Brevard County Beaches - Surf Zone

We've just had Hurricane Bertha and Tropical Storm Cristobel move past us along the eastern Atlantic shore and are experiencing the remnants of both - mainly big waves and quiet fishing. Big waves are good for surfers, but can be a hinderance for fishermen. Likely, however, these waves will die down as quickly as they formed. Generally, July means plenty of whiting, black margates and Atlantic croakers, however catches have been slow this past week. Most blame the tropical systems, however, hot temperatures could play a role as well. Sandfleas are abundant along the beaches right now, and we're seeing lots of birds diving within casting distance, so we should start seeing more fishing activity. When fishing is slow, try a variety of baits. At times, fish can be picky. Live sandfleas are always a favorite, however, cut squid and fresh cut shrimp are quiet effective and can provide the added bonus of strong scent when fish are not as likely to feed. Today, my client caught a spotted eagle ray, something I have never seen in this county - a beautiful fish! We released it and bid it well after it awed all the beach-goers around us. You just never know when you will see something truly amazing in the surf.