Take cloudy days over sunny days almost every time
Here’s why it matters in the real surf:
Cloudy = fish stay shallow and feed longer
On overcast days the light penetration is low, which makes baitfish feel safer and keeps predators like redfish, pompano, drum, and trout cruising the first and second guts instead of sliding out deep. That puts fish right in casting range.
Sunny = fish get spooky and slide deeper
Bright sun makes the water act like a spotlight. Bait pushes off the beach, predators get cautious, and most of the action shifts to deeper guts, drop-offs, or jetty edges. You can still catch fish but you usually have to cast farther and be more precise.
Cloud cover also means cooler sand and water
That keeps crabs, shrimp, and small bait active along the wash, which is what pulls pompano, whiting, and drum tight to the shoreline.
Wind and clouds go together on the coast
Light chop + clouds = broken surface = predators can ambush without being seen. That’s prime surf-bite conditions.
The surf fisherman's rule:
- If it’s cloudy with moving water, fish the inside guts and cuts hard.
- If it’s bright and slick, fish deeper, closer to bars, drop-offs, and structure.
Sunny days catch fish.
Cloudy days make fishing easier.
That’s why most of your best days happen under gray skies