Is Surf Fishing Good in the Summer?

It’s late May, the weather is getting warmer by the day and the sun is becoming increasingly scorching.

For most people, this heralds the arrival of an exciting summer break with good times ahead and fewer work/study related duties. But for inshore fishermen, it also means there will be more free time for surf fishing.

Yes, June, July, and August are the months where surf fishing enthusiasts can plan longer surf fishing trips, try remote areas with possibly more rewards, and afford sleepless night fishing trips.

But is summer the perfect time to do all of this? In other words, is summer good for surf fishing?

Well, in a nutshell, the answer depends on your location.

Summer can be good for surf fishing but in general, it’s not the ideal season for that. This is because water gets too hot for many species of fish, which drives them to seek other areas in search of cooler conditions. As a result, anglers find fewer fish within their casting range in summer and therefore score fewer catches.

In this article, we will discuss this topic in more detail and cover everything you need to know about summer surf fishing.

So let’s dive in.

Is surf fishing good in the summer?

As we said, summer is not ideal for surf fishing. Let’s discover why.

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The problem with summer is that water temperature reaches a degree that most coastal species cannot tolerate or thrive in.

As a general rule, most fish we catch in the surf feel best in water colder than 80°F. Once the heat exceeds that degree, they stress out and start looking for cooler places.

This is because the fish are cold-blooded. Meaning, when their environment gets too cold or too hot, their body can do nothing to adapt but move elsewhere. Otherwise, they become lethargic, sluggish and may eventually die.

In addition, I should mention that the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water decreases at high temperatures. This gives fish another reason to migrate to where they can find better conditions.

So the point to remember here is that the further we go above the 80°F mark, the less fish, and therefore success, there are to expect when fishing.

That’s the problem with summer.

If you don’t know what I mean yet, take a look at the table below and let me know what you think.

The numbers in the table are from seatemperature.org and show the average monthly water heat in each coastal state of the United States. Please take a look and tell me what you think 🙂

So? do you get my point?

The simple thing I want you to notice here is that the average water temperature in June, July, August, and September is over 75°F in much of the country. Unfortunately, this includes some of the best surf fishing destinations, such as Virginia, the Carolinas, New Jersey, the Gulf of Mexico, and Florida.

Put differently, the water is usually too hot in the summer, especially where you would want to fish the most.

As we said, very few fish can tolerate this and most species would prefer to go elsewhere in search of better conditions. Typically, fish either move offshore or migrate north in the summer.

Needless to explain the impact of this on surf fishing.

Fewer fish means fewer bites, fewer rod shakes, and therefore fewer catches.

With that in mind, the table above also shows that there are many areas where summer temperatures stay within a comfortable range for the fish.

For example, the West Coast and the Northeast region rarely exceed the 70°F mark in the summer. They are therefore a suitable destination to try when the water is too hot in the rest of the country.

So, is it worth it?

Well, let’s not forget that sometimes surf fishing is most productive when you expect the poorest results.

So yes, surf fishing in the summer is worth it, as it is in every season of the year.

Now, to answer the question, let me say that it all depends on your location.

If you are in the Gulf of Mexico or Florida, I wouldn’t expect consistent success during the summer.

Yes, summer is a great time to fish for pompano, tarpon, and some other species in the southern regions, but overall, spring and fall produce better results.

Now the thing to note here is that summer becomes more productive the further we move north.

For instance, New Jersey should be more rewarding in summer than South Carolina. This is also reflected by the water temps that decrease as we move north.

This also explains why summer is generally more productive in the northern part of the country.

So yes, surf fishing in summer can be good and worthwhile, but you should manage your expectations and choices properly.

In other words, expect poor and inconsistent results in the south and better results the further north you go.

There are cold days in summer

Having said all of the above, let’s stop now and be clear on something.

The numbers we discussed above are just monthly averages.

The actual daily water temperature can be higher or lower than that. This means that it is not surprising to have periods in summer with lower water temperatures and therefore comfortable conditions for the fish.

Such periods can therefore be rewarding and you simply need to spot them. Studying the weather forecasts when planning your trips can help with that.

If you see a coming drop in temperature or atmospheric pressure, be prepared for a possibly good fishing period.

This also includes Florida and the Gulf, where summer is typically the hottest.

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Temperature is not the only factor

It should also be noted that temperature is not the only factor that dictates your success when surf fishing. Yes, it’s one of the most important variables, but fish can sacrifice a bit of it to benefit from other things like a good amount of dissolved oxygen, a comfortable salinity level or air pressure, or just better visibility in the water.

This means that warm waters don’t always mean there won’t be any fish in the surf area. You might find a few ones there compromising their heat comfort for other things.

Some species thrive in summer

And finally, let’s not forget that there are many species that tolerate high temperatures.

Fish like tarpon, snook, pompano, surfperch, and sea bream can all thrive above 80°F, which makes them a possible catch from June to September.

Adjusting your gear, bait, and technique to encounter these species is therefore a good approach in the summer.

How to surf fish in the summer?

Besides targeting the fish species that tolerate high temperatures, there are other things to consider when surf fishing in the summer.

The aim is to compensate for the lack of activity and abundance of the fish and to make them more interested in your offer.

Here is a list of the things I recommend:

Favor rocky beaches

In summer, try to avoid sandy beaches with muddy terrains and tiny sand particles. Why? Because as a general rule, the smaller the sand sediments, the more heat they retain, and therefore the less comfortable they are for the fish when it is already hot.

In contrast, rocky seabeds with large sand sediments are not very effective at retaining heat, which helps keep some fish close at high temperatures.

This also means that in summer, you should always look for rock piles in your casting range. When it’s hot, that’s where to cast because it’s where fish willmost likely be.

Change the state

Changing your fishing destination in the summer may be the best thing to do for a better catch rate.

As we said, fish tend to migrate north in warm weather in search of cooler waters. So overall you should expect more fish in the waves the further north you go.

For example, surf fishing in North Carolina in the summer is likely to produce better results than in Florida or the Gulf.

Cover more ground

When the fish is lazy, you need to be more energetic and active.

This is not only about summer. This is a good rule to follow whenever the bite is low.

When nothing bites for long periods of time and you struggle to get that rod shake we all crave, it’s probably because the fish are lethargic (lazy) or simply less abundant.

In either case, your offer is less likely to be caught by a fish because there are few of them in the water or because they are lazy to move around and search for food.

Here, your best option is to cover as much ground as possible and try to test as many spots you can reach within your casting range.

Don’t wait too long on each cast and when you retrieve the line, do it extremely slowly. This gives lethargic fish a better chance of grabbing your bait as it bounces on the seabed.

Also, don’t hesitate to move along the shoreline and change from where your cast. I know, the beach is usually crowded in the summer, but casting from different positions and angles is always rewarding.

Finally, always favor smelly baits in summer. Appetizing baits that release more oils, liquids and odors give fish more reason to move and stop their lazy lifestyle. Sardine, mullet, and shrimp are good candidates for this mission.*

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