Here’s what’s been going on in the Melbourne beach surf this week, with periodic updates throughout… There’s been some fish caught, but no pompano in my experience, and mostly undersized other species.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Feb 11th

Incoming Tide – Early Evening / Late Afternoon – Water temp: 68°F
Just went to take the dog to the beach for a quick afternoon walk, but the water was pretty, temperatures comfortable, and a bunch of my neighbors were already out there with wet lines running operation skunk works. Despite the surf being a bit more tame and water cleaner, and it generally looking fishy, there wasn’t any action. But still, it didn’t take much arm twisting for my neighbor to convince me to go grab a rod and come back out. So I did. 30 minutes later, it was about a quarter to 5, incoming tide, and I was ready to hook into the fish. By that time, he other anglers were ready to pack it in. Naturally, the laws of the universe engaged and as soon as they turned in, the bite turned on.

I caught 4 fish in quick succession over about 10-15 minutes. 2 black drum, 2 whiting, all pretty small. They were all released. After the last fish, I was out of sand fleas (which were present in the surf today, unlike yesterday), and the sun was setting, so I called it a day. Also, notably, the water temps dropped back down a clip into the high 60s after a steady climb back to low 70s over the preceding days.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Feb 10th

Incoming Tide – Early Evening / Late Afternoon – Water temp: 73°F

Got in an afternoon surf fishing session in Melbourne Beach, today. I got out there just before high tide. The water temps are warming up at 73°F. Only 7 days ago I got a reading of 58°F. It was an absolutely gorgeous day at the beach, but not much for fishing production. My baits consisted of blanched sand fleas, fish bites, and the few lives sand fleas that were caught (they were pretty sparse out there). The end result was just one whiting, which is about to be cooked up for dinner. The surf has been pretty hit or miss for the past few weeks. A week from now, once we’re out of the neap tide and our water temps have solidified a comfortable bottom in the 70s, the surf fishing should be much more predictably productive. I’m looking ahead to some morning sessions next week where periods of peak water movement coincide with sunrise. ‪

UPDATE: Monday, Feb 10th

Went out briefly for the period straddling high tide. Seas were much larger than expected and thick patches of weeds started to take shape in the surf right as the winds shifted out of the east. I only hung around for about an hour before calling it.

Rougher seas than expected. Lots of chop and a ripping current.

Sunday, Feb 8th (and preceding week)

It was cold and windy, but with largely a dominate west wind, the surf remained very fishable all week. I had a few limited opportunities to get out there and took them, and the bite was pretty active. The only species we were bringing in though were black drum.

I got a reading of 58°, the only sub-60 water temperature recorded this winter, and most likely the very bottom before things warm up into spring.

Don’t forget that weather patterns change for fish in the ocean the same way they do in the lagoon. If it’s cold, downsize your presentation. One drop loop on your pompano rig instead of 2; smaller, if any, floats and beads, etc.