PORT CANAVERAL: Anglers fishing the waters just outside of the Port should continue to catch a variety of shark species, plus bull sized redfish, bluefish, crevalle jack and tarpon near bait pods in the 10 to 30-foot depths. Boaters can either anchor, drift, or slow troll with live or cut baits to have a shot at one of these large hard-fighting species. We’ve been casting lures like the Rapala Long Cast 14 or Williamson Jet Popper around schools of bait or through areas holding tarpon and sharks with good success on our charters lately. Tripletail are another fish species that anglers should be able to catch this month. They are often seen “free swimming” on the surface or holding on some form of floating object. Sargasso weed, wood planks, coconuts and other debris. I’ve even found them on dead floating sea birds and turtles in the past. Any type of “flotsam” where these fish can ambush prey from should be investigated. Pompano, whiting, speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and sheepshead can be found in the surf zones close to the beach on most days as well. Goofy Jigs, and small spoons are top lures to cast to these fish. These fish will also strike live or fresh cut shrimp. The sheepshead prefer sand fleas or fiddler crabs though.
BANANA RIVER LAGOON: I’m excited to report that so far this year the water clarity has remained good and Caulerpa Prolifera (which looks like a type of sea grass) beds are expanding throughout most of this fragile body of water. As long as the residence of Merritt Island, Satellite Beach, and Cocoa Beach continue being good stewards of this precious resource, by reducing the amount of lawn fertilizers and herbicides they use on their lawns, we should continue to see good water quality in this area most of this month. With these cleaner conditions we should see redfish, snook, tarpon, mangrove snapper, and sea trout stock levels continue to get better in this portion of the lagoon system. If this body of water gets heavy doses of stormwater runoff, you can kiss these improving conditions and fish good bye. Live fingerling mullet and plugs or lures that imitate them are receiving attention from redfish and speckled trout scaling to 8 pounds. Juvenile tarpon and snook are striking these as well, but will also hit flies or smaller jigs that imitate glass minnows. Cut baits are popular for bigger reds, especially cut ladyfish if anglers are targeting redfish into the 40-inch range. Drop offs and flats where congregations of mullet are found are the best places to start your search during early morning periods. Sheepshead, black drum, and mangrove snapper are possible near bridge and dock pilings, or rocky areas like Horti Point. Live fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and cut or small whole live shrimp should get them to strike. Look for jack, ladyfish, bluefish in the 1 to 5-pound range, and larger tarpon in the 30 to 60-pound range can be found in some of the deeper sections of the lagoon from Patrick Air Force Base to Mather’s Bridge.
Capt. Jim Ross
Fineline Fishing Charters
www.FinelineFishingCharters.com
(321) 636-3728