Do you guys think the finger mullet will stay in the surf after Saturday, beings that we are having this cold snap? I hope so cause I don’t know what to use for bait for big bulls other than mullet, and I hate frozen bait!
keith mcpherson
Wilderness systems ride 135
1996 key west explorer 1520
Like Dparker said in another thread I don’t think the cold snap will be enough to effect the temperature of the ocean to badly. Of course the surf will be affected but once Saturday passes and the temps rise again I don’t think it will be an issue. IMO worst case is that the mullet disappear for a day or two and then come right back.
I think you would need a sustained cold snap to really put the bait on the move. A couple days probably won’t do it when you consider how much water moves with the tides, including warmer water.
I wouldn’t mind hitting the surf one morning this weekend but not sure I want to fight 25 mph winds.
2014 Key West 203DFS
1987 Landau
They should still be around after this weekend. The question is if they will be where and when you are fishing. The really warm October has kept a lot of bait still up the creeks. The cold snaps help to start them moving. If you can’t find any, then you can always bring some fresh shrimp and work your way up the food chain. Catch some whiting or blues and cut them up. I always catch up some big mullet to freeze. I fillet them and then salt or brine those fillets and freeze them. I have even salted them and put them in an old plastic container and kept them in my garage during the cool months. They’ll keep a long time like that.
I’ve caught a lot of reds on my salted mullet over the years. November can be the best month for catching them big boys in the surf. One of my best ever surf days was many years ago on a cold, cloudy day after Thanksgiving.
Jack Taylor
Due to the unusually warm weather we have had do you guys think that is why the bull bite has slowed down? From what I’ve been seeing in other forums it looks like the reds have just now started to leave the North Carolina OBX area. This is just a guess though since I’m by no means an expert. I’m hoping I’m right though because I have yet to catch a bull red. I’m debating coming up on Sunday. The winds won’t be as severe and it will be a little warmer. 53 degrees plus 25 mph winds is just too much for me. I can take one or the other but not both.
Bite slowed? I’ve read several reports of multiple big red catches all week. I just don’t believe the bite is very consistant YET (in the surf). Seems kinda hit and miss, Sullivans then Folly then IOP then Kiawah the Sullivans again etc…in the surf then in the inlets then at the jetties then the grillage then the harbor somewhere else. There is plenty of time, keep baits in and they will come. As far as the cold…wear a bigger coat 
. My surfin’ source reports Folly surf temp is still 72-73. When you can not stand in it…get some chest waders. Mine are very warm 
. From 2-9-2014. Yes…Fedruary!
Like DParker says the reds will be around in the surf for a while. They are also up on the NC Outer Banks all through November. I have been there then and seen them caught on cold rainy days during Thanksgiving. In my 30+ years of surf fishing I have learned that catching a big red in the surf requires one thing - putting the time in with baited lines in the water. I fished here 2 years before I caught my first one. That was before the internet and our instant access, instant results culture. I went to the Outer Banks 3 years in a row for a week each time and fished every day before I finally caught a big “drum” as they call them up there. They guys up there will tell you the same. You may put in 20,40,60,80 hours before you catch one. Or you might get lucky and get one on your first trip. OK, grumpy old man lecture over. Go back to fishing.
Jack Taylor
Jack, you are correct about OBX, we will be up in Duck second week of November.