Bait, bait, and more bait. There are excellent numbers of small pilchard’s, pogies and glass minnows in our local waters right now, and these baitfish are the preferred dinner choice for just about every predatory fish that swims in our lagoons. Snook, juvenile tarpon, redfish and speckled trout are going crazy for these small offerings. You’re going to need a small mesh cast net 1/8 to 1/4-inch is best so that you don’t fill these small baitfish. Next you are going to need small hooks to rig these baitfish on. A #2 or #1 sized live bait hook is best. Cast near your favorite mangrove tree or dock and hang on!! If you want to go with us to do some of this give captain Justin or myself a call at 321-636-3728 and we’ll get you out there to catch your next memory!

May and June mark the seasonal species changing of the guard along the Central East Coast of Florida. Meaning, summertime surf fishing translates to big fish with early morning and late afternoons providing the best conditions. With the heat of the day causing a slowing of all species and activity it remains vital to hit the surf in the coolest periods of the day. Look for giant snook and tarpon to be active feeding on baitfish in the near shore troughs and beyond the sandbars. The best methods to target these trophy fish will be illustrated in the text below.

While the central focus of summertime surf fishing will be headlined around snook and tarpon. It’s important to understand there is still a good quality bite for pompano, whiting and sheepshead. With that being said, our go to setup for fishing the beach this time of year consists of a diversified setup. Typically we prefer to run 3-4 standard pompano rigs casted at various distances from the shore, targeting pompano and whiting along with the other species. In addition, we will run 1-2 live baits setups with mullet, croakers or chunked bait casted in the first or second trough. Lastly, we employ a light action casting rod worked along the shoreline with a bucktail, diving plug, or swimbait.

The pompano run has continued to impress local anglers with the run providing an extended version that keeps the fun coming. Mid tides have been best with the water clarity and seaweed. Various floats and multicolored beads are the key to success. Note it’s important to learn to tie pompano rigs. For those using store bought rigs, you are at a serious disadvantage. Because you can’t adapt and run diversified setups with store bought rigs. For example, we constantly tie specific customized rigs based on the daily conditions. This will lead to exponentially higher catches.

Diving deeper into the targeting techniques for snook and tarpon, we will discuss how these species react to various presentations. There’s three main techniques that prove most effective for catching snook and tarpon from the beaches along the Space Coast. Firstly, soaking live baits on a fishfinder rig in the first or second trough gives one the ability to work multiple rods simultaneously which increases the opportunities. Fish finder rigs consist of a one to three ounce weight, a one to two foot 40lb fluorocarbon leader and a 3/0–5/0 circle hook. Hook mullet, croakers or threadfins in the nose or anal fins for best presentation.

Secondly, one of my personal favorites is casting live baits in the breaking waves along the shore. This method imitates a confused baitfish being washed in and out from the beach. In turn, causing nearby ambushing species lurking in the first trough to take notice and pounce on the opportunity. The fun part of this style is actively working the shoreline with repetitive casts and presentations. Not to mention when strikes occur it can be right at your feet in ankle high water. There’s nothing like seeing a giant snook go airborne on your bait just fingertips away from you. Then the battle ensues on light tackle gear.

Lastly it’s the gorilla style approach of light tackle equipment with a small case of lures and lots of walking along the shore edge. This method is all about finding the fish and not waiting for them to come to you. Using swimbaits, diving plugs and bucktails you’ll work the shorelines casting 45 degrees out and retrieving them while maximizing the presentation in the troughs where these fish will be most concentrated. Casting in this regard isn’t for the faint of heart as you can ensure there’s a lot of walking and a lot of casts. But understand the reward that comes when the startling strike ignites your adrenaline with a leaping tarpon or drag screaming snook.

I hope everyone is doing well and has been managing to catch some fish despite the dirty water and patchy weeds. The bite has been interesting over the past week, with some beaches and tides showing perfect conditions, yet no fish showing up, while other seemingly subpar days have been absolutely on fire!

The whiting and black drum have been the main catches for most folks, with an elusive pompano still trying to get in on the action. Unfortunately, the dirty waters and weeds have also brought pesky catfish and stingrays around our surf rigs. Overall, though, fishing hasn’t been horrible.

Sand fleas have still been plentiful on most beaches, and the fish have been eagerly taking them. Frozen Blue Magic shrimp and clams have also been popular bait choices. Additionally, electric chicken Fishbites remain a hot commodity. The standard pompano rig with orange or pink floats has been the go-to to entice fish to bite.

The best fishing has been during the rising tides around washouts, provided there’s no seaweed, of course. The waves this week won’t be too gnarly, averaging 2 feet at most Brevard beaches, but the wind will still be around, chopping up the water. It will definitely be fishable.

The waters are starting to warm up, which means the shark activity is likely to increase as well. Using bonito, whole mullets, and ladyfish will put you in a good position to hook a big one.

I’ll talk to you all next week. Tight lines!

The unheralded lookdown appreciating some public attention

Good morning all you Sebastian Inlet fishermen/gals! I hope everyone had a great weekend, the weather was OUTSTANDING! But not so much the fishing. lol. So this is going to be another short report — I know, not what you wanted to hear — but I tell it like I see it, because I’m there, and if not, I have peeps that are, no sugar coating. So here we go.

Fishing for the most part has been very slow, still, mostly due to the silted-up water on the north side, and the sandy/muddy water on the south side. That alone will affect the fishing, and the fact that there aren’t any more finger mullet around like there were, will also make it tough. The water temperature along the coast is finally getting closer to what it should be, but it didn’t stay there. It was 78 for the last few days due to the ENE winds we had, but as of this morning it went down to 76. It really needs to quit fluctuating all the time and stay, then the fishing will pick up and stay good.

North Jetty

Over here it has been slow, not much going on except for some small blues and jacks being caught on the outgoing tide at the tip on silver spoons and any type of natural bait. No snook. Incoming tide has been notta. The only thing I saw caught over the weekend were a couple small sheepshead, and some spot tail pins. No snook, no redfish, or anything else either. Pretty slow.

South Jetty

Over here it is the same, at the tip, outgoing tide, small blues and jacks along with a few black margates and blue runners mixed in, but nothing else. The water over here is really muddy from the SSE winds and rough surf. Incoming tide if you can get lucky and have some cleaner water, you just might find a few snook wanting to play, live baits of shrimp and majorras will be the ticket for them.

T-Dock Area

Back here I heard that the snook action has picked of a bit on the incoming tide when the water cleans up some. Early evening and into the night on the incoming, and first of the outgoing tide on live majorras and bucktails, or soft plastics, are producing some nice slot fish. Also back here around the t-dock pilings since the water has warmed a bit, the small mangrove snappers are starting to show a bit. Most are undersized, but they are around. The outgoing tide is also producing some small bluefish and jack crevalles for those tossing spoons and small jigs to the channel area.

Surf, both sides

The south side is, has been pretty much a washout, very dirty/sandy from the winds and rough surf, not much to be had on this side. North side on the other hand has been a bit cleaner, mostly because the long north jetty protects the beach area just north of the jetty. I had reports of some nice pompano, whiting being caught just north of the inlet. Cut shrimp, sand fleas and fish bites are the baits. Also, there is the possibility of some of the small blues and jacks being caught for those using silver spoons and small jigs/swim baits in the surf.

Well my friends, that’s all I have for this week, the weather is supposed to be very nice, and HOT, so make sure you take plenty of water and stay hydrated out there. Grab your gear for fishing, or beach sitting, get out there and enjoy what the inlet has to offer!

Have a great and safe week!! Snookman.

Getting into the snook fishing Sebastian’s mangrove shorelines

Had a great week of inshore fishing. The winds were up, but the activity was pretty solid with plenty of snook, a few red fish, and some trout, and even some sharks. Pompano bite was okay, and we got some on soft plastics. Still a bit choppy to fish nearshore as the winds picked up, but the inshore fishing made up for not being able to get off the beach. Looks like we got a little break in the weather at the end of the week so hopefully will be able to get out of the beach and see how it is.

For me this week the better areas on all three lakes that I fish lately are where you find good concentrations of dragonflies working the waters. Both bass and the spawning bluegill are feasting on them. This pattern is best very early in the morning time till maybe mid morning. The topwater bite will last as long as the dragonflies are there. Dust off your favorite topwater lure or for the fly fishing fun tie on a small popper, boobie fly or Gurgler pattern and a 5wt rod to have a lot of fun fishing. Water temperatures are creeping into the 80’s by mid day but with the high temperatures that are predicted for this coming week, it won’t be long until we see 90 degree waters. Early on and early off the waters will be our norms for the summer.

Fishing enthusiasts know that success on the water can be a delicate balance of skill, timing, and the right equipment. This past week has been a testament to that, with anglers finding the most success in the early hours and late afternoons. The snook, a prized catch for many, have been lurking deep within the mangroves and on the flats rich with bait.

The key to enticing these elusive fish has been the use of smaller 3″ lures, which seem to be just the right size for the current conditions. I did have some success on the 4″ (the snook shown was caught on the 4″), but the larger lures have not been as effective, indicating a possible preference for smaller prey among the snook population this week.

Clarity of the water has improved significantly, which, while beautiful, presents its own set of challenges. Stealth becomes paramount; any careless movement can send the larger fish into hiding. Long casts have become a crucial skill, allowing anglers to reach their targets without startling them. The use of thin, 15-pound braid line has been advantageous, providing the strength to pull large snook from their structures while enabling those longer, more discreet casts.

For those looking to improve their catch rate, consider the conditions and adapt your approach accordingly. Sometimes, the difference between an empty hook and a successful catch is as simple as the size of your lure and the stealth of your approach. Happy fishing!

This was the first year in over 5 that opening day of grouper season it was calm! Capt Joe made the best of it and crushed it. He had his 2 gags and a limit of AJs in the first hour. Well done Joey! The following days proved the same action. The weekend was a tad tougher though with the ocean being a little angry and not allowing a fun day, So we switched up gears and went for the mighty kings and that was great.The big boys were here and Capt Ricky had a few over 30. The reef was productive as was mid pelican. Live bait worked better than minnows.

The bunkers were hiding out in the bight and in front of the brown condos. It was not the easiest, but it worked.

This week looks iffy. The forecast does NOT match the ocean. Good luck, God Bless and be safe! OH… the Maui Wowis….. Yes, they are here and 140-180 is a great start. On what? anything! Go get em.

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.

We have had a high pressure sitting over Florida for the last week or so producing clear sunny days and lack of rain. The only down fall is it has also brought some strong winds these past few days. The wind has not affected the bite though, with several species like redfish, trout ,black drum and snook still chewing. The bait has worked its way up on to the shallow grass flats and oyster bars and the fish are not far away. When conditions allow plugs, spoons and soft plastics have been working well along with live and cut bait as well. These winds sure continue to decrease as the week moves on making for some great sight fishing.

Fishing has been pretty productive lately, and it looks like we can expect the same this upcoming week! As a kayak fisherman, the wind kept me off the water quite a bit last week, but I was able to pick up on a couple of trends.

Firstly, it seems many of the larger fish are starting to favor areas with a hard sandy bottom as opposed to soft mud. The second trend has been structure. I’ve been finding snook deep in mangrove pockets as well as on the outer edge of the root system, all day long. Trout can be found in deeper water close to the mangroves. I’ve been using Z-Man 4″ paddle tails rigged on 3/16 oz jigs and Mirrorlure 4″ jerk shad rigged on a 1/8 oz weedless hook.