This month we can find big seatrout on the flats, with big schools of large mullet. Look for shallow drop offs from 12” to 24” and look for plenty of grass on the shallow side to cast. Find the large mullet, find the trout. Top water lures and jerk baits work very well early morning, with a good chance of catching redfish in the same area. You can also use live finger mullet on a 3/0 hook, and 8-10# braid tied to 20# test fluorocarbon. Always look for mullet rafting around points. Use top water plugs the first hour after sunrise, then switch to jerk baits.
April is when the large redfish show up in Haulover canal and around the bridges. Capt. Troy likes to use live blue crabs and live croakers on a 1-ounce sinker with a 4/0 circle hook and 30# braid tied to a swivel with a 40# leader. You can also use a 1⁄2 crab. The reason for heavy tackle is because the bull sharks move in too. When the sharks get bad, start shark fishing. To catch a shark, use 30# fluorocarbon tied to a 12” wire leader and 10/0 circle hooks free lined behind the boat with a large cut mullet.
Snook action should pick up in Port Canaveral. Try 20-30# braid tied to 40# fluorocarbon with a 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook and 1⁄2 – 1 ounce sinker. The preferred baits are pogies (menhaden shad), croakers and jumbo live shrimp. Triple tails should still be at the buoys or free swimming on slicks and weed lines.
Large schools of Crevalle Jacks show up in Port Canaveral within 3 miles of the beach. Any type of live bait will catch them but the most fun is using top water chuggers. Try to keep it away from them and watch huge jacks blow up out of the water to get the lure.
Troy’s tip of the month: Look for the schools of mullet in the river and lagoon and you should have no problems catching fish on the flats.
