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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Hey everyone. I’m headed down to St. Augustine for a couple days in March. I’m trying to decide on what rods to bring. I have a 12’ 1-3 oz and then trying to decide between a heaver and a 7’ casting rod. Looks like there could be decent fishing around the jetty for sheepshead and maybe some reds. Bringing the truck and have 4wd for the beach. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance!
 

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Since you’re bringing your truck, bring all 3 rods. Ideally, a 12’ or 13’ 3-6oz rod is the perfect Pompano rod. You can get by with a 3oz weight but will normally need to be a Sputnik.
My go to setup is a 13' 3 - 6 CCP Gen 2 with any good revolver reel. Most of the time a plain old 4oz pyramid sinker works fine. I use a couple spinning reels in the close in area especially if there’s a trough. Some days though around here only the long distance casters are catching pomps so you need to be able to get your bait out past the second bar and that’s why I also take a couple 3-6 oz rods out.
You don’t really need a heaver here except in your case if that’s all you have to get 4-5oz weights out if the wind is blowing hard. If you need anything bigger than 6oz or really even 5oz, you won’t be catching anything but catfish, sharks and rays as the water will be too dirty.
Just as important as water temperature is for pompano so is water clarity. The cleaner, the better. 68 degrees is the magic temperature here and water temps here in St Augustine today were 65 degrees. It’s been a stupid hot February here and shaping up to be an earlier than usual pompano run. They’re already catching good sizes in Melbourne beach about 150 miles south.
Sand fleas are still hard to come by but crab knuckles work just as good or better.

For the jetties your 7’ will be fine if it’s a good jigging rod. I actually use an old 9’ st Croix mojo surf. The extra length helps keep your line vertical to avoid the dreaded snags. Use small weights also to avoid snags, like 1/4 or less.
 

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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
Since you’re bringing your truck, bring all 3 rods. Ideally, a 12’ or 13’ 3-6oz rod is the perfect Pompano rod. You can get by with a 3oz weight but will normally need to be a Sputnik.
My go to setup is a 13' 3 - 6 CCP Gen 2 with any good revolver reel. Most of the time a plain old 4oz pyramid sinker works fine. I use a couple spinning reels in the close in area especially if there’s a trough. Some days though around here only the long distance casters are catching pomps so you need to be able to get your bait out past the second bar and that’s why I also take a couple 3-6 oz rods out.
You don’t really need a heaver here except in your case if that’s all you have to get 4-5oz weights out if the wind is blowing hard. If you need anything bigger than 6oz or really even 5oz, you won’t be catching anything but catfish, sharks and rays as the water will be too dirty.
Just as important as water temperature is for pompano so is water clarity. The cleaner, the better. 68 degrees is the magic temperature here and water temps here in St Augustine today were 65 degrees. It’s been a stupid hot February here and shaping up to be an earlier than usual pompano run. They’re already catching good sizes in Melbourne beach about 150 miles south.
Sand fleas are still hard to come by but crab knuckles work just as good or better.

For the jetties your 7’ will be fine if it’s a good jigging rod. I actually use an old 9’ st Croix mojo surf. The extra length helps keep your line vertical to avoid the dreaded snags. Use small weights also to avoid snags, like 1/4 or less.
 

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Discussion Starter · #6 ·
Great advice, I really appreciate it. I would love to get into some pompanos and will keep an eye on the water temp. I’ll definitely bring a couple rods. Will send updates if we have some luck. Cheers!
 

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Early May is not too late. You might encounter more schooly size pomps than fishing the "leading edge" of migrations, which contains large females. Just my .02 worth. Early May I'd say Wrightville Bch or topsail. . But then again I'm banking on northern gulf for the big bite.. BTW that area is a low relief beach. Truth feeding fish are closer to the beach long rods catch the migratory fish traveling outside the bar. I can always shortern a cast but if you can't reach them you won't catch them.
 

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I agree with RWFishead, early May is not too late.
We had a large Northeast Florida surf fishing tournament here in St Augustine sponsored by Fishbites the first week of May last year. Some good sized “resident” pompanos were caught.
Not sure why but doesn’t look like that tournament is happening this spring though.
 

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Hey, its been a while since we been down. Remind me of the better places to eat GOOD fish. It doesn't have to be fancy, just GOOD. I can remember being at places but old age memory fails me once again on names..........Thanks!
 

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Hey, its been a while since we been down. Remind me of the better places to eat GOOD fish. It doesn't have to be fancy, just GOOD. I can remember being at places but old age memory fails me once again on names..........Thanks!
I haven’t eaten out south of St Augustine in a long time so all I recommend are in St Augustine.
You can’t go wrong with St Augustine Fish Camp and Sunset Grill (St Augustine beach).
I’m told that O’Steens Restaurant has very good seafood also though I’ve never been.
The downside is that they are all pricey, even more than usual lately. Why I try my best to catch my own dinner!

I will ask around for spots closer to where you are staying and update.
 

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Discussion Starter · #11 ·
I haven’t eaten out south of St Augustine in a long time so all I recommend are in St Augustine.
You can’t go wrong with St Augustine Fish Camp and Sunset Grill (St Augustine beach).
I’m told that O’Steens Restaurant has very good seafood also though I’ve never been.
The downside is that they are all pricey, even more than usual lately. Why I try my best to catch my own dinner!

I will ask around for spots closer to where you are staying and update.
 

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Discussion Starter · #12 ·
Fished the outgoing tide this morning with the family.
Glasses Sky Smile Goggles Sunglasses

Caught a decent blue and small pomp’s in the troughs, larger pomp outside of the bar. All caught on shrimp, green float was the ticket this a.m.
 

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Nice catches!!
Looks like that was near the Crescent beach ramp? That stretch between there and the fort Matanzas ramp is one of my favorites.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) finally brings good northeast winds but will be blowing hard in the morning, 22-25 mph. Late afternoon early evening on incoming tide will be good though.
Hopefully you’re still here Thursday as all day is perfect NE wind. Hit the beach at first light for the incoming tide. Incoming has been producing better lately but if you fish the low tide you can hit that clean water line with a good cast for better chances of keeper pomps.
Good luck!
 
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