Captain B's Brevard County Surf Fishing Report

We’d like to introduce Captain B’s Brevard County Surf Fishing Report to you. Below you’ll see what’s biting in Brevard and who knows what else may pop up on Captain B’s adventures!

9/12/25- Weekend Surfing Report

It is GO time! The mullet run has begun, and the pompano train is hot on its trail.

This is the start of the most exciting time of the year for surf fishing. Everything that swims will be chasing the mullet as well as the crabs that move in the clean up to eat the scraps left behind. Snook, jack, tarpon, sharks, spanish, and even some bull reds will be feeding on the mullet with breath taking leaps through the schools, it is truly amazing to witness. To target these aggressive fish it is very important to “Match the Hatch”. What this means for surf fishing is: 1.) Match the bait size, if you lure is too big or too small it is likely to be ignored. I have had clients catch 60lb tarpon on baits the size of a quarter. Look for washed up bait to confirm the size if you can’t see them clearly running the waves. 2.) Color. Most lures are designed to catch fishermen, not fish. While flash can be good, if it is too much or the wrong type it ill stand out in a bad way and be ignored. Your best bet is white, white/red, or silver, green mixed with silver can also produce. These colors match the bait that they will be feeding on. Make sure to have several sizes in your box to make sure you get the size as close as possible to the bait that is running the beach.

Now for my favorite. Pompano, With luck and proper conditions, big pompano. The schools are stacking up now right around the Florida, Georgia line. Pompano tend to school in groups of similar size, for example the 8″-10″ schools will run together, which is what we have right now. Followed by the bigger fish. With a little luck, and the 1st “cold front” of the year pushing down now, I anticipate the bigger pomps to make an appearance as soon as this weekend and have additional schools follow through the end of the year. Right now there are tons of sand fleas in the surf. Scoop a few up and you are ready to go. Just make sure as we get closer to November to gather some for the winter, and blanch and freeze them, we will cover “how to” in a later report. It is also a very good idea to have shrimp on hand as sometimes this will do the trick. It is also many times preferred by the bull whiting which are a welcome bi-catch of this time of the year, and IMO the most underrated fish in the surf. For your rigs, float color needs to be your combos with white, yellow, orange, and greens. Not to say other colors or even naked will not work, but these colors have proven to produce fish in the fall run year in and out. A great choice for rigs is a local company called Pomp-Elite, they are all hand made with top quality components. Of course ALWAYS have Fishbites on hand, my go to is the Electric Chicken EZ Flea, but also have some Ghost Shrimp, Crab, and Clam scents on hand to add to the mix. The surf and current can be tricky this time of year so make sure to have 3oz – 6oz The Sinker Guy Sputnicks on hand to ensure you hold your rigs in the proper spots. For best results fish several set ups, cast one far one middle and one short. Keep it simple, and if one distance produces more fish, move all the set ups to this distance. This is a great time of the year for surf fishing and we live in one of the best locations in the world for it. Get out there and catch a memory! If you have questions or would like to book a charter please feel free to reach out, also follow Captain B’s Surf Fishing Charters Facebook page for tips as well as information on upcoming events, such as my monthly Surf Fishing Meet Up at Mavericks Hangar Bar and Grill in Satellite Beach on A!A. These are free events and lots of fun, with some of the areas best surf fishing anglers on site that are always happy to discuss the ins and outs of how to make it happen on the beach. The time is NOW, Let’s Go Catching!!!!

8/22/25- Weekend Surfing Report

We are in that broken record time of the season where it seems there is always a storm churning in the Atlantic and while none have their sight set on the Space Coast, they are kicking up the surf and causing strong currents all along the beaches. The good news is that by Sunday morning it should lay down and will be fishable. For the best chance to put fish on the beach, getting out early will be key. If you hit the beach before 7:00 a.m. you will catch a rising tide which I always prefer. Lots of sandfleas are around, so free bait is right at your feet. Just make sure to bring some other choices like fresh dead shrimp and of course a few bags of Fishbites. Electric Chicken Sand Flea is my go to this time of year. Your float colors need to be bright, such as yellow, white or glow in the dark. SurfPro makes a great glow in the dark float hook rig that is a home run and I highly recommend trying some. When you hit the beach, seek out the cleanest water you can find and fire away. Just make sure you have bigger The Sinker Guy Sputnicks to hold in the stronger surf. What about Saturday you ask? Well not great conditions, but you might be able to hold with 6oz Sputnicks. My call is to use the off day to clean your gear, check your braid and all other items. Don’t let poor care of your gear cost you that fish of a lifetime! Tight Lines everyone, and Let’s Go Catching…..

8/15/25- Weekend Fishing Report

Man can’t live on surf fishing alone, well at least that is what Robin tells me. So with that in mind I wanted to share one of our state’s greatest outdoor adventures that I have ever experienced, scalloping. I was introduced to this amazing activity over 30 years ago and have been partaking in it every season since. There are several locations along the west coast of the state that hold scallops, my favorite being Steinhatchee. Steinhatchee is a wonderful throwback part of Florida that has managed to keep the true feel of Florida in every part of it. From the sign that welcomes you as you arrive that says, “Welcome to Steinhatchee, a Drinking Town with a Fishing Problem”, and while this isn’t the official sign, it does describe the laidback feeling very well.

Scalloping is easy, provided you can find them. The bay scallops are smaller in size to what you typically see on menus, but what they lack in size they make up for with their sweet taste that is matched by no other shellfish. To locate them during the early season or on busy weekends, just look for the “fleet” as there will be large numbers of people partaking in the fun. As long as you can swim, and don’t mind a mask and snorkel you can be successful. Once you locate these tasty little guys, you drop anchor, hoist your diver down flag and jump in. Don’t let the word “dive” throw you, as you can find scallops in depths from 2’ – 7’ with the bulk normally being in 4’ – 5’. Once in the water you will be able to spot them by looking for their bright, tiny blue eyes that ring their shell when opened for filter feeding. Of course if the shell is closed they are a little harder to see and take some getting used to, but once you figure it out it is game on! It is like an underwater Easter Egg Hunt, but with a much better reward. With any luck you will fill your mesh bag within a few dives. The limits in Steinhatchee are 2 gallons un shucked per person or 10 gallons per boat, whichever is less. The average weight of shucked scallops for a full 10 gallon limit is between 4-6 lbs. depending on the size.

This year was an exception, with the scallops being very big, and our 10 gallon limit produced over 8 ½ lbs. which is a record for me. We stayed at Sea Hag Marina which has all you need from cabins to boats and everything in between. Just keep in mind that you will need to bring any food you plan to cook as the local grocery store is still closed due to the major storm damage from 2024 which devastated the area, we were very glad to see it didn’t ruin the spirit of the amazing town and the locals all came together and have done a great job putting their town back together. If you enjoy the outdoors and being on the water with friends this is a must do, 10 out of 10 in my book.

Next week back to surf fishing and with tournament season starting up in September it will be a fun season with lots of excitement! Tight Lines Everyone, and Let’s Go Catching!!!!!!

8/8/25- Weekend Fishing Report

In the immortal words of the late great Jimmy Buffett, “trying to reason with hurricane season”, and NO there is no hurricane headed toward the Space Coast. On that note, be cautious of where you get your weather news as there are several outlets on YouTube and social media that love to stir things up with “worst case scenario” forecasts. Unfortunately it doesn’t take a storm coming our way to stir up the surf and put a negative spin on our fishing. The riptides over the past few days have made the water very dirty, which is an open invitation for the dreaded catfish. They thrive on dirty water and will make fast work of your bait. Now this doesn’t mean you can’t catch fish from the surf, but you have to put the work in. Here’s how. Search for “cleaner” water, find deeper troughs and holes and while they might be dirty, the deeper areas will hold cleaner water. During days like these I fish 3 set ups at the most so I can keep them in the cleaner water areas, which will generally be smaller and have areas of dirty water to the north and south. The gear and bait you will need will be a little different. While you will still want to use cut shrimp and sand fleas, your Fishbites and floats should be on the brighter side. Electric Chicken Sand Flea Scent Fishbites are my go to for dirty water, baited on yellow, orange, white, or bright green floats. You will likely need 4oz or larger The Sinker Guy Sputniks to hold, as the current is going to be stronger due to the rip currents that are around. I still prefer mornings for several reasons, this time of year the heat being the main one. Now if you don’t make it to the beach, this is a great time to get your gear set for the upcoming mullet run. Make sure your braid is fresh and the reels are serviced. Look for some snook tips in the next report along with a recap of one of Florida’s greatest adventures, scalloping in the Big Bend area. If you haven’t done it I highly suggest you plan a trip. I will include information in next week’s report as well. Until then Tight Lines and Let’s Go Catching!!!!!

8/1/25- Weekend Fishing Report

I am really starting to hate this phrase, “Heat Dome”, OK we get it, it is hot. That goes for the beach as well and unfortunately the breezes have been light at best, but if you prepare and do a little homework you can still catch fish. The keys are to find deeper holes and troughs and if you can find some foam runouts or rafts within casting distance make those your target. With this heat, hit the beach at first light right around 6:30 a.m. This weekend you will catch the tail end of the falling tide, not my favorite as I prefer the rising tide. I will always take moving water. Slack tides are the worst, particularly this time of the year, so plan your outings around the tides and look for days with the tide changes in the morning. This is not to say fish can’t be caught during any time of the day as there have been reports of some catches between 1-4 p.m. in the Satellite Beach area. The fish aren’t as active this time of year, so finding the areas holding fish is more important during the summer months. Look for baitfish, you can normally see birds diving on them, but if not (which has been the case the past few days), looking for “nervous” water (the water will appear to pop or bubble from larger fish feeding on them) is also a great way to locate them. Also look for areas holding sandfleas. You can see these little guys running up in and out with the surf. In some cases they will be easy enough to see that you will not need a rack. Fish these areas with fleas, but also shrimp, and definitely Fishbites, the right color and scent Fishbites can make or break the day. I start using 3 to 4 different scents and or colors and if 1 color starts catching better I will switch out and bait all hooks with the hot color. The same goes for your rigs, use different color floats and if 1 color is hot switch em out. We live in the one of the best surf fishing locations in the country, so get out there and fill the box for some fish tacos, or even a breakfast of fried fish and grits. If you need help, book a trip and I will show you the ropes. Tight Lines and Let’s Go Catching!!!!

7/25/25- Weekend Surf Fishing Report

It is no secret that summertime surf fishing can be challenging to say the least. Between pop up thunderstorms and scourging heat, long sessions, and mid-day trips are almost impossible. But there is no need to store away the gear until fall. With a little planning and an alarm clock set for an early morning wakeup you can still put some fish in the box. This weekend is no exception.

Yes summertime pompano are a thing!

A solid scenario sets up for this weekend and the key is finding deeper holes and troughs that will have cooler water, even a couple of degrees can make a huge difference between catching fish and getting skunked. With rising tides being early this weekend, getting out early is key. Seek out the troughs and runouts that are easier to see at low tide and when the tide rises enough to fill these in, the fish will not be far behind. These areas have more water flow and as a result, bait is pushed into them. Where there is bait there are fish. Your set ups should be simple, double drop Pompano rigs are perfect. Don’t skimp on the rigs. Cheaply made rigs are, in a word, cheap. Don’t let a couple of bucks keep you from catching fish. Use lighter Sinker Guy Sputniks, 2oz -3oz should be fine this weekend as the surf looks to be calm. Just make sure to have some bigger ones with you in case the current picks up. Your bait of choice should be shrimp and sand fleas. When using shrimp don’t make the mistake of using large pieces. These fish, even the big pomps and permit have small mouths. Give them something they can eat in one bite. Sand fleas are all over the beach, so many in fact that a rack isn’t needed to get enough for bait. To up your chances, tip your hooks with small pieces of Fishbites. I like to cut them into small triangles to mimic the coquina clams that are abundant in the surf. The Fishbites pieces have a long lasting scent and can make or break your day. They can even be used alone and often will out produce natural baits.

Here’s Captain B putting in the hours along the beach!

The main targets this time of year are whiting, which is a very underrated fish. The meat is clean and white and can be cooked in many ways, including great fish tacos. Lastly, don’t be afraid to cast at least 1 rod close to shore, just past the breakers. Often the fish will move into this area and pick off the bait that is kicked up by the waves. We live in one of the greatest areas in the world for surf fishing, so get out there and wet a hook. If you would like to learn more feel free to reach out and book a charter and learn the ins and outs to up your chances. Tight Lines, and Let’s Go Catching!!!!!!

7/23/25- ICAST Recap

If you are in the fishing world, fresh, salt, inshore, offshore and anything in between you most likely have heard of ICAST or to be more formal, International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades. Now if you haven’t heard of it and you are a fisherman or woman, it has played a huge role in the products you use. From the smallest hook up to the World’s most sophisticated radar ICAST influences how it is used, marketed, and even if
it makes it to the market at all.

For three days in Mid July each year the largest companies, down to the one man operations in the fishing world converge on Orlando, to the Orange County Convention Center to be more specific. These companies bring with them their tried and true products, as well as the latest and greatest new inventions destined to revolutionize the industry. Well that’s the hope anyway. Each of these companies try to out do the next with booth designs that look more like a Vegas stage than a trade show booth. From tanks with fish complete with professional anglers attempting to land them to others complete with tattoo artists ready to tattoo their logo anywhere you wish. Of course booth design and the pizzazz that comes with them isn’t all as there are giveaways, happy hours and dinners all designed to catch the eye and hopefully the wallet of every shop that sells fishing supplies. From the small local bait and tackle shops to the giant box stores ICAST is designed to get their products to the market and more importantly, in the hands of those willing to dish out whatever it takes to have the latest and greatest as part of their fishing arsenal. Now before you get excited and book your trip to I-Drive, ICAST is not open to the public. Those attending must be affiliated with a vendor, own or work with a shop, be a media member or a professional angler. Some of the badges come free of charge while others can cost up to $150 and more, and even higher for media as they must be a member of the ASA as well.

Reed the Fish Monger with Capt. B!

Capt. B with the legend himself, Flip Pallot!

2025 ICAST did not disappoint. From the new product area to the casting ponds, everything was more than impressive. While there were many standout new products, a few deserve special mentions starting with Fishbites, a Florida company headquartered in St. Augustine where they also make all their products. Fishbites is heading into their 25th year of producing the some of the best synthetic baits loaded with scent that you can buy, and while they could easily sit back and let their amazing products speak for themselves, Fishbites isn’t done. They have hit the ground in full stride in their 25th year by releasing a new 5” Mullet soft bait as part of their Fight Club line, a scented bait line offering paddle and curly tail baits that crush the inshore fish from snook to flounder and everything in between, they catch fish when others don’t.

Fishbites Fight Club 5″ Mullet

Along with the new Fight Club items, Fishbites has also released a new Mullet scent strip bait great for big reds running the beach and of course the blues and spanish that are always a fun catch. To close it out Fishbites is jumping into the freshwater scene, more specifically the freshwater Catfish scene with a new chunk bait which unlike other chunk baits that stink up the box, boat and everything they touch, these baits don’t stink. Well at least not to humans that is!

While there were lots of amazing new products on display, two more really stood out.

Pradco Outdoor Brands released a solar powered bait cooler which is a game changer for keeping your live bait kicking. The Whisker Seeker Solar-Powered Bait Cooler does not require batteries and gets its power from the sun. These boxes come equipped with 3 aerators with 3 different power modes and can run for 10 days off a full charge and at 22 quarts it is big enough to hold tons of bait, but not too big to load up and hit the road.

Whisker Seeker Solar Powered Bait Shack 22 Quart Live Bait Cooler

Another stand out product comes from Turtlebox, a waterproof speaker manufacturer that hit the scene in 2019 and has been a leader in the game from day 1. They offer 3 different sizes the 1st being their Gen 3, a midsize speaker with giant sound, then comes the Ranger which has the same technology as the Gen 3 as well as the same amazing sound but in a larger size. Then there is the newcomer to the party, the Ranger, a smaller version that is still big on sound and really packs a punch. If you like taking music on your adventures I highly recommend these for the journey.