Stayin' Salty and Castin' a Wide Net!
Surf Fishing Florida's East Coast: Cocoa Beach, Canaveral National Seashore, Palm Coast, Sebastian, Flagler, Daytona, St. Augustine
One of the most popular fishing games available is getting a new standalone release that aims to combine all previously released content into a single package. The Fisherman: Fishing Planet promises to include all the content released for the free-to-play Fishing Planet, as well as a new location, tackle, and more. The new version of the game will be heading to PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 17. READ MORE SHACK NEWS
Added the above video to show 9-9-2019 comparison. New video will be up for 9-28-2019 on YouTube.
Saturday September 28, 2019 looks to become a stellar day for Florida East Coast Surf Fishing. The swell is poised to be low, east wind 10 miles an hour, Sunday winds should increase to 15.
2nd Light Beach Tides
9-28-2019 Low Tides 1:33am and 1:59pm
9-28-2019 High Tides 7:47am and 8:10pm
High pressure, slight chance of showers, high temperatures in the upper 80's, chance of rain 20%.
High Tides for Cocoa Beach 9-28-2019 6:57am 7:25pm Low Tides for Cocoa Beach 9-28-2019 12:42am 1:08pm
Wave Height 1-2 feet
Pompano bite was on with members of Florida East Coast Surf Fishing Facebook group on Thursday from Canaveral National Seashore. Surf Fishing Canaveral National Seashore on the mornin'! Of course, the Redfish bite is on up and down Florida East Coast and the Tarpon are on if the mullet run is in sight of your surf fishing.
Saltwater reels have sealed bearings. A push button Zebco is not suitable for fishing saltwater because you need an open spooled spinning reel or bait caster for shoreline fishing. Now, teaching your little guys on a push button reel even in the surf is a good idea. They get the feel of fishing without also having to learn how to handle a spinning reel.
Zebco Push Button Fishing Reel
When looking for a surf fishing reel, find one with at least a 20lb drag. This will get you going with Pompano, Redfish, Jack Crevalle, and we have even caught sharks with 20lb drag. Some rod/reel combo's are OK but finding the right reel and not having to rely on the manufacturer to have paired it to your choice pole is priceless. Looking for separate deals is fun anyway, you never know what you'll find.
Spinning Reel Old School
Line capacity should be stamped on the reel, We like braid for saltwater fishing.
Line spools come in like 100 to 2000 yards. They come in less, but for surf fishing, you need more line. When you hear the pulling drag sound, music to my ears, you want to know you have enough choice line to follow and battle the bite out.
Braid Fishing Line Moss Green
There is braid, mono, hollow core, and on braid there is 4, 6, 8 strand. Look at type of braid. Some are designed for bait casters and looks triangular. I don't care for that one because it will actually put grooves in the guide eyes of the pole with a spinning rod. Some braided lines are designed for or suited for bait casters or spinning reels.
Braid and Hollow Core are stronger lines constructed in a smaller diameter and won't fill the spool up as fast leaving more line capacity.
Mono Fishing Line Neon Yellow
Mono is basic fishing line found on most over the counter products. Nowadays, most store bought reels don't even come pre-spooled.
Braid fishing line is more expensive, 300 yards is at least $30. Also, taking your reel to a bait shop to spool your reel, it costs like $0.14 a foot, not a yard. 300 yards would be $126 for one reel. Better learn how to spool your own with braid fishing line. We have crushed the spool before because we overtightened while spooling. That was a rude awakening, our son was holding the pole while we were spooling and it imploded! Braid though gives more line capacity on your reel and strength. Braid is more abrasion resistant and hardly has any give. Tight Lines!
Freshwater to Saltwater Fishing What questions we have received from New Surf Anglers
Part 1
Part 2
We have caught fish with a $20 reel from Walmart and we have caught fish with a much more pricey reel from Bass Pro Shops. They all do a basic job, fish with what you can afford to fish with but your fishing line choice matters. Learn how to tie your knots, more fish are lost from poorly tied knots.
A good knot to learn is the BG knot. The Brian Gibson knot is for securing your hooks, swivels, or leader. The RP or John Collins knot is for attaching two lines together. The Bimini Twist is also a good knot to learn for tying two lines together.
We have watched many How To videos, but found an awesome YouTube site for learning knots. This guy has been around awhile and really shows how to tie knots where it is easy to learn. John Collins is easy to follow and really teaches several knots more effectively than other How To videos.
Let's Talk Hook Up Radio Show is filled with too much knowledge for one show! The years of Fishing Experience gained from watching even a few episodes will likely give an edge to any fisherman or woman at any level of expertise.
No boats, just Florida East Coast Surf Fishing. Canaveral National Seashore, Playalinda Beach, Surf Fishing Conditions, Beach Conditions, Fish Report. A quick update on Florida East Coast Surf Fishing Conditions.
Still a bit rough for surf fishing in Canaveral National Seashore, Playalinda Beach. The weather is surely not cooperating these past weekends but we found a spot to fish today across the road at Eddy Creek Boat Launch. We caught Saltwater Catfish, Redfish, Sea Robin, and it turned into a Pufferfish kind of day. Last weekend there were many schools of mullet, trout, and tarpon. This week, Puffer fish lol.
Are your kids interested in the outdoors? Be a Junior Ranger Program at Canaveral National Seashore, Brevard County, Florida might be an activity you are looking for to expand their passion.
Apollo Beach, Canaveral National Seashore offers a Junior Ranger program during the month of July every year. Call 386-428-3384 ext. 0 for program information during Visitor Center operating hours which are 9am-5pm for upcoming events.
In the summer of 2019, Canaveral National Seashore offered Birding, a Fishing Clinic, Explore Eldora, Canoe Mosquito Lagoon, a Beach Clean-up, Sea Turtles 101, and Endangered Species during the Junior Ranger Program. Check out the North Brevard Business Directory.
Explore fish and fishing through a Junior Angler activity book dedicated to things that swim. Contact your favorite Park to see if booklets and badges are available or click the link above for the Junior Angler activity book.
On the nps.gov site, the information about this Junior Ranger Program only says to first get a Junior Ranger Activity Book at the Visitor Information Center or the Playalinda entrance station or to download one from the nps.org site. The program rewards are a certificate and patch/badge Junior Ranger sticker.
Find Out How 10 year old's or Fourth Graders Get Free Access to All National Parks, Lands, and Waters for Full Year with the Every Kid in the Park Program
Children have a set of participations required to gain completion. According to nps.org, children are required to participate in three park programs.
In the event there is no program available kids may:
1) pick up a bag of trash in the park; take a picture or return with the bag of trash 2) watch the park video (The Story of a Seashore) at the Apollo Beach Visitor Center or the Seminole Rest Historic Site. Please contact the visitor center for a schedule of open hours. 3) complete the Junior Ranger book.
After completion of all the activities children are awarded a Junior Ranger patch and certificate.
Here is the links to Florida Parks with Junior Park Ranger Programs.
Make sure to ask about getting your Junior Ranger stamp for your National Park Passport when you visit. eParks has a site to get your Junior Ranger Edition Passport to your National Parks.
Walk through Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, see the Visitors Center and the water view trail out back, a good chance to see an American Alligator, turtles, butterflies, and birds.
It's a fun walk through on your way out of or into Canaveral National Seashore for a day of fishing, kayaking, swimming, family time. Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center.
Often beach goers think to bring the beach umbrella but forget to bring anything to secure it. Thinking someone will be next to the umbrella all day long or trying to hold it with your hand all day is not recommended. Gusts happen even on mild days and who wants to hold a beach umbrella down all day? Check out the prices on Anchors Away from Bing search and Google search from $5 and up.
It takes a bit of elbow grease to secure the Anchor Away but the beach umbrella won't fly crazy and hurt someone. Peace of mind while relaxing and playing at the beach for you and yours.
Bait Used: Fish Bites Shrimp and Sand Fleas. Cut Whiting.
Canaveral National Seashore Playalinda Beach, Area 11, Florida Surf was easy, water fairly clear, sun shining, birds flying.
What's Biting: Shark, Redfish, Snapper, Whiting, Saltwater Catfish, Black Drum, Snapper, Tarpon The Sharks were showing their fins and tails today. The Tarpon were jumping.
30lb braid with 20lb mono backer, Eagle Claw 2/0 circle hooks, 3oz pyramid weights
Okuma Coronado CD65 and CD90 and Mitchell Avocet II reels, H2O Express 12ft rods
Florida East Coast Surf Fishing bite was on this morning in Canaveral National Seashore, Playalinda Beach, Brevard County, Florida! Multiple species caught and the sharks were playing hard and showing their fins this morning in the Saltwater Waves. Cubera Snapper, Redfish, Saltwater Catfish, Black Drum, Whiting, and a couple little Croaker.
