Boaters Exchange Rockledge - Everglades Boats

WEEKLY FORECAST

4.7.2026 – 4.13.2026

CENTRAL FLORIDA’S BEST FISHING REPORT

We're hoping the second try is a charm for the SKA's ultimate St. Patrick’s themed offshore battle, this Saturday at Gators Portside!

We’ve got a couple BIG tournaments slated for this Saturday, April 11th, including the St. Patty’s Day themed SKA Pot O’ Gold out of Port Canaveral, which was rescheduled due to inclement weather on its original date in March. It’s never a bad time to celebrate St. Patty’s Day, but judging by the wind in the weather forecast, we’re gonna require the luck of the irish for this to be a “go” on Saturday…

Also in this week’s forecast, we’ve got SEVERAL WINNERS announced for fishing club memberships AND the sweeeeeet Budweiser Cooler courtesy of Carroll Distributing — find out if you’re one of the lucky winners below!

In case tournaments like the Pot O’ Gold and King of the Inlet are a “no go” on Saturday, head to Strike-Zone in Melbourne instead! They’ve got a big NLBN Event from 9am – 12pm, get the details here.

southern outdoor lighting

WEATHER & CONDITIONS

BITE OPPORTUNITY INDEX

OFFSHORE

4.9

INSHORE

6.2

SURF

5.5

FRESHWATER

6.5

Weather Overview

Well, if there was a week where you should probably take the time to stop by your favorite local bait & tackle shop to respool your reels and replenish your tackle box, this might be the one to do it. Lots of rain and wind this week as another cool front comes in. Friday is when the rain chances subside but we will still be dealing with higher winds out of the ENE throughout the weekend. Overall it looks like a tough week weather wise.

Boat & Motors Superstore Boat Club

GIVEAWAYS

FSFA MEMBERSHIP GIVEAWAY

FSFA For the next several months we’re giving away two annual family memberships to the Florida Sport Fishing Association. Learn more about the club and membership benefits on FSFAclub.org.

Congrats to last month’s winners, Bradley Mohr and Joseph Cardali! Next month’s winners will be drawn and announced May 5!

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

CFSA MEMBERSHIP GIVEAWAY

cfsa For the next several months we’re giving away two annual family memberships to the Central Florida Saltwater Anglers club. Check out everything this awesome club has to offer at their website, mycfoa.com.

Congrats to last month’s winners, John Kivi and Randy Lerch! Next month’s winners will be drawn and announced May 5!

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Bud Cooler Giveaway

budweiser cooler giveaway

Win this cooler and you’ll be “the King of Beers” any time you bring cold beverages on the go!

Since 1960, Carroll Distributing has been keeping the local shelves stocked and taps flowing for a long list of everybody’s favorite beverages. Now, they are going to be distributing some awesome prizes to Spacefish readers every month. This month, the prize is a sweet Budweiser themed cooler!

CONGRATS TO THE WINNER

Alan Parnell of Melbourne

mount this fish company - fish replicas
ska division 6

Latest Reports

Inventory Liquidation Event!
April 20, 2026

Inventory Liquidation Event!

What happens when one deal isn’t enough? You DOUBLE IT.

Now there’s TWO Larrys on screen because this deal is just that big. At Giant Recreation World, we’re doing something we’ve NEVER done before — offering RVs for up to 10% BELOW dealer cost during our Inventory Liquidation Event!

That’s right… we’ll show you the invoice. No gimmicks. No surprises. Just real savings on over 200 units that MUST GO before the end of the month.

🚐 Why this is HUGE:

Up to 10% BELOW what we paid
Over 200 RVs to choose from
No hidden fees – one low dealer fee
Lifetime Warranty included on eligible units
Priority RV Network access
VIP Camping Club perks

⏰ This event ends SOON — don’t miss your chance to steal a deal like this.

👉 Visit any of our 3 locations:

Winter Garden
Palm Bay
Ormond Beach

Or shop online NOW and lock in your deal before it’s gone.

💥 Two Larrys said it… so you KNOW it’s real.

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Inshore Fishing – Spring Round Up
April 20, 2026

Inshore Fishing – Spring Round Up

April Inshore Roundup

April Inshore Roundup

Happy Monday Spacefish!

Ever since I got over my infection I have been hitting the water as much as I can! From Northern Merritt Island, down to Long Point, and two days in the salt marshes of Coastal Georgia, I have been catching a ton of fish, and having a blast doing it. So today I decided to do a “spring inshore round up” to summarize my last few weeks, and talk about some trends I have been seeing, as well as sharing a few of my launch spots. Since our primary readership is NOT in Coastal Georgia, I will be omitting those trips, but if you are reading this, and do want more info on Coastal Georgia, just shoot me an email or hit me up on instagram or something.

Recent Launch Spots

So for this I am going to work backwards with my most recent trip being yesterday.

Fisherman’s Landing (Grant) – I fished areas along and around the Spoil Islands off the ICW

Long Point Park (South of Mel Beach towards Sebastian Inlet) – I fished areas in and around Long Point Creek, and Campbell’s Pocket.

Pineda Exit South to Tropical Trail (Southern Merritt Island) – I fished the residential docks and the spaces/shorelines between them along the western shoreline between Pineda Causeway and Dragon Point to block the recent blustery ENE winds.

Sam’s Creek & Indian River Lagoon Flats (Northern Merritt Island) – I started back at the kayak/canoe launch, fished all the way out, spent some time of the flats there north of Sam’s Creek and back to the launch again.

Manatee Cove (Northern Merritt Island) – Fished during inclement weather, heavy rains and high winds, I stayed close to the launch in between Manatee Cove and the islands just north. Despite my limited range, had a great afternoon, and want to go back to explore more of the area there.

Hog Point to Gibbs Point (Malabar/Valkaria).

Wading for Trout has been productive this spring

Wading for Trout has been productive this spring

Sea Trout

Last week in my spring seatrout specific report I went into great detail, for the sake of not being a broken record, I don’t want to over state what I did last week. But now is the best time of the year to target these fish, as they are moving into shallow areas and feeding heavily due to their spawning activity. Anywhere you can find clean, and ideally moving water with bait activity presence you are likely to find hungry seatrout nearby.

The number one presentation that has been catching the most trout for me is the classic 3 inch paddletail, specifically I have been using DOA CAL Shads on ⅛ oz jigheads. I have been catching them in a variety of colors. I have also caught a bunch of trout on MirrOlure 17mr “MirrOdines” the broken glass patterns specifically. I also have been utilizing the MirrOlure MirrOmullet, which is a smaller more subtle topwater that entices more bites, especially when the sun is up. Most of the bait being keyed on is smaller during this time of year, so this smaller 3 inch plug will generate a lot more bites if getting consistent tight lines is what you are after.

Trout on a MirrOMullet Grant

Trout on a MirrOMullet Grant

Trout near Sams Creek Northern Merritt Island

Trout near Sams Creek Northern Merritt Island

Snook

While I have been spending a lot of my time targeting trout, I have noticed a significant uptick in my snook catches over the past few weeks. The warmer temps have Snook feeling a lot more active. This past weekend I tangled with 2 bigger slot/upper-slot fish. One of them surface walked and threw my lure back at me, and another one got tangled in the mangroves, I was able to get out of the kayak, grab it by the tail, but as I pulled back the lure came out, and the fish ended up slipping from my hand, but at least it got a chance to swim away in good health without a lip ring.

I have caught the smaller ones in the range of 15 to 20 inches in high volume numbers. Skipping DOA CAL Shads under mangroves has been the ticket. I have not caught any on topwater this spring, but I have been focusing more of that towards trout on the flats, and have not been beating the bushes with plugs yet.

Smedium Sized Snook on a DOA CAL Shad

Smedium Sized Snook on a DOA CAL Shad

Redfish, By-Catch and Tarpon

I have not caught nearly as many Redfish as I have Trout and Snook lately, but those I have caught have been taken on 3 inch paddletails while fishing for Snook, most of the ones I have been catching are on the smaller side.

I have noticed a strong uptick of Tarpon moving around and rolling, I have hooked up with 2, and made casts at many more. I have tried experimenting with new baits, so if I have success I will write about it, right now, tbd for the Tarpon content. I have been catching a decently high number of Ladyfish while targeting Trout, and when I beat the bushes and skip docks for Redfish and Snook, I have been catching a high number of Mangrove Snapper, who are also getting active with the warmer weather and keying in on small bait.

Redfish in the Mangroves

Redfish in the Mangroves

Conclusion

At the end of the day, this stretch of spring fishing is one of the more enjoyable periods of the year if you like catching high volume numbers of fish. The water’s warming, the bait is moving, and everything, from trout on the flats to snook in the mangroves, feels alive and aggressive. You don’t need to overthink it right now. Find clean water, look for bait, and keep moving until it comes together. When it does, it can happen fast.

What’s stood out most to me over these past few weeks isn’t just the number of fish—it’s how consistent things have been across a wide range of spots. From Merritt Island to Long Point and down south, the pattern holds: smaller profiles, active fish, and opportunities just about everywhere you launch. That’s a good reminder that you don’t always have to burn fuel chasing the “perfect” spot, sometimes it’s closer than you think.

And if you’re looking to make the most of this bite, having the right setup makes all the difference. From quietly drifting over shallow flats, creeping around mangrove shorelines, or making a run across open water to the perfect spot to anchor down and do some wade fishing, my Hobie Outback from Kayaks By Bo takes me where I need to go! If you are looking for your dream come true kayak, make sure to check out Kayaks By Bo in Cocoa! Whether you’re dialing in a new setup or just getting into the game, they’ll get you pointed in the right direction so you can spend less time guessing and more time fishing.

Get out there and enjoy the spring bite. Stay safe, be happy, and may your lines be ever tight! Until next time!

kayaks by Bo

by Knox Robinson
Spacefish Prostaff

Sunrise Marina - Port Canaveral, FL

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Best Fishing of the Year
April 20, 2026

Best Fishing of the Year

Look more closely at the picture and you will see the bent rod in the background as I take a picture of the caught fish in the foreground.

I made a social media post on my Fineline Fishing Charters account earlier this week stating that we were experiencing the best fishing of the year. I’m sticking by this statement because the bite has been absolutely fantastic and should continue to be for the next 4 to 5 weeks. The reason for the fishing being so good right now is that the fish are happy and hungry and that is my favorite type of fish. What is driving this great fishing is the water temperatures that are currently in the mid to upper 70° range. This allows anglers to catch fish on morning and afternoon trips (or all day if they book an 8-hour excursion) because the fish are comfortable when the water is in this temperature range, therefore they tend to feed for longer periods.

We’ve been able to target redfish, tripletail, Speckled trout, snook, bull shark, large Crevalle jack and even a few small tarpon on recent trips. This will only continue to get better as we move into the month of May, with the tarpon fishing in particular improving as we move through that month.

With this in mind, I am offering a very special “Spacefish readers only” $50 per trip discount for my afternoon 5-hour near-coastal excursions that are booked to run starting today and going through May 29th, 2026. If you would like to take advantage of this offer you MUST call me at 321-636-3728 so that I can apply the discount to your trip reservation at the time of booking. I am grateful to all of you that fish with me regularly and hope to make some new friends by creating this special offer for my Spacefish loyalists.

Let’s go catch your next memory!

by Capt. Jim Ross
Fine Line Fishing Charters | (321) 636-3728

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Kingfish, Mahi & Cobia
April 20, 2026

Kingfish, Mahi & Cobia

What a great weekend of fishing. Kingfish, mahi and cobia were the main species caught on our most recent trips offshore. Slow trolling live and dead bait both have been working. Always keep a pitch rod ready to go because when you get into the mahi, there are typically more than just one around and casting to them is such a fun way to catch them.

by Capt. Chris Cameron
Fired Up Charters | (407) 222-3573

Grills Seafood - Lakeside, Port Canaveral, Melbourne

Flowing Spillways Present Double-Edged Sword
April 20, 2026

Flowing Spillways Present Double-Edged Sword

The heavy rains a couple of weeks ago that made for the spillways to flow, can be a double edged sword for us anglers. Yes, the bite was fast and furious if you were in the right place at the right time, but all the heavy flow of water in our area dirtied up the waters from Garcia into the Stick Marsh afterwards. The flow starts from the south of the Fort Drum waters through Garcia into the Stick Marsh. Then it moves to the northwest area of the Stick Marsh into the Three Forks Marshes to its final destination, the St. Johns River. That’s a very broad area of sediment transferred from one body of water to the next. The bite at both Garcia and the Stick Marsh slowed down tremendously due to the dirty waters. Still, fish can be caught if you find areas of cleaner waters and stumble onto a school of fish doing so.

by Terry Lamielle
| (321) 537-5346

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Yellowfin & Swords
April 20, 2026

Yellowfin & Swords


Captain Joey and first mate Harrison have been crushing the tuna. They are getting them quick most days and having a little time left over to swordfish. If this is something you have always wanted to do then now is the time to book your trip with these guys.

by Capt. Greg Rapp
Sea Leveler Sport Fishing Charters | (321) 794-3474

Fiberglass Florida -- Rockledge store now open!

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Spring Pattern Better Late Than Never
April 20, 2026

Spring Pattern Better Late Than Never

Hello all my Sebastian Inlet friends and fans, hope you all had a wonderful and fun weekend! The weather was glorious! I think now we are getting into our “normal” spring weather pattern, finally! The water has cleaned up really nicely on both sides of the inlet, and the water temps are holding at, or around the 75 degree mark according to my site readings. Showing 77 today, which is the temp I like to see. Some bait fish are starting to show up in the inlet, Sunday I saw majorra on the south, and quite a few nice schools of finger mullet on both sides, also there are some threadfin herring in the inlet as well. So to get started, I would like to remind everyone that the NORTH JETTY, AND THE SOUTH JETTY WILL BE CLOSED ON TUESDAY THE 21ST, AND WEDNESDAY THE 22ND for routine annual structural inspections. The south jetty unfortunately will NOT be opening back up after due to structure damage from the last bout of big waves and hard SSE winds that was out a big section of sand under the walk way causing it to collapse, so it will remain closed indefinitely. So, with that said, here we go with this weeks action, or lack thereof. Was pretty slow everywhere again, but some species were caught around the inlet.

North Jetty

Over here most of the action has been at the tip of the jetty on the outgoing tide, some nice black drum, sheepshead and redfish were being caught on live and dead shrimp, and sand fleas. Most of the drum were small “puppy” drum about 10-12 inches, they have to be 15 to keep, some were big enough though in the 20-28 inch range. The sheepshead were also keepers, 12 inch minimum. For those tossing vertical jigs and spoons there have been a few blues and jacks being caught in the inlet channel. The snook bite has been a hit and miss kind of deal, there one day, and gone the next few days, but the ones being caught were mostly oversized, with a few slot fish mixed in. The incoming tide has been slow as well, a few snook and reds being caught on live majorra, and again, most are too big to keep, 28-32 is the size limits on snook. For those fishing live fiddler crabs and sandfleas around the pilings, some pretty nice sheepshead are still being caught. Up along the wall between the bait shop and bridge is still producing some nice catch and release redfish on any live bait, both tides.

South Jetty

CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!

T-Dock Area

Back here the bite has also been pretty slow, with only a few nice sheepshead being caught around the dock pilings on dead shrimp, fiddlers and sandfleas. Also there have been a few undersized snappers of various different species being caught, mangrove, lane, schoolmaster snappers, and of course the puffers!! The snook bite back here was pretty good last week while the majorra were around, but like everywhere else, it was hit and miss. The boaters have catching most of them, but the shore guys were getting them as well, most were oversized, but several slot fish were caught. Live majorra and threadfins were the bait the snook wanted to eat. For those tossing spoons and diamond jigs to the channel area, some blues are still around along with some jack crevalle, no spanish mackerel yet.

Surf Area, both sides

The surf on the south side has cleaned up a bit, but the fishing remains slow due to the weeds still hanging around, and some dirty water. Catfish, stingrays, and small sharks and some whiting are about all that I have heard of being caught. The north side surf away from the jetty where the water is deeper, and has cleaned up quite a bit is producing some nice whiting, black drum, Sheepshead, and an occasional pompano or two. Live or dead shrimp, sandfleas are the top baits for those species. And as I mentioned at the beginning of this report, some nice finger mullet are starting to show up on the beaches, so it is only a matter of time, and with the water warming up, the snook and reds and tarpon will be showing up for a snack! So keep your eyes open.

Well my fans, that is all I have for this week’s installment, after we get past Monday’s storms and wind, the rest of the week looks good. Grab your gear, bait, and snacks and get out and fish. It’s finally that time of the year for things to get better!

by Wayne "Snookman" Landry
Sebastian Inlet State Park | (321) 724-5175

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Tarpon & Bait Migrations
April 20, 2026

Tarpon & Bait Migrations

It’s that time of year where the tarpon migration is starting up the coast. The redfish schools are starting to break up and you can sight fish shoreline cruisers. The spring mullet run is underway which really makes the top water bite a lot of fun first thing in the morning. I have days available this week and into May, you can reach me at 386-295-5991 or go right to my website.

by Capt. Mike Mann
Fat Fish Guide Service | (386) 295-5991

Fergusons Trailer Supply

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Waiting for Consistent Weather
April 20, 2026

Waiting for Consistent Weather

Good week of inshore fishing once the wind died. Snook bite has improved a bunch and we are starting to see more bait around in most areas. Unfortunately, we have another cold front hitting us early this week bringing some rain and a lot of north and northeast winds.

Picked up some nice snook on artificial and live bait along with a bunch of trout. The bigger snook and trout keyed in on the live bait, but both live bait and artificial baits worked well throughout the week on trout and snook. Nearshore fishing was a bit slow with dirty water and very little bait up and down the beach but the schools of big jacks have started to show up and we managed to catch a few.

Once the weather is consistent and the winds let up, the water will clean up, bait will show up and the fishing nearshore in the next few weeks should be on fire. This week the North winds from the front will put a damper on the bite early in the week and as the week progresses the east and southeast winds will prevail and the bite should improve drastically.

by Capt. Glyn Austin
Going Coastal Charters | (321) 863-8085

Caroll Distributing - Anheuser-Busch

Rebound Weekend in the Surf
April 20, 2026

Rebound Weekend in the Surf

Finally, we got a break from the month-long pounding we’ve endured from wind and weeds on the beach. The best part wasn’t even catching fish, it was the reminder of how effortlessly a 3 ounce sinker can be retrieved without the wrath of God tugging on the line. AHHH, now I remember why I love surf fishing — because it’s a genuinely pleasant experience when half-decent conditions are present — aaaand, they’re gone again…

by JC

BoatMax World Wide

Clear of the Weeds!
April 17, 2026

Clear of the Weeds!

It was like Christmas morning today with a weed-free showing in Melbourne Beach! I didn’t have time to fish, just stopped by to check out the scene in the surf. Should be a good next few days, too. FYI, sand fleas have been pretty sparse the past several days.

by JC

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
IRL Seagrass Blitz
April 15, 2026

IRL Seagrass Blitz

Live near the Indian River Lagoon? Love Seagrass? Then you’re exactly the right set of eyeballs we need to help us monitor seagrass during the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz (May 1-31)!

Whether you’re kayaking, boating, or just on a walk, you can contribute valuable data to support lagoon health.

Click here to learn how to participate! https://bit.ly/4bWoxS0

by spacefish
Spacefish

CATCH A BIG SMILE WITH JASIN YOUMANS DMD!

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

jasin youmans DMD

LOCAL EVENTS

One Star Tuna Tournament

April

one star tuna tourney

One Star Tuna Tournament coming up! The more boats, the higher the payout. If your not in it, you’re missin out! Text Captain Joey Alvarez at (321) 507-7339 to enter today!

Sunrise Fish Dive Surf
505 Glen Cheek Dr #4501, Port Canaveral, FL 32920, USA

SKA Pot of Gold

WEATHER DELAY

SKA Pot O' Gold Tourney

Rescheduled due to weather — it’s never a bad day to celebrate St. Patty’s Day — join Spacefish, the SKA, CFSA & FSFA for the ultimate St. Patrick’s themed offshore battle! The Largest Kingfish wins the Gold! Visit myweighmaster.com/potogold to learn more or register now!

Non-Native Knockout

April 10-18

Screenshot

Dustin and Sawyers Non native knockout enters year six. This free fishing tournament focusing on youth and special needs anglers (adults welcome). Join us as we combat non native and invasive freshwater fish species.

Dates of the event are April 10-18 with submissions occurring virtually. Check Dustin and Sawyer on YouTube or Dustin and Sawyers non native knockout on Facebook for more information

King of the Inlet

April 16

🚨WEATHER RESCHEDULE
Captains Party:
Thursday, April 16 @ 6p.m.
Fishing:
Saturday, April 18

king of the inlet

Ponce Inlet — Off the Hook @ Inlet Harbour

Presented by Daytona Beach WinSupply & AO Smith
$600 Early On-line Entry (February Thru April 8) KingoftheInlet.com
$700 General Entry (Captain’s Party/Final Registration-Thursday April 9)

King of the Inlet is one of the most anticipated saltwater fishing tournaments on Florida’s East Coast, celebrating the tradition, skill, and community of offshore anglers. Held out of Ponce Inlet, the tournament draws charter captains, commercial fishermen, recreational anglers, and families alike for a true test of skill on the water.

Proudly family owned and operated by Pete and Ann Richardson, the event reflects the values of tradition, community, and a lifelong passion for fishing. Their dedication has helped grow King of the Inlet into more than just a competition— it’s a celebration of the region’s rich fishing heritage and a gathering that brings together anglers and spectators from across the coast.

Competing boats go head-to-head for bragging rights and top prizes, with categories focused on king mackerel, mahi-mahi (dolphin fish), wahoo, and other prized offshore species that thrive in the waters off Ponce Inlet. Beyond the weigh-ins, King of the Inlet strengthens the local community, supports area businesses, and promotes conservation awareness—ensuring that Florida’s fishing culture remains strong for generations to come.

website: https://kingoftheinlet.com/

King of the Inlet

Bouncer Smith Inshore Slam

April 17

The Old Fish House Bar and Grill – hosted by Project SeaSafe – Learn More

Marine Flea Market & Boat Show

April 18-19

Whether you are a seasoned boater or a novice, this is your chance to explore everything the marine world has to offer all in one place.

This 2 day adventure combines incredible bargains and a fun family friendly atmosphere.

FREE ADMISSION – FREE PARKING

There is something for everyone.

Learn more on Facebook

Otherside Invitational

April 26

COME ON OUT – at Sunrise Marina! Bring the Family! Oside 26 Weigh In!! Come and see the Finest Tuna Fisherman on the East Coast Compete for the OverAll Top Tuna Prize! Great Raffles, Vendors, Food and Drinks! Fun Giveaways! Hope to see you all there!

2026 CFSA Offshore Tournament

May 16

CFSA Offshore tournament

Blue Points Marina
726 Scallop Dr
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

Website & Online Registration

57th Annual FSFA Offshore Slam

June 6

2026 slam tournament

The annual offshore fishing tournament hosted by the Florida Sport Fishing Association (FSFA) in Cape Canaveral, Florida. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Place prizes are awarded to the 5 largest catches of each of the eligible 4 species (with a guaranteed payout of $3000 per Species) + 3 Bonus Fish. Additional prizes include the Big Fish ($5,000) and SLAM ($5,000).

$175 on or before May 15th ($250.00 after May 15, 2026)

offshoreslam.com

Ocean Obession II - Port Canaveral Deep Sea Fishing Charters

SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY!

Don’t forget, if you’ve been fishing, we’d love to hear from you!

Central Florida Diesel Performance