Johnnie doubled up on a pair of hard-fighting jacks at the inlet!

Good morning all you fishing fans and fanatics!

I hope everyone had a great and safe weekend! The weather sure was nice for it. I would like to start off with a safety reminder for everyone fishing Sebastian Inlet’s north jetty. The yellow lines painted on the jetty designate a safety walkway for everyone walking the jetty. The area between the yellow lines and the railing is to be kept clear of any carts, buckets, coolers, bags, backpacks, chairs and any other equipment brought with you. Only yourself and your 2 rods you are fishing can be in this area, everything else needs to be kept in the center of the jetty between the yellow lines. This is for safety reasons in case there is an emergency and responders need a clear path out and back. We appreciate your attention to this matter. Safety first! Now for the fishing report.

Fishing in the entire inlet, again has been pretty slow due to all the dirty water and massive amounts of sargassum weed throughout. Not sure who wanted to install wall to wall shag carpeting in the inlet, but we need the blue clean liquid tile back! lol. Seriously, been pretty bad, but if you find some clean water you just might do well. There is still some mullet running around the inlet and the large jack crevalles have been chasing them. Also in the back of the inlet there are a lot of small greenies around the boat ramp and that side of the shoreline. Majorras are around, but you have to hunt for them with all the weed.

North Jetty

Over here the weeds have been pretty thick all last week, but it has cleaned up quite a bit over the weekend, not so bad, but the big swells we had has kept the water pretty dirty for the most part. Catfish and some blue runners are about the only fish I have seen all weekend. Out going tide at the tip the boaters have been getting some snook on live croakers, but the fish are way out in the cleaner water and the jetty anglers can’t reach them. Reminder, snook season closes May 31st at midnight! I did see a few black margates and spot tail pinfish caught with cut shrimp along the pilings on the incoming tide, but that has been when the weeds have been the worst. Along the rock seawall between the catwalk and jetty has been slow due to the tides being outgoing for most of the day and the water being really shallow.

South Jetty

Over here the fishing has been much better, on the incoming tide. The sargassum weed is here too, but when it comes around the jetty it goes wide and there are some snook being caught along the seawall on live croakers and majorras. There are a lot of undersized fish, but also quite a few keepers caught in the mix. Remember snook season CLOSES May 31st at midnight! Outgoing tide at the tip for the most part has been a lot of catfish due to the very dirty water, but there are also some black margates, spot tail pins and blue runners as well being caught. Some nice sized jack crevalles are around as well on both tides for those tossing large silver spoons and big baits to the channel area.

South Catwalk

Fishing here has been really slow due to the dirty water and being an outgoing tide for the better part of the day, not much to be caught. Possibly some black margates and pins around the lee side of the pilings. Use cut shrimp for them.

T-Dock Area

Fishing back here has been pretty good for the most part, incoming tide has been the better tide, and some of the first of the outgoing tide if you have clean water. The snook have been biting pretty good on live majorras fished with light weights and light leaders all along the shoreline and from the dock. Most fish back here have been either keepers or oversized and released back to play another day. The night time jig bite back here has been pretty good as well from what I’ve heard. Also for those fishing cut baits around the dock pilings, some small mangrove snappers are showing up, but they have been too small so keep. They have to be 10 inches minimum, and only 5 per person. I did see a couple nice sheepshead caught too, cut shrimp. Also possible back here are spanish mackerel with the presence of the tiny minnows and greenies being around now. Small white jigs and silver spoons will do the trick. And for those who like to fish the big silver spoons tossed to the channel area, the monster jack crevalles are here chasing the schools of mullet into the inlet.

Surf Area (both sides)

All blown out and very thick with the sargassum weeds, not to much to report.

Well everyone, that’s it in a nutshell. The rest of the week is supposed to be unsettled again with the rain chances going back up and the winds and swells picking up as well. Not the weather we are supposed to be having this time of the year, but I’m optimistic that it will straighten out soon!! Grab your fishing gear and chairs and get out and enjoy the Florida outdoors and beach!

Summer is here and the tarpon are starting to show in good numbers across the entire east coast. Anglers can find fish in the 5-15lb range anywhere around shallow water flats with lots of small silver finger mullet, as well as residential canals and deeper mangrove sloughs. The more rain, the more these fish will push towards these deeper creeks and areas that have low oxygen levels and lots of flowing water, these fish can be caught on a variety of baits — live and artificial from small finger mullet and mud minnows, as well as topwater plugs, and small swim bait lures such as a d.o.a paddle tail. Typically the smaller the bait, the better, in my personal experience.

The space coast is also known to not only find smaller fish showing in large numbers, we also have a great migratory population of larger fish in the 50-150lb range that roam outer sanbars, channels, and even around the bridges. These fish are an intense battle and can be caught using larger tackle such as 5000 to 8000 size series reels, 50lb braid, and an appropriate matching rod. It’s important to land these fish as fast as possible and never try to remove them from the water, not only is it dangerous for yourself and the fish it’s also illegal.

These large tarpon follow the same diet as when they are smaller however they do like a larger profile, large black mullet, pogies, and big swim baits such as hogy, and savage gear make several great options. Not only will these larger fish be in our river system but you can find them all along the beach as well around pogie pods, glass minnow schools, and sometimes in larger migratory schools just moving up the coast.

We should see more and more as summer progresses, step up your gear and get in on some of the great opportunities the space coast has to offer!

Well, the red snapper season dates have been announced and may I just say what a joke they are again this year. Captain Justin and I usually do not participate in the red snapper season in Atlantic federal waters (which consists of two whole days of fishing again this year🤣). The reason we don’t is because every person with anything that remotely resembles a boat will be trying to get their one allotted red snapper during this short opening. The boat ramps get so congested that it takes over an hour to get your boat in the water. We prefer to enjoy our fishing time with our clients and not put them through this type of nonsense.

If you want to book an outing with us to catch and release red snapper in shallow water, we would love the opportunity to get you out. It is a lot of fun pulling on these powerful fish, just not on the two days that they are allowed to be kept from federal waters. The 25-pound red snapper that is pictured above was actually sight cast to and landed on a spinning rod. Now this doesn’t always happen, but it’s fun catching big snapper anytime of year. We do this a lot during the summer months offshore of the Space Coast.

We’ve also been getting redfish, snook, tarpon, tripletail, and jacks on our recent near-coastal outings. So now is a great time of year to get out and pull on some awesome fish. Make sure you give us a call at 321-505-8217 or book your trip with us on our Fineline Fishing Charters website today.

Under slot inshore snook for Marshall.

Inshore is still very good fishing. Plenty of big trout, snook and some redfish. If you find the bait pods you can find the fish. Mangroves, docks and spoil islands are all holding fish if the bait is there. North winds Athena end of May and now coming into June are putting a damper on our beach fishing. We should be chasing sharks kingfish tarpon jacks and snapper. But the high winds and north winds which aren’t normal this time of year aren’t helping us any. Next week we are still looking at some winds and rough seas that will slow down the beach fishing but inshore bite will not disappoint.

This snook was as close as you can catch without being the legal twenty-eight inch minimum length. It blasted a live pilchard as I was drifting it along a submerged rock structure.

Fishing, especially for snook has been quite good in and around the Fort Pierce Inlet lately. While we are targeting snook with live pilchards and threadfin herring we are certainly hooking, though not necessarily landing, plenty of other species!

Huge snook, tarpon in the thirty pound class to over seven feet long, big jacks and hungry sharks have been straightening out 3/0 hooks and breaking our lines many times each trip, especially while fishing near the jetty rocks. Too, the big sharks have eaten whole a few of the over slot snook we’ve hooked!

Our typical rig for this type of fishing consists of a seven foot custom built spinning rod from Adventurous Custom Rod married to a Penn 4500 spinning reel loaded with thirty pound braid. Affixed, using an FG knot, to the mainline is a length of forty pound fluorocarbon leader and the 3/0 circle hook is tied fast. A soft rubber bead is threaded onto the hook acting as a stopper so the nose hooked baitfish can’t easily twist or spin the hook back into itself. This outfit works wonderfully until a fish too big for the HOOK comes a chewin’!

While I do carry both heavier and lighter outfits, it’s ultimately the size of the baitfish that dictates the size of the rod, reel, line and hook. If I have more than a few large live baitfish I will break out a fifty pound line outfit with fifty or sixty pound leader and a 5/0 or larger circle hook. Keep in mind it take some strength on the angler’s end to use this gear when structure fishing with a firm drag setting. The lighter rigs hold twenty pound braid, thirty pound leader and 2/0 circle hooks. This outfit, for me, is the most fun, though it often takes a little extra finessing from the angler to convince a large snook to swim out of their ambush tangles. None of us convince every fish into open water for a “fair” battle, so expect lots of break-offs.

The bigs are still chewing. We caught several fish seven pounds or bigger on a wide variety of baits this past week.

The Bass Assassin RSB Worm in Gooseberry and Redbug continues to produce lots of big fish. I’m fishing these in deeper water and dragging them on the bottom with a 3/16 or 1/4oz weight. I use a 6/0 EWG hook and 50lb plus straight braid.

Mike Bucca Bull Shad Swimbaits 9” glide bone color put an 8lb giant bass in the boat this week. This fish was caught by Kevin Gillispie. We are fishing these as slowly as possible with wide side to side action. That’s the beauty of the Bull Glides. There is no easier to work or wider gliding bait out there. The Headwaters bass just love the bone color in everything it seems.

The Zman Poppin Shadz in Breaking Brim and Bad Shad are my go to topwater baits right now. If there is a chop on the water I will pop them and let them sit as long as I can stand it. They are eating these on a long pause. 7/0 EWG hook with bait keepers will hold the bait straight when you cast these.

Bigs are still eating live bait as well. Freelining shiners in deep water or on a float, it really doesn’t matter. This is literally shooting fish in a barrel and pot luck if a big fish eats your shiner. The dead shiners are just as good as the live ones.

Tight lines this week!

The Ocean Obsession out of Sunrise Marina at Port Canaveral has had their customers on some quality fish. Lane snapper, mangrove snapper, big mutton snapper, triggerfish and grouper have all come over the rail and into to pail this past week when the weather cooperated.

If you’re looking for a fun day on the water with a great captain and crew, book your trip now.

Get the latest word on the bite with Damon from Spacefish on the Mark Moses Show. We talk fishing every Friday on the air at 4pm.

Based on the offshore waters and reports from recreational boat fisherman, there’s a whole lot more on the way. Don’t be too discourage by this daunting task though. Below we’ll give you some tips and ideas to make the best of what the current surf fishing conditions hold.

Beach Pompano Fishing In the Summer

As mentioned in previous reports and forecasts, there are residential pompano that stay in local waters year round. These pompano can be targeted year round, including summertime on Florida’s Space Coast. The key to finding these fish will be water clarity and depth changes. Use the calm days when the ocean has clarity to identify areas where there’s troughs and runouts. In addition, target these areas with pompano rigs, Fishbites and fresh bait. Shrimp, sandfleas and clam are ideal options when tipping your pompano rig.

Surf Fishing Conditions: Seaweed

The seaweed that was forecasted to arrive has finally made a big push. Meaning surf fishing conditions look to be extremely difficult for the foreseeable future. South of Sebastian Inlet will have opportunities at times when you really want to get a line wet. The seaweed conditions won’t be for the faint of heart. Despite that, relentless effort, cleaning lines and re- rigging will be what’s in store for those willing.

Snook fishing is another option that heats up in the summer months. Surf fishing in Brevard county has world class snook fishing from June through September. Albeit the challenges presented by the seaweed will be enough to deter most. High tide generally holds better opportunities for a break in the seaweed and snook fishing the first trough. Live bait including mullet, croakers, and pinfish fished with or without a weight are extremely productive.

Shark Fishing Space Coast

Depending on the presence of bait and predatory fish, one can expect the shark fishing to be outstanding these next couple months. Early mornings and evening time when the temperatures cool will have a large effect. Chunked bait and live bait make for a recipe for success. Use shark casting rigs with the ability to target the second trough and beyond. Furthermore don’t be surprised if your snook rod gets a bite from sharks patrolling the first trough.

For those of you who fish at or travel through the Sebastian Inlet, there is a survey under way to justify the expense of maintaining the inlet. If you have the time, please provide your input via the survey HERE.

We have started to get our summer time afternoon thunderstorms this past week brining some much needed rain to the New Smyrna Beach area. The rain has definitely not affected the bite as we are still boating nice trout and redfish throughout the Mosquito Lagoon waters. We continue to have large amounts of bait spread out across the flats and along the shorelines. Look for the bait pods holding shallow in the early mornings and then move with the bait to deeper water as the sun starts to get higher. Plugs, spoons and soft plastics along with a variety of live bait have all been working well. The weather looks good going into the weekend which should just continue the awesome bite.

Our tripletail bite has been really good this week here at Fineline Fishing Charters. Captain Justin and I have been catching these fish off floating weeds in the Canaveral area. The huge push of Sargasso that is currently floating in our near-coastal waters has lots of small shrimp, crabs, and bait fish in it that these fish love to eat. A small jig head or single 2/0 hook and a shrimp are all you need to get these fish to strike once you find one floating along in the weed mass.

Snook and tarpon are other species that we’ve been getting shots at. They have been cruising the beaches and we have our anglers sight casting at them on some days. Live pogies and 4-5 inch swim baits are working best on these two predators. Most of the snook are running 26 to 36- inches and the tarpon are running 50 to 80- pounds.

If you would like to go out and try to catch any of these species with us please contact captain Justin Ross at 321-505-8217 to get your fishing excursion locked in today.