A friendly wave and a friendly “how’s the bite?” Inquiry goes a long way toward establishing good rapport. Anglers catch a variety of fish, including whiting, jack, drum and tarpon. Incoming tides always bring a push of activity, but when the fall mullet run piles an enormous biomass in and around the inlet, anglers have a field day with bull redfish, giant snook, tarpon and the occasional cubera snapper. Image courtesy of Magicseaweed.com. (Also wade fishing access on the flats north of the pier.) 3) Santa Rosa Sound — Bordered on the south by its namesake island, this narrow body of water linking Pensacola Bay (west) to Choctawhatchee Bay (east) offers tremendous wade fishing opportunities for speckled trout, redfish and flounder. Weather Watchers — Florida’s often fickle weather can change quickly, especially in the summer months, so watch the skies and monitor your weather app. Outer Banks isn’t the only place for surfing in North Carolina. (Photo by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star) Any time of year is great for fishing the surf from Florida’s beaches, but fall is special. The positioning of this beach along the coast sets it up with a wind that whips up excellent, rolling surf. The landmark pier has seen several facelifts and renovations, most recently, the 2018 repairs following Hurricane Irma’s impact. Also in the area: the famed Juno Beach Pier, which stretches 990 feet into the Atlantic ($4 admission, to fish). While you’re there, take a quick 2-hour drive North and head to St. Augustine Beach for even more great surf. East Coast Shows. It’s known to be on the “rough” side of the island, so be prepared for rougher surf and a bit more wind. The warm season finds mackerel and jacks around the perimeter. From Hilton Head Island to Myrtle Beach , South Carolina's coastline offers anglers prime fishing … Access the bridge through Amelia Island State Park (southwest corner of Amelia Island) or the north end of Big Talbot Island State Park. Empty lots and bridge pull-offs may be convenient and cost-efficient, but a cursory scan for questionable types who clearly not fishing might offer a safety/vehicle security clue. Contents. On either side of the Dunedin Causeway, cast a bait over the pristine grass flats of St. Joseph Sound, or wade into the usually clear waters where speckled trout, mackerel and redfish roam. Fees: adults $8, seniors $6.75, children (15 and under) $5.25. Parks such as James H. Nance Park and Curtis Byrd Park offer restrooms and easy walks to the beach. South Carolina waves aren’t as intense as North Carolina, but Folly Beach is still a great spot to check out. When scouting out your land-based Florida fishing spots, minding these considerations will help ensure an enjoyable trip: Keep It Legal — With the exception of piers with licenses covering admitted anglers, Florida requires a saltwater shore fishing license to fish from land, pier, bridge or jetty (wading included). St. Augustine is great for beginners. Cisco Beach, Nantucket, MA. With lifeguards stationed along the beach, you’ll also have some safety precautions ready. The ultimate saltwater shore-fisherman’s tour of Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts. But if you’re on the East Coast, where should you go? Both jetty parks offer ample parking and restrooms. Whether you’re a longboarder, a shortboarder, an expert, or a beginner, you’ll all find a wave at this versatile and fun spot. Fishing and floating are not necessarily synonymous. Mary’s Bar Matunuck R I…. The RV and Boat Experts! However, these are usually beachgoers and not necessarily all surfers, so you’ll have plenty of space to ride the waves. Miami, Florida. Where to catch Pompano in the Surf … Outside on an odd storm your left with short period wind swell Both provide spacious access to a wide range of Keys favorites like snapper (mangrove, lane, mutton and yellowtail), tarpon, grouper, yellow jack, snook and porgies. 2) Crady Memorial Bridge — This mile-long pedestrian-only bridge spanning Nassau Sound (north of A1A) provides a front row seat to some of Northeast Florida’s finest angling. You can be all geared up only to arrive at a beach with tiny swells or completely calm waters. Restroom Facilities — Key planning element, especially if you’re bringing the family. The course will cover rules and regulations, smart fishing practices, and fish ID. You’ll also get to enjoy barrels here, which isn’t always the case with surf spots. The only downside is that the beach itself can get quite crowded. You might even get a tip or two on the local happenings. Mole spends his summers at the not so secret Wetsuit Wearehouse Testing Facility on the Potomac River. Pretty much any day during the summer and early fall will bring you waves perfect for surfing the day away. Beginners should be wary with this spot: the swells are usually big and suitable for intermediate to experienced surfers. Commercially produced aluminum pier/bridge carts with wide wheels will easily transport your rods, tackle bag, cooler and live bait well over pavement, rocks or sand; but for casual duties, a garden utility cart (some models fold) will suffice. So let’s start big with Cisco Beach. Proximity to Jupiter Inlet, allows for a good assortment of fish. Florida pompano are commercially fished in all states on the East Coast from Virginia to Texas, with Florida producing over 90% of the annual harvest. If you are on the east coast and casting over big surf is important, you need a 10-12 Ft, Slow to Moderate Action, Medium Heavy to Heavy power surfcasting rod. Guns. In fact, a surf school meets at this beach’s parking lot! Reefs also attract pelagic predators, so slinging spoons or pencil poppers on wire leaders might tempt a mackerel or barracuda. I agree with Kj that you have a much better chase in Hatteras and Frisco than Kitty Hawk. … Parking — Most city or county lots offer parking meters, or more modern payment kiosks where you prepay a flat fee or hourly rate by entering your license plate or numbered spot; while state or local parks typically charge a day use fee to enter. Consider the Distance — Pretty obvious stuff, but the walk out and the walk back will cover the same distance. At the northern part of the state is a nice curved … which is week and usually barley able to surf. The 7 Best Surf Fishing Rods. When water temperatures drop below 70 degrees, many warm water species like trout, King mackerel, flounder, and tarpon tend to migrate to deeper water and milder areas, while fish … Parking available. If you’re looking for huge waves, head here right after a storm. Parking lot and roadside parking allowed. Parking along South Ocean Shore Blvd., restrooms, shaded seating and a bait and tackle shop. Fall through winter sees an uptick in the action, as the deep canal offers winter refuge for a variety of fish including snook, trout, pompano, permit, ladyfish, jacks and juvenile tarpon. All Rights Reserved, Entering your valid email address signifies you wish to receive our newsletter and have read the, https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/saltwater-fishing/shoreline-faqs/, https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/, Florida Sportsman Launches Action Spotter Podcast. October 3rd, 2018   If you’re a fan of fishing the mighty Cape Fear River, Carolina Beach is one of the … The East Coast offers so many variables in terms of surf, culture and climate, that it's almost impossible to pick just one state as the "best place." Summer surf conditions on the east coast are pretty small. Once you have your surf fishing rig, you will want to cast your line as far out as you can. He swims, surfs when he can, SCUBA dives, wakeboards, SUPs, snowboards 15-20 days a season, and recently fell in lust with wakesurfing. What makes Kitty Hawk better than other surf spots in Outer Banks? While some surfers argue that the East Coast can’t stand up to the waves of the West Coast and Hawaii, these 8 best East Coast surfing spots might change their mind. Most surf rods are generally from 10 to 13 feet long and are capable of slinging your bait and a 6-ounce lead weight up to 100 yards beyond the breaking surf. You left out the largest recorded surfing wave on the East Coast. Posted In: Articles   8) Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers — The north and south ends of the former Sunshine Skyway bridge spanning Tampa Bay now stand as state park structures offering spacious access to grouper, snapper, mackerel, kingfish, pompano and snook. New … You might be skeptical to hear that one of the best spots for big, serious waves is in located in the smallest state in America, Rhode Island. A day spent fishing at the beach. 9) Venice Jetties — Protecting Venice Inlet (Sarasota County), the North Jetty is part of Nokomis, while the South Jetty is fully within the city of Venice. Reach the north pier from I-275 South in St. Petersburg. Also, be aware of your responsibility to know the state’s fishery laws. Surf Park: Cape Hatteras Has The Best Surf Fishing On The Atlantic Coast. 1) Fort Desoto Park in south St. Petersburg leads the list on Florida’s left coast. With all the hype about North Carolina, it’s easy to forget about its southern cousin. 4) Apalachee Bay Piers — Remnants of an old bridge linking the Franklin County mainland to St. George Island, the East Point Fishing Pier and St. George Island Fishing Pier — both 3,200 feet — stand east of the St. George Island Bridge (Bryant Patton Memorial/Hwy 300). A Sample of Top Rated Reels Van Staal VS100BXP Black Spinning Reel – … Parking at both ends. 6) Indian River Lagoon — This vast estuary bristles with boat docks and lays smattered with the grass flats, troughs and bars that provide feeding habitat for snook, redfish, flounder, pompano and the signature species — big speckled trout. 5) Anclote Gulf Park Pier (Holiday) — Extending from a boardwalk around the park’s mangrove shoreline, the 500-foot wooden pier flanks the north shore of the Anclote Power Plant’s northern outfall canal. If you and your fishing buds can’t decide which type of angling your trip … Watch out for the great white sharks! The many public access points include Indian River Lagoon State Park (Melbourne Shores), Bear Point Sanctuary (south of Fort Pierce) and Indian RiverSide Park (Jensen Beach). Ruggles surprises us all by providing you with almost guaranteed breaking waves that should only be attempted by intermediate and experienced surfers. © 2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. A: This is known as surf fishing. Park fee $2. Outside of hurricane season, you can get decent surf as well that’s perfect for beginners. An abundance of surf fishing opportunities makes the Outer Banks of North Carolina a top East Coast angling attraction. Located on latitude 26, just like Miami, Florida, South Padre Island, Port Isabel and Port Mansfield, some 20 miles north, rarely experience prolonged cold weather periods, so the fishing remains hot most of the winter. The water’s warm as well, which you might prefer the colder waters of Nantucket and Rhode Island. This is especially so in the fall, when large red drum, striped bass, and … Surf fishing Cocoa Beach brought catches of black drum, whiting and pompano, while Sebastian Inlet north to Indialantic saw higher numbers of pompano and mackerel caught. The license is free for state residents (convenience fees apply for online or phone orders), so it’s pretty silly to earn a costly citation for not obtaining one here https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/saltwater-fishing/shoreline-faqs/. It is important to fish according to the tides for optimal results. Speaking of colder water, let’s give you the northern-most surf spot yet: White Crest Beach on Cape Cod. On either end of the island, West Pass and East Pass keep the bay flushed and vibrant, so baitfish and the predators that chase them move freely past the piers. These easy and reliable waves are great for beginners, but surfers of all experience levels will enjoy the clear water of this awesome beach. 2) Johnson Beach — The Gulfward face of Perdido Key, at the Panhandle’s western edge, this picturesque beach within Big Lagoon State Park is part of Gulf Islands National Seashore. FLORIDA Spring is one of the best times to saltwater fish in south east coast states, with Florida being a popular destination for anglers interested in fishing in the southeast. This accessibility is features easy parking and access to surf rentals, shops, and food. Taking it from all the way up North down to the southern part of the East Coast we have Cocoa Beach, Florida. And lucky for you, Emerald Isle is one of the best places for NC surf fishing. 1) Sebastian Inlet State Park is perhaps the ultimate Atlantic Coast venue for land-based fishing. “They” being local reporters writing about Montauk. Fishermen will find ample parking on both sides of the Canal, and finding stripers … C2 has parking on both ends; C5 has parking on the south end. Lots of points, shoreline contours, docks and grass flats create a target-rich environment. 7) Big Pier 60 — At this Clearwater Beach icon hosts a bounty of inshore and coastal favorites, with summer gathering big numbers of huge snook. Surfing abroad? Its location is one of the best, right smack in the middle of the stretch of land known as the Outer Banks. Figuring into the Civil War, Spanish-American War, WWI and WWII, the centerpiece fort, positioned on the Mullet Key point, never fired upon an enemy, but the nearby 500-foot Bay Pier and 1,000-foot Gulf Pier offer tremendous action. Several pull off spots provide casting access to the St. Johns River, or you can take one of the interior roads through the campground to fish the Fort George Inlet on the north side. Boardwalks over the protected dunes offer access to the redfish, flounder and trout waters on the marsh side, but surf fishing is the big attraction. Entry fee is $5 per vehicle. Cape Cod beaches are often slept-on in terms of surfing, but you don’t want to skip these beaches if you want the best of the best. Be a Good Neighbor — Any licensed angler has equal claim to public fishing areas, but how we interact with fellow anglers can greatly impact our day. Waiting until you feel that cool downdraft can leave you and your gear exposed and out of options; so know where the nearest shelter lies and have a bug-out plan just in case. Well known for hundreds of miles of beaches where record-breaking catches are landed on a regular basis, the North Carolina shoreline is arguably one of the top destinations for surf fishermen from all … The main causeway bridge and the smaller one right before the island offer sheepshead, black drum, snook and snapper opportunities. 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