surf fishing in fl used live shrimp and i did not catch any thing and bait cept comming back to shore ?

Question

any tips i am fishing for anything good to eat and want my bait to go out far and stay out there it always goes to the right and comes back up to shore please help

Answer 1

I have fished and lived in FLA all my life, (Gulf Coast & East Coast). I agree with the other post's. You need a "sinker slide" 3 OZ. pyramid combo, (and DON'T buy one of the "premade" sinker-slide combo's). Make your own 1 1/2-2 FT leader out of Fluorocarbon, (Berkley "Vanish"). Add your sinker slide , a swivel, and a 2-3OZ pyramid sinker and your "in business"!

Shrimp IS a "versatile" bait but it tends to get "stolen" or "come-off" easily in heavy surf. If your bait keeps coming off try "Cut-bait",( Bring a 5-6 FT cast-net and catch fresh live mullet or baitfish in the surf : either bait'm up "live" or cut them up in chunks and fish'm dead.) Try squid.

Honestly, if the surf is over 4-5 FT and your not around a jetty, inlet, pier, or "structure" ,(or some really nice "run-outs"), you are probably not fishing in the correct place to catch the typical surf fish,(IE: Whiting, Pompano, Reds, Drum, Flounder, Snook, Croaker, Sailtop Cats, Spanish Macks).

A good surf-fisherman combs the beach at low tide looking for "sloughs" and drop-offs that will be good possible locations for high-tide fishing. "Coquina" is always a good sign for surf-fishing.

I agree with the other poster that mentioned the intracoastal waterway. Your "odds" on catching "dinner" go up once you begin finding inlets, jettys, ETC.

Just remember, you may not need HEAVY 20 pound line and 3/O hooks all the time,(unless you are hunting for BIG game). Some of my BEST surf fishing comes on days when I use lighter line and leaders( line:12 LB leader: 10LB), smaller hooks(1/0),& lighter weight(1-2 OZ).
I can "limit out" in 3 hours on Whiting and Croaker with the above stated lighter equipment. And usually by 10AM!

Above all, ASK your local bait-shop "What's going on in the Surf?" They will be able to point you in a direction to catch fish. If you catch a bunch of fish on there "tip" , odds are that you will always buy your bait from them. Baitshops LIKE repeat customers!


Good luck & catch some fish for me!

Answer 2

Sounds like a rip current and/or not enough weight. I used to live just south of Sarasota and had better luck fishing the intercoastal waterway than the surf. I would catch lots of small snapper and a few groupers....even nice snook sometimes. If you wanna keep trying the surf, put a 3 oz weight and see if that helps. Also, if the current is moving quickly, go a little further out and fish parralell with the beach so you can keep a tight line.

Answer 3

sounds like one of two things. Its too rough to be surf fishing or you dont have enough weight. I would use at least a 3 ounce triangle sinker. Shrimp is in my opinion the best and most versitile bait you can use. If you want something different you can try sand fleas. Surf fishing is really a hit or miss deal. I would get to the beach about 45 minutes before the sun comes up.

Answer 4

Well, it sounds like a difference in personal reflexes. I mean, if you use the exact same bait, rod, reel, and hook. One way to look at it is: Who is spending more time on the water? How serious does the other angler take the fishing experience? Honestly, I've seen people who wait too long to set the hook, and they do it everytime. They develop a bad habit, kind of like jerking everytime you fire a big rifle and miss. My father and I will break even just about every outing on the fish ratio. You put my Stepmom in the boat, and she'll beat us everytime. Granted we are just trolling, but it happens everytime. Good question. It reminds of a time when I was carp fishing in the winter and getting skunked by my partner. As soon as I realized it was a soft bite on the second or third hit, I started outfishing him. But I was paying attention and asking myself questions to problem shoot it. Most anglers never stop to ask why. They just blame it on luck or something else.

Answer 5

*gets ready to say something, looks around*

Oh well. What they said.