DAYTONA BEACH-PONCE INLET
DAYTONA BEACH OFFSHORE-Mangrove snapper, triggerfish, and sea bass are possible on the 70 to 140-foot structures. Use cut squid, sardine, pogie or other baitfish on a standard bottom rig or chicken rig. The mangroves can also be chummed up in the water column and then anglers can drift bait to them in the current. Gag grouper and amberjack can usually be found on the reefs and wrecks in the 140 to 250-foot depths. Large live baits like pinfish, croakers, grunts, and pogies are the best baits that anglers can use for them. King mackerel, tarpon, shark, and bonito are keeping light tackle enthusiasts busy this week. They have been holding in the 20 to 50-foot depths on most days. It's possible to hook these fish on live and artificial baits when working large lures and jigs around the Bait pods in these depths.
DAYTONA BEACH INSHORE-Mangrove snapper, black drum, redfish, and speckled trout are possible in the oyster laden back bays and creeks on most days. Live shrimp or jigs tipped with shrimp are very effective on them. The drum will also hit cut clam or oyster as well. Tarpon are rolling in the river in many of the deeper holes
and bends. Live fingerling mullet or pilchards can be good live baits for them and storm swim baits or small Rapala X-Rap or the new BX minnows in a green and silver or black and silver finish are producing strikes. Most of the tarpon are 5 to 30 pounds but a few are larger.
COCOA BEACH-PORT CANAVERAL
COCOA BEACH OFFSHORE-Cobia and gag grouper should be possible if you can get past the red snapper on the 120 to 180-foot structures outside of the port this week. Use live baits like pinfish, pogie or grunts or large chunk baits like bonito or barracuda. Amberjack are possible on the deeper structures in 180 to 250 feet of water on these same types of baits. King mackerel are striking live pogies, sardines, and pilchards on the 70 to 90-foot reefs like pelican flats, Chris Benson, and 8A. Slow troll these live baits on a wire stinger rig and throw a duster on the front of it to add some sparkle. Pearl, pink, and chartreuse colored duster are working best at this time. Tarpon are following baitfish pods along the coast again this week. Slow trolling with live pogies and greenies
seems to be the best way to get them. Rig these live baits on an 8/0 or 9/0 VMC 7385 circle hook and 80 pound class Sufix fluorocarbon leader. Shark, bonito, and king mackerel are also following these pods so a mixed bag can be expected on most days
COCA BEACH INSHORE-Tarpon are making a showing in the lagoon this week and anglers are getting good shot at these fish in the IndianRiver between the NASA causeway to Turnbull Creek. Small lipped diving plugs like the Rapala X-rap 10 or swim baits imitating smallmullet by storm, Calcutta, or D.O.A. have been popular items to
cast in the tarpons path. Live pogies, pilchards, and fingerling mullet free Lined in the areas where these fish have been seen arealways a good choice. Use 40 to 50 Pound class Sufix Fluorocarbon leaders and 2/0 to 3/0 short shank live bait hooks or 3/0 to 4/0 size circle hook for these fish. Trout and redfish catches are good during the morning and evening but can slow considerably during
the mid-day periods right now. Chunk baits are best to use for these fish on most days.
Until next time....Catch a memory!!!!
Captain Jim Ross
