If April showers bring May flowers, what does the month of May bring?
Answer: Some of the best fishing along Florida’s Space Coast. For those of you who are interested in a exciting time on the water, look no further than the month of May. During this time of year the mullet run should still be going strong. With this being said, a variety of game fish will be stalking their prey and preparing for a tasty meal. During low light conditions (morning and late evening) the trout bite should be very good in water depths of 3 to 5 feet. Small surface lures that mimic a fingerling mullet will work great when fished near the flats. When targeting trout, anglers will want to use a seven foot medium action spinning reel combo equipped with 20 pound test braided line and 15 pound test mono leader. This particular combination will allow you to make long accurate cast to targeted areas. Here are a few helpful hints when fishing for trout. First of all, keep in mind that trout have excellent eye sight and are easily spooked.
To overcome this, anglers should practice stealth like approach. Second, if you prefer to use live bait the live bait fishermen should attach a 6/0 circle hook to the end of a mono leader. Then hook a live fingerling mullet just behind the anal fin. This is a great way to catch a trout. Allowing the bait to swim naturally (free lining) can help increase your chances of catching a nice fish. Also, fishing baits near schools of bait fish when conditions are calm can be a very exciting time. During this time of year, many of these trout should have an average length of nearly 20 inches with some measuring up to 24 inches long.
In addition, the redfish bite will also be very active. Slot sized red’s as well as above slot sized “bull reds” will aggressively feed on nearly anything that swims their way. Live shrimp, live blue crabs, or a fresh chunk of ladyfish will work well for catching these fish along channel drop offs or bridge fenders. Rigging these baits onto a 6/0 circle hook will increase your chances of bringing a red fish to the boat.
Don’t forget, May 13 is Mothers Day. Taking your mother fishing and spending time on the water can be a great way to show her how much you love her. Opportunities such as this will create a memory to last a lifetime.
Submitted By: Capt. Keith Mixon
Mixin’ Work With Play Fishing Charters
321-212-8484