sargassum seaweed

With the heavy easterly winds the entire coast has been burdened with Sargasso. Many are under the notion that the pompano season is over. These are fisherman of habit. They haunt specific beaches and find comfort with an area that has been productive on occasion. Perhaps they have a friend they pal with and they always meet there. Naturally, fishing isn’t always catching. Sooner or later, the heat and the seaweed declare an end to the season.

Friends, there are still fish to be caught. Yes, pompano and many other fun to catch-and-eat species in the surf. Here’s a simple plan that could work for you. Good fisherman don’t go offshore without their number one principle. Can I visually find fish or certain birds that feed on the bait that offshore fish eat. Once offshore, one never overlooks testing every patch of seaweed they come upon. Probably throwing chum at it and then casting its perimeter. Naturally, they may try many spots and that is their advantage.

Shoreline Sargasso is certainly a big deterrent, but can be overcome. Of course, this is not something I can guarantee. Fresh seaweed in the water presents cover and nutrition to pomps, lookdowns, jacks, croaker and whiting. If you jump some beaches, generally you will find some openings of less weeds where you can fish. The number one chewy for the pomps and these species is glass minnow with small live sandfleas being in second place.

Once you find an area and you spot a few snake mackeral or a seagull diving into the smallest of shiny objects in the sea, you’ve found your spot. A nice light 7′ rod and a 10′ rod with a light tip for bite detection. Tie a pomp rig on one and a whiting rig on the other. You could easily find some ½ inch live fleas to rake. One of those cheap 3/8 inch rakes that folks use to find shark teeth. Put 2 or even 3 small fleas on the the pomp rig and fuel the whiting rig with fresh shrimp. Spike in the longer pomp rod and cast only 30 to 70 ft out. If the weeds are dragging it down put on a 4 ounce sputnik sinker. Hold the whiting rod and cast 10 ft. past the break.

Watch for fish cruising under the shoreline weeds and just outside the weed line. These are resident fish and will stick around a good part of summer. Croakers and small whiting are in good numbers and some pomps up to 16 inches. To find openings to fish, always look for points and areas that have deep shoreline breaks. Coves and jetties are major holding areas for seaweed. Also, there is nothing like live croakers for snook!

Enjoy the summer. Keep your eyes peeled and youll blessed with Tightlines.