Is the weather finally warming up a little this week? It’s been COLD the past couple of weeks, and neither the fish nor the fishermen have been enjoying it! Fishing on the beach has been slow, with the fish acting lethargic due to the chilly water temperatures. Some beaches have reported water temps as low as 55°F—crazy! That’s far from the ideal pompano range of 68-72°F. The winds look to stay down as well. Hopefully, this week’s weather will warm the water up just enough to spark a better bite.
We’re also moving into a new moon phase on the 29th, which usually means heavier fish activity during the morning hours and around the changing tides throughout the day.
That said, the beach fishing reports from the Cape Canaveral area down to Patrick Space Force Base haven’t been great. Rough surf and cold weather have made it tough for most anglers. The catches have mainly consisted of small seasonal sharks, bluefish, black drum, and margates. It’s been a grind, but there have been a few impressive catches, including some big redfish.
For bait this time of year, I recommend live sand fleas, frozen shrimp pieces and clam strips. Pair them with Fishbites to help keep your bait from flying off the hooks. Make sure to use a pompano rig in pink, orange, or sand flea colors. Look for washouts in the surf (as usual), and avoid fishing on sandbars—your bait will likely be ignored there. Since it’s colder this time of year, the latter part of the day typically produces the most bites.
That’s it for this week’s report! I hope everyone can get out there and enjoy the nice weather break we’re getting. Tight lines, everyone!
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