PONCE INLET and DAYTONA BEACH
DAYTONA BEACH OFFSHORE-King mackerel are possible for anglers slow tolling with live pogies on
the 70 to 90-foot reefs. Look for cobia, and possibly small dolphin to be
feeding in the same areas if baitfish or flying fish are plentiful. Look for
tripletail holding in weeds in the 30 to 60-foot depths. Live shrimp on a 2/0 to
3/0 VMC circle hook will usually get them to strike. Farther offshore amberjack
and grouper catches are good on the structures in the 160 to 250-foot depths.
Live pinfish, croakers, and blue runners are good baits to use. Energetic
anglers can use Williamson vertical speed jigs like the Benthos or Vortex
models.
DAYTONA BEACH INSHORE-Lighted docks are holding a variety of species for anglers working there shadow lines at night. Speckled trout, snook, ladyfish, bluefish, and even a
red or two are possible catches. Live shrimp or shrimp imitations like the
Saltwater assassin 4-inch shrimp rigged on a jig head or weighted weedless worm
hook have been extremely productive especially on outgoing tides. Snook and
tarpon are starting to show up near the bridges at new Smyrna. Live pinfish,
mullet and pogies are good baits to use when targeting these two species.
PORT CANAVERAL and COCOA BEACH
COCOA BEACH OFFSHORE-Amberjack are still one of the most consistent fish anglers can target this week. Look for them holding over reefs and wrecks in the 180 to 250-foot
depths. Live baits or vertical speed jigs are popular ways to target these
fish. Grouper catches remain good on the reefs in the 135 to 250-foot depths.
Live pogies, pnfish and croakers are the best baits to use when targeting these
fish. The average gag is running 10 to 15-pounds. King mackerel, cobia, and
small dolphin have been striking live baits that are slow trolled over many of
the live bottom areas from 65-feet to about the 120-foot mark. Pelican Flats
reef, 8A reef, the Coast Guard bottom, and the area around the 20 mile weather
buoy are all producing fish this week. Look for area with flying fish or sardine
and cigar minnow pods to hold the best variety.
COCOA BEACH INSHORE-Speckled Trout and redfish catches are still pretty good in the Mosquito Lagoon this week. Hookup jigs worked in the 3 to 5 foot depths or jigs under an
assassin rattling cork have been productive on most days. Live fingerling
mullet are best for anglers fishing in the Indian and Banana River Lagoons.
Look for mangroves covered shorelines or docks to hold fish nearby, especially
in the Rockledge, Cocoa, and Port St. John areas of the Indian river, and the
south tip of Merritt Island in either of these lagoons. Anglers looking to use artificial lures should try Saltwater Assassin shrimp or sea shad lures in these colors: avocado (or watermelon) with red flake, new penny, and chicken on a chain. Small tarpon may be possible in the residential canals of Cocoa Beach or Merritt Island east of Orlando for anglers casting sinking flies that imitate glass minnows and fingerling mullet.
Until next time….Catch a memory!!!!
