[rthensley]

Think I need to get out of this SW Virginia cold for a few days and head south to camp/fish. I hope to be able to leave Friday morning and camp (tent) 3 nights. Does not leave me much time to plan. If I can't go this weekend, I will go 1-13-17 for 3 nights.

Would love to find a campground that would leave me with a short drive to the beach to fish. In a perfect world there would be a pier close by, but that is not a deal breaker.

I want to go south in Florida far enough to give me a chance to catch some fish. Does not matter if it is East Coast or West Coast. Really, does not matter what fish. Pompano would be nice, but really I just want to get away from work, put my feet in the sand (or butt on the pier), relax, and catch some fish.

How far south will I need to go?

Would take me 11 hours to get to Sebastian Inlet. Have never been there, but am reading about it. Would prefer to not have to drive farther than that.

Today I will look at State Parks, and KOA Campgrounds.

Guess I was hoping that someone knows of a mom & pops campground that would be perfect for me.

I know this is short notice. Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[rthensley]

So far I have found KOAs in Perry and at Lake Panasoffkee that are cheap, and not too far from the water.

Also found the Inlet Marina Campground at Sebastian Inlet. State Park has not openings.

Any thoughts on these?


Have also just discovered the Spoil Islands. Sounds right up my alley. Could load up my canoe and spend 3 nights relaxing. Any recommendations on which island? Where to park? Helpful hints? Etc...

 

[SloppyTilapia]

I can only speak for the State Parks at St. George Island and St. Joes Peninsula......I have stayed at both and St. Joes Peninsula is a much shorter walk from the campground to the beach. Neither have piers that are close. These are gulf side, between Tallahassee and Panama City.

 

[rthensley]

Sloppy........thanks for the info.

It now looks like I will be making the trip on the January, 13th weekend. Gives me more time to plan.

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[SloppyTilapia]

Get on ReserveAmerica.com and look for state parks in Florida, you should find something that will suit your needs. I always use this site to make my reservations to the state parks down there......usually only looking at $24 per night and you can make reservations up to one year out. The camp grounds don't tend to stay as full during this time of year. April-October, you got to plan well and make them reservations well in advance.

 

[sleddog39]

There is a primitive campground just north of the Sebastian Inlet state park with sites for $20 a night . I was there last Feb . They have had openings every time I have been there .I think it may be the marina . I know they have a boat launching ramp & a store . Its just a short walk across the road to the beach to fish.

 

[hugehail]

In the middle of winter the best pompano fishing on average is from Melbourne south to Hobe Sound Beach. Cold fronts can occasionally push the Pomps as far south as Juno Beach. In warm winters the pompano can extend as far north as New Smyrna Beach all winter but that is not the typical case. Whiting and Bluefish bite is normally very strong as well. Try shrimp and clam flavored fishbites for the Whiting and Pompano. If the surf is too rough or wind is too strong for surf fishing then try Sebastian Inlet north jetty for Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish action. Try fishing closer in for the Whiting and farther out for the pompano.

 

[hugehail]

It looks like winds will be easterly along the FL coast the 12th through the 15th. The strongest winds on the order of 15-20 mph will be down south from Melbourne to Palm beach and lighter winds up by daytona and especially jacksonville. I expect
wave heights to be an issue for someone using light tackle and maybe not even pleasurable for someone with a 14 ft rod. the good part is that its going to be very mild, even way up in northeast FL with lows in the mid to high 60s and highs in the 70s.
if I was planning to surf fish in this period I would hedge toward the northern area where the more gentle seas will be. If the surf is too rough by sebastian you can either use the jetties there or move up to New Smyrna beach where the surf may be calmer and clearer. I just called a tackle shop at New Smyrna and they are still catching pompano up until this current strong north blow. The water temperature is still 65 degrees at Daytona but down to 60 at saint augustine. I expect this to fall to 60-62 by Monday morning at Daytona and 58 at saint augustine and then settle in the 62-64F range by Friday at New Smyrna and 58-60 at Saint Augustine. 62 is the cutoff for reliably catching pompano. The WT is still 72F at Fort Pierce. The very best surf fishing conditions may be father north by saint augustine and flagler beach but I suspect the pompano will be scarce there. I just called a tackle shop by saint augustine he said the best bet would be whiting. You can catch Whiting in the surf with the cooler water temperatures down to 60F. So I would be hesitant to go down to Sebastian to surf fish on the 14th-16th due to the possible higher surf in that area. I definitely wouldn't go south of there unless things change. If you really want pompano I would tend toward the northern option around New Smyrna and if you want whiting anywhere from new smyrna to saint augustine. If somehow the water temperatures dont recover up to 62 by the weekend at New Smyrna then you could either take your chances there (sometimes pomps hit in WT down to 60) or go a little south and risk higher surf.

 

[rthensley]

I appreciate all of the information. Thanks.

Was impossible to find a campsite starting Friday, so I changed my plans a little. I now have a reservation starting on Sunday for 3 nights at Little Talbot Island State Park. Reserved the last site they had.

Plan on taking my canoe and fishing in Myrtle Creek and/or North Simpson Creek. I assume trout, reds, and flounder will be there. Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.

Will also plan to hit the surf a few times. Assuming whiting will be the most likely. Again........any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.

Any other good fishing options close by?

Thanks.!

 

[rthensley]

Little Talbot Island was pretty fun. Nice, small, quiet campground. Shower house was clean.

Put my canoe in Myrtle Creek twice. First trip was at daybreak. Threw a white paddle tail. Caught one 17" trout very early, and then nothing. Second trip I used mud minnows. First cast I hooked something that felt like it had some size, lost it. Caught 3 needlefish. Nothing else.

Made one trip to the south parking lot to surf fish. Shells on the beach were as impressive as the current was strong. 4 ounces did not think about holding. 4 is as much weight as I carry or use. Ended up walking the beach and getting some shells for the kids. Was the only person on that beach.

Made two trips to the George Crady Fishing Bridge. First trip I caught a toadfish (I think), a weakfish, and what I think was some sort of sea bass. Only 3 fish I saw caught were mine. Second trip...........nothing. Bridge was full of people. Saw two whiting caught.

Would definitely go back to LTI, just prob at a different time of the year. Maybe when the water is a little warmer.

Myrtle Creek was a little bigger than I would have liked. Current was also impressive. Would prefer to find some smaller water with less current.

Thanks for all of the advice.

 

[SloppyTilapia]

Right time of year, there are some pretty big black drum pulled from the George Crady bridge. Sounds like you had a great time, was the walk way to the beach at LTI as long I think I remember???

 

[rthensley]

It is a little walk from the parking lots to the beach.

 

[SloppyTilapia]

I fished off Fernandina Beach one day, it was super rough and windy....I packed up my gear and headed to the state park at LTI, but did not drag my equipment down the boardwalk. I just remember being very thankful I wasn't lugging my gear at the time (this was before I had a surf cart).