on hook and line using corn and oats and stuff, the cast net is by far the best way to go. If you are interested, try a small net, say five feet or less. Large nets are difficult to throw and are best used from bridges and boats. From the surf or the side of the intracoastal, a smaller net is much easier. I like the Super Spreader with the Throw Ring. But you might could learn with something else. The mullet have really good eyesight and see movement really well. Be still. Keep the net low to the water as it flies, and lead them a little. Everybody is trying to take a bite out of them, so they tend to run nervous. The meat is white and flaky and is excellent table fare fried or smoked, and is a good cut bait. Limit is fifty per day- but try to take only what you need.
The whiting have no restrictions. But.....when they are smaller than 12", are a waste to keep. You only get a sliver of meat at that size. They can be caught year round and are delicious when fried. I guess these are our bread and butter fish.
The pompanyo run is what excites us the most- I guess. Tricky little fish actually. They score highest on taste, and can be fixed several ways. Many of us do weird things just to catch another one.
The redfish are good eating, and the oversized ones are sure fun to catch. Black Drum are good eaters, but.....when they get big are best returned to the sea. Worms.
Probably the best thing to do here, is to tell you to try to hook up with someone- right on the beach. A man could stare all day long at some of the carts that are in our club.
Most of the stuff we use is highly specialized, and we make the things we need, like sinkers, carts, spikes, lures, etc. Unfortunately, you just missed Jeff's summer class, and will have to wait till January. By then we will have had our annual fall runs for the various species. But....the class is the best way to get a start, so plan on attending then.
The prefered baits are sand fleas, which you catch yourself, crab pieces/knuckles, clam, and shrimp. Try to stick with FRESH at all times, and a selection beats having just one. Recently, I started messing with lures. Maybe you are a lure guy.
Keep posting your reports, being certain to include the bad along with the good. There is alot of accumulated knowledge here on this site, I guess because we all made the same mistakes.
Maybe someone will offer to meet up with you. Jeff would be a good one. I am currently- "In Training" and have not the time for Texans, Hoosiers nor Jayhawkers. But wouldn't mind at all meeting up with you later. I don't do the 11-3 shift though, usually done by 11. We are entering into a new phase, where everything will change. Usually, the seasonal shift is quick and you have to be ready to go regularily, in order to get in those special days that memories are made of.
While you are at it, visit our springs. Kids are all in school now, so they are pretty much empty during the heat of the day. Snorkling is the way to see them. I will be at the world's largest this weekend. Wakulla. They are truely the jewels of Florida, and very worthy of a visit. Each is different, and some better than others. I explored Alexander Springs last week, and that was quite lovely.
Surf Fishing can be something you do while you are at the beach anyways.....or it can be the reason you went to the beach to begin with. Plenty of room for either variety here. For me, it is a lifestyle. It is what I do when I want to escape. Just me and my maker's creation, and if I come home with fish, she is happy, and I get to order some more junk.