After another consistently breezy March we’re ready for some spring action. Sails, mahi, tunas, wahoo, kings, swords… you name it, we’ve got it.
The Treasure Coast’s April action is as good as fishing gets anywhere in the country. With comfortable water temps, plenty of bait, good water quality and most small craft warnings behind us pack up the family and let’s go! These fish that moved down during the last few months won’t be in such a hurry to go back north as long as the bait sticks around and the water doesn’t get too hot.
Big mahi should start to show up this month, and while I normally spend most of my time inside of 300 feet, this is a good time of year to explore out a little further looking for pieces of float, weed lines and birds. The run and gun method works but with fuel already at $5.50 a gallon, I think trolling or drifting along a nice edge will provide more “Smiles Per Gallon” than running all over the ocean.
Check out seamounts and bottom structure like the Hill, the Peanut, the Ledge and our artificial reefs and wrecks for everything from blackfins and sails to even wahoo. Speaking of artificial reefs, two new ones should be sunk this month; in memory of Capt. Patrick Price of DayMaker Charters, funded by our loving local community, orchestrated by Dave Powell with the Martin County Artificial Reef program, spearheaded by Dwight Willison of King Neptune’s restaurant and stored and cleaned at the new Willis Marine. Thank you to all of those who helped coordinate this impressive effort. I’m sure we will all be frequenting these new hotspots immediately and you’ll be able to find them easily on one of Capt. Bill Shuda’s waterproof charts.
Although I just mentioned to check out the deep, I’ll still spend most of my time inside of the 250-foot range pounding the Eight Mile Reef and faint color changes and weed lines, but if you can’t get me on the radio, I probably ran out a little further in search of the big ones.
April is a great time of year to target swordfish, and even yellowfin tuna, with great fishing starting just 20 miles out of our inlet and extending over 100 miles towards the Canaveral weather buoy.
We have a brand new 39 Contender ordered, and we were expecting delivery in time for this season. Unfortunately, with COVID, and material and employee shortages, we’ve been pushed back like the rest of the world. We are anxiously awaiting this new build with a full tower, Yamaha power, Hummingbird electronics, Rupp outriggers, Cannon downriggers, a Minn Kota trolling motor and even cup holders! This boat will definitely be Off The Chain and we are looking forward to welcoming you aboard as soon as we take delivery.
I hope you have a safe and memorable April and I’m excited about getting out on the water with you soon.
FORECAST BY: Capt. Scott Fawcett
Off the Chain Fishing Charters
Phone: (772) 285-1055
Email: fishscottyf@bellsouth.net
www.offthechainfishing.com
