[dropcap]C[/dropcap]almer winds, warmer weather and the presence of more bait will set the tone for a good bite this month. Tarpon will start showing up off the beach and in the river. Not a bad idea to look for rolling fish at first light. Anticipate their swim pattern and deploy live baits (mullet, pilchards, crabs) on 8/0 circle hook. A nervous bait means it’s getting “eyeballed” by the Silver King so get ready and bring a ham sandwich for the battle. Look for schools of jacks up to 40-pounds in the green water off the beach and light them up with a big topwater plug.
The cobia bite has been excellent so expect more of the same at the reefs and wrecks.
Snook are moving towards the inlet for the summer spawn and are staging along the bridges and dock lines from the Roosevelt Bridge to the Hole in the Wall. Flipping the docks and bridges with live shrimp on a 3/8 jig head or free lining a mullet or pilchard is the ticket. A lot of big healthy snook have been showing up so please handle with care as these are the future breeders. Top water plugs like the old reliable Zara Spook, Chug Bugs and D.O.A. Bait Busters fished up on the bars and channel edges on the tide change will get the big girls fired up. On the flats in the Indian River, nothing beats a topwater or sub surface twitch bait at first light. Long cast and stealth modes are best with the fishing pressure on the flats. D.O.A. C.A.L. # 371 on a 1/8 jig head bounced near the docks and grass edges are productive for trout and redfish. Drift through the bridges for black drum, snapper and croaker with shrimp on a jig head. The action has been good. Keep the waterways clean.
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