WEEKLY FORECAST
8.27.2024 – 9.2.2024
CENTRAL FLORIDA’S BEST FISHING REPORT
In addition to a great weather forecast ahead and overwhelmingly positive fishing reports from all across the board, there’s a lot going on this week… The long wait for Snook Season is finally over as of Sept 1. Meanwhile, all the baitfish pushing inshore have left many wondering if the fall mullet run has arrived early. You can find out what local legend Capt. Alexgorichky has to say on the subject at the August 27 FSFA meeting, where he will be discussing tips and tactics for fishing the highly anticipated annual event. And finally — have you ever been out enjoying nature in one of Florida’s many pristine State Parks and thought to yourself, “if only there was a golf course here?” Neither has Knox Robinson; find out why he’s concerned about the proposed State Park initiative (and why you should be too) in his writeup featured in this week’s forecast…
WEATHER & CONDITIONS
BITE OPPORTUNITY INDEX
OFFSHORE
INSHORE
SURF
FRESHWATER
Weather Overview
Dare I write we are in for a great week of weather ahead? I don’t know, but I’m writing it anyway! We should expect winds out of the E/ESE pretty much all week. The wind is projected to be relatively low. Tuesday and Wednesday show they could be a little breezy but Thursday through Sunday looks pretty darn good overall. If the current forecast holds, starting Thursday and lasting through the weekend, the weather is showing a 40% chance of Scattered Thunderstorms. Because of this, try to get out early to beat the heat and potential storms.
GIVEAWAYS
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 a 40qt Gators/Bud Light Cooler…
CONTEST RULES
- Eligibility
Spacefish Giveaway Contest (the “Contest”) is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry. Employees of Spacefish and other companies associated with the promotion of the Contest, and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates and advertising and promotion agencies as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of each such employee are not eligible. The Contest is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations. - Sponsor
The Contest is sponsored by Carroll Distributing. - Agreement to Official Rules
Participation in the Contest constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon being compliant with these Official Rules and fulfilling all other requirements set forth herein. - Contest Period
The Contest runs from Aug 13 – Sept 10, 2024 - How to Enter
Online entry will be available by visiting the latest fishing report on our website (spacefishreport.com) and following the directions provided to fill out the entry information, and submit. Limit one (1) entry per person, per email address, and per household for the duration of the Contest Period, regardless of method of entry. Entries received from any person, e-mail address, or household in excess of the stated limitation will be void. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. - Prize Drawing
One winner will be selected among all Spacefish email subscribers. The odds of being selected depend on the number of entries received. The Sponsor will publish the winner’s name in its weekly fishing report on August 6 2024 and the winner will be contacted via email. If the potential winner does not claim their prize by responding within five (5) days, the Sponsor may select an alternate potential winner in his/her place at random from the remaining non-winning, eligible entries. - Winner Notification The potential winner will announced in the weekly fishing report on Sept 10, 2024. The winner (parent/legal guardian if a minor in his/her state of residence) will be required to complete, electronically sign and submit a Declaration of Compliance within five (5) days of the date notice or attempted notice is sent, in order to claim his/her prize. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, or fails to submit the Declaration of Compliance within the required time period (if applicable), or prize is returned as undeliverable, potential winner forfeits prize. If the potential winner is at least 18 but still considered a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, Sponsor reserves the right to award the prize in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian, who will be required to sign the Declaration of Compliance on the potential winners behalf and fulfill any other requirements imposed on winner set forth herein. Potential winners must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. In the event that a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor will award the applicable prize to an alternate winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries. Only three (3) alternate drawings will be held, after which the prize will remain un-awarded. Prizes will be fulfilled approximately 8-10 weeks after the conclusion of the Contest.
- Prizes
(1) 40qt Bud Light Cooler - General Conditions
In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the Contest is impaired in any way for any reason, including, but not limited to fraud, virus, bug, worm, unauthorized human intervention or other technical problem, or in the event the Contest is unable to run as planned for any other reason, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, either (a) suspend the Contest to address the impairment and then resume the Contest in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules or (b) terminate the Contest and, in the event of termination, award the prize at random from among the eligible, non-suspect entries received up to the time of the impairment. The Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to damage the website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages (including attorney’s fees) and any other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Failure by the Sponsor to enforce any provision of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. - Release and Limitations of Liability
By participating in the Contest, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Sponsor, and each of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, other companies associated with the Contest, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, representatives, and agents (the Released Parties) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of the prize (including any travel or activity related thereto), including, but not limited to: (a) any technical errors associated with the Contest, including lost, interrupted or unavailable Internet Service Provider (ISP), network, server, wireless service provider, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone, cellular tower or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties; (b) unauthorized human intervention in the Contest; (c) mechanical, network, electronic, computer, human, printing or typographical errors; (d) application downloads, (e) any other errors or problems in connection with the Contest, including, without limitation, errors that may occur in the administration of the Contest, the announcement of the winner, the cancellation or postponement of the event and/or the flyover, if applicable, the incorrect downloading of the application, the processing of entries application downloads or in any Contest-related materials; or (f) injury, death, losses or damages of any kind, to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrants participation in the Contest or acceptance, receipt or misuse of the prize (including any travel or activity related thereto). Entrant further agrees that in any cause of action, the Released Parties liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Contest, and in no event shall the entrant be entitled to receive attorney’s fees. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest. Entrant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages. - Disputes
Except where prohibited, each entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court located in Florida. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrants rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Florida, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Florida. - Privacy
Information collected from entrants is subject to sponsor’s privacy policy.
Cooler Giveaway Entry
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Weekly Strike-Zone 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, Reynold Palmer, Merritt Island
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.
Subscribe for Contest Entry
To enter the WEEKLY giveaway contest for a $20 Strike-Zone Fishing Gift Card, all you need to do is subscribe to our fishing report via email. One winner will be drawn from all current subscribers, every week.
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CONTEST RULES
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
- Eligibility
Spacefish Giveaway Contest (the “Contest”) is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry. Employees of Spacefish and other companies associated with the promotion of the Contest, and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates and advertising and promotion agencies as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of each such employee are not eligible. The Contest is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations. - Sponsor
The Contest is sponsored by Spacefish, located at 745 Hibiscus Dr, Satellite Beach, Florida 32937. - Agreement to Official Rules
Participation in the Contest constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon being compliant with these Official Rules and fulfilling all other requirements set forth herein. - Contest Period
The Contest runs in definitely, every week from Tuesday to the following Monday (the “Contest Period”). - How to Enter
Online entry will be available by visiting the latest fishing report on our website (spacefishreport.com) and following the directions provided to fill out the entry information, and submit. Limit one (1) entry per person, per email address, and per household for the duration of the Contest Period, regardless of method of entry. Entries received from any person, e-mail address, or household in excess of the stated limitation will be void. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. - Prize Drawing
Every Tuesday, the Sponsor will select potential winners in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. The odds of being selected depend on the number of entries received. The Sponsor will publish the winner’s name in its weekly fishing report on May 1, 2018. If the potential winner does not claim their prize by emailing info@spacefishreport.com within five (5) days, the Sponsor may select an alternate potential winner in his/her place at random from the remaining non-winning, eligible entries. - Winner Notification The potential winners will announced in the weekly fishing report. Each potential Grand and First Prize winner (parent/legal guardian if a minor in his/her state of residence) will be required to complete, electronically sign and submit a Declaration of Compliance within five (5) days of the date notice or attempted notice is sent, in order to claim his/her prize. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, or fails to submit the Declaration of Compliance within the required time period (if applicable), or prize is returned as undeliverable, potential winner forfeits prize. If the potential winner is at least 18 but still considered a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, Sponsor reserves the right to award the prize in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian, who will be required to sign the Declaration of Compliance on the potential winners behalf and fulfill any other requirements imposed on winner set forth herein. Potential winners must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. In the event that a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor will award the applicable prize to an alternate winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries. Only three (3) alternate drawings will be held, after which the prize will remain un-awarded. Prizes will be fulfilled approximately 8-10 weeks after the conclusion of the Contest.
- Prizes
(1) Strike-Zone Fishing $20 Gift Card - General Conditions
In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the Contest is impaired in any way for any reason, including, but not limited to fraud, virus, bug, worm, unauthorized human intervention or other technical problem, or in the event the Contest is unable to run as planned for any other reason, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, either (a) suspend the Contest to address the impairment and then resume the Contest in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules or (b) terminate the Contest and, in the event of termination, award the prize at random from among the eligible, non-suspect entries received up to the time of the impairment. The Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to damage the website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages (including attorney’s fees) and any other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Failure by the Sponsor to enforce any provision of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. - Release and Limitations of Liability
By participating in the Contest, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Sponsor, and each of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, other companies associated with the Contest, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, representatives, and agents (the Released Parties) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of the prize (including any travel or activity related thereto), including, but not limited to: (a) any technical errors associated with the Contest, including lost, interrupted or unavailable Internet Service Provider (ISP), network, server, wireless service provider, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone, cellular tower or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties; (b) unauthorized human intervention in the Contest; (c) mechanical, network, electronic, computer, human, printing or typographical errors; (d) application downloads, (e) any other errors or problems in connection with the Contest, including, without limitation, errors that may occur in the administration of the Contest, the announcement of the winner, the cancellation or postponement of the event and/or the flyover, if applicable, the incorrect downloading of the application, the processing of entries application downloads or in any Contest-related materials; or (f) injury, death, losses or damages of any kind, to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrants participation in the Contest or acceptance, receipt or misuse of the prize (including any travel or activity related thereto). Entrant further agrees that in any cause of action, the Released Parties liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Contest, and in no event shall the entrant be entitled to receive attorney’s fees. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest. Entrant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages. - Disputes
Except where prohibited, each entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court located in Florida. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrants rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Florida, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Florida. - Privacy
Information collected from entrants is subject to sponsor’s privacy policy.
LATEST Reports
Weekend Radio Report
Get the latest word on the bite with Damon from Spacefish on the Mark Moses Show. We talk local fishing every Friday on the air at 4pm.
by Damon
Plenty of Scattered Bait
The bite continues to be strong through out the waters of New Smyrna Beach and Mosquito Lagoon. We still have great numbers of bait fish scattered near shore and inshore providing a food source for all the game fish. Look for schools of bait holding on and around the shell beds to the north and grass flats to the south. Targeting the bait schools will produce the bites from red fish and trout to snook and jacks. They have been chewing well in live bait like pin fish and finger mullet but the artificial has also been creating bite as well. It looks as though we have a low pressure moving in later this week into the weekend so that should be really good just before it arrives.
by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters
| (386) 566-1394
Father – Son Kayak Fishing: Long Point
KAYAK FISHING REPORT
Happy Monday Spacefish!
I hope all is well as we march on through the year; this week will usher in the month of October, the days are getting shorter, and the weather is gradually cooling off. This is the period of the year where fishing can get exciting, and is also a great time for family fishing outings; so today my report is going to be about a father, son kayak fishing trip.
Where We Launched
So as my boys grow up, our father-son fishing is slowly evolving. We now really want to catch fish, but at the same time they are 3, and 4 respectively so I also still have to make it a fun, and adventurous outing to keep them engaged and wanting to go back. They have really been interested in getting out on the water in the kayaks, but they are not quite ready to actually fish from the kayak, so I have been looking for spots and opportunities to kayak out to islands, and fish from shore/wade fish in the shallows. I found a really good spot in close proximity to Long Point Park, which is located just north of Sebastian Inlet. I plan on going back and doing a solo report myself, as this has been an area that I have enjoyed fishing in the past, but it’s been a while since I have been solo.
Where We Fished
We paddled out and made camp on the north end of Scout Island. This is a great spot to fish from shore, as it is significantly less pressured than the areas around public parks due to it being accessible only by vessel.
As you can see from the picture of our spot, there are several sandy beaches that you can set up on, and there is a nice drop off and depth change; when you combine that with the face that water is usually being pushed around the point of the island, it makes for a great spot to fish when you are needing to landlock yourself.
What We Caught
We got a couple dozen live shrimp from Long Point Bait and Tackle and fished them under popping corks with a few feet of 20 pound fluro leader, tied to a 1/0 circle hook. We were able to catch a handful of small Jacks and Trout. The boys had a ball! They were both able to reel in several fish themselves, and by fishing under the corks I was able to let them play in the sand and the water and they could help me keep an eye out and come rushing to grab the rod after the cork went down.
In addition to reeling in Trout and Jacks, the boys had a great time searching the shallows and catching small crabs, and Starfish with their hands.
Other Fun Things
In addition to catching fish via conventional tackle, and Crabs & Starfish with our hands, we also took some time to enjoy a scenic kayak trip around Scout Island where we spotted birds, and watched Dolphins, Manatees and Sharks swimming by and around us – it was quite an experience for my 3 & 4 year olds, it was like a family trip to Sea World but free!
We also beached the kayak on the west side of Scout Island and hunted for washed up shells, and brought a bucket of the biggest and prettiest shells we could find for my wife/their mommy. We fished for 2 hours, and spent another 2 hours just having father-son fun time kayaking and exploring. All in all, it was an awesome experience, I am not sure who had more fun – the two little boys, or their ole Dad!
Kayaks By Bo
Get Your Kayak Adventure-Ready with Kayaks By Bo’s Rigging & Repair Services! At Kayaks By Bo, they do more than just sell kayaks – they make sure you are rigged and ready for your next adventure! Whether you need custom rigging for lights, fish finders, motors, or need repairs to get your kayak back in action, their expert team is there to help.
What they offer; Custom rigging solutions, repairs for kayaks, accessories, and more fast and reliable service.
That’s all for me this week folks. I hope everyone has a fantastic week! May the fish bite, and your lines be tight! Until next time!
by Knox Robinson
Spacefish Prostaff
Lots of Bait, Few Predators @ Inlet
Good morning all my Sebastian Inlet peeps! I hope you all had a great weekend despite all the rain and thunderstorms we had with hurricane Helene, and everyone is well! This report is one of those I don’t like doing, but I call it as I see it.
With the park being closed last week on Wednesday and Thursday because of the storm threat, and it opening back up Friday, and there was nobody out fishing, and the fact that the water quality over the weekend was very poor from the winds and huge surf kicked up, the water got pretty dang muddy and tannin stained from the intercoastal runoff. While I was down on Saturday and Sunday there were all kinds of mullet of all different sizes and shapes, tons of greenies and pilchards, but absolutely ZERO predator fish after them! The mullet schools were so relaxed they looked like they were on vacation! Lol.
About the only thing I saw on either day were just a handful of spanish mackerel being caught, and they were kind of small, and a ton of those pesky catfish everywhere, heck even the boaters were catching catfish! Not good. I didn’t see the boaters catch any snook or redfish either. So yeah, it was a bad weekend to say the least. Even a few of my “hard core” jetty pros worked real hard Sunday to catch something, but nothing. It will get better, it always does after a storm rolls through, it just takes a few days for the cleaner ocean water to come back in and rejuvenate the area to an acceptable salinity level the fish are comfortable with. The baitfish can tolerate it, but not the gamefish.
So we will see how this week goes, and hopefully it cleans back up pretty quickly. And that’s all I have my friends. Have a great week! Snook man.
by Wayne "Snookman" Landry
Sebastian Inlet State Park
| (321) 724-5175
Best Time of Year for Inshore Slams
A beautiful inshore slam for Dominic from Ft Lauderdale!
Had a great week of inshore fishing, despite the winds that we had during the week. Plenty of snook and trout with a few redfish in the mix. Live bait has been best, but we got plenty of fish on DOA paddle tails, jerk baits and several fish on top water, specifically the Rapala Skitterwalk. Fishing the shorelines and islands with bait is your best bet for success inshore. And this month is your best chance for catching a quality inshore slam.
Unfortunately with the hurricanes out there, it was too rough to get out and chase sharks and tarpon. Looks like we will have better weather and wind forecasts to get outside and look for the bait schools.
by Capt. Glyn Austin
Going Coastal Charters
| (321) 863-8085
Headwaters Report – 9/29
The water temp is 82 degrees when we started this morning and 85 when we finished this morning. Water level is up about 12.”
Top baits this week for me were the Bass Assassin RSB worms, Chatterbaits and the Mike Bucca 6” Bull Gill in Bone color.
I’m fishing the Bass Assassin RSB worms with an 1/8oz weight and fishing it along hydrilla edges near deeper water. The only colors I used this week were Gooseberry and JB Blue. I’m using a 5/0 VMC Redline EWG hook. I like letting these sink to the bottom and pull it along the bottom fairly slow. I had to really let it sit the later in the morning before they’d pick it up. I’m fishing these in 6-13’ of water along hydrilla edges for the most part.
I’m fishing my Jackhammers in scattered hydrilla and ripping it out of the thick stuff. Green pumpkin and Blueberry Bass Assassin Whoopa Craws are my trailers that worked best for me this week. The craw trailer allows me to fish the chatterbait a little slower. All my chatterbait fish are in 5’ or less water.
The 6” Mike Bucca Bull Gill in Bone color is my go to swimbait this week. I’m fishing these along thick grass edges near deep sharp drops or cuts near main canals. It is a fish catcher and it will work all over Headwaters. Swim these just under the surface for best results. Get on the Bullshad email mailing list so you can get the bait drop info.
I only have a few dates available in October so if you’re planning on getting in on the buzzbait and chatterbait bite book it now!!! Last year was epic the entire month of October. Here is a couple pictures and videos from last October.
Tight lines!
by Kenny Hass
Catchin' Bass Guide Service
| (772) 494-7400
After Storm Fishing
Beach fishing this past week, after the storm passed through, wasn’t too shabby for many. There was lots of action along the beachline with pompano, whiting, redfish and black drum. The beach was eroded down to the shelly sands that Cocoa Beach is known for, and the fish absolutely loved it. Surprisingly, the water wasn’t as dirty as it usually is following a storm. Plenty of troughs were dug out for us to fish in as well.
Fishing the close troughs and washouts has been producing the most bites, using frozen shrimp pieces and live sand fleas scattered in the sands. Pink and chartreuse floats on pompano rigs have been the choice of many. Using a 3-4 ounce pyramid lead has been effective on most days, but on some days, a 2-4 ounce Sputnik weight was needed to hold the bottom.
This was a quick report today. Hope y’all get out and fish! Tight lines!
by Nik Kaldor
Cocoa Beach Fishing Center
| (321) 783-3477
Water Levels Returning to Normal
The water has started to get back to normal levels after last weeks full moon tides and abundance of rain. The bite continues to be good throughout the backwaters of New Smyrna Beach and the flats of Mosquito Lagoon. Look for the pods of bait working across the flats and the game fish will not be far. As you head further north look for the structure as in the shore lines and oyster beds. There has been a variety of species like redfish, trout, snook and jacks holding on the structure. Spoons , plugs and soft plastics have been working well along with live bait. It looks like we have an approaching storm system coming out of the Gulf that should be here the latter part of this week . So the West Coast will need to hunker down but looks like us on the East Coast are going to get more wind and rain for a couple of days.
by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters
| (386) 566-1394
Lagoon Conditions Change in a Blink
Wow! It’s amazing how the lagoon waters can change in the blink of an eye. Last week we were reporting clean water in the Indian and Banana Rivers. Captain Justin and I had our anglers sight-casting to snook and redfish along the flats and mangrove covered shorelines of these bodies of water. This week, with all of the rain that has fallen, it seems that most of our area retention ponds are now overflowing into the lagoons and creating havoc with water clarity and salinity. This has pushed many of the fish off the shorelines and out into the central portions of both rivers. We have had to adjust to these changes and are catching most of our fish under causeway bridges and along the spoil islands right now.
The list this week includes pompano, speckled trout, mangrove snapper, tarpon, jack crevalle, redfish and plenty of those unwanted hardhead and gafftop catfish. Live finger mullet are a great live offering to use and Saltwater Assassin 4-inch sea shad in the pilchard, silver mullet and mama’s 14k colors are producing well. Top water lures like the Rapala Skitterwalk or the Storm Chug Bug are two other great lures to use. Fish around baitfish schools and your odds of a hookup increase greatly. The inlets have been another good place to fish early in the week while the seas were below three feet. Now that the waves are getting bigger the water is getting muddy. This condition will put some fish off their bite, but redfish will usually continue to bite in some cases.
The days are starting to get slightly cooler with a hint of north in the wind direction now that we have entered into “still summer” (known as fall in other states) so captain Justin and I are starting to run full day charters again from now until early December. Please check out our charter offerings on our website, Fineline Fishing Charters.com or give us a text or call at 321-505-8217 to see what we’re catching each day and what trip types we have available. Let’s go catch you next memory!
by Capt. Jim Ross
Fine Line Fishing Charters
| (321) 636-3728
This Week’s Indian River Fishing Report
Despite limited time on the water this week, the Indian River continues to impress! The river is alive and kicking, with abundant mullet attracting some serious predators.
Species Update
– Big snook and trout are actively feeding on mullet schools
– Jacks and reds are also present in good numbers
Successful Spots
– Areas with visible predator activity on mullet (keep an eye out for surface action!)
– Windblown points have been particularly productive, thanks to the extra water movement
Effective Lures and Baits
– Larger paddle tails (4-5”) are getting attention
– Topwaters are also producing bites
– Live and cut mullet are both working well for those looking to use bait
On-the-Water Advice
– Focus on moving water and areas with current for the best action
The Indian River remains a fantastic destination for inshore fishing. Get out there and take advantage of the action!
Feel free to share this report with your fellow anglers!
by John Page
JP Kayak Fishing and Tours
| (321) 345-8388
Gonna Be Wet & Rough on the Jetty
Good morning all you hard core Sebastian Inlet fishing junkies, hope everyone had a great weekend! This report is going to be a bit short, as nothing has changed from my report for last week.
The water is still a bit messed up with the rain water runoff staining it up, plus all the sand being churned up by the swell we still have, and it is going to get worse as the week goes on with the winds picking up a lot, and the seas going up to around 6-7 ft by Thursday. So It’s gonna get wet and rough out on the jetty, and the south side as well.
There are still a ton of baitfish all around the jetties, pilchards, greenies and finger mullet, but the bigger mullet that were coming down the coast have lightened up a lot, so that in turn with the poor water quality has slowed the snook bite to just some random catches, mostly in the surf and on the beach side of the north jetty.
The spanish mackerel over the weekend have went on a suicide mission and have been hitting the best I’ve seen in a while! Plenty of nice fish being caught, and the redfish also have added a lot of action to take up where the snook have left off. Most all this action has been on the incoming tide.
The south side, same thing, incoming tide, some spanish, a few snook and plenty of redfish and jack crevalle to keep it interesting on live baits. I did see though a couple pompano caught on the south jetty Sunday, and on the north jetty, a couple sheepshead and a black drum or two. And that’s pretty much all for this week. It’s not what it was a couple weeks ago, but it is some action, especially for the spanish mackerel, they’ve gone crazy on the north jetty!
Have a great week everyone!
by Wayne "Snookman" Landry
Sebastian Inlet State Park
| (321) 724-5175
Hoping for More Mullet Pushes
With the full moon, not many mullet around and the north winds, I expected a slow week but it wasn’t slow at all. Inshore, the snook bite was on fire as were the trout, jacks and there were a few redfish too. High waters have pushed the fish into and around the coves in the spoil islands as well as the mangrove shorelines. Live bait was the key but artificials worked, too. Topwater bite is pretty good early and when there’s some chop, the subsurface soft plastics and Rapala Twitchin Mullet work well this time of year.
It should be similar this week and hopefully we will get some more pushes of mullet from the north as it’s been lackluster since that first push we got a few weeks ago. It’s an exciting time of year and the best time to get your inshore slam.
by Capt. Glyn Austin
Going Coastal Charters
| (321) 863-8085
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LOCAL EVENTS
FSFA North Chapter Meeting
August 27
The FSFA North Chapter Meeting is at Veterans Memorial Center 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island (behind Merritt Square Mall). The featured speaker is Capt. Alex Gorichky, who will be talking about fishing the fall mullet run. Social time starts at 6:30. Meeting starts at 7:00. Food and drink available for a donation.
29TH Annual Port Canaveral Kids Fishing Clinic
October 19th
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. @ Jetty Park. Learn more here.
SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY!
Don’t forget, if you’ve been fishing, we’d love to hear from you!
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