Surf Fishing

By Tim Ebaugh of Melbourne

Sebastian Inlet, at the southern end of Brevard County, is world famous for its surfing and fishing. As a Brevard native and avid pursuer of both sports, I’ve logged in countless hours at this beautiful location. I never suspected that one day I would actually combine these two favorite pastimes.

I had just ridden a wave into the shore-break, nearly crashing my surfboard into the jagged rocks of the jetty when I heard a woman yell. I looked up just in time to see her fishing rod catapult over the railing and into the surf. Paddling hard, I intercepted the pole as it sliced through the water in front of me and held fast to the reel. The powerful force pulled me away through the breakers while surfers laughed and the woman continued screaming.

After about a 50-yard ride the line went limp and I managed to sit up on my board, furiously reeling in the slack. The fish ran again, abruptly spinning me 180 degrees just as a large wave reared its foamy head and knocked me from my surfboard. When I popped to the surface, still hanging on for dear life, I was only about 20 feet from the shore. The rod had broken and was entangled with my surfboard leash, which was wrapped abound my leg, which was entwined in monofilament. Worn out, I dog-paddled the entire snarled mess to the shore, where along with my surfboard, twisted leash and a nice lady’s tattered fishing pole, I dragged in a 43-pound black drum!

A photograph of myself, the woman and the big fish appeared in the local paper the next day; the caption read, “Melbourne Man Goes Surf Fishing.”

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