cobia port canaveral

Another solid week is in the books even with gloomy skies as well as some rain and wind I had to contend with. The Space Coast was fortunate to have the brunt of the rain stay down south and inland, but it still has changed things up. The water in the central Indian River and Banana River remains clear for the most part, but it is less clear. The north Indian River and a lot of the Mosquito Lagoon has shown some improvement. The only places too brown to fish are Sykes Creek and the far south Mosquito Lagoon. The beaches are suffering from sand renourisment, but offshore has provided some great eats.

Pretty much all species can be caught inshore. The early topwater trout are chewing, tarpon are hitting small lures like a tiny DOA terroreyz, smaller black drum are still schooled up, and there are snook and a few reds sitting in the mangroves. There are also some bull reds on drop offs, spoil islands, bridges, and Haulover. A long wait with a chunk of mullet, ladyfish, blue crab, or even catfish usually results in a big red or two. These fish generally are not found anywhere south of 528 and best in the Mosquito Lagoon. They are slowing down now, which has been the pattern the last few years. It seems like there are a good amount in April and May, but then they slow and pick back up near the end of the year.

The nearshore fishing is very poor between Port Canaveral and Melbourne Beach due to brown renourishment water and a lack of pogies or any bait. Unlike last year, I have not heard much good from Sebastian or Ponce. They can hold big tarpon and other predatory nearshore fish without pogies because of the presence of lagoon baits like mullet, pinfish, or mojarra. It should pick up there in a few weeks. With all the pogies and threadfins in the lagoon system, I would not be surprised if tarpon show up there instead of being off the beach.

Offshore out of Port Canaveral is pretty decent. Kingfish have been spotty at best, but they are on the shallow reefs if you take the time to find live bait like threadfins or pogies. Everything else is a lot more productive. Natural ledges are holding triggerfish and snapper species besides the dreaded red. Chicken rigs and squid are the way to go. The grouper and amberjack are on a majority of structures deeper than 150ft. The problem is that the endangered red snapper and endangered sandbar sharks are also there. Use very large live baits to reduce red snapper, and crank very fast to beat the sharks. We get four days to fight over ramp and fishing spot parking thanks to NMFS. Our red snapper joke dates are July 10, 11, 12, and 17. Also, mahi-mahi and cobia have been swimming up to the boat. It is very important to have at least two pitching rods ready. One should have a swim bait like a Hogy Protail, and the other should have a circle hook for bait. I like to have one of each per person on the boat. Both species sometimes draw in more while on the hook and follow other fish you reel in. Just be ready.