Whiting in the surf

[hellfighter5308]

I saw an article in the Florida Times Union in reference to Whiting. Has anyone had any success with whiting on a fly? If so, any recmmendations such as line type and flies? I have an 8 Wt. with floating line. Will that be ok or should I use a sinking line?

Thanks, Kenny

[super-fly]

I saw an article in the Florida Times Union in reference to Whiting. Has anyone had any success with whiting on a fly? If so, any recmmendations such as line type and flies? I have an 8 Wt. with floating line. Will that be ok or should I use a sinking line?

Thanks, Kenny

Kenny,

you should be fine with your current setup...go with a sz. 1 or 2 clouser brown or tan works well for me. use 8-9 ft tapered leader. I usually find whiting cruising in the 1st trough just off the beach looking for sandfleas and other small creatures that get stirred up by the wave action.
In 3-4 feet of water your clouser will get down quickly. If the surf is up a bit maybe switch lines to an intermediate....just to get down below any chop that might interfere with your presention

[hellfighter5308]

Thanks Super Fly. Do you have any advice on the tide or does it matter?

[super-fly]

Moving water is helpful....I have found that as long as you have a good longshore current fishing can be productive...especially in areas where there are breaks in the bar....you may get lucky and come across a school of pompano....these species often inhabit the same areas.

[Onshore]

Kenny,

Where are you headed for to fish for Whiting ?

We take them in the surf along most of the east coast of Florida
Clousers will work and you will probably catch more Pompano than
Whiting - but that's good; better fight and better eating. I fish primarilly
from Indialantic Beach to Sebastian Inlet but others make good Whiting
catches both north and south of here.

I've taken them on my flyrod right in the first wave; just a short cast along the beach.
Don't make the mistake of casting straight out; cast to either side and paralell to the waves and work your way up or down the beach. Of course, if the surf is high you won't have much luck with the fly rod.

If it's only a 2-3 ft. surf you may want to go with a spinning rod and 1/8 to 1/2 or 3/8 inch Pompano
jigs.

[hellfighter5308]

Bill, Thanks for the reply. I will be fishing the Jacksonville area, anywhere from Nassau sound to Jacksonville Beach. I would rather catch pompano over whiting but I'll take anything that will take a fly. I have even caught mullet on trout flies. Thanks again.