When all is right with Mother Nature, late January and February bring the peak of pompano fishing along the beaches of East Central Florida. Armies of anglers march down to the sea with their long surf rods and sandflea rakes, staking claim to a section of beachfront that they hope will produce these succulent ocean fish.

Fishing aboard a 17-footer didn't stop Daniel Thompson from boating a 66 1/2-pound wahoo while on an offshore jaunt with his dad.

Because of bottom characteristics like troughs and offshore bars, certain beaches have the reputation for producing better than others year after year.

But in all likelihood, that won’t be the case this winter season. Major changes occurred to the inshore ocean bottom during hurricanes Francis and Jeanne last September, and the season’s first storm, Hurricane Charley, even had some effect. Huge amounts of sand, including millions of dollars worth of beach renourishment, were eroded from the coast and deposited as offshore bars and shelves. In some areas, prime deep bait-gathering troughs are stacked full of sand.

Another factor in the beach fishing equation is the extensive damage to the dune crossovers and steps leading down to the beaches. Most were destroyed or severely damaged by the storms, and many of those beach access points were still closed early last fall.

Keep in mind that pompano gather in tight schools in specific areas, which can vary from tide to tide and sometimes day to day. A couple anglers in a spot may reel in one fish after another, while anglers 50 yards down the beach stand idle, glaring at those having all the luck. If a spot doesn’t produce after a half-hour, relocate.

Pompano will take cut squid, pieces of shrimp and cut river clams, but nothing beats fresh sandfleas. You can find ’fleas along the surf line with the aid of a sandflea trap, a square-shape wire basket with a long handle that allows you to dig into the sand to nab the underground fleas. The receding water flushes the sand from the trap, leaving behind the live sandfleas.

Don’t make the mistake of overcasting these fish. Remember, they prefer those trenches or troughs where all the bait is washing in and accumulating, and that deeper water may be only 30 yards off the beach. Yet, there will be times when the fish will be on the inshore edge of the first bar 65 to 75 yards out. In late January and February, you can also target scattered bluefish and maybe Spanish mackerel along the surf. Cut mullet on bottom rigs hook the blues while mackerel are more receptive to spoons.

Fair numbers of flounder should continue at Sebastian Inlet through mid February. As a rule, the big doormat fish of 10-plus pounds are gone by this time, but small finger mullet, mud minnows or shrimp will produce the 3- and 4-pounders more common later in the season.

Elsewhere in the Indian River Lagoon area, most of your fishing luck will depend on water temperatures. If we get sub-freezing or even freezing weather, it’ll be in late January or February. If that’s the case, water readings in the river system will plunge into the 50s, and even the 40s around Daytona Beach.

That kind of drop triggers mass movements by seatrout, redfish, snook, sheepshead and drum. They’ll head for the deepest water they can find—primarily canals, channels and dredge holes. The deeper water, and its muddy bottom, holds a few degrees of added warmth. At the same time, baitfish such as mullet, pinfish, mojarras and mud minnows also head for deeper water, which is another reason for the move by the bigger predators.

Seatrout is the one fish you can count on catching, providing you’ve done some homework figuring out where the trout will seek refuge from the cold. Scout likely areas during daylight and look for canal dropoffs, rock formations, docks, stickups and any other cover that holds baitfish. All have the potential for being feeding zones for gator trout. The water is normally clear during the cold months, which makes scouting easier. Also pay attention to dock lights that may hold trout along shadow lines.

Live mullet, mojarras, pinfish and shrimp are choice nighttime trout baits. If you’re a purist who sticks to artificials, work lures slowly and deep. Fish both natural or artificial baits as tight to the cover or structure as possible. Use small natural cork bobbers when using live baits, and forget weights, swivels and other terminal tackle. You want the baits to swim as naturally as possible.