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WEEKLY FORECAST

4.15.2025 – 4.21.2025

CENTRAL FLORIDA’S BEST FISHING REPORT

Adult Snook in Sebastian Inlet

Snook are an incredible sporting specimen, taste finger-licking good, and don't exist in fisheries north of Florida. Don't miss Knox's piece about this beloved fish in this week's forecast!

In this week’s forecast, you’ve gotta read Knox Robinson’s compelling writeup on snook and their migrational patterns — even if you think you already know it all about the species, some of the data presented may very well surprise you! On a related note, it’s the last chance to enter the Snook Replica giveaway from Mount This Fish Company — a winner will be randomly drawn and announced next week!

American Air & Heat of Brevard

WEATHER & CONDITIONS

BITE OPPORTUNITY INDEX

OFFSHORE

4.2

INSHORE

7.1

SURF

6.4

FRESHWATER

7.8
american air and heat of brevard

Weather Overview

Overall, the weather (from a temperature and sunshine standpoint has) been great. The hard part for us anglers has been the constant wind that just won’t settle down for any amount of time. This week is going to be similar again. The days with the lowest wind this week are Tuesday (WSW) and Thursday (ENE). Wednesday (NE), Friday (E), Saturday (ESE) and Sunday (SE) will all be pretty breezy. Rain chances are very low throughout the week with high temperatures fluctuating between the upper 70’s and lower 80’s.

Falcon Boats USA

GIVEAWAYS

snook replica giveaway

Even if you’ve never caught a trophy snook — everyone would think you had — with this stunning 39″ half-mount snook replica featured on your wall. This piece of art produced by Mount This Fish Company is more than just proof of fishing prowess, it’s a beautiful work that complements any decor or style! For your chance to win, fill out the entry form via the button below. One winner will be randomly selected and announced on April 22. The winner MUST arrange for pickup of the prize at Mount This Fish in Rockledge, FL.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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, Karl Kettner and Josh Henry! This month’s winners will be drawn and announced May 6!

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, Howard Wemple and Mathew Palovich! This month’s winners will be drawn and announced May 6!

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Weekly Strike-Zone Giveaway

strike zone gift card giveaway Each week, we’ll randomly draw a name from our email subscriber list to award a $20 Strike-Zone Fishing Gift Card. To enter, all you need to do is subscribe to our weekly forecast email (once subscribed, you’re eligible to win EVERY week).

Congrats to this week's winner, Troy Parker, Orlando

NOTICE: If you are announced as a winner, you must EMAIL US within 5 days to claim your prize (please include your phone number and mailing address), or your prize will be forfeited and added back into the giveaway pool for future winners.

Caroll Distributing - Anheuser-Busch

Cooler Giveaway

cooler giveaway

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 sweet Busch Light Cooler!

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

mount this fish company - fish replicas

LATEST Reports

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Snook Migration Underway: Tarpon Make an Entrance
May 26, 2025

Snook Migration Underway: Tarpon Make an Entrance

This week on the Indian River was incredibly productive! The larger female snook are starting to make their way to their spawning grounds, although many can still be found in the backwaters. While their numbers are beginning to thin out, it’s still a great time to target these fish.

The arrival of summer-like conditions has also brought an influx of tarpon to the area, adding excitement to our fishing adventures. Whether you’re targeting snook, tarpon, or other species, the Indian River has been providing plenty of action for anglers.

If you’re looking to catch some of the larger snook before they spawn, now might be the time to get out on the water. And with the tarpon around, you can bet on some thrilling battles. Get out there and see what the river has in store for you!

by John Page
JP Kayak Fishing and Tours | (321) 345-8388

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Kayak Fishing the South Side of Winter Park Chain
May 26, 2025

Kayak Fishing the South Side of Winter Park Chain

KAYAK FISHING REPORT

lake osceola bass fishing

Pedal. Cast. Smash. Repeat.

Picture yourself pedaling along in your fishing kayak. You’ve just pushed through a beautiful canal lined with ferns, palms, cypress—a true assortment of jungle foliage. You’re feeling pretty good about the soft plastic buzzing topwater frog/gator imitation bait you’ve tied on. You’ve already landed a handful of fish skipping it under docks and along a seawall in the canal.

As you emerge into an open lake, you’re faced with a decision: head due north, or take a left and push west along the south side of Lake Osceola. You stayed north last time you were here—two years ago—so today, you decide to mix it up.

Before you lies a vast field of lotus pads, and just beyond, giant oaks stretch their shade out across the water. The lake is stunningly clear, with pads and eelgrass as the main sources of cover.

You know what time it is. Rudder up. Kick fins latched. Paddle out. You stand with rod in hand, paddle resting across the bow of your trusty steed—the Hobie Outback. It’s quiet. Stable. A true amphibious weapon. Confidence builds.

You rear back and unleash a slip cast way up under the oak shade. Your bait smacks a cypress stump and you burn it back. The ripples grow. You hit the edge where the water deepens and the lotus pads thicken.

Then it happens.

BANG!

Like a small cannonball, an explosion rocks the water. You mutter the sacred phrase under your breath:

“Eat my frog.”

Three words whispered to no one.

You set the hook.

Immediately, you know—it’s a good one. Not a record-breaker, but a solid Florida bass. Then it wraps up in lotus pad stems. Game over?

Not even close.

Moments later, you’re paddling one-handed, half-submerged in belly-deep water, rod in the other hand. You grab the fish. Victory.

Worth it? Absolutely.

But no time to celebrate—you’ve only landed your fourth fish. You’ve got about 22 more before calling it a day.

Let the games begin.

Happy Monday, Spacefish!

This week’s report is all about the south side.

Not that south side. Sure, the new Pope (or as my buddy Bobby Norton says, “Da Pope”) is from Chicago—but we’re not talking about the Holy Father or the Windy City today.

We’re talking about the stunningly gorgeous Winter Park Chain, just north of Orlando.

Launch Spot & Lake Breakdown

For this trip, I launched from Dinky Dock Park
📍 410 Ollie Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789

My goals:

  1. Complete the Fast Food Challenge from last week’s report
  2. Catch fish in every lake and every canal on the chain
  3. Rack up a high number of bites
fern canal lake osceola

Pushing through the fern canal into Lake Osceola.

I started on the north side of Lake Virginia, catching two bass by skipping the Bitters Buzz’n Gator under docks. Already checked off Virginia, I pushed north through the fern canal into Lake Osceola, spending most of the day there. Later, I punched back through to Virginia, moved south a few hundred yards, and entered the Genius Canal, linking Virginia to Lake Mizell.

Caught one quickly in Mizell. Then another in the canal. At that point, I’d landed 25+ bass, was feeling gassed, and ready to call it a successful day.

lake osceola bass

Two Confidence Baits That Crushed

It had been a while since my last dedicated bass trip. I’d been catching bass while chasing tarpon in the backwaters of the Indian River Lagoon—very different from lake fishing.

My approach: power fish with confidence baits that let me cover water and fish all depths. I used two:

  • Bitter Skip Shad (Houdini) — rigged weightless & weedless on a 3/0 EWG
  • Bitters Buzz’n Gator (Watermelon Red Pearl) — also weightless & weedless on a 3/0 EWG

I started with the topwater Gator, burning it back, skipping it under docks, and buzzing it over lotus pads. It drew exciting surface strikes.

The Skip Shad (fluke-style bait) was the top producer. It skips into tight spots, casts long, and can be worked a dozen ways—twitched, deadsticked, walked subsurface – it really is a dealers choice type of bait.

I love a speedworm (really, really do), but the fluke might be the GOAT—not just for bass, but also snook, trout, and even tarpon.

Results:

  • 23 of 26 bass on the Gator and Skip Shad
  • 3 on a speedworm
  • Sometimes Plan A works. Stick with it.
lake osceola kayak fishing

Gear Talk: Reliable Kayaks & Secret Weapons

As I tell my football players:

“The best ability is availability.”

Same goes for kayaks. You don’t need the most expensive rig—just a reliable one.

For the past 18 months, I’ve been running used Old Town and Hobies from Kayaks By Bo—part of their test fleet. With the money saved, I’ve been able to invest in rigging, customizations, and repairs.

The real MVP?

Andy.

He’s the kayak whisperer. Rudders, cords, pedal drives—you name it, he fixes it.

One reason I love Kayaks By Bo: they’re not just a place to buy a kayak. They’re a family-run operation that offers repairs, rigging, and great service.

Andy: the REAL MVP!

Thanks for reading this week’s report. Wishing you calm waters, explosive strikes, and enough good bites to keep you coming back.

Stay safe. Be happy. Go rip some lips.

Until next time—tight lines.

kayaks by Bo

by Knox Robinson
Spacefish Prostaff

cocoa ford

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Picky Eaters Nearshore
May 26, 2025

Picky Eaters Nearshore

snook

Tyler with his first snook!

Inshore fishing is still really good, but the bite is early. Plenty of snook and some good trout as well as some jacks and a few redfish here and there.

Nearshore waters are warming and the jacks are showing up in good numbers. There are some tarpon around but not that many yet and they are picky. The water off the beach was cold all week and warmed up on the weekend. Both jacks and tarpon were picky but the small sharks were eating well.

tarpon

AJ caught his first tarpon off the beach

Kingfish will be showing up on the beach in decent numbers as the water stays warm and the bait stays around. The kingfish will eat both live baits and artificial baits and they will mix in along with the bait schools and even the schools of tarpon. The rain should help the bite a bit as it pushes the smaller baits out of the creeks and lagoon and gets the fish we are looking to catch fired up.

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

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Crushing it on the Reefs
May 26, 2025

Crushing it on the Reefs

Captain Joe and Captain Dylan have been crushing it targeting our local reefs, both 8A and Pelican. Live bait is kind of hard to find so it’s a good thing to grab a box of minnows just in case. They have been working just fine but always better to get live bait if you can find it. Overall, the fishing is insanely good right now! All species are chewing.

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

cocoa ford

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Banner Days Fishing
May 26, 2025

Banner Days Fishing

This past holiday week has been some banner fishing from Daytona Beach south into New Smyrna Beach and Mosquito Lagoon. It has definitely been some summer conditions with warm days and afternoon showers to cool things off for the evening. The bait has been plentiful both north around the oyster beds in New Smyrna area and south across the shallow grass flats of Mosquito Lagoon. Look for the redfish and trout to be holding in and around the scattered bait. Plugs, soft plastics and spoons have all been working well for an artificial bite. If live bait is more your style look to pinfish, shrimp or finger mullet for a consistent bite.

It looks as though we will be heading into this week with the summer time pattern of afternoon storms which will only increase the bite by cooling the water temps down a bit.

by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394

Lake Toho
May 26, 2025

Lake Toho


Wednesday morning tournament fishing just outside of Goblets Cove, got the pair of 3lbs, on a Gambler Burner worm in Black and blue flake throwing out towards the pp of the lake while my partner flipped the reeds.

Fiberglass Florida -- Rockledge store now open!

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Weekend Report
May 23, 2025

Weekend Report

Breaking down the fishing for the weekend ahead with Mark Moses.

by Damon - Capt. Real Estate
HomeSmart Coastal Realty | (321) 289-0902

How do you fish Port Canaveral?
May 21, 2025

How do you fish Port Canaveral?

I’ve been wanting to fish out of the port in my bay boat, I don’t what what to do, and where to fish. What should I be doing?

Fiberglass Florida -- Rockledge store now open!

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Enjoyable Trips in Fort Pierce
May 19, 2025

Enjoyable Trips in Fort Pierce

snook

Peggy showing off the elusive slot snook that became the dinner guest of honor!

This growing older ain’t for sissies! I suffered a herniated lumbar disc early in January and was unable to function for two plus months. I’m back on the water again, though I really need to be mindful of how I twist and turn my spine.

Recent trips have been enjoyable. A backwater trip with one of my favorite clients, Jean-michele, yielded a few fish on topwater plugs, including a twenty-eight inch spotted seatrout, a short snook and of all things, a mangrove snapper. He experienced quite a few blow-ups on the topwater plugs that did not turn into a bent rod… Such is the way of the topwater lure angler!

cuda

Scott agreeing that barracuda can offer a great fight!

Ric joined me on a scouting trip this past Wednesday. The jetty action was fair and we caught lots of jacks hooked a couple of sharks and boated a short snook. Moving inside of the inlet proved futile until the incoming tide turned, then the snook turned on. We boated a couple and lost too many during a really exciting forty-five minute session.

Finally, Scott and Peggy asked to catch their first slot snook. They’ve caught little ones in the past, though the “dinner guest” has always eluded them.

The snook bite was awful at sunrise, but they caught lots of jacks, a nice barracuda, a grouper, jumped three tarpon in the sixty pound range and hooked a few sharks that (thankfully) bit through our leaders. Once again, the action inside the inlet was nil.

seatrout

Jean-michel posing with his twenty-eight inch trout he took on a topwater walking plug!

Right before tide change I positioned the boat where we caught snook the day before. Our first two baits were smacked, hard, but no hook-ups. The third bait proved magical, at least to Peggy, as she battled her biggest snook ever to the landing net. Yes, it was a keeper!

A few more under-slot snook and a possible top-slot snook taking a bunch of line with her were the only low points of this trip. However, they caught two redfish here as well, which was almost as exciting as for them as the snook!

by Capt. Mark Wright
Florida East Coast Fishing Adventures | (321) 302-3474

Boat & Motors Superstore

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Weekly Fishing Report
May 19, 2025

Weekly Fishing Report

It was a non-nonstop fishing fest this week as I hit the water all 7 days! A few key trends emerged that I’d like to share:

Snook on Fire! The big snook are absolutely chewing right now! It’s clear they’re gearing up for the spawn, and their appetites are insatiable. If you’re targeting these brutes, be prepared for some intense battles.

Bait Preferences It seems many of the species are feeding on smaller baitfish and shrimp in the 2.5-5″ range. A 3″ paddle tail was a staple in my tackle box this week, and it consistently delivered. Both trout and redfish have been feeding on these small bait and shrimp, similar to the snook.

Shallow Water Action The big redfish are still holding in the shallows, making for some exciting opportunities.

Healthy Ecosystem I’ve also noticed an increase in grass beds, which is a promising sign for the health of the ecosystem.

Get out there and see if you can capitalize on these trends! With the variety of species feeding aggressively, it’s shaping up to be a fantastic time to get on the water.

by John Page
JP Kayak Fishing and Tours | (321) 345-8388

American Air & Heat of Brevard

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Conditions Finally Improving @ Inlet
May 19, 2025

Conditions Finally Improving @ Inlet

sebastian conditions improving

Good morning, all my Sebastian Inlet fishing/beaching friends; I hope everyone had a great and safe weekend! This week’s report is FINALLY a better one than what has been going on — and I like that! Without any further ado, here you go…

North side

This side the water has been relatively clean and weed-free for a while now, and some fish are biting, mostly on the incoming tide. In the back near the old “steel” area they have been catching sheepshead on cut shrimp and sand fleas. In that area and along the rocks just east of there, around the tide pool there have been a few snook (use live mojarra, incoming tide and the first of the outgoing, if you can find some, as they have been pretty scarce the last week. That’s it for this side as access is limited due to the ongoing jetty construction.

South side

Here, the outgoing tide at the tip is where I have been seeing the most action: blue runner, black margates, sand perch, and sheepshead have been biting cut shrimp. Also over here, same tide I saw some nice lookdowns, small bluefish, Spanish mackerel, being caught on small goofy jigs, also saw a couple of pompano as well, same jigs. The water has cleaned up and had warmed back up to 77/78 degrees. The seaweed has also dissipated somewhat. The incoming tide has produced a few snook on live mojarra — again, if you can find some, they’ve been scarce. Some nice sheepshead have also been caught on cut shrimp and live sand fleas on the incoming tide along the rocks, both sides of the bridge.

T-Dock area

The dock remains closed as of this writing, but all the dredging piping and equipment has been removed, making it easier to fish, and cast net bait. It has been a little slow back here, but there have been a few snook caught on live mojarra and threadfins. Also, anglers have caught a few sheepshead and whiting on cut shrimp on the incoming tide. That’s it, since the T-dock is still closed.

Surf Area, both sides

The water on both sides of the inlet on the beach has cleaned up quite a bit, especially on the north side where it is deeper. I received reports of a few nice black drum, sheepshead, pompano and some whiting caught on the north side roughly 200 yards north of the jetty. Live sand fleas and cut shrimp are the baits to use. Keep an eye out for mullet coming down the beaches because there might be snook and tarpon around the schools. Approximately 200 yards or more down from the south jetty there have been pompano and black drum for those fishing live sandfleas and cut shrimp. Early morning high tide is the time to fish the beaches while the water is high. The cleaner water on this side, along with the very small surf has helped the fishing pick up. Also, I chatted with a couple of anglers who have hooked up with some big sharks here. They are commonly found on this side.

Well, friends, that’s all for this week. I’m glad the conditions and the action are improving. As I have said, when things get better weatherwise, fishing WILL improve as well. Expect hot weather this week, but light and bearable wind and surf for good fishing. Get out there and enjoy everything the park has to offer. Have a great week.

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

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Headwaters Bass Fishing
May 19, 2025

Headwaters Bass Fishing

big bass for little kid

The water temp was 83 degrees when we started this morning and at noon it was 86.5 degrees. Top baits this week for me were Jackhammer chatterbaits, Bass Assassin RSB worms and the Mike Bucca Bull Shad 6″ Trick Shad.

I’m fishing the Bass Assassin RSB worms weightless or with a 1/8oz weight. I’m using a 5/0 VMC Redline EWG hook with an Ande Fluro leader in 20lb test. I am fishing these in the same area that im fishing chatterbaits. I swim the worm just like you wouldd a slow rolled spinnerbait. Gooseberry and black with blue tail are my most productive colors.

9lb bass

I’m fishing the Jackhammers (Green Pumpkin, and Zman EVO Bluegill) on the flats along hydrilla edges in 5′ or less. I only use a 1/2oz Jackhammer with a Green Pumpkin Zako trailer or a Hogfarmer Spunk Shad (Sungill) with the a Bluegill chatterbait. My line of choice is Ande black braid (50lb) and the rod I prefer is a Dobyns Champion 736CB Glass #dobynsrods

The 6″ Mike Bucca Trick Shad in Gizzard Shad color is my go to swimbait this week. I’m fishing these along hydrilla edges near deep water or in canals. It is a fish catcher and it will work all over Headwaters. Get on the Bullshad email mailing list so you can get the bait drop info. The Dobyns Champion XP 736C FH (frog rod) is the best rod I’ve found to throw the 6″ trick shad.

Live bait is still producing giant fish and they are chewing shiners. I’m fishing live bait in deep water on a freeline along thick grass edges.

Call or text me at 304-610-6066 to book a trip of a lifetime. I only have a couple days open for the June Special ($325 for 3 hours)

Tight lines!

by Kenny Hass
Catchin' Bass Guide Service | (772) 494-7400

Jasin Youmans Dental - Melbourne, FL

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CATCH A BIG SMILE WITH JASIN YOUMANS DMD!

jasin youmans DMD

Falcon Boats USA

LOCAL EVENTS

CFSA April Social

April 15
6:30pm – 9pm
Mud Hole Custom Tackle, Oviedo, FL

CFSA

Central Florida Saltwater Anglers’ April Social will feature Cory Redwine and Captain Alex Gorichky from Team Do Gooder!

The meeting is open to the public and free to attend. Come on out!

FSFA North Chapter Meeting

April 22

FSFA The FSFA North Chapter Meeting is at Veterans Memorial Center 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island (behind Merritt Square Mall). Capt. Leiza Fitzgerald will be the featured speaker. Social time starts at 6:30. Meeting starts at 7:00. Food and drink available for a donation.

TOURNEY SEASON

5th Annual Sand Spike Shootout

  • DATE: March 29-30, 2025
  • LOCATION: Treasure Coast
  • PAYOUTS: Various Prizes
  • ENTRY FEE: $50
  • LEARN MORE:
    Facebook | Register Online

East Side Round Up

  • DATE: April 15
  • LOCATIONS: Melbourne, Ponce Inlet & Mayport
  • PAYOUTS: Estimated $250,000
  • ENTRY FEE: $3000

Ed Dwyer Otherside Invitational

Elite Pro Team Trail

  • DATE: April 19
  • LOCATION: Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
    Camp Mack
  • LEARN MORE: tohomarine.com

3rd Annual Mahi Championship

mahi championship
  • DATE: May 1 – 31
    (Captain’s choice, any 2 days in May)
  • PAYOUTS: First place Dolphin – $50,000 Guaranteed!

  • ENTRY FEE: $600
  • LOCATION: Volusia Top Gun

Elite Pro Team Trail

  • DATE: May 3
  • LOCATION: Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
    Camp Mack
  • LEARN MORE: tohomarine.com

39th Annual CFSA Offshore Tournament

southern kingfish association

  • DATE: May 17
  • LOCATION: Port Canaveral, FL
  • PAYOUTS: +$27,000 total
  • ENTRY FEE: $225
  • LEARN MORE: cfoatourney.com

31st Annual Blue Water Open

Blue Water Open

southern kingfish association

  • DATE: May 31
  • LOCATION: Captain Hiram’s
    Sebastian, FL
  • PAYOUTS: +$21,000 total
  • ENTRY FEE: $250
  • LEARN MORE: Blue Water Open

56th Annual FSFA Offshore Tournament

southern kingfish association

  • DATE: June 7, 2025
  • LOCATION: Sunrise Marina
    Port Canaveral, FL
  • PAYOUTS: +$35,000 total

  • ENTRY FEE: $250

4th Annual Indian River Fire Fighters Offshore Tournament

indian river fire fighters offshore tournament
  • DATE: June 21, 2025
  • LOCATION: Sebastian Saltwater Marina
  • PAYOUTS: +$16,000 purse
  • ENTRY FEE: $250
  • LEARN MORE: Facebook link

Elite Pro Team Trail

  • DATE: June 28-29
  • LOCATION: Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
    Camp Mack
  • LEARN MORE: tohomarine.com

SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY!

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

Miley Marine Surveyors