Target Species

Redfish

Redfish, or Red Drum are one of the most sought after species on the beach. These fish are some of our favorites to target by walking the beach and sight fishing. The panhandle of Florida is notorious for having some of the smartest Reds you can find. Many of the fish found on the beach will run 30 inches or more. These fish can be 30 or more years old and it shows! The clear water, heavy fishing pressure, and years of experience will test even the most experienced angler when presenting an artificial fly or lure.

Florida Pompano

The Florida Pompano, or as we like to call them, the “Panhandle Permit”, are some of our favorite fish to catch on set rigs with spinning gear or sight fishing on the fly . These fish are available on the beach year round, with prime time being mid March through April and then again in the late fall. Pompano are incredibly strong for their size and are also some of the finest eating fish available.

Black Drum

Black Drum are another common species we encounter will fishing the beach. While usually caught on set rigs with spinning gear, we occasionally get sight fishing opportunities on the fly or with an artificial lure.

Little Tunny

Also known as Bonita, or False Albacore, these fish are some of the hardest fighting fish you can find on the beach. Known for their blistering runs and pack mentality, targeting these fish in the surf with an artificial fly or lure can be some of the most fast paced and exciting fishing you can have without being on a boat.

Bluefish

Bluefish are another species that is available year round and can be found in large schools making casting topwater flies or lures a fun way to catch these fish. When targeting Bluefish on the fly or with artificial lures, we will tend to size up our line size or use flies and lures with a longer shank or profile to keep their razor sharp teeth from cutting our line.

Spanish Mackerel

Another one of the more aggressive fish we find in the surf is the Spanish Mackerel. These fish are complete with razor sharp teeth and when schooled up close to the beach, are always willing to eat a quickly retrieved fly or lure.

Ladyfish

Ladyfish are often referred to as the “poor man's Tarpon” due to their similar look and tendency to go airborne during a fight. While these fish do not grow anywhere near the size of a Tarpon, they are almost always ready to eat a fly, making them the perfect fish to target if you are just beginning your journey into fly fishing.

Additional Species

One of our favorite parts of surf fishing the beach with either light tackle spinning gear or with fly fishing gear is that you never really know what you will encounter on any given day. Along with the species above, depending on the time of year, we also have the chance of encountering:

-Tarpon

-Jack Crevalle

-Cobia

-Flounder