Tracking the Pompano 9-27-10

There is excellent news in the weather forecast.  Lots of overcast skies and lots of rain this week!  That means the sun won't be able to keep water temps high.  Noaa is even predicting a day time high of only 79 degrees a week from today!  This week water temperatures from southern North Carolina to St. Augustine remain the same, in the lower 80's.  Air temps in NE Florida will be as high as 85 deg during the day and 70 deg during the night this week, continuing a very slow steady decrease.  Winds will be mostly out of the south 8-15 kts, with a few days of light northeast winds.  Swells will be shallow 1-3 feet.  Expect LOTS of rain!  The rivers and creeks continue to be the hotspots for shore fishing.

Looks like the fishing is good up and down the coasts of the Carolinas and GA.   Lots of Reds from just under legal to over 30 inches.  The Black Drum are making a stronger showing as well.  Just a few Pompano in southern NC.  Sharks galore all over the place.  Primarily Spinner Sharks with a few other species mixed in.

If you want a Spinner target them at low tide.  Throw some live bait or chunk bait (I caught one on a half piece of shrimp on a 2/0 circle hook).  Use about a 4/0 - 6/0 circle hook with about 5-6ft of either 80# mono or 50# 7 strand wire as your leader.  It's best to have as much leader as you can because of the spectacular jumps Spinners make out of the water.  They can easily get wrapped around and part your leader from the main-line.  However, if you're casting from the Surf the longer your thick leader the shorter your casting distance.

I use a 7 turn and 3 inside wrap (modified) albright knot to attach my leader to the main-line.  I use to use a standard 10 wrap albright but it would fail occasionally.  Have not had a failure on the modified albright.   20# test is fine because your leader is the strength of the line.  Spinners normally run parallel to the beach and if that happens let him run with moderate drag.  You'll have to follow him up and down the beach.  If that initial run is out to sea you'll have to pay attention to the line on your spool and "feel" when you'll have to make him turn against the risk of losing him.  Your best hope with a shorter leader is for that circle hook to do it's job and latch in the corner of his mouth away from those teeth.  Also by keeping the line taunt you're hoping he won't get wrapped in your leader.  If he stops jumping and you've still got him the battle is yours.  You'll still have to work him in though.  Give it a try, Spinner are a very thrilling and fun catch!