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NE FL January Surf Fishing Forecast
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With the early winter storm that swept across the nation recently, the surf-fishing game has officially changed to winter strategy, so this report will be full of good tidbits of info for you to try when you head out to the beach. I’m really not a fan of being cold (hence why I moved to Florida from a place that averaged 150 inches of snow per winter) so I am a bit glad I was too busy to get out fishing in the height of winter storm Elliot, which plummeted our “feels like” temperature into the teens a few nights in a row where I live.
By the end of January and into February we get hit with some very cold snaps, so be sure to take precautions before heading to the beach. Just because the wind isn’t blowing at your house, doesn’t mean it’s not breezy at the beach, and even a little wind can make it almost unbearably cold on the surf. Dress in layers and protect your hands, face, and head. You don’t want to get out there just to leave shortly after. Ladies, remember those leggings are not usually insulated and can get chilly too!
But there are some great fish to be caught on the beach in the winter, so let’s take a look at what to expect in January and some strategies for surf fishing in the New Year.
Bait
We have officially hit the Diet Pepsi shrimp water temps. I mentioned it in my last report, but for some reason, soaking shrimp with Diet Pepsi (no other soda works) overnight really fires up the whiting bite. I first heard about Diet Pepsi shrimp from Spencer Brogden, who started the BrokenReel23 Northeast Florida Surf Fishing group on Facebook (now over 5,000 members!). He has been fishing our waters since he was a boy and stresses that this bait is a must when water temps get this cold. If you have not tried it yet, just give it a whirl; what do you have to lose? Chip Brundage, The Sinker Guy, has a very helpful video showing this method:
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As for other bait, I know a lot of fishermen are using fiddler crabs and sheepshead rigs near jetties and other structures to go after those black-and-white convicts now that the waters have cooled down. I’m also seeing lots of reports of speckled trout, bigger whiting, and small bluefish.
Mike Cook, with the YouTube channel “St. Augustine Sandman Fishing Mike Cook” says, “My go-to winter bait is blue crab, fresh dead shrimp, and clam. Fresh bait is key to keeping the catfish away. Fishbites are always added to the hook. Bright colors such as hot pink, chartreuse, and orange are my go-to, as they seem to attract pompano the best. If there are any still here, they will hit it.” If you live in northeast Florida, Mike puts out helpful, informative, and entertaining videos every week from our area’s beaches and waters.
Weather and Water Temps
I was ready to write this report a week ago, but I decided to wait until after the cold snap finished to see where the water temps ended up. In Flagler, we went from 69 degrees on December 20th to 63 degrees just a week later. Crescent Beach is showing 61 degrees now, and 59 in Jacksonville. Elliot really dropped us down and thrust us into winter fishing for sure. I didn’t see too many reports from the beach on those colder days, but the inshore folks were really bundled up, so I can’t imagine how cold it was on the beach!
In St. Augustine and a little north and south of us, Mike Cook says that the January winds tend to die down, making the surf less churned up and muddy. He notes that the water temperature typically stays in the mid to low 60s, and we can expect to see bull whiting, bluefish, juvenile black drum, and occasional residential pompano.
Spencer Brogden notes that with surf temperatures into the lower 60s and upper 50s, surf fishing will certainly slow down and that the main fish to catch from the beach will be whiting and the usual skates and stingrays. I appreciate the weekly surf fishing forecast reports that Spencer puts out on the BrokenReel23 YouTube channel. They helped me know what to expect before going out to the beach, especially when I was just starting out with surf fishing. It’s always great to get plugged into a local fishing club or Facebook group. We can learn so much from each other!
January Strategy
For the most part, we can expect that pompano have moved on to warmer waters, and some can be found inshore in the river and canal systems. There will always be smaller residential pompano around, but I would focus on big bull whiting (they are soooo good to eat!), black drum, seatrout, and bluefish, along with sheepshead near a more defined structure.
Mike Cook advises that if you are fishing with lures, be sure to move them very slowly because the fish are also cold and will move slower than normal. He suggests using bucktail jigs and trying to match the size of whatever bait is moving in the surf. For tackle, he says, “Size 1/0, 2/0, or 3/0 circle hooks are best, and keep the bait no bigger than a 25-cent (quarter) piece. If the water is clear make sure to use 20 lb test or lower to keep the bait looking more natural to smaller species.”
Look for warmer or sunny days to fish this month, and bring a variety of bait, as usual. If the waves will be calm (2 foot waves or below) have some 1-2 oz spoons or lures on a jighead ready to throw while your set rigs soak when the bite is slow. You never know what you might be able to catch in the meantime.
One last tip from Spencer Brogden is that this time of year he tends to catch most of his fish on the top of the sandbar, so make sure to throw a line on top of the bar when you are staggering your lines.
I wish you all to have a blessed and prosperous New Year. We are excited to see what 2023 holds for Fishin’ Girl. One year ago it was all a dream in my head that is now a reality and growing. Thank you all for the support you have shown to me and Fishin’ Girl so far. We have some big things planned for the future. Tight lines!
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Awesome info. Thanks for the report, Cathy!
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