One of the most common questions I get from clients is about the best time to fish South Florida. I usually tell them that spring is without a doubt the time to go. Some captains feel that April is better than May or vice versa. Honestly, no one knows exactly when the hottest bite will go off because like all fishing conditions have to be right. One thing I do know, is that slow days aren’t the norm during the spring season.
What makes spring so special? Spring is special for two reasons; quality and variety. Not only will many of the years’ best catches happen during this time, the variety of species moving through are mind boggling. Any time you put a bait in the water, there is a good chance that a fish ranging from 20-60 pounds or more will take it. Some of the most common species include: sailfish, mahi, blackfin tuna, wahoo, smoker kingfish, cobia and bottom dwellers like snapper, grouper and amberjack. Exactly what you catch will vary day to day but one thing is for sure, you’ll need to bring plenty of ice.
The best fishing method for cashing in on the action is live bait. Baits such as goggle eyes, threadfin herring, sardines, pilchards, blue runners and pinfish all work in given situations. Personally, I like presenting my baits under a couple of fishing kites where they swim close to the surface. Surface feeders like sails, mahi, kingfish, wahoo and even cobia sometimes will eat most of these offerings. On days with lighter winds, a couple of flat lines will work well too.
On days with no current, or a slow surface bite, you can change your game plan and target wrecks, ledges and drop offs. Deeper structures will hold mutton snapper, grouper, cobia and various types of jacks including yellow jacks, almaco jacks and amberjack. Don’t forget that grouper season is closed until May 1st. Although they are fun to catch, grouper must be released unharmed. Since grouper and other deep water fish frequently suffer the effects of barotrauma, it is a good idea to keep a release tool on the boat in order to facilitate the process and improve the chances of survival.
Another beautiful thing about April, is that the days are longer giving us more fishing time. Popular targets like blackfins are suckers for a live pilchard or herring being soaked at dusk. Although tunas can bite at any time, the best and most consistent action usually occurs late in the day or early in the morning. Tuna have excellent vision and can be a bit leader shy on occasions. Personally, I like to use a trace of #4 wire on everything except my bottom rod. Using this short piece of wire prevents cut offs from a possible wahoo or smoker kingfish which are very possible during the spring.
Closer to shore, some of the biggest tarpon of the year will be hanging out right off South Beach. Every year these trophy size tarpon move into the area in search of food and warm water. Tarpon feed on shrimp and crabs as they flow in and out of Miami’s main shipping channel know as Government Cut. Although some tarpon are caught during daylight hours, the best action takes place late in the day as the sun begins to set. If you’ve never battled the silver king, this might be your best bet. Fish over 100 pounds are pretty common during the spring time run.
Lastly, I wanted to let everyone know that I will be conducting a FREE seminar on this very topic on Wednesday, April 18th at 7:00 pm. The seminar will take place at the Miami Bass Pro Shops located at Dolphin Mall. If you’d like more information on this or anything else just go on my Facebook page Nomad Fishing Charters or contact me directly at the number listed below. Well, I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading this piece. If you’d like to get in on the action make sure you book your trip early. You can do so via email, call or by text. Also, don’t forget that you can keep up with all of the action by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you prefer to watch some of the action, be sure to check out my YOUTUBE page for the latest video additions.
Tight Lines,
CAPT. ORLANDO MUNIZ
Nomad Fishing Charters
786-266-0171
www.fishingchartermiami.com
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