Surf fishing is a fun family outing — or a quiet escape

Last updated on January 14th, 2026 at 04:56 pm

Any time of year is great for surf fishing from Florida’s beaches, but late summer and fall are special with the migration of mullet south along Florida’s Atlantic beaches.

Massive schools swarm near shore, attracting gamefish closer to the beach from deeper water.

When these baitfish are abundant near shore, the big fish are not far behind, and that’s why I love fishing from the beach at this time of year. I’m not fishing for mullet. I want the big boys.

The mullet run begins in early September, sometimes as early as late August, along the beaches of northeast Florida, moving south along the coast to South Florida and the Keys. The peak is in mid-October, stretching into early December.

The mullet reverse the migration in Spring, returning to their summer habitats.

Watch for the “boil,” hundreds of ripples on the ocean surface, sometimes bursting with leaping baitfish trying to escape predators, as well as swarming birds, a sure sign there are mullet below.

The larger gamefish will be on the outside edge of the school, preparing to pounce. That’s where your bait needs to be. Cast ho!

Favorite beaches for surf fishing are Canaveral National Seashore and Hutchinson Island.

Even when you’re not fishing, it can be quite a sight along the Atlantic shoreline, especially at the peak of the migration in October.

Surf fishing makes a great getaway any time of year in Florida, a fun family outing, or a place to be alone with your thoughts, and the weather is never better than fall through spring.

You don’t have to buy a lot of specialized gear. Bring whatever fishing tackle you have on hand: a basic spinning outfit, a pyramid sinker, a hook with a leader, a 5-gallon bucket, a cooler for your catch — and nail clippers, the most important tool an angler can carry.

If you get hooked on the fun, you may want to gear up a little more.

Do you need a license for surf fishing?

Yes, but it’s free for Florida residents.

You must have the license on your person while fishing unless you are under 16 or over 65. Seniors without a physical fishing license must have an ID card to prove their age.

The free shoreline license is not valid if you’re fishing from a boat or in fresh water.

Obtain your free shoreline license online from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission or call  888-FISH-FLORIDA (888-347-4356).

Hot Tip: If ordering your license by phone, have a pen ready to write down your new license number so you can use it right away.

Non-residents must purchase a 3-day, 7-day, or an annual non-resident saltwater fishing license no matter where they fish with one exception: Many public piers and charter boats (not all) have a blanket license covering their customers.

Gearing up

All you really need is a medium-weight spinning rod and reel, a sturdy line, a few simple lures, a bucket for bait, a cooler for your catch, and a beach chair.

The bucket – A basic 5-gallon bucket is ideal. Bucket inserts, available at home improvement stores and many tackle shops, make fine compartments for your tackle.

Bait bucket and aerator – I usually bring a bait bucket with a battery-powered aerator to keep the water oxygenated. Ask a local bait shop about the best live bait to use in the area you’re going to fish.

PVC rod holders – A good idea for keeping your rod and reels out of the sand. Make them yourself out of a three-foot length of PVC pipe. Use a hacksaw to cut a point at one end.

Beach carts — Serious anglers own beach carts for gear. You can purchase these hand-made carts at beach-area tackle shops for $150-$200, or you can build one yourself.

Fish ruler — A fish ruler and fish identification card help you identify a legal catch. You can buy them at Walmart or any bait shop.

Rods and reels

A basic medium spinning outfit will suffice, but you might want to kick it up a notch:

The rod – A sturdy 9-foot rod is the best choice for casting past the surf break. I have an 11-foot Harnell and an inexpensive 9-foot White Rhino. A longer butt is best for casting.

The reel – The pros use a baitcaster reel but unless you know how to use it, i suggest a saltwater spinning reel. A decent medium-weight spinning reel can handle a few hundred yards of 25-lb to 30-lb. line.

Tools – Bait knife, long-nose pliers, gloves and nail clippers. You need pliers to remove hooks without hurting the fish. Nail clippers are indispensable. Gloves are useful for holding your catch and protecting your hands from sharp teeth and fins. Vinyl gloves do the least damage to your fish.

Tackle for surf fishing

The line – Monofilament line is the choice for most people, but old-school anglers use braided lines. I usually bring two reels. 1) A medium-duty spinner with 150 yards of 30-lb. braided line and a monofilament backing of another 200 yards, allowing room for the fish to run and wear itself out. 2) A lightweight spinner with 15-lb. test for fishing the edge of a mullet boil.

Sinkers – Pyramid sinkers creep into the sand and hold your bait near the bottom. Bring a selection of weights for varying surf conditions. Egg sinkers and bucktail jigs work in calm surf.

Hooks – Many swear by circle hooks because the set quickly, but the standard J-hook works best for me. You’ll need to pay closer attention to the J-hook, but that’s fishing, right?

Basic rigs – The basic rig for most saltwater fishing is called the “Fishfinder,” or sliding rig. Slip the tag end of your line through the eye of a sinker, then attach a swivel big enough to stop the slide. On the other end of the swivel, attach a 30-lb. leader with your hook. Add bait and go.

Special rigs – The possibilities are endless, but the one I use most is called a “pompano rig,” which you purchase ready-made in most bait and tackle shops. The pompano rig has two or three sub-leaders with hooks branching off the main leader. Clip a pyramid sinker to the bottom of the rig.

Lures and jigs – Jigs and lures can be very effective, especially when casting around schools of mullet and anchovies. A minnow bait that imitates anchovy or mullet is usually a good choice. The jig of choice for surf fishing is the feathered bucktail jig tipped with a small piece of shrimp.

Nets – A net could save the day. As you reel your catch to shore, fish bounce in the surf and throw themselves off your hook. Walking out to meet the fish with your net gives you an edge.

Bait for surf fishing

“Sand fleas” – Not really a flea, but a tiny mole crab you can dig out of the sand at the surf line. Buy them at bait shops near the beach, or pick them out of the sand yourself. As the surf rolls back, watch for tiny v-shapes in the outward flow, followed by little bubbles. Those are antennae. Scoop the sand around the bubbles and dig them out with a garden trowel.

Mullet — Best during the fall mullet run. Hook just in front of the tail or through the nose. If the surf is calm, let the mullet run free. In rough surf, use a sinker.

Shrimp – Live shrimp is best. Frozen shrimp tears apart in surf. With live shrimp, you need a bucket and an aerator to keep them alive. The aerators run on batteries and attach to your bucket. Without an aerator, the shrimp won’t last long. When buying shrimp from a bait shop, make sure to select the frisky ones. If a shrimp dies in your bucket, remove it.

Squid – Readily available frozen. Cut the body into thin strips and use one strip at a time on each hook or jig. I don’t have much luck with squid, but many people do.

Patronize local bait shops

Patronize a bait shop near the beach you want to fish. These guys know what’s biting and what kind of bait to use on any given day.

Their advice is not infallible, but they know better than anybody, except the guy who fishes that beach every day.

Local bait shops are an invaluable resource.

Tips for beach fishing

Most beaches in Florida allow surf fishing, unless there are large crowds of swimmers. In some cases, local ordinance limits hours for fishing. Usually, permissible fishing hours are early morning and near dusk, which are the best times to fish anyway.

Beaches with restrictions will post them as you enter the beach.

Wear water shoes or beach sandals to protect your feet from rocks, coral or shells below the surf. Bring a hat and good sunscreen.

Start early or late? Fish are rummaging for food before dawn, so be there to feed them your bait. Don’t despair if you arrive late, especially during the fall mullet run. Some anglers will argue there is better fishing as the day progresses.

Another popular time to fish is at dusk, when the water begins to cool and fish come off the bottom to hunt for food. Tide can be a factor at any time of day.

Florida has more than 600 miles of beaches and 1300 miles of coastline

Check reef structure and tidal flow – If there are reefs, shoals or sandbars near shore, as there are on Hutchinson Island and Canaveral National Seashore, watch the ebb and flow of currents. Fish are often trapped in the trough between the beach and sandbars on an outgoing tide, and they flow out through gaps. Cast your bait into the outflow and let it drift with the current.

Keep an extra rod handy — I make it a habit to have one light- to medium-weight spinning rod on standby, rigged with an imitation minnow lure for the big event — the arrival of a school of mullet. When the game fish are present, you’ll see hundreds of ripples at the surface as the minnows scramble to get away from predators. Grab that standby rod and cast around the outside edge of the ripples.

When you cast, don’t be afraid to get wet. Fishing the trough near the beach may not require a long cast, but if you don’t have such a structure, you’ll need to cast as far as possible. That’s where a longer rod is a big plus. Wade into the surf as far as comfortable and take your time casting. A steady, progressively faster cast with a release at 1 o’clock will give you the most distance. It takes practice.

Catch and release – Decide ahead of time whether you plan to release your catch. My rule is that if I’m not going to eat it or use it for bait, the fish is released. When you land the fish, pick it up carefully but firmly and remove the hook. Wet your hands first so you don’t remove the slime that protects the fish, or use vinyl gloves. Once the hook is removed, carry it into the surf and gently release it in the water. If the fish doesn’t move, give it a nudge so the water will flow through its gills. Be gentle.

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