SURF PIER & JETTY TACTICS (FOR THE S.E. U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico)

   Click here for Tactics or on all Zones                ADAPTATIONS for the Northern Atlantic      Open Beach Jetties
 

ZONE D                                 zone F           zone F                                       ZONE C                zone E                                                    zone E                                      ZONE B                               ZONE A

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	FISH PRESENT	(Northern Gulf/SE US)
	WINTER	SPRING	SUMMER	FALL
A (first breakers)	(whiting,stingrays)	whiting, pompano	whiting, pallomettas,pompano, blue runners (hardtails), small redfish, small jack crevelle	whiting, pompano, small Jack crevelle, small redfish
B (beach channel)	(whiting, pompano, redfish/stripers), flounder, sea catfish	pompano, sea catfish,cobia, flounder	pompano, sea catfish, ladyfish, baracuda, bluefish	pompano, sea catfish, bluefish, cobia, flounder
C (second breakers)	Redfish, flounder, stingrays, sea catfish, northern mackeral, spec/white trout	redfish, stingrays, skates, sharks, spanish mackeral, sea catfish, king mackeral	redfish, stingrays, skates, sharks, spanish mackeral, sea catfish, king mackeral, tarpon, ladyfish, tuna (blackfin/little tuny)	redfish, stingrays, skates, sharks, spanish mackeral, sea catfish, king mackeral, tarpon, ladyfish, tuna (blackfin/little tuny)
D (deep water past breakers-to 30')	Redfish, flounder	redfish, black drum, flounder, sheepshead, cobia, (snappers)	redfish, flounder, sheepshead, snappers, grouper, amberjack (juv.), blue runners, barracuda	redfish, flounder, sheepshead, northern mackeral, blue runners, jack crevelle, snappers
E (deep near structure)	Redfish, flounder	redfish, black drum, flounder, sheepshead, cobia, (snappers)	redfish, flounder, sheepshead, snappers, grouper, amberjack (juv.), blue runners, barracuda	redfish, flounder, sheepshead, northern mackeral, blue runners, jack crevelle, snappers
F (shallow near structure)	(flounder, pinfish)	flounder, pinfish, sheepshead	flounder, pinfish, sheepshead, blue runners, banded rudderfish	flounder, pinfish, sheepshead, blue runners, northern mackeral
ADAPTATIONS: For North Atlantic substitute Clam for shrimp	and: Replace sheepshead/pinfish/snappers with Tautog/Bergall/Scup	Replace King/spanish mackeral with stripers/bluefish
ADAPTATIONS: For So Cal include squid/anchovies/ghost shrimp	and: Replace sheepshead/pinfish/snappers with surfperch/white croakers/ queenfish/sand bass	Replace King/spanish mackeral with with coho/trout/herring (Pac NW) or mackerel/baracuda/bonito (So Cal)

The Surfline Jetty
Jetties that are build right on the beach away from inlets are usually meant to stop beach erosion. At each tide, every beach has a prevailing current ('rip') that parallels the beach. This current will form a surface eddy at the tip of the jetty, and create a variety of flows around the jetty. Faster Fish (bluefish in this example, but the bluefish spots shown here are also the same rips that hold steelhead, cohos, small stripers, spanish mackerel, pacific 'cuda, blue runners, jacks, etc...any small to mid-sized faster fish). Slower fish use the whirlpool and the outbound current on the bottom to let food come to them. Remember that a 'ditch' forms in the last 1/2 or so of the jetty next to the rocks, and this ditch will have a very strong outbound pull, which is used by many species as a food conveyor belt. The ditches may hold redfish, stripers, flounder, snappers, rockfish, sand bass, etc. depending on season and location (note in freshwater smallmouth bass, walleye, and catfish hold the same spots). The first casts should be from the beach. Take 10 paces+/- from the jetty and cast parallel to the rocks, bouncing a bait or lure on or near the ditches. If you hit it right, you will feel the pull of the current on your line, and not get snagged on the rocks. See both diagrams here.

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