Surf Fishing Species

Table of Contents

Five Exotic, Unusual, and Exciting Florida Surf Fishing Species

Florida, also known as the Sunshine State, is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, the Panama Canal, and the Atlantic Ocean. With three of its four sides facing directly out into salt water, it’s not surprising that the state of Florida has become a hotspot for the sport of surf fishing. One of the best aspects of surf fishing in Florida is that surf fishing is allowed from all public beaches, whether you are fishing in tidal pools or the open surf. This begs the question, “With the rising popularity of surf fishing in Florida, what species of fish can be caught from the coastline?” Well, I’m glad you asked.

Five exotic, unusual, and exciting species of fish that can be caught while surf fishing along the coast in the state of Florida are: tarpon, sailfish, shark, barracuda, and bonefish.

Let’s take a look at the most common species of fish that are caught while surf fishing in the Sunshine State.

Tarpon

Tarpon fishing is amongst the most popular types of surf fishing in the Sunshine State. This is due not only to the sheer volume of Tarpon that can be found in the waters of Florida, but also the astonishing size this particular species can reach. According to the Fishing Booker Blog, catching and releasing tarpon is only legal while surf fishing in the state of Florida. However, there is one exception to this rule. Each individual is allowed to purchase one tarpon tag per year in the state of Florida.

The Visit Florida website has composed a list of the seven top spots to fish for tarpon in Florida. I have listed each of these seven hot spots, along with a brief description of each area, below:

● Homosassa – This is located along Florida’s natural coast, and is well-known for the sheer size of Tarpon that can be caught while fishing in this location.

● Boca Grande – This was a relatively unknown area of Florida until northern anglers flock there for the spectacular tarpon fishing.

● Naples Marco Island – The Rookery Bay National Research Reserve and Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge are the two best spots for tarpon fishing in this area.

● Everglades City/Chokoloskee – Located near the Northwestern border of Everglades National Park, this region of Florida is most well known for a large amount of tarpon migrating from early April through June.

● Islamorada – This area is located in the Florida Keys, and is most well known for being the most popular tarpon fishing area in America.

● Miami – Government Cut is the city of Miami’s most popular tarpon fishing spot, and the best tarpon fishing is said to happen in February.

● Stuart – Located on the southern end of Treasure Coast, Stuart is best known for the tarpon fishing that happens throughout the year in its many lagoons.

The best way to hook a tarpon is through the use of natural and live bait. Natural bait works best during the app tide because it allows your bait to drift towards the fish, making it more appealing to the tarpon. Live bait such as large shrimp, pilchards, mullet, and pinfish are all fantastic choices when it comes to reeling in prize-winning tarpon. These typically work best because they are species that the tarpon naturally preys on in the water. You can also use dead fish or cut-up pieces of mullet as bait.

Hooking a tarpon can be a tricky task, because of the fish’s bony mouth. One of the most shocking aspects of hooking a tarpon is that it is known to jump at the bait, instead of merely landing the fish. Because they are such a large species of fish, Tarpon is typically difficult to reel in as well. However, getting a tarpon on your line can be one of the most thrilling and exciting aspects of surf fishing. Being able to land such a large fish will give you bragging rights amongst your fellow anglers for years to come.

Sailfish

Typically fished during the months when cold fronts are most frequent in Florida, sailfish are usually fished from Fort Pierce down to the southern end of the Sunshine State. Sailfish usually appear during Florida’s first major cold front, and often will not leave until after the last major cold front has come through the state.

While moderate sailfishing may occur throughout the year in the state of Florida, the top sailfishing season is widely known to be during January and February. Although Florida is typically not known for being a particularly cold state, these months are the coldest month of the year. This is when the best sailfishing experiences happen. The months of November and December are considered the second-best time of the year to go sail fishing in Florida.

The Gulf Stream Boat Club has composed a list of the top sailfishing spots in Florida. These spots, as well as a brief description of the area, include:

● Destin – Known throughout the world as the Emerald Coast, Destin has the cleanest beaches in Florida. Destin also has the reputation of being one of the best fishing towns in the state.

● Florida Keys – consisting of 125 miles of Islands located at the southern tip of Florida, the Florida Keys are considered to be the most unique fishing spot in the state.

● Tampa Bay – Located right along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa Bay is widely considered to be one of Florida’s best surf fishing spots along the Gulf Coast.

● Stuart – the town of Stuart is known throughout Florida as the “sailfish capital of the world.” This is due to the excellent sailfishing that happens throughout the year.

● Panama City – known for being much more than a Beach Town, Panama City also has a reputation for being one of the best fishing spots on the Gulf Coast.

● Jacksonville – home to over 1,100 miles of shore, the city of Jacksonville is widely known as one of the best saltwater fishing spots in the state of Florida

● Miami – Known for being a vacation spot of choice amongst tourists worldwide, the city of Miami is also known for its spectacular surf fishing. Miami is known as “sailfish alley.”

● Cocoa Beach – home to over 500 species of fish, Cocoa Beach is located along Florida’s Space Coast. However, Cocoa Beach is most widely known as a sailfish anglers paradise.

● Sarasota – due to its abundantly healthy ecosystem, the city of Sarasota is known as a fisherman’s sanctuary. This is mainly due to the excellent sale fishing opportunities in Sarasota.

Saltwater Sportsman claims that the best method for sale fishing in the State of Florida is to use the kite fishing method in conjunction with live bait. This particular method employs the use of a kite, holding live bait near the surface of the water. The thrashing and movement of the live bait entice sailfish to come and get their dinner. Because the kites keep the bait just below the surface of the water, no leaders are present. This gives the bait a much more natural appearance to the fish. This also reduces the risk of sailfish becoming wrapped in your lines when they take the bait.

Shark

Shark fishing permits in the State of Florida can be purchased through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The FFWC has separated sharks into three groups, based on their length limits. The first group, known as Group 1, has no limit. Sharks place within this group include:

● Atlantic Sharpnose

● Blacknose

● Blacktip

● Bonnethead

● Finetooth

● Smooth dogfish

● Florida smoothhound

● Gulf smoothhound

There are seven different species of shark found within group 2. This group has a 54-inch fork length limit, and the species found within this group include the following:

● Bull

● Nurse

● Spinner

● Blue

● Oceanic whitetip

● Porbeagle

● Thresher (common)

There are only one species of shark that can be found in group three. This group has an 83-inch fork length limit. The only species of shark that can be found in this group is the Shortfin Mako.

According to Yachtfish Fishing Charters, the Tampa Bay area is widely considered to be among the best shark fishing spot in the state of Florida. Consisting of Tampa, Clearwater, and St Petersburg, the Tampa Bay area has claimed the reputation of being the best shark fishing spot in the Sunshine State due to both the numerous species of sharks found in the area and the sheer amount of sharks that are found swimming in this part of the Gulf of Mexico.

The website Salty 101 says that hammerhead sharks and tiger sharks grow between 20 and 25 feet in length, usually weighing between 1000 and 1, 900 pounds. Found in every Coastal area of Florida, the great white shark usually averages about 21i feet long. However, it is not uncommon for great white sharks to reach astonishing weights of over 5,000 pounds. That’s one big fish!

Although any time of year is considered to be a good time for shark fishing, the shark population in the state of Florida experiences a significant increase during the summer months. I have always found smaller rods to be optimal for shark fishing because they don’t have as much give as some of the longer rods.

Baitcasting and trolling reels are widely accepted to be the best reels for catching sharks. A 60-pound braided line, coupled with a 100-pound leader, is thought to be the best line to use when surf fishing for sharks. Because fishing for sharks in the State of Florida with an offset Hook is illegal, set hooks made of non-stainless steel material are the best option for catching sharks.

How Far to Cast In Surf Fishing (Average Surf Casting Distance)

Barracuda

The barracuda is a particularly interesting species of fish that can be caught while surf fishing in the Sunshine State. Known for being a sport that is both fast and hard-hitting, barracuda fishing in Key West is said to be the best barracuda fishing experience in Florida, per the Florida Keys Vacation website. Another reason that barracuda fishing is such a popular sport in Florida is that Barracuda is known to be built for speed, not for endurance. While they may initially put up a good fight, barracuda higher rather easily. This makes them much easier to reel in than other saltwater fish.

Fortunately, you can fish for Barracuda in the Florida Keys throughout the year. Accompanied by a burning desire to constantly eat, the Barracuda will take practically any bait attached to your line. This applies to both live and artificial bait. While barracudas are not typically known for being scared off by boats or noise, a consensus when fishing for this species is that it is best to remain unseen. However, barracudas are fairly easy to track if you can use your lure to give the impression of fleeing prey. This usually works best if you cast long.

There are three reasons for the recent explosion in the popularity of barracuda fishing in Florida. These reasons include:

● They are found practically everywhere in the Key West area, including in the flats, the backcountry, and even in coral reefs.

● Barracuda are often considered to be one of the most exciting fish to catch amongst saltwater anglers.

● Because they tire easily, barracuda is a species of fish that you do not have to be an expert surf fisherman to enjoy catching.

Caught most frequently when the water temperature is between 75 and 86 degrees, the best rod to use when fishing for barracuda is a fly rod, according to fishkeywestguides.com. you should also have at least 150 yards of 20-pound backing, coupled with a spinning outfit coupled with a 10 to 20-pound setup. According to Florida Sportsman, the best artificial lure to use when fishing Barracuda is the tube lure. This lower can be made by simply passing a wire through an 18-inch piece of plastic tubing and then tying a hook on the end.

Bonefish

The final species of saltwater fish that can be caught when surf fishing in Florida is bonefish. The average size of this species of fish is usually between 3 and 4 pounds, although the largest Bonefish ever caught on record weighed a whopping 16 pounds, 3 ounces! Known for being a surf fishing favorite amongst anglers throughout Florida due to their shallow-water feeding habits, the only natural defense mechanism of the bonefish is its impressive speed. The fact that the bonefish is the preferred prey of both sharks and barracuda is the main reason it is such a fast species of saltwater fish.

The website outdoor.com has composed a list of the five most popular places to fish for Bonefish in Florida. Along with the list of the five most popular areas oh, I have also provided a brief description of each area. The five most popular areas in Florida to catch bonefish are:

● Islamorada – Florida is often referred to as the “fishing capital of the world.” The town of Islamorada is widely known as one of the most popular fishing spots in the state.

● Key West – Known for its impressive population of bonefish, Key West is the best place to fish for large bonefish in Florida.

● Miami – just like Key West, Miami’s proximity to Cuba yields not only a high volume of bonefish but is also home to the largest bonefish.

● Fort Lauderdale & Palm Beach – The towns of Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach are home to some of the best bonefishing in Florida, mostly due to the incredibly large population of bonefish found in the area.

● Tampa – The city of Tampa is known for being the best spot to fish for Bonefish in the Gulf of Mexico. This can be attributed to the warm waters found in the Gulf.

Because the bonefish is relatively small in stature, Finn’s Fishing Tips recommends using a light spinning rod paired with an ultra-light saltwater spinning reel and a 6 to 8-pound monofilament line. Small shrimp or small white bucktail jig are the preferred methods of bait or lures to catch bonefish. Using a light spinning rod will make it seem like the fish is putting up even more of a fight than it is. After all, isn’t the thrill of the catch the most exciting aspect of surf fishing? The main reason I like to use a monofilament line when fishing for bonefish is that it passes through the water relatively unnoticed. Because it is easy prey for larger predatory fish, the bonefish is a species that is quite alert. Therefore, the less obvious you’re lying appears when passing through the water, the more likely you will be to hook one of these beauties!

Conclusion

As we have just discussed, there are many different species of fish just waiting to be caught along the coastline of the Sunshine State. I have always found that the State of Florida has something for every type of surf fishermen, whether you are fishing for size or if you aim to catch a large quantity of fish. The sheer volume of water that surrounds Florida is home to many different species of fish. Of the many different species waiting to be caught in the salt waters of Florida, five of the most exotic, unusual, and exciting species are tarpon, sailfish, shark, barracuda, and bonefish.

Whether you are fishing for sport, fishing commercially, or simply looking to provide fresh seafood for your family, you are sure to find something to suit your needs amongst one of these twelve popular species. Now that I have provided you with a little knowledge regarding these different species, the only thing that’s left for you to do is to pack your gear, get out to the Florida coast, and have a great day of surf fishing!