Thread: Night Surf Fishing?

Does anyone surf fish at night?Is it worth trying?

I have limited experience (couple nights) but it was a lot of fun. We were fishing for lady fish. Gonna want to use red lights. The bioluminescent jellyfish are really cool and harmless (according to viking guy).

Don't really do too much surf fishing but have gone out to Alabama point over night and it was good

I have not been successful night fishing the surf, very much. My best guess as to why is, I don't know much about nighttime surf fishing. But that is really ok. We love our time at night just fine, with a line in the surf, and watching this big, beautiful ocean. We can see excellently without a flash light or lantern. and with only 7 to 11 days sometimes, every moment at the surf is a good moment. Oh, we have a flash light, 'cause something might bite.

I used to surf fish day and night on our vacations before becoming a pier fishing addict. Daytime has been hit and miss but even using fresh dead and live shrimp my catches were about 100 hardhead catfish, ladyfish and ray for every redfish at night. The catfish seem to be even thicker with a high tide, heavy surf and especially stained or dirty water. I don't want to discourage you but your efforts would be rewarded a lot more if you find access to a lighted dock on the lagoon or one of the bays.

I will be down at sea oats which is on the lagoon June 22 thru 26. If I understood the lady correctly it is a lighted pier. What can I expect to catch there? Is it better live r artificial bait and what choices do y'all recommend? Will bass roads n cat rods for freshwater suffice on the lagoon? Any other info is greatly appreciated. I have found some articles on here about lagoon fishing but not many so anyone who has fished the lagoon and ex specially at sea oats can you give me some input n help? Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by Javery

I will be down at sea oats which is on the lagoon June 22 thru 26. If I understood the lady correctly it is a lighted pier. What can I expect to catch there? Is it better live r artificial bait and what choices do y'all recommend? Will bass roads n cat rods for freshwater suffice on the lagoon? Any other info is greatly appreciated. I have found some articles on here about lagoon fishing but not many so anyone who has fished the lagoon and ex specially at sea oats can you give me some input n help? Thanks in advance.

You'll be fishing three of the top slot game fish at night, Specks, Reds, Flounder.
And you current gear with maybe a few changes in line and/or rigging will suffice just fine.
8-12# mono, 10-12# FC leaders, very small swivels or none at all and go small on the hooks, e.g. #10 treble.

You'll want to freeline live baits, e.g. live shrimp, finger Mullet,or toss Gulp shrimp on jigs or under a cork, small live baits same way.
Throwing some suspending twitch baits, e.g. Mirrolure 17MR, Rapala Skitterwlaks, Heddon Spooks.
Or try fishing Fluke style soft plastic minnow on a jig, Looney jigs bounced on the bottom or the Gulp shrimp on a jighead.

Try these various methods and see what works best at any given time.
Also, be quiet going out on the dock, sneak up on them.
One more thing, bring a net, don't know how high their pier is, long handle or drop net?