Surf fishing provides ‘Bama Beach Bum’ vocation

If you’re targeting fish in Saint Joseph Bay and the flats, using artificial baits can be highly effective. Consider using Gulp or DOA shrimp under a popping cork, as this mimics the natural movement of live bait and attracts species like redfish, trout, and flounder. Additionally, white bucktail jigs can be effective in enticing strikes from these species.

You can keep three slot redfish, but you can catch and release as many as you wish. Redfish more than 26-inches long are called bull reds. You can keep one bull red and one slot red per day. These anglers believe that the bigger baits tend to catch bigger bull reds than the pompano rigs do, however, I’ve fished Carolina rigs with both live and dead bait before, and we’ve consistently caught more bull reds on the smaller pompano rigs.

Isbell has refined his surf-fishing techniques in the last six years. Although he has learned to judge the surf and which areas produce fish, it’s really not a technique that infrequent visitors should tackle. He said learning to read the beach takes time, that most people find it difficult to pick up on the nuances that might lead to better fishing unless a lot of time is spent on the beach.

Trolling with live baits, such as menhaden or pinfish, can be productive for species like kingfish and cobia. Consider using downriggers or planers to get your baits at the desired depth. Vary your trolling speed and depth until you find what works best on a given day. On our trip, Isbell used 10-foot surf rods with 4000- and 5000-series spinning reels spooled with 20-pound-test braided line. Of the five rigs we used during our outing, we had a drop-hook rig with the 2- to 3-ounce weight tied to the bottom on three rods,

They may make two or three more runs before you can subdue them and reel them in from the surf.” Although you only can keep one bull red per person, you can hook, catch, photograph and release bull reds as long as you want to fish. The fish in the surf are always moving, looking for food. But they are going to hang in a particular depth. That’s why you stagger your baits to try to find out what depth those fish are favoring. But it can change daily or week to week. You always have to recalibrate to find the fish.

Port St Joe is a year-round fishing destination, offering diverse fishing experiences in every season. Whether you prefer the action-packed spring and fall seasons, the trophy fish opportunities in summer, or the excitement of winter fishing, Port St Joe has it all. Plan your next fishing trip accordingly to make the most of the seasonal fishing patterns in this beautiful coastal city.