[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e’re halfway through spring and it seems like everything is right on schedule. The highlight of the month is obviously going to be the start of grouper season. Since January 1, these tasty critters have been catch and release only until just now. Cut bait, live bait, and jigs work well to get bites, the main thing is don’t be under tackled.
The first thing grouper try to do is make a run for the rocks, so the proper bottom set up is imperative. A stout Blackfin bottom rod with a 6/0 Senator or a 50 FinNor Marquesa spooled with 50- to 100-pound PowerPro with a 100- to 150-pound leader and a big bowl of Wheaties should do the trick pulling these beasts from their dwellings, but if bottom fishing is not your thing and you prefer top water action, May is still your month.
Coming off better than an average dolphin fishing this March and April we can only hope that it’s going to continue through this May. Traditionally, May is the month to catch 30-plus-pound dolphin, but it seems like this April was a pretty good time to do that too. While live baiting definitely works, it seems like in the late spring and early summer months, trolling offers a little better chance at locating the fish. Even though the fishing is good there can be a lot of distance between bites sometimes and live baiting just doesn’t let you cover enough water. Dolphin are pretty aggressive so chugging around trolling baits between five and seven knots can be pretty productive, especially out in the deep at this time year. Ballyhoo with skirts work well, and it seems like the bigger the better when targeting dolphin over 20 pounds. I always like to pull a strictly artificial lure in the pattern too. I’m still using the Scylla Lures with great success.
May is also a good time of year to run to the east side of the Gulf Stream in search of yellowfin tuna. By using a good radar you can mark packs of birds feeding on fish and typically have a pretty action-packed day chasing them around.
Whatever style of fishing you decide to do this May, please be safe, and I hope it’s Off The Chain. For current up-to-date fishing reports, pictures and booking information please check out our website or our Facebook page. Thank you, and looking forward to fishing with you soon.
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