car accidents

Marco Pompano

Capt. Jamie Thrappas Yellow Dawg Fishing yellowdawgfishing.com

Capt. Michael Savedow 386-689-3781

Cap. Evan Sanders solfishing.com

Capt. Barry fishingguidedaytonabeach.com

Kyndal Lynn @kyndal_lynn

Blake Abbey @blake_jay_abbey

So, some striper bass Massachusetts beach surf fishermen decided to try their hand at fishing for pompano and whiting down here in Wilbur-bythe-Sea, Florida. It’s the same in one way, but way different in another. Different fish species and bait, hook, line and sinker, and it was on.

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Some of the nicest weather to hit Florida all year, great conditions: Little current, wind lightly from the west, the water was clear blue-green with a little tumble to it. The water temperature is a perfect 68°, so those pompanos don’t need to go anywhere, just stay here and feed. They handle the rods and reels like they know what they’re doing. The pompano keep leaving, make a big U-turn somewhere south of us, and then they come back in droves. They disappear from day to-day just as quickly but today’s not one of those days. Ya, mon.

We set up four poles. Immediately pole number one and two start to Bamba. The pompano were angry and hungry. After getting a couple, things settle down for an hour, and then it was Bamba time again. This time poles three and four, they seem to be hitting two of the time. My new and old friends from Mass were on it and running as fast as they could. They could taste the ceviche for later on in the day. Nothing’s better than fresh pompano, lime, cilantro, garlic, jalapeño, tomato, onion, salt and pepper. Oh, yeah! Did I mention the lime? Leave it in a bowl overnight for the best results. The lime cooks the chopped pompano fillet. Get some crackers and you’re in the game.

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Not to get ahead of myself, though - put the horns on and let’s get back to fishing, The beaches have been overrun with trucks, plows, cranes, and earth moving equipment. They’re hammering the sea wall stairs, finally. The wooden beach overpasses that were all destroyed in Wilbur by the Sea in Ponce Inlet are getting put back together. Not as quiet and peaceful as it used to be, but it’ll get back. They have been dumping coquina rock, giant sandbags, and new large pieces of concrete to try to prevent the relentless ocean from taking back more of the dunes on the beach. They’re also still ripping down a bunch of the houses that were partially or totally destroyed by Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole.

I’m set up again today in front of some of those wrecked houses. It’s now 72° ocean water and the bite is on. The wind is blowing from the west at 5 miles an hour. Things couldn’t be finer.

There are stingrays no more than 300 yards offshore, jumping, which means the wonderful cobia is hanging out underneath, but you need a boat. The beach is really abundant right now. Just when you think things could get crazier, my neighbor fishing next to me is running down the beach with his rod - it looks like he’s got a spinner shark. It’s jumping so high! It’s a big one. He’s calling me for help, wants to know if I want to taste reeling that baby in. Of course I said, “ Ya, mon.”Neighbor Pat and I finally got it onto the beach after a half hour. Then there was a catch and release. I really didn’t have to revive the shocked shark too much.

I’m putting on the reggae music of Collie Buddz, taking a well needed shower, and me and these fish are heading to the smoker.