Surf fishing

[btanner]

Hello everyone,
We are coming down to sowal from knoxville on Saturday and we absolutely can't wait. I have not seen many posts about how the fishing is going so I figured I would ask. I am hoping to do some surf fishing and hopefully land a few pomps. Last year I only caught one, but I was thrilled to death. Is anyone having any luck so far this spring? Also, last year I got a few dirty looks from walkers or runners that had to go around my line. Is it bad manners not to pick my line up every time someone needs to come by. I even had a few people that almost walked right into it even though it should have been obvious. Should I have my poles right at the waters edge so this does not happen. The last thing I want to be is the dumb tourist that annoys the locals. Has anyone had any luck catching any sand fleas? Last year I just bought some frozen from yellowfin and they seemed to do fine. I hear live ones are better though. I think that pomps have to be 11 inches in order to keep them right? What about redfish? Just in case I were to land one, what is too small or too big? Sorry for all the questions. Any help, or fishing etiquette tips would be appreciated. Thanks, Ben

 

[John]

Hello everyone,
We are coming down to sowal from knoxville on Saturday and we absolutely can't wait. I have not seen many posts about how the fishing is going so I figured I would ask. I am hoping to do some surf fishing and hopefully land a few pomps. Last year I only caught one, but I was thrilled to death. Is anyone having any luck so far this spring? Also, last year I got a few dirty looks from walkers or runners that had to go around my line. Is it bad manners not to pick my line up every time someone needs to come by. I even had a few people that almost walked right into it even though it should have been obvious. Should I have my poles right at the waters edge so this does not happen. The last thing I want to be is the dumb tourist that annoys the locals. Has anyone had any luck catching any sand fleas? Last year I just bought some frozen from yellowfin and they seemed to do fine. I hear live ones are better though. I think that pomps have to be 11 inches in order to keep them right? What about redfish? Just in case I were to land one, what is too small or too big? Sorry for all the questions. Any help, or fishing etiquette tips would be appreciated. Thanks, Ben

Ben:

Welcome back. The good news is that Pompano are being caught. The bad news is that it's not been easy. We are having a very windy spring season. In addition, the March storms and rain across the southeastern US sent much fresh, muddy water our way. The rivers are still relatively high and the surf has been stirred-up for approximately the last six-weeks.

So, we have to deal with not-so-clear water, high surf, and plenty of wind and currents. Seems like early morning with incoming tides has been best. Bottom fishing for Pomano is best now, with heavy weights and floating hooks on your pomp rigs, to keep your bait floating off the bottom. In the heavy seas, sometimes a non-floating rig can just get buried in the sand. In addition to the usual shrimp and sand fleas, we are also recommending GULP! sand fleas because they stay on the hook very well. Also, the scent is helpful now when visibility is low. Naturally, we offer these products in our store.

OK. To answer some of your specific questions:

Beach fishing etiquete: Most long surf rods, fished properly with tight lines, should pose no problem walking under the line. At nine-foot or longer, who can't walk under without hitting the line? Set your sand spike at the wet/dry area and it should be no problem. (And come see us for long rods and more tips for sucessfully getting fish and avoiding the "stink eye"). DON'T fish for sharks with cut bait around swimmers. It's not good form and also against county ordinances.

Pompano: Yes, 11-inch minimum, only one over 20".

Redfish: 18" minimum; 27" maximum ( most beach reds here are over 27")

Lookin forward to seeing you again,

 

[John]

Sand Fleas: Plenty on the beach (and in our freezer).

 

[beachpirate]

I drive down from Montgomery pretty regularly and have been catching alot of redfish. Yellowfin is right, most of them are too big to keep. I have been catching them on a pompano double hook rig with frozen shrimp, but sand fleas work great for pomps. As far as the dirty looks, havent gotten many if your rod is in the proper place, mainly people asking what's biting.
good luck
Defentely listen to what yellowfin says.

 

[mtlinscomb]

Has the water started to clear up? How long does it typically take for it to clear up after a lot of rain?

 

[Smiling JOe]

Also, you can always get the attention of walkers and point to your rod, then out to your line. They are typically happy that you pointed it out.

 

[ASH]

Plenty of Sand Fleas. Caught a Nice Bluefish yesterday that went on the grille as soon as we got home.
Also caught a bull red, about a 4 footer, my first bull. It took about 15 minutes to get it into shore and it nearly ran my rod out of line. I really had to creank down on the drag to pull it in. Had several families hanging on the beach cheering me on. Unbelievable how they can pull. Got it all the way to the shore and someoone was in the water to help me land it and set if free when it panicked, nearly got twisted up in the guy trying to help and broke off. So, sorry but no pictures. What a way to end a morning in the surf though.

 

[scooterbug44]

Skunky caught a couple pompano and some ladyfish yesterday. The junegrass or whatever caused quite a few false alarms.

We ran into the line when it was in the water, but it was quite obvious to anyone walking along the shoreline. Another fisherman had his set up much farther back and clotheslined some people. :roll:

 

[Smiling JOe]

better to run into the line than the hook.

Saw plenty of mole crabs (sand fleas) on the beach this weekend.

 

[ASH]

Caught a couple Ladyfish too. Love they way they like to dance on the surface. Also caught a couple sail cats. Saw Mullett following the surf edge and almost caught some in the cast net. Couldn't quite throw far enough.
Weeds are real bad. Spend more time reeling in and pulling weeds off than anything. At least it's not Junegrass yet. That stuff is all slimy and doesn't come off the line.