Fishing News 2026 - perdido key, florida
Ghost Shrimp Pumping System. How to Find and Catch Ghost Shrimp
February 2nd, 2026
February is “Prep Month” at Panhandle Salt.
We still get those random warm days where we can sneak out and chase big fish, but for us, this short month before March is also when we reset for the season.
When the spring run hits, there’s no time to be digging around for gear, spooling reels, or tying rigs. February is when we handle all of that.
Here’s how we use this month—and how you can, too.
Tune-Up Time: Reels, Rigs, and Gear
February is when we go through every piece of gear and make sure it’s ready for the boom:
*Re-spool all reels: Old braid and mono get stripped, and fresh line goes on. If you had a rough fall or winter season, this is non-negotiable.
*Pre-tie dozens of rigs: Pompano, whiting, drum, and “Tough Bite” setups. We want a pile of rigs ready so when spring hits, we’re fishing—not sitting on the couch tying.
*Clean and grease components: Handles, drag knobs, bail arms, reel seats, rod guides—everything gets wiped down, checked, and greased where it matters.
*Declutter and inspect: We go through boxes, buckets, and bags and pull out anything rusty, worn down, or sketchy. Better to find it now than when you’re hooked up.
February is a great month to get a system in place so that once March rolls around, you’re ready to step on the gas.
February Is Ghost Shrimp Month
February is also one of the best times to hunt and prep ghost shrimp for the spring run. When you’ve got some downtime and decent weather, spend it scouting your local shorelines and looking for those magic patches of sand that hold them.
When to Look
From what we’ve seen lately, the best times have been:
*Low tide with little to no wind
*A few days before and after the new moon
*Neap tides can be great—lots of sand exposed and slower water
You want plenty of exposed sand and decent visibility. Wind has made it tough a few mornings, but when it calms down you can pump your heart out.
Pay special attention to points and slight bends in the beach. These spots usually have shallower water and subtle structure—perfect for ghost shrimp.
Keep an eye on your favorite fishing calendar or tide app and plan some February “exploration days” just for finding shrimp.
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How We Preserve Ghost Shrimp
We’ve tried a lot of different ways to save ghost shrimp, and this is the method that has worked best for us.
1. Make a saturated brine solution
Mix salt and water in a pot and bring it up to where the water won’t hold any more salt (saturated brine).
Let that brine cool completely.
2. Soak the ghost shrimp
Once the brine is cool, soak your shrimp for about 20 minutes.
3. Dry and jar them
Pull the shrimp out of the brine and dry them really well.
Place the dried shrimp into an empty jar—no liquid.
4. Freeze them
Store the jar in the freezer with no liquid.
On fishing day, just pull out what you need and head to the beach.
For us, this has been the most effective way to preserve ghost shrimp and keep them usable for surf fishing. And believe me—we’ve tried just about everything.
Building a Simple Ghost Shrimp Sifter
If you’re going to pump ghost shrimp, a good sifter is worth its weight in gold. You can build a solid one with just a few items from the hardware and dollar store.
What You’ll Need
*4 PVC elbows – 3/4"
*6 feet of 3/4" PVC pipe – cut into four 1.5-foot pieces
*1 piece of 1/4" mesh – enough to cover the frame (buy a small roll; use the extra in your garden to keep critters off plants)
*2 pool noodles – from the dollar store
*Zip ties
*Rope – to tie to one corner and make a foot loop
How to Build It
1. Build the frame: Use the four 1.5' PVC pieces and the four elbows to make a rectangle or square frame.
2. Attach the mesh: Cut the 1/4" mesh to fit the frame.
Lay it over the frame and zip tie it on tight.
3. Add flotation
Cut the pool noodles to fit the sides of the frame.
Slice each piece down the middle so it can wrap over the PVC.
Slip them on and zip tie them in place. This keeps your sifter floating and easy to handle.
4. Add a foot loop
Tie a piece of rope to one corner and make a loop big enough for your foot.
On the beach, you can slide your foot through the loop so the sifter stays right beside you while you pump.
Don’t Skimp on the Pump
Last piece of the puzzle: buy a good ghost shrimp pump.
*Expect to spend around $100 for a solid one. In my opinion, it’s worth it.
*There are some PVC-style pumps made by Brunken Manufacturing that run around $60 and are decent options as well.
Grab a small bucket, your pump, and your sifter, and you’re in business: Pump shrimp → dump into sifter → repeat → take your catch home and start the brine process.
Don’t Waste February
Don’t let February just slide by. Use this month to:
*Prep your gear
*Dial in your rigs
*Scout ghost shrimp spots
*Build or upgrade your shrimp setup
*Stock the freezer and be ready for the spring pompano push
If you want help getting tuned up, we’d love to be part of your February prep.
*We offer surf fishing lessons and charters year-round in Perdido Key and Pensacola.
*We run a fully stocked surf fishing shop at the entrance of Johnson Beach, with rods, reels, rigs, bait, and all the gear you need for our local waters.
Come see us, ask questions, and let’s get you ready now—so when March hits, you’re not playing catch-up.
Winter Surf Fishing in Perdido Key: Snowbird Guide to Gear,
January 1st, 2025
If you’re spending the winter in Perdido Key, you are not in a bad spot. While a lot of people think surf fishing is only a spring and summer game, the Gulf doesn’t shut off in the winter—it just changes.
Winter is one of the best times for snowbirds to learn the surf, dial in their gear, and enjoy quiet beaches with fish still cruising the troughs. In this guide, we’ll walk through:
*The best winter species
*Rigs and gear that actually work here
*Bait choices for cold-water fish
*How to think about time of day, tide, and wind
*And how Panhandle Salt can help you fast-track the learning curve with lessons, rig-tying classes, and a fully stocked surf shop right at the entrance to Johnson Beach
What’s Biting in Winter?
You won’t see the same chaos as a spring pompano run, but winter has its own lineup of reliable surf species:
*Whiting (Gulf kingfish) – The winter MVP. These fish love the cooler water and are perfect table fare.
*Redfish – Slot and over-slot reds still cruise the surf, especially around structure and deeper cuts.
*Black drum – Often mixed in with reds, especially near deeper holes and around inshore structure.
*Sheepshead – Around jetties, rock, and structure, but you’ll see them near the passes and bridges too.
*Pompano (on warmer breaks) – Not as thick as spring, but you can still catch them on those warmer, stable-weather stretches.
*Bluefish & ladyfish – More hit-or-miss, but they’ll show when the bait pushes in.
The key in winter is not expecting a wide-open bite all day. It’s about timing and presentation.
Winter Rigs That Work on Perdido Key Beaches
You don’t need anything crazy. In fact, winter is a great time to simplify and tighten up your rigging.
1. Standard Two-Drop Surf RigYour bread-and-butter winter setup:
*Main line: 15–20 lb braid
*Leader: 15-20 lb mono or fluorocarbon
*Hooks: Size 1/0-2/0 circle or kahle hooks for whiting, pompano, and drum
*Sinker: 2–3 oz pyramid or sputnik, depending on current and wind
This rig will catch:
*Whiting
*Pompano
*Smaller drum and reds
*Random “bonus” fish
2. Bigger Bait Rig for Reds & DrumWhen you’re specifically targeting redfish and black drum:
*Leader: 20-30 lb mono
*Hook: 2/0–3/0 circle hook
*Sinker: 3–5 oz, depending on surf
*Bait: Larger peeled shrimp, fresh cut bait, or crab chunks when available
Fish this closer to cuts, deeper troughs, or near any structure you can reach from the sand.If all of this sounds like a foreign language, that’s exactly what we cover in our surf fishing lessons and rig-tying classes all winter long.
Top winter baits:
*Fresh shrimp – Peeled or cut into small chunks for whiting, pompano, and drum.
*Fish Gum / artificial strips – Great for back-up and scent attractant.
*Sand fleas (mole crabs) – If you can find them, pompano and whiting will still eat them.
*Blue Crab or Fiddler Crabs– When you’re targeting drum or sheepshead around structure.
Winter tip: Downsize your bait. Smaller pieces in colder water often out-fish big chunks.
Time of Day: When Should Snowbirds Hit the Beach?
In the heat of summer, a lot of anglers love dawn and dusk. In winter, that changes a bit.
*Mid-morning to early afternoon can be the sweet spot.
*The sun has had time to warm the shallows just a few degrees.
*Fish that were sluggish at first light often start sliding into the troughs to feed.
If you’re a snowbird, this is good news: You don’t have to be on the beach at 5:00 a.m. to have a good day.
Reading Tide & Water Movement in Winter
You don’t need a fancy tide theory degree. Just remember:
*Moving water = life.
*Aim to fish the two hours before and after a tide change.
*Incoming tide often brings cleaner, slightly warmer water into the surf.
*Watch for visible cuts and deeper darker water between sandbars—that’s where your rigs should land.
If you’ve ever stared at the Gulf and thought, “I have no idea where to cast,” that’s one of the main things we break down in our lessons on the beach.
Learn Faster: Winter Surf Fishing Lessons & Rig-Tying Classes
If you’re a snowbird here for a month—or the whole season—winter is the perfect time to get some focused instruction before spring crowds and spring fish show up.
At Panhandle Salt Surf Fishing, we offer Surf Fishing Lessons (All Winter Long)
*One-on-one sessions or couples
*Held right on the beach
We cover:
*Reading the surf
*Where and how to set your rods
*Casting longer surf rods correctly
*Matching rigs and bait to our local conditions and much more
Rig-Tying Classes
*Learn to tie your own pompano and whiting rigs
*Understand hook sizes, leader choices, and sinkers
*Save money long term and trust your own gear
Fully Stocked Surf Shop at Johnson Beach
We also run a fully stocked surf fishing shop right at the entrance to Johnson Beach on Perdido Key. You’ll find:
*Surf rods and reels suited for our Gulf conditions
*Pre-tied rigs and leader material
*Sinkers, Fish Gum, terminal tackle
*Bait options and local advice you’re not getting from a big-box store
You can step out of the shop, look at the water, and we’ll talk you through exactly how we’d fish it that day.
Wind: Friend or Enemy?
Winter winds along the Gulf can make or break a surf fishing
*Light north or northwest winds often mean cleaner, calmer water along Perdido Key. Great for whiting, and sight-fishing the troughs.
*Strong east or west winds can stack waves and push weed or dirty water down the beach. Drum tend to roam in dirty wat
Ready to Make the Most of Your Winter?
If you’re down here escaping the snow and looking at that blue water thinking, “I’d love to learn this,” winter is your window.
*Quiet beaches
*Cooperative winter species
*Time to learn without pressure
Book a surf fishing lesson, sit in on a rig-tying class, or stop by the shop at the entrance of Johnson Beach and let’s get you dialed in.By the time March rolls around and the pompano run fires up, you won’t be starting from scratch—you’ll be ready to put fish in the cooler.