On the lagoon flats, redfish and spotted sea trout will provide the majority of the action for light tackle and fly anglers. For sea trout, fish your favorite top water plugs at first light in about two to three feet of water concentrating in areas were bait is present. My favorites are the Rapala Skitter Walk and the Storm Chug Bug in either red and white or baitfish colors. If the bite slows, try blind casting a ¼ ounce DOA CAL Jig, Arkansas Glow color in three to five feet of water along the edges of flats or spoil islands. The water has warmed to the point where the jack crevalle, ladyfish, snook, and tarpon will begin to show up in good numbers. Bait in May in the lagoons will be plentiful. Fish near the bait for best success. Fish the edge of the schools with a stealthy approach.
Near-shore along the beaches, concentrate your efforts in the areas of active bait pods (pogies). Typically, when you see concentrated areas of bait with birds feeding on the surface, big predator fish are just as active underneath. The birds are usually picking off the wounded baits that the predators didn’t get all the way in their mouth. Species feeding on these pods include kingfish, tarpon, jack crevalle, redfish, cobia, and sharks. Also, tripletail and flounder numbers should be improving around the Port Canaveral buoys. Farther out in the 120-600 foot depths you should find Dolphin in the warm gulfstream currents.
