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| What's in the surf anyway? |
The surf zone may
not look like it could
offer much for
fishermen. Waves
crash and beat the
sand, currents rip at
high velocity and how
many fish could
survive over a bleak
sand scape anyway?
The answer may
surprise you. East
Florida beaches may
be high energy and
seem fairly rough, but
fish relish the high
oxygen levels and the
cornucopia of the
food supply.
And while sand may
not seem like it could
hold a healthy
not look like it could
offer much for
fishermen. Waves
crash and beat the
sand, currents rip at
high velocity and how
many fish could
survive over a bleak
sand scape anyway?
The answer may
surprise you. East
Florida beaches may
be high energy and
seem fairly rough, but
fish relish the high
oxygen levels and the
cornucopia of the
food supply.
And while sand may
not seem like it could
hold a healthy
supply of fish, anglers would be amazed what they could find. Clams and other
bi-valves, marine worms, shrimp, crabs, sandfleas, marine snails and an infinate
variety of small fish are active under and on top of the sand. And in Brevard
County, we also have the added benefit of solid reef material such as coquina
rock and worm reef. These rocky structures offer extra habitat for surf zone fishes
to forage and find shelter.
Seasonal species click here.
bi-valves, marine worms, shrimp, crabs, sandfleas, marine snails and an infinate
variety of small fish are active under and on top of the sand. And in Brevard
County, we also have the added benefit of solid reef material such as coquina
rock and worm reef. These rocky structures offer extra habitat for surf zone fishes
to forage and find shelter.
Seasonal species click here.
| Notice the special grinding teeth of this sheepshead, a member of the porgy family of finfish. Sheepshead are notorious bait stealers. |
| Year Round species |
| Surf Fishing Lessons! Learn more by clicking here. |
| BLACK MARGATE (Anisotremus surinamensis) Averages - 3/4 to 2 lbs, can reach 10 lbs. Unregulated by Game and Fish - no size or bag limit. Table Quality - Very Good - white fillets are sweet. Best months - June through October Member of the grunt family. |
| BLACK DRUM (Pogonias cromis) Averages 1 1/2 to 5 lbs, can reach over 100 lbs. Size Limit: Between 14" and 24" inches, may posses one over 24". Bag limit 5 per person. Table Quality - Fish under 8 lbs. very good, fish larger than 12 lbs. can taste strong and have worms. Best months - December through March Member of the croaker family. |
| ATLANTIC CROAKER (Micropogonias undulatus) Averages less than 1 lb. can reach 3 lbs. Unregulated by Game and Fish - no size or bag limit. Table Quality - Very good, though small. Fillets are mild, flaky white meat. Best months - June through September Member of the croaker family. |
| GULF WHITING (Menticirrhus littoralis) Averages - less than 1 lb. can reach 4 lbs. Unregulated by Game and Fish - no size or bag limit. Table Quality - Very Good, mild, white fillets. Best months - May through August Member of the croaker family. |
| SHEEPSHEAD (Archosargus probatocephalus) Averages - up to 3 lbs. can reach 15 lbs. Size limit - 12". Bag limit 15 per person. Table Quality - Very good, white, flaky meat, often tastes similar to shrimp. Best months - November through February. Member of the porgy family. |
| JACK CREVALLE (Caranx hippos) Averages - up to 4 lbs. can reach 50 lbs. Unregulated by Game and Fish - no size or bag limit. Table Quality - Poor, meat is very bloody and oily. Best months - August through November, especially when the fall mullet run is underway. Member of the jack family. |
| PINFISH (Lagodon rhomboides) Averages 1/4 to 1/2 lb, can reach 4 lbs. Unregulated by Game and Fish - no size or bag limit. Table quality - decent though fish are very small. Best months - year around. Makes a far better baitfish than food fish, great for targeting snook, tarpon, sharks and other large fish in the surf. Member of the porgy family. |
| SPOTTAIL PINFISH (Diplodus holbrooki) Averages 1/2 to 1 lb. Can reach 3 lbs. Unregulated by Game and Fish - no size or bag limit. Table quality - good, mild white fillets. Best months - Year round. Member of the porgy family. |
| FLORIDA POMPANO (Trachinotus carolinus) Averages 1 to 2 lbs, can reach 8 lbs. Size limit - 11" to 20", may keep one over 20" Bag limit - 6 per person. Table quality - excellent, mildly oily fillets. Best months - November through April. Member of the jack family. |
| PERMIT (Trachinotus falcatus) Averages up to 12 lbs., can reach 50 lbs. Size and bag limits - same as Florida Pompano. Table quality - excellent. Best months - August through November Member of the jack family. |
| BONNETHEAD SHARK (Sphyrna tiburo) Averages up to 5 lbs. can reach 10 lbs. Size and bag limit - one shark per day. Table quality - good if cleaned properly. Best months - summer and winter months. |
| BULL SHARK (Carcharhinus leucas) Averages up to 300 lbs and 8 feet, can exceed 10 feet and 450 lbs. Size and bag limit - one shark per day. Table quality - young sharks less than 40 lbs. are good when cleaned properly. Best months, June through October. |
| BLACKTIP SHARK (Carcharhinus limbatus) Average size - up to 30 lbs. can exceed 200 lbs. Size and bag limit - one shark per day. Table quality - good if cleaned properly. Best months - June through October |
| SPINNER SHARK (Carcharhinus brevipinna) Averages 10 to 50 lbs, can exceed 150 lbs. Size and bag limit - one shark per day. Table quality - good when cleaned properly. Best months, June through October |
| ATLANTIC SHARPNOSE SHARK (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae Averages less than 5 lbs. can reach 20 lbs. Size and bag limit - one shark per day. Table quality - good when cleaned properly. Best months, summer and fall months. |
| HARDHEAD CATFISH (Arius felis) Averages up to 2 lbs., can reach 4 lbs. Unregulated by Game and Fish - no size or bag limit. Table quality - debatable, some say as good as freshwater cats, others report strong and tough. Best months - year around. |