WEEKLY FORECAST
4.28.2026 – 5.4.2026
CENTRAL FLORIDA’S BEST FISHING REPORT
“Location, Location, Location!” This week Knox Robinson rolls the dice on a bargain bin lure… and also becomes a real estate agent..?
Wind will be coming from every which way this week, but the consistent weather patterns of summer are on the horizon! It couldn’t come any sooner at the Inlet where the south Jetty has just been given the green light for public access, and the park’s long-vacant bait shop is officially back in business — shoutout to the the Salty Cowboys that put in all the work to make it happen! In this week’s forecast…
- Knox goes fishing in the bargain bin at Wally World and takes his swing on a steeply discounted lure. He didn’t exactly knock it out of the park in terms of savings, but ultimately, you can’t argue with results!
- The continued upward trend of bait flow is confirmed by Capt. Glyn Austin, among others;
- The man, the legend, Capt. Jim Ross, further extends his exclusive discount to Spacefish readers;
- Word of solid action and production across the whole gamut of Central Florida fisheries (with exception to the waters on the immediate boundary of Sebastian Inlet State Park — what’s up with that, Snookman?!?!)…
WEATHER & CONDITIONS
BITE OPPORTUNITY INDEX
OFFSHORE
INSHORE
SURF
FRESHWATER
Weather Overview
Looks like we will have a breezy week ahead. Tuesday, Wednesday morning and Friday are the days with the lowest projected wind. Rain chances remain low until Sunday. The wind is kind of all over the place. It starts off out of the NE/ENE. Mid-week it switches out of the SE before switching again out of the SW on Saturday and NW on Sunday. High temperatures will reach the 90’s by Saturday then a short cool front comes in Sunday.
Resources
GIVEAWAYS
Latest Reports
Tarpon Tough
I had the pleasure of joining a beach tarpon charter with Capt. Glyn Austin and his guest, Tony, this last Friday. From the moment they scooped me at the inlet, the experience was equally as beautiful as it was exhilarating.
Massive schools of hundreds of tarpon lined the coast, just barely breaking the surface tension of the water. Countless sea turtles were doing the nasty like it was 1969, everywhere. The sunrise spectacular, and the sea, calm and clear. We didn’t waste any time in getting right to business with lines in the water.
Poor Tony… After fighting two massive +100lb tarpon for what seemed like hours, Capt. Glyn showed him no mercy, putting him immediately on a school of gear busting, ball breaking jacks. Tony answered the call with what could only be sheer determination and power of will.
Between epic battles, Tony emphatically said to me several times, “It’s your turn next, man!”
I rebuked his offer, without reluctance, “sorry bro, I’m strictly taking pictures today.”
I thought he was just being generous, but upon reflection, I’m pretty sure he was fishing for a breather! Dude needed a break! Tony, if you’re reading this, my bad, brother!
What an awesome time! If you want to cross this epic fishing experience off your bucket list, I’ve got two critical pieces of advice:
1) Book a trip with Capt. Glyn Austin of Going Coastal Charters. Capt. Glyn is the man. He knows better than anybody how to put you on these magnificently beautiful, bruisingly powerful specimen.
2) Take at least one friend with you so you don’t have to hurt yourself trying to avoid looking like a soft ass b*tch when you’re dying from exhaustion and there’s nobody else to whom you can pass off the rod. There’s no shame in not being as tough as Tony (I know I’m not!)
Mosquito Lagoon & Manatee Hammock
Mosquito Lagoon & Manatee Hammock - Cover
Happy Monday Spacefish!
Summer is here! For my wife, our kids, and I that means time off from school – and even though it’s 10,000 degrees in the shade hot, it gives us a chance to go do more fun things than we would normally do during the school year. This past weekend that involved a family camping weekend at Manatee Hammock in Titusville, and I took advantage to go and fish Mosquito Lagoon.
Mosquito Lagoon Fishing
I was able to do a 6ish hour session on Mosquito Lagoon, from sunrise to noon-ish when it got really really hot out. Honestly though, despite the hot air temps, the fishing remained solid – I would have been willing to stay if I wasn’t planning on meeting my family at the campground to check in.
The morning started when I got to Beacon 42 around 530ish, I was already on the water making casts when the sun came up – there is something about sunrises over Mosquito Lagoon that just feel extra special. I started with topwater but was having trouble with how much grass there was, not just on the bottom, but floating grass as well. I ended up switching over from my Super Spook Jr to a Rapala Skitterwalk I had with single in-line hooks, this made the grass situation a little easier. But I was kicking myself for not having any frogs.
I ended up landing a few decent sized Trout, and then making a switch to subsurface lures, I ended up spending most of the rest of the day with a weedless gold spoon, and a Texas rigged Saltwater Assassin Sea Shad, but baits proved to be very effective in fishing in so much grass, and ended up enabling me to have a great fishing trip. I ended up landing around 20 total seatrout and a handful of redfish with my best being 31 and 27 inches respectively.
Sunrise Over Mosquito Lagoon
Bass Tactics Prove Effective
The tactic that put the most fish in the boat for me, and enabled me to fish in the heaviest of grass was a Saltwater Assassin Sea Shad I rigged just like I rig my speedworms. Tungsten weight pegged with a bobber stopper, and a EWG hook. I used the Gamakatsu G-Lock, which features a slightly bent hook point that digs back into the bait offering the utmost weedlessness.
I could use this presentation as a search bait, but when I got into the really thick stuff I would stand up in the kayak and pitch and flip into holes as well. There were so many Reds in the grass, I probably spooked more than I caught, but I had an absolute ball fishing for them. I plan on doing a return trip soon and experimenting with several ways to get to these fish in the thick stuff, and I plan on writing a more in-depth report in the near future
Texas Rig Catches Redfish
The Power of the Gold Spoon
The tactic that put the most fish in the boat for me, and enabled me to fish in the heaviest of grass was a Saltwater Assassin Sea Shad I rigged just like I rig my speedworms. Tungsten weight pegged with a bobber stopper, and a EWG hook. I used the Gamakatsu G-Lock, which features a slightly bent hook point that digs back into the bait offering the utmost weedlessness.
I could use this presentation as a search bait, but when I got into the really thick stuff I would stand up in the kayak and pitch and flip into holes as well. There were so many Reds in the grass, I probably spooked more than I caught, but I had an absolute ball fishing for them. I plan on doing a return trip soon and experimenting with several ways to get to these fish in the thick stuff, and I plan on writing a more in-depth report in the near future
Mosquito Lagoon Redfish on Aqua Dream Gold Spoon
The fishing spoon is one of the oldest artificial lures ever tied to a line. According to legend, its origins trace back to the 1820s when an angler accidentally dropped a teaspoon overboard and watched a trout strike it as it fluttered through the water. Whether the story is entirely true or not, anglers soon began modifying household spoons into fish-catching machines.
The modern weedless spoon arrived in 1920 when Louis Johnson introduced the Silver Minnow, a design that remains popular more than a century later. While silver spoons became staples in freshwater fisheries, gold spoons carved out their own legacy on the shallow flats of Florida and the Gulf Coast.
In stained water, grassy shorelines, and muddy backcountry creeks, the warm flash of a gold spoon closely resembles fleeing baitfish, crabs, and other forage that redfish, snook, and trout feed on every day. The combination of flash, vibration, and weedless design allows anglers to cover water efficiently while fishing through grass, oyster bars, and shallow cover where other lures struggle.
Few lures have stood the test of time quite like the gold spoon. More than 100 years after its invention, it remains one of the most effective tools ever created for finding fish in Florida’s inshore fisheries.
Gold spoons have earned a legendary reputation among redfish anglers because they perfectly match the environments redfish call home. The wide wobble of a spoon creates strong vibrations that redfish can detect with their lateral lines, allowing them to track the lure even in thick grass or murky water.
The gold finish is equally important. Unlike silver, which can lose its effectiveness in dark, tannin-stained water, gold produces a warm flash that stands out in shallow flats, muddy creeks, and grassy backwaters. That flash closely resembles the belly of a fleeing baitfish or the glint of a crab, two of the most common food sources redfish encounter.
Perhaps most importantly, spoons are naturally weedless. Their design allows anglers to fish through turtle grass, shoal grass, oyster edges, and other cover where redfish spend much of their time feeding. The result is a lure that can be cast a long distance, retrieved through heavy cover, and consistently put in front of fish. Simple, durable, and effective, the gold spoon remains one of the most reliable redfish lures ever created.
Gold Spoons Catch Reds
Manatee Hammock Campground
If you’re reading this because you are planning on making a trip to the area this summer, or if you live in south brevard and want to have a staycation at a cool campground near Mosquito Lagoon and the National Wildlife Refuge, Manatee Hammock may just be the place you are looking for!
Camping at Manatee Hammock
Manatee Hammock Campground is one of the most family-friendly camping destinations on the Space Coast. Located along the Indian River Lagoon, it offers front-row views of rocket launches from Cape Canaveral while also providing plenty to keep kids entertained between launches. Families can enjoy the swimming pool, playground, fishing pier, and frequent sightings of dolphins and manatees along the shoreline. The campground’s shaded canopy of pines, palms, and oaks helps keep campsites comfortable during Florida’s warmer months, while amenities like showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, and both RV and tent camping options make it an easy and convenient choice for families looking to spend time with their children in the great outdoors.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, this is what makes the Space Coast such a special place to live. In a single weekend, you can spend the morning chasing redfish and trout across the grass flats of Mosquito Lagoon, the afternoon watching a rocket launch over the Indian River Lagoon, and the evening sitting around a campfire with your family. That’s a pretty hard combination to beat.
Of course, having the right tools makes those adventures even better. Whether you’re looking for a kayak capable of reaching shallow-water fish that powerboats simply can’t access, or need help rigging and outfitting your current setup, the crew at Kayaks By Bo continues to be one of the best resources on the Space Coast for kayak anglers.
And before you make your next trip, be sure to stop by Strike Zone Fishing in Melbourne. From gold spoons and soft plastics to terminal tackle and local fishing knowledge, they’ve got everything you need to make the most of a summer day on the water.
Enjoy the outdoors, make some memories with your family, and as always, tight lines Spacefish. Until next time!
This Week on the Lagoon
This week’s focus shifts away from the usual snook bite and lands squarely on one of the most consistent and exciting inshore targets right now: the Spotted Seatrout.
Across multiple trips this week, both early mornings and early evenings, the trout fishing has been exceptional. Not just in numbers, but in quality. A strong portion of the fish being caught have been pushing 20 inches or better, which is always a positive sign for the overall health of the fishery. These larger trout play a key role in sustaining a strong breeding population, so seeing them active and feeding aggressively in shallow water is a great indicator for the system right now.
Most of the action has been coming from shallow flats and edges where bait is thick. In several areas, the feeding activity is so consistent you can actually hear the trout popping bait on the surface and just under it. These fish are clearly keyed in on concentrated bait schools and ambushing in very shallow water.
When landed, a few of these trout even regurgitated their recent meals in the kayak, which gave a clear snapshot of the local forage. The primary food sources have been shrimp and glass minnows, confirming what the bait presence has been showing on the surface and on sonar.
Lure selection has been straightforward and effective. Three inch paddle tails worked slowly through the strike zone, soft plastic shrimp presentations, and three inch fluke style baits with subtle twitching action have all produced well. These smaller, natural profile baits have been matching the hatch and consistently drawing strikes, especially when worked around active bait pods.
It is also worth noting this bite has not been isolated. Mixed in with the trout are solid numbers of snook and redfish, along with plenty of ladyfish and jacks roaming the same areas. The ecosystem is clearly active and balanced right now, with multiple species feeding in the same zones, particularly where current, bait, and shallow structure overlap.
Overall, if you have been targeting trout, this is a strong window to focus shallow and stay mobile. Find the bait, listen for activity, and work those zones thoroughly, especially during low light periods.
Good trout fishing continues across the Space Coast, with size, numbers, and consistency all lining up at the same time.
Tarpon on the Beaches
Well gang, it’s finally happening…. The tarpon are showing up along the beaches in good numbers. I am really happy that they have arrived and that there are plenty of baitfish to hold their attention, so that they don’t blow right through the Space Coast for points northward.
Tarpon can be caught while sight casting to them with live baits or artificial lures. Two of my favorites are the Rapala long cast hard plastic suspending lure and the saltwater assassin Artemis Shad. These look very similar to many of the baitfish that the tarpon likes to eat at this time of year. Most of the tarpon this week have been 70 to 120-pound class fish. This is a good overall average size for anglers to feel the power a tarpon possesses without the tarpon killing them if they aren’t experienced in fighting fish for up to 45-minutes or more.
The tarpon have no quit in them and you as an angler need to be sure that you are in good enough physical shape to be up to answering the questions that a tarpon can ask of you if you decide to pick a fight with one. Here are a few tips that I recommend to anyone who wants to poke that bear…
Do’s and Don’ts
– Do make sure that your grip, arm, and back strength are pretty good.
– Do make sure that you are hydrated and stay that way throughout the battle.
– Don’t drink alcohol the night before your fishing trip unless you want to get your butt kicked by the tarpon.
– Eat a quality breakfast with plenty of protein or fresh fruits and lots of water.
– Yes, this would exclude doughnuts and McDonald’s egg mcmuffins.
– Treat a tarpon trip like you are going to run a half marathon and you should do just fine.
I’m completely booked up for the next three weeks or so but mid July through early August are great times to go chase tarpon. You can book a trip with me right on my website’s reservation page (www.finelinefishingcharters.com) or give me a call (321-636-3728) if you have any additional questions about trying your luck at landing a Silver King this summer. Let’s go catch your next memory!!
Fishing on the Slow Side @ the Inlet
Good morning all you Sebastian Inlet anglers and outdoor beach goers, I hope you all had a great weekend! This report unfortunately is going to be another disappointing one as the water conditions and lack of our “summertime” baitfish have kept things on the slow side most of last week, and through the weekend, plus the fact that the water temp has dropped back down to 81 degrees as of this report, where it should be in the mid 80s for this time of year. And again, with all the rain that has occurred in the middle of the state has made the water coming out of Sebastian River/C54 canal loaded with fresh tannin stained water, which our ocean fish do not like! So here are your key fishing spots.
North Jetty
Over here it has been really slow all weekend, not much going on while I was down. Heck I didn’t even see a single fish caught in the 4 to 5 hours I spent down there both days, not even a catfish!! That’s pretty slow. The incoming water early in the day was really clean, and some catch and release snook and reds were caught on live baits. Also a few small sheepshead were caught on cut shrimp in and aroubd the rocks and pilings. Loik downs were present also for those fishing tiny jigs and small live shrimp. I heard the night time bite was decent for them on bucktails and swim baits. Outgoing tide has just been really slow with all the tannin stained fresh water coming out, it just shut everything down!
South Jetty
UPDATE! According to the park management, the south jetty will REMAIN OPEN during the construction, BUT MUST BE ACCESSED VIA THE SOUTH BEACH DAY USE AREA which is about 1/4 mile south of the inlet, you are permitted to walk up the beach and fish it. Accessing the south jetty by walking around the fencing that has been installed in the construction area once the “no trespassing” signs are installed, you will be subject to possible citations once law enforcement starts monitoring the area. Please be mindful to this. It is for your own safety! I will NOT be doing a report on the south jetty fishing because of the inaccessibility to it.
T Dock Area
Back here the fishing is slow as well, the water is pretty clean on the incoming, just very little fish being caught outside of some small sheepshead, mangroves and sandperch on cut shrimp around the pilings and rocks. Both tides, with incoming being the better tide.
Surf Area, both sides
South side has been slow due to the dirty water, excess seaweed, not a lot being caught outside of some catfish, rays and small whiting, all on cut shrimp. North side has been slow as well mostly die to the lack of water depth because of the massive sandbar that stretches from the north jetty to about 1/2 mile north, there’s just no water depth to fish! The only thing I’ve heard about are small whiting and croakers being caught on cut shrimp. Pretty slow for sure!
Well folks, that’s all for this week. But like I always say, I tell it like it is, no fluff just to get you to go out. This week is supposed to be nice and calm, but hot and possible afternoon thunderstorms all week! So if you go our, stay hydrated and keep an eye on the weather. Cheers!
Slow Fishing @ Stick Marsh
The Stick Marsh fished slower for us during this week’s outing. The first light bite is still the best as the morning continues on. We got a great jerkbait bite but it was over as fast as it started. Schooling activity is hit and miss in some of the lake but if you happen to be in the right place at the right time and within casting range, chances of hooking up on fish is a high percentage.
Inshore Fishing A little Slow
Inshore fishing was a little slow this week but we caught a few decent snook, some nice trout and some jacks and bluefish. Live bait has been good for the snook but the trout, jacks and bluefish were plentiful and caught on soft plastics and bigheads. Later in the week, we got out on the beach and found some sharks, jacks and tarpon. Live bait has worked but most of the fish were eating artificial as well as live bait. We should have another good week of light winds and small seas and should start seeing more bait on the beach as we get more rains and west winds which will improve the fishing for all species running the beach.
Calm Summer Days
With the calm summer days starting to stack up, we have taken advantage and put our clients on some great fish. There is a little bit of everything to be had right now from kingfish and dolphin to cobia and triggerfish along with many other species as well. This is a great time of year to get offshore so give us a call to book a trip.
Shrimp Boats Stacking Up
It’s that time of year where the shrimp boats tend to stack up along the beach and with them come some pretty incredible tarpon fishing as well as shark fishing. We’re getting really good pigfish, which is increasing our trout catch in the Mosquito Lagoon. The offshore bite has been really good with large red snapper, lane snapper and mangrove snapper being caught in 60 to 80 feet of water. I have a few days left open this month and some days open in July if you want to give me a call at 386-295-5991. You can book a trip or go right to my website.
Pompano Still Pumping…
I previously declared “the end” of the spring pompano migration — and I was wrong. This weekend, the beach and surf was clear of weeds and the water was pretty clean, and the schooly pompano were out in full force again. We caught a lot of them, but none measured greater than 11″ to fork. Lots of smaller to mid-sized whiting were in the mix, too,
With low winds and calm seas — typical summertime patterns — forecasted for the week ahead, I’ll be looking to score my first surf snook of the season. There should be lots of opportunity this week, especially in the mornings.
🎣 Headwaters Lake Fishing Report – June 13, 2026
Water temperatures started around 84° this morning.cThe topwater bite has been excellent early, with the first two hours producing some quality fish. Don’t sleep on a Baby Torpedo! As the morning progresses, anglers are finding success with subsurface presentations, including chatterbaits, swimbaits, and speed worms.
⸻
🏆 Top Producers
⭐ Gambler Big EZ�🎨 Red Ear | Copperfield | Gold Shiner�• Best on clear-water flats with scattered hydrilla
⭐ Z-Man EVO ChatterBait (1/2 oz)�🎨 Bluegill | Clearwater Shad�• Best in 5 feet of water or less with scattered grass�• Runs clean through hydrilla�• Pair with Forktail or Zako-style trailers
⭐ Bass Assassin RSB Worm�🎨 Junebug Blue Tail | Gooseberry | Black Blue Flake�• Fish weightless or with a 1/16 oz weight�• 5/0 VMC Redline EWG hook
⭐ Mike Bucca 5” & 6” Trick Shad�🎨 Gizzard | Bone�• Target grass lines near drops and canal edges�• Excellent choice for targeting larger bass
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🎣 Book a Headwaters Trip
☀️ Summer Special – $350 for 2 anglers�⏰ 3-hour fishing trip
📞 772-494-7400 | 304-610-6066�📧 captainbhass@gmail.com�📩 Facebook Messenger
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• Bullshad Baits: Bullshad.com
�• Ande Black (Graphite) Braid: andemonofilament.com/products/braid
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🔥 Summer dates are filling fast! Message me today to reserve your Headwaters trip before the best dates are gone.
Tight lines!
PENN WRATH II review
The PENN WRATH II was mainly engineered for saltwater, but personally i find that it is extremely versatile in both freshwater and saltwater. I bought this rod at walmart for 78 $, pretty good price for a PENN, i once bought an ugly stik for 120 $. Not worth it. This rod is fairly cheap for a PENN, very available. I recommend getting it at walmart for the 78 $, Bass pro sells it for more i believe. But overall a beautifully engineered, well rounded saltwater-freshwater rod.
SPECS :
ROD
7’0” – FAST 10-17 LB – MONO 10-30 LB – BRAID 1/4 – 1 OZ LURE
REEL
GEAR RATIO 6:2:1 – 2+1 BEARING SYSTEM – BRAID 15 LB / 360 YDS – 20 LB / 260 YDS – 30 LB / 185 YDS
I personally used ultralight rods growing up, but this is a really nice rod,for an excellent price. Thanks for reading! See you next time.
CATCH A BIG SMILE WITH JASIN YOUMANS DMD!
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SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY!
Don’t forget, if you’ve been fishing, we’d love to hear from you!
