Sand Bar 101 for midwesterners

I was reading the post on the beach re-nourishment and it got me to thinking. Well, I've been coming down to various parts of the gulf for the past 10 years and have never fully understood where and how many sandbars there are at various locations on the coast and more importantly how to identify them when surf fishing or heading out in a kayak to fish.

Breakers? Water Color? Google Earth?....obviously water depth but in general what are the common features and water depths associated with the sandbars?

Man I need some sand and salt air bad.

The why is complicated. Simple version is that a combination of currents and waves constantly moves sand fron east to west. This littoral transport also works to form the various bars, troughs, points and cusps that also constantly move from east to west. The bars and troughs also move, closer and farther from shore, from day to day and also on a more pronounced seasonal basis. Storms also have a huge influence.
So where a bar, trough, cusp or point may be on a monthly, weekly or even daily basis changes with tides, wind, currents and waves.
The important part is to look for change, a drop, a cut, and opening in the bar, etc, that might concentrate bait and fish.

So while surf fishing look for patterns in the water to show underwater troughs, points and the like. I'm tired of getting wet to get bait out 100yrds.

Does the point where the wave begin building signify anything. One would think that would be where the water shallows and starts to force the wave to rise. Calm water further out mean a deep pocket or drop off?

For example in Ft. Morgan (where we stayed) in the Spring last year it seemed like there was a close trough then a bar that was maybe 20 yrds (knee deepish) out...then the second trough that was maybe chest deep and went another 30 yrds and then shallowed back up to knee or waist deep for about 15-20 yrds. Once past that it dropped to well over your head.

After stepping on something near that last drop and getting hit in the leg on the way back after the cast....I was done trying to find a 3rd bar. Sound kind of typical for that area? Just trying to get a baseline.

No needs to cast a 100 yards unless you are shark fishing. Whiting will be almost at your feet. Pompano and slot red from there out across the first bar and on the second bar.
But yes, look for changes in water color, difference in waves, etc.. They point to changes in the depth.

I don't know what to tell you about finding the cuts etc other than what's been said but I will tell you that if you re trying to get 100yds out you are grossly overfishing the fish Surf species are not that far out I've caught fish 10 ft off the beach Sometimes I go to the first bar and turn around and fish back toward the beach People look at me like I'm crazy til I start dragging in fish I've caught many bull reds at Fort Morgan never getting wet to cast Try not to walk past the fish

Like I noted, some day the whiting are literally at you feet, right in the surf. I've caught by just pitching to them by sight like pitching a bass worm.

Dan SII---That is something that has always amused me, especially in fresh water, where the fishermen in the boats cast to the bank and the fishermen on the bank cast as far out in the lake as they can.

Poorboy---I like to find a spot where I can easily cast to the near slope of the first sandbar. There is usually some surf breaking there and the fish like it when the surf stirs up the bottom so they can find prey. I like to fish two rods (sometimes three) and experiment on distance. As the weather warms up be sure to use at least a nine foot rod so the swim suit wearers can walk under your line in front of you instead of detouring around you---it is so obvious when you turn around to watch them and you might get a crick in your neck. Once, I feared that my eyeballs had locked over to the side when I was trying to watch a group of them pass by without turning my head. When you are as old, fat, ugly and degenerate looking as I am, you have to be circumspect in your observations. Otherwise, they might scream and flee.

Thanks for all the comments...as for fishing way out...I'll be totally honest. I do like getting a shark on the line from time to time. It was a blast in FL but I know...it's against the law in AL

I use a 10 foot rod when I'm drinking...I mean fishing in the surf and watching the split tails run the beach.

So, same ole plan in three weeks. double drop pomp rigs with fresh live shrimp (of which you could find none last Spring)...fish bites and Sand Fleas.

How is the bait situation looking this Spring or what else do you like for Surf fishing for pomps, whiting and reds.

"...it's against the law in AL"

Only in certain areas, as in OB, GSP and GS, are there restrictions on shark fishing.
Out on Fort Morgan or on DI, there is no prohibition.

No way to tell how well the bait shrimpers will be doing until they come back in. But I don't really think you need live shrimp unless you just really like to carry a pail of water that far. Fresh dead is fine most days. And a lot cheaper.

This pompano was caught 30 ft from the shoreline yesterday as were soe very nice whiting You don't have to go far As for fresh bait you should have no trouble finding it Good Luck

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Originally Posted by poorboy

Thanks for all the comments...as for fishing way out...I'll be totally honest. I do like getting a shark on the line from time to time. It was a blast in FL but I know...it's against the law in AL

I use a 10 foot rod when I'm drinking...I mean fishing in the surf and watching the split tails run the beach.

So, same ole plan in three weeks. double drop pomp rigs with fresh live shrimp (of which you could find none last Spring)...fish bites and Sand Fleas.

How is the bait situation looking this Spring or what else do you like for Surf fishing for pomps, whiting and reds.

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Even when they run out of shrimp they usually will tell you approximately when they will get more back in. J&M has a bait number to call. When the Sheepshead are really biting they run out, but I think they do an excellent job restocking.

Carl's right No need to put live shrimp on a drop rig Small pieces of fresh peeled dead shrimp will be your best bet