W e had another long winter and the winds are still blowing in the middle of April. There is some bait around outside the inlet and we have seen and caught some tarpon already. If we can just get rid of the cold fronts and let that bait stay around, the action will be consistent and this is the month it will happen. The big jack crevalle, little tunny (bonito) and tarpon should be roaming the beaches. The snook and some redfish bite at the jetty has started a little early and will continue through the month of May with good catches in the evening and daytime on live pinfish rigged on a 5/0 VMC Circle hook and 50lb leader. Night time anglers have been getting some snook and reds on bucktails in the evening.
There has been some mullet coming into the lagoon from the ocean and the jacks are tearing them up. They will be making their home along the mangrove shorelines in Honest Johns canals, Hog Point, and all the coves along the shorelines as well as most of the spoil islands and some of the few flats with grass along them. Target the bait pods with a Rapala Skitterwalk in Silver and the Rapala XRap pop early and switch to your favorite subsurface lure as the sun warms up the water.
Many of the docks on the east and west shoreline of the Indian River will hold bait pods as well. Pick a few docks and study the patterns of the bait moving through the docks along the shoreline. Fish your favorite top water bait early or finger mullet on a circle hook.
The snook and tarpon as well as the bull sharks and Jack crevalle are very active in all of the creeks. Rapala Skitterwalk topwater baits or the BX Minnow in mullet patterns work well and live finger mullet are the go to baits for the guys looking for solid action. Look for shorelines and or docks with mullet or other baits around and key in on those areas. The mullet can be either free lined or fished under a natural cork. Best bite is early morning and at dusk.
The key to using the artificial baits is your ability to cover more water than fishing live bait. This is the time of year the water heats up quick so get out on the water early before the temps warm up.