What is the Best Season for Surf Fishing?

Surf fishing does not give the same results every season of the year.

Saltwater fish are very sensitive and their behavior and appetite fluctuate throughout the year depending on many factors and variables. As a result, surf fishing productivity also experiences many ups and downs and only gives rewards when the fish find the ideal conditions to hold and feed within the casting range.

Understanding these patterns is very important for managing expectations in every season of the year and also for reducing frustration when the rods stop shaking and bringing catches 🙂

So what’s the best season for surf fishing? And when should you expect the highest score of catches from shore?

Well, there are many variables and factors that dictate the best season for surf fishing. But the one that has the most influence is the water temperature.

Simply put, fish feel most comfortable when it is neither too hot nor too cold. Temperatures that are too high or too low compromise their appetite and cause them to seek out deeper areas in search of better waters.

So the best time of year for surf fishing depends on where you live and the water temperature in your area. Which means that it’s not necessarily the same in all parts of the country.

From North Carolina all the way down to Florida and the Gulf, spring and fall are generally the best seasons for surf fishing. On the other hand, the west coast and the northern part of the east coast show the best temperatures in summer and early fall.

In this article, we’ll discuss in more detail the best time of year to surf fish in all coastal states, and also what to do in the off-season when the expectations go low.

So without further ado, let’s dive in?

What dictates the best season for surf fishing?

As we said, there are many factors and variables that dictate the behavior of saltwater fish. Some are species-related such as the spawning season and the food supply, and others concern all the species like the water temperature, the weather, and the surf conditions.

In this article we will only focus on the general variables that affect all fish. If you are interested only in a particular species and want to know the best season to chase it, then I recommend that you do some additional research here or in other resources for more details.

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I also recommend asking your local surf fishing experts (anglers and tackle providers) about that particular fish. Their experience and knowledge can save you a lot of time, money, and effort.

Now back to our question. What dictates the best season for surf fishing?

Well, I believe that the factor that has the most influence is the water temperature.

No, it’s not the weather or the surf conditions

I mean, yeah, the weather and the surf conditions also have a huge impact on the fish. However, days with bad weather and a choppy surf can easily occur in August or July and are not only associated with winter.

Likewise, sunny days with good weather and a calm beach can easily occur in winter and are not only linked to summer or spring.

In other words, the weather and surf conditions are certainly dictated by the time of year and season, but they are also affected by the fluctuation of the air pressure, the cold fronts, and the abrupt and unusual climate changes.

It’s rather the water temperature

The water temperature, on the other hand, is less sensitive to all of this and shows very few fluctuations during the same season.

The water heat in summer is usually high, even when the surf is agitated and choppy. Similarly, the water in winter is usually cold, even when the beach is calm and clear.

So, the bottom line is, if we assume that the behavior of fish changes drastically from one season to another, then it is quite safe to say that it is the water temperature that is responsible for this change. The weather and surf conditions certainly have an impact too, but their influence does not last the entire season, but only a few days.

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How does water temperature affect surf fishing?

Well, we have discussed this in a previous article. I recommend that you read it for more detailed information. If you’re in a hurry, let me give you a quick answer.

Fish are cold-blooded creatures. What does this mean? It simply means that they cannot regulate their internal heat and therefore their body temperature varies with that of the surrounding environment.

Fish are therefore very sensitive to their environment, and so is their appetite and feeding activity.

This means that when the water temperature is too high or too low, the fish, get lethargic, eat less, and most of them start looking for other areas with better heat.

But when the water temperature is good, the fish feel more comfortable to feed and compete on the available food.

Ok, I understand. But what is a good water temperature?

Well, in the previously shared article, we have detailed the prefered water heat of most species we catch inshore.

At the end, we found that the most repeated and overlapped temperature degrees among all these species fall within the range 60-75°F.

So I believe it’s safe to consider the 60-75°F interval as the most suitable for surf fishing.

Yes, there are a few species that tolerate warmer or cooler waters, but most fish we catch from shore feel comfortable and happy between 60 and 75°F.

Now obviously, all of this has an important impact on surf fishing.

You have to plan your surf fishing trips around the days and periods when the water temperature is between 60 and 75° F.

Fish will be more comfortable to approach the shoreline during these days and hence you will get more opportunities within your casting range.

The 60-75 °F interval also improves the appetite of the fish and increase their feeding activity.

So you will not only find more fish in the surf zone, but also more hungry predators to compete on your bait. That’s all you need for a prolific and memorable surf fishing day.

Now on the flip side, when the water temperature is outside the 60-75 °F interval, the fish become less comfortable and therefore migrate elsewhere, or at least become sluggish and less willing to eat.

This marks a potentially bad day for surf fishing. Meaning, there will simply be fewer fish in the surf zone to receive your bait and those who are there will be less interested in it.

So what is the best time of year for surf fishing?

Well, after all we have just said in the previous paragraph, we can now summarize and say that the best season for surf fishing is when the water temperature ranges between 60 and 75 °F.

That’s when most species feel comfortable to hold and feed in the surf zone. Once the heat comes out of this range, they start stressing, their appetite decreases, and therefore, they begin to look for other areas with better conditions.

Now let’s find out what is the water temperature in each season of the year. For this, we will rely on the numbers from seatemperature.org and put them in the table below which shows the average monthly water temperature in each coastal state of the country.

Take a look at the table, and then we continue our discussion.

Don’t focus on the numbers themselves. I have a few remarks on how they were taken. Instead, pay more attention to the general trends and how the numbers change as you move north or south. To help you, I have sorted the states in a geographic order.

So what do you think? Have you recognized any patterns?

If not, then the color code is there to help you. It simply shows the months when the average water temperature is between 60 and 75 °F (green color) and the months when it is higher (orange) or lower (blue) than that range.

Based on this, we can clearly see that the best season for surf fishing is not the same in all parts of the country. To put it simply, I believe we can talk about two major regions:

Southeastern region

This region includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.

Here we can clearly see that the best time for surf fishing starts from November and continues all the way to May. After that, the water temperature becomes too high and therefore the fish are likely to be less numerous near the shore. Summer is therefore not the ideal time to fish the surf in this region.

Winter on the other hand should produce better results than summer. However, the temperature degrees in January, February, and March tend to be on the lower edge of the 60-75°F interval, which means that fish are likely to be stressing and less comfortable to feed and hit baits.

So If I have to pick a season here, I would go with spring. The period from mid-October to December seem promising, too.

West coast and northeastern region

This region includes Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Washington, Oregon, and California.

Things are a bit different here. The water is cold year round and is usually under the 60°F mark. This has a huge impact on surf fishing and anglers in these states should manage their expectations accordignly.

The table shows that only the period from June to October show temperatures that are suitable for surf fishing. So conversely to the southeastern region, you should expect better results in this region in summer and early fall.

What to do in the off-season?

Yes, the off-season will give you fewer bites and less memorable moments. However, that doesn’t mean you have to be demotivated to try surf fishing or that you have to wait for the right season to come.

The first thing to remember here is that there are many fish species that tolerate extreme temperaturs and therefore remain active in the off-season.

For example, if you are sur fishing on the west coast, know that surfperch can thrive in waters ranging from 40 all the way up to 100 °F. It is therefore a possible catch all year round and will take your baits even when it is too hot or too cold.

Tarpon, redfish, and snook can also tolerate temperatures up to 90°F and therefore remain good targets during the scorching summer days.

Similarly, some species like tuna, sandbar sharks, tautog, snapper, and mackerel can survive in the 45-50°F range. They are therefore the way to go in winter and cold days.

So wherever you fish, know that you can find some fish able to thrive in extreme conditions and will likely require you to adjust your gear and techniques to suit their system.

Here, a quick online search about those fish and seeking advice from local experts and professionals can help a lot.

On top of that, keep in mind that some fish are willing to sacrifice their prefered water temperature in order to obtain other favorable conditions.

For example, areas with good nutrition, sufficient cover, or high amounts of dissolved oxygen can cause many fish to accept water that is slightly too hot or too cold in order to reap the other benefits.

The water temperature is therefore not the only parameter to consider. Yes, it should be at the top of your list, but don’t forget the location, structures, surf conditions, weather etc.

One more thing to note is that the temperature degrees we have discussed in this article are only averages. In reality, the numbers can be lower or higher depending on many factors and variables. The off-season can therefore bring a few days with good temperatures for surf fishing.

So the bottom line is: The off season is still a good period for surf fishing.

There will certainly be fewer opportunities and you should lower your expectations, but bringing some food to the table is definitely doable.

Your role is to make your offer appealing and appetizing and show up on the field and wait.

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