Pensacola Fishing Forum / Inshore Fishing / Surf Fishing / Surf Fishing - General Q & A

Anyone Going Fishing This Weekend?

POWER FISHERMAN — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:14:43 GMT

We are headed to the beach this weekend. We have some smaller bull sharks and nice blacktips in the surf. Hope we get lucky.

Is anyone else headed out?

Deaver

Question about keeping a Shark while Surf Fishing.

Shiznik — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:52:27 GMT

Guys,

I am a pretty good distance away from you guys to the E, or I'd try to meet up with you for some schooling. I am needing to know what you guys do with a Shark right after its caught. I think I've read about the meat spoiling if it isn't processed quickly and don't really know what needs to be done with it so it can be brought home to the table for dinner. I asume that you would gut it, but leave it whole. Is there a gland or something else that should be done to make the meat taste better? Bleeding it out on the shore can't be a very popular thing to do. Should the meat be soaked to get the blood out overnight?Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated. Also, one more time if you guys don't mind: What's the recommended best rig for the small time Shark Fisherman from the "Beach", we don't have a Kayak?"

Perdido Pass

gulfdreamin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:36:12 GMT

We will be coming down from Tenn. Sunday and just wanted to find out about the east side of the pass. Any luck from under the pass at night?

Jacob Lopez First Shark!

POWER FISHERMAN — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:17:19 GMT

The photos are of Jacob Lopez and his first shark ever. Look at that hook set just like a pro. It was 5'7" spinner caught on a horse mullet just over the last sandbar.

[img]http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o101/wigymatt/IMG_5950-1-1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o101/wigymatt/IMG_5962.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o101/wigymatt/jlopez.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o101/wigymatt/IMG_5974.jpg[/img]

NAS

lmalard — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:07:19 GMT

Anyone have any luck on base lately? Also, where is the most productive? I've been down at Lake Fredeick with not whole lot of luck. Any input would be helpful. Thanks!

Redfish in Surf

Possum Smudge — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:35:49 GMT

I will be east of Destin next week and wanting to hear any advice on catching reds on the beach.

It should be time.

j_purdy — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:00:10 GMT

We're coming out of the neap tides, and the waves are kicking up. The pompano should be out there. I'm stuck studying for midterms. I wanna hear some reports of limits fellas. Good luck and prove me right :)

-Jason

Returning fisherman

Wonderdog — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:49:39 GMT

Haven't fished in 30 years but am getting the bug and want to return to surf fishing on Santa Rosa Island. I feel like a newbie and have no gear. Guess I'll go to WalMart, Academy, or somewhere, grab some gear and get started. What's good to get started? I used to use a 9 foot rod and had an 11 footer also. All the gear is improved from those days, what do you guys recommend? Used to catch whiting, pompano and spanish in the surf. I think the wife might even like to start. Thanks in advance for any advice. I've been lurking around and reading a lot. Great forum, sure didn't have this kind of info back in the day...

sand fleas

roofordie — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 07:18:10 GMT

I was out doing some surf fishing for pomps yesterday and it was the first time I used sandfleas. I was wondering where is the best place to hook the things?

Sharks: Where are they?

IanR — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:26:24 GMT

Kinda bummed that the weather is getting colder, won't be able to paddle out baits much longer. I was just wondering where the most successful areas for shark fishing would be at this time of year and the upcoming weeks.
Will they still be in between the 1st and 2nd sandbar? Past the 2nd in deeper water as shallows cool?
In the bay, and where abouts? 3mile?
Will the migratory sharks be coming in close? I heard makos can be caught off the pier.

Thanks for the info. I'm itching to catch some more sharkies

Surf Fishing Essentials

gzollinger — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:33:49 GMT

If you are fishing the surf, what essentials would you make sure you had?

I will start the ball rolling with:

Sun Block

Sandfles

angryaccntnt — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:38:02 GMT

What are sandfleas? Where can you find them? How do you fish with them? What can you catch?

I've read a lot of things about sandfleas and I have seen them frozen in a few places around town. I have never heard of these. I would like some more info if sandleas are worth while.

What to catch

booyahfishing — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:36:15 GMT

This past summer, i started shark fishing the beach with a lot of luck, but the last time I went out, I only got like one bite. Now that the temperatures are changing and stuff, do sharks migrate somehwere else? Aka, are sharks only summer season fishing around here on the beach/surf?

If they are, what are the good things to catch during the winter months? I have read a few threads with reds and pomp being good now, are they more winter time?

ANy info is appreciated cause catching no fish isn't fun.

Tide question

Geronimo — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:20:48 GMT

I know fish bite better on a moving tide. I'm taking my 9 year old daughter to Ft Morgan later this week to see if she can catch her 1st bull red. If low tide is at 7pm, what time will the tide actually start going out? Thanks.

? about tieing Pompano rigs

mehill10 — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:34:07 GMT

1 Does it make a different about the lenght of line from your first loop to the lead and the length from the 2 loop to the main line

2 what lenght do you try your loops
thanks for the help

Berkly Gulp Sand fleas/Mole crabs

bigpopper — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:18:04 GMT

Just back from my trip to the gulf. We had a great time in PCB and Okaloosa island. I fished everyday, some morn and night almost each day. Caught a fair amount of fish but nothin big. I did try out the new Berkley Gulp sand fleas/mole crabs. Just a couple of little nibles, no hits:banghead, Used them for 2 hours and nothin one day. Have any of yall had any luck with them? I used them on my 2 hook surf rig. Was this the wrong approach or was the fishing just off last week? Thanks for the input.

Question about Power Pro

Shiznik — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:19:16 GMT

I have always used Ande for all my surf rods and make my rigs out of flourocarbon. I'm wondering would Power Pro have any application in surf fishing? If so, should I try and fill the spool and use it just as I load the Ande? Does it cast further or does it slow down the delivery off the spool when trying to give your bait a "zip code"? Any input would really help. I've had a spool of 20# Power Pro for a while now and never knew what I would use it for. I always try to conceal the line and the rig.

Carrying set-up

snivlem — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:26:45 GMT

Does anybody have a set-up that they use besides the pre-fab aluminum carts for carrying their surf fishing gear? I realize that with 6-8 rods and sand stakes, I've got to come up with something besides just my 5-gal bucket...

Rigs

snivlem — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:21:29 GMT

Staying at Perdido the 12th through the 19th.

I have been tying up some rigs, getting ready to come down, but I was wondering if any of the local tackle shops will sell home-made rigs for the surf, such as pompano and/or shark rigs. Should I expect any made from flouro? If so, which shop would be closest to me, staying at the Windemere.

I sure hope Ike does not have eyes on the gulf....

shark fishing

rubberboat — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:28:28 GMT

anybody wont 2 go

gear?

jaceboat — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:40:18 GMT

i have surf fished for about 4 years now and have never done anything different than what my dad has said. well just this last year i finally figured it out my dad doesnt have a clue about surf fishing. so i was just wondering what type of leaders, # line, bait, rods/reels and such for a few species. i mainly want to target reds especially bull reds. but i also want to fish for pomps. i know for pomps jigs will work when sight casting and sand fleas and peeled shrimp on a two drop rig fished on the bottom will work. but what # test main line and leader? i have caught spanish, blues, ladies mostly on pomp jigs, gotchas, and cut mullet fished on the bottom, is that alright for those species?

thanks for the help

-jace

HOW TO FISH THE BIG LAGOON and other beaches

ARfisherman — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:44:58 GMT

My birthday is 9/12 and I'm coming to see yall. Me and the family will be coming down this weekend as long as the hurricane goes west, we will be camping at the Big Lagoon Park. We have a fair amount of experience fishing down there but always need more advice. I'm bringing tons of gear from big spinning rigs med. and small spinner and a few fly rods and a kayak or two. I'm sure we'll spend a good amount of time on the Pensacola pier, and think I got a good handle on what to do there. But really need to know what to do around the Big Lagoon I've never caught any red fish and would like to get a few to grill. Also I'm bring my girlfriend and her 8 y/o who has only caught 7 fish in his life really want him to reel em' in untill his arm wears out. I also want him to catch or see me catch a shark. So basically that is it any advise would be greatlly appreicated.

What ? Where ? When ? How?

Thank You

Skipjack set-up, ladies and blues (maybe pompano too)

snivlem — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:10:11 GMT

I have a couple of 12# spinning set-ups, and want to use them to cast out artificials in the surf while I have my bigger set-ups with bait out in the water. I was thinking about using 10# braid, with 30# flouro leader, it this overkill? I like casting braid if possible, but am willing to use mono or flouro if need be. I was planning on casting johnson sprites, diamond jigs, and pompano jigs. Am I barking up the right tree? I am soooo thankful Ike is headed west, and am looking to tear the surf up for a week....Thanks for any help or advice!

Pensacola beach

EG94 — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:47:03 GMT

How has the surf fishing been lately across from the Portofino ?

Lures from the surf

gulfdreamin — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:43:26 GMT

I know about the gotchas but are there any other lures to throw? Thought there might be some kind of jigs or maybe some kind of plastics ??????

Whats the best way to catch skipjacks

ARfisherman — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:06:30 GMT

I'm coming down on 9/12 weather permitting camping at the big lagoon and got a 8 year old who has only caught 6 fish in his life. I think he would get a huge kick out of catching skipjacks, watching them jump around and stuff. What would be the best place to go and what to use. I like the beach pier and will be camping on the big lagoon. So where should we go and what should we do.

Thank Yall so much this forum is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Newbie needs suggestions

ardan — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:41:41 GMT

Hi All,

I have been fresh water fishing for many years and will be down in the Pensacola area during the first week of Oct. I would like to take my son to fish from the shore and catch a few. I have been reading the forum and have discovered that we should fish very early and very late in the day. I have also read many surf fishing reports and such....
I would like to get a guide but I really cannot afford it right now...

My question is if you were a Newbie and just wanted to catch a few fish (not to keep, just catch and release) where would you go, what would you fish with and how would you fish???? i.e. surf, pier, rocky shore etc.....

Remember I have NEVER fished in salt water.....any help would be very appreciated.......

Ardan....

Fall pomp run?

Tex@OIP — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:10:52 GMT

When is this mysterious fall pompano run supposed to happen...is it a time of year or certain water temp? Should we be waiting for the first front or something like that? Any info would be much appreciated.

sabiki rigs from the surf

snivlem — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:16:55 GMT

Hey guys, coming down to Perdido 9/12 and plan on surf fishing extensively. I would like to catch as much of my own bait as possible, and thought that a sabiki rig could be a nice tool. In addition to my larger surf rods, I plan on bringing a 7 1/2 foot rod for casting out artificials, hoping for ladyfish to use at night. What kind of set-up should I put the sabiki on? I would like to keep a rod dedicated to it. And most importantly, what is the best method for fishing with it, just drag it on the bottom?

Please Help

ShaneLane — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:46:43 GMT

Me and my old lady moved here recently trying to find somewhere to fish from the shore with light tackle since thats all we have please just want to catch dinner please help with where and what to use thank you to all who read or replied

Bleeding circle hook or regular color circle hook?

Shiznik — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:11:18 GMT

Just wondering which you guys have the most luck with. I use both and it just seems like the red bleeding hooks have lost their popularity with the Pompano this year. I also use the Owner regular circle hooks and they have become the hook of choice to me.

Rod and Reel Question (shark)

kinchafoonee — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:26:39 GMT

I live in Georgia and get a couple of times a year to surf fish. I have my basic spinning setups for whiting/trout, etc. but am interested in purchasing a casting setup for targeting sharks. I'm not necessarily looking to catch huge sharks but something in the 4ft-5ft range or so. Due to the fact I don't get the opportunity fish very often, I'm not looking at spending a fortune. I was looking into getting a Penn 309 but would like to hear some other opinions and options. I would be willing to spend a little more money if necessary. Any and all input would be great. Oh, and if any of you guys have an Academy store nearby, My local Academy has all the Fin-Nor Offshore spinning reels on sale for $99 including the OF95. Just a heads up.

P.S. You guys have a great site here.

Jellyfish

minkmaster — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:14:29 GMT

I was down in late May-early June and the jellyfish were thick as thieves and they stung the crap out of me and my kids. Now I have spent a great deal of time in different area of the ocean both Atlantic and Pacific and have never seen them that bad. We all thought you have some of the nicest beaches around and the fishing isn't too shabby either but are they that dang bad every year at that time because we were thinking of coming down again and would like to avoid the lousy jellyfish the best we could.

Double Hook Rig

tnmule — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:01:46 GMT

Can someone post a good description or illistration of how to tie a double hook rig? What size swivel at the top? What size snap at the bottom? I already have P-Line FlouroClear 30# and Gamakatsu 1/0 and 2/0 Octopus circle hooks that I'm going the use. Which size hook? I have some store bought double and single hook rigs made from mono but if homemade flouro rigs will make a difference then I would like to tie some. I'll be in Gulf Shores the week of 9/15/2008 and I'm starting to gear up. Thanks

Identifiying Troughs or Guts Visually

cvn — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:41:11 GMT

Can someone please provide information on the best way to identify the trough or gut visually?

Will be fishing the Destin surf soon and I admit it, I am too scared to wade out to find these (if they are reachable while wading).

Is there an easy way to "read the waves" and know where the trough or gut is?

Does the Destin beach normally have one or two or more troughs?

Thanks,

Surf Fishn' Newbie

seaweed and fishing on Pensacola beach

EG94 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:59:13 GMT

How bad is the seaweed on pensacola beach and , How has the fishing been around the portofino ?

fishing the nokomis jetties

bsnation — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:42:40 GMT

thanks for all the helpful posts people left on my Need Surffishing Help Immediatly post escpecially to JoeZ. I recently started fishing the North Jetty in Nokomis. Using baitfish, i castnetted, on a 2/0 circle hook and 2 1/16 ounce weights about 3 ft up i have been having lots of luck. Had some snook about 6 mangrove snapper and some other small fish all in 2 trips out. So if you live close the the jetties i highly recommend it.

And thanks again to JoeZ if it hadnt have been for your helpfull posts I probably would have given up.

times of year

booyahfishing — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:06:07 GMT

Just wondering if there is a certain time to go sharkin in the gulf during the year? With winter approaching, do sharks leave the gulf and go into the bay or did they head south completely to warmer waters? Any info would be awesome.

SHORE FISHING THE SOUND

rosstaman — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:40:04 GMT

any ideas on catching anything other than small snappers and pinfish? i wade out 20 yards and cast, thats about all the distance i can get off the cast, then i hook a small pinfish or snapper and hope for something bigger..... any suggestions?

new to surf fishing(equipment)

surffisher3333 — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:24:19 GMT

I am new to surf fishing and would like to ask is there an all around size hook for surf fishing or different sizes needed for different types of fish. If so i would like to know the hook sizes that equals the type of fish i may catch from the beach. Thanks for the imformation and the replies.