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| Saltwater Reports |
| Fish Brevard is brought to you by Sinclair Enterprises. For questions regarding this website, please e-mail the webmaster at sinclair@fishbrevard.com Copyright © 2006 Sinclair Enterprises. All rights reserved. |
| For Freshwater Reports, click here |
| We are always looking for accurate fishing reports, from professionals and recreational anglers alike. Feel free to drop us a line if you have information you'd like to share! |
Surf - July 19
We've just had Hurricane Bertha and Tropical Storm Cristobel move past
us along the eastern Atlantic shore and are experiencing the remnants of both
- mainly big waves and quiet fishing. Big waves are good for surfers, but can
be a hinderance for fishermen. Likely, however, these waves will die down as
quickly as they formed.
Generally, July means plenty of whiting, black margates and Atlantic
croakers, however catches have been slow this past week. Most blame the
tropical systems, however, hot temperatures could play a role as well.
Sandfleas are abundant along the beaches right now, and we're seeing lots
of birds diving within casting distance, so we should start seeing more fishing
activity. When fishing is slow, try a variety of baits. At times, fish can be picky.
Live sandfleas are always a favorite, however, cut squid and fresh cut shrimp
are quiet effective and can provide the added bonus of strong scent when fish
are not as likely to feed.
Today, my client caught a spotted eagle ray, something I have never seen in
this county - a beautiful fish! We released it and bid it well after it awed all the
beach-goers around us. You just never know when you will see something truly
amazing in the surf.
Surf - July 1
Fish are active on the beaches, often throughout the day. Afternoon
thunderstorms, which are extending into the evening, have been preventing
many anglers from fishing past about 4 p.m., so try to get onto the beach early
to avoid the worst of the heat.
Atlantic croakers and whiting continue to be the most abundant species,
besides the numerous under-sized black drum. Often the croakers are small,
between 6 and 10 inches, however bigger fish are usually mixed in with the
little ones. Diving pelicans are usually an indication of schooling croakers in
the area. Whiting also seem to be schooling in with the croakers, or at least,
the two species are taking advantage of the same food supply.
Low tide periods usually push the schooling fish out past casting range,
accept along deeper beaches, such as those south of Indialantic and toward
Sebastian.
Plenty of bigger species are following the croakers, including; snook, sharks,
tarpon, jack crevalle and king mackerel. While it's rare to catch king mackerel
from the beach, boaters can often target them within a mile of the surf zone
during the summer. Look for tarpon, jacks and snook in close during high tide
periods and mornings and evenings.
Edges of coquina rock and pilings around piers, such as the Canaveral Pier,
are excellent areas to target flounder. Use a live bait such as a mojarra,
shrimp or finger mullet on a stationary rig with a pyramid sinker or a more
mobile rig with an egg sinker. Remember, the size limit on both our species of
flounder is 12 inches.
We've just had Hurricane Bertha and Tropical Storm Cristobel move past
us along the eastern Atlantic shore and are experiencing the remnants of both
- mainly big waves and quiet fishing. Big waves are good for surfers, but can
be a hinderance for fishermen. Likely, however, these waves will die down as
quickly as they formed.
Generally, July means plenty of whiting, black margates and Atlantic
croakers, however catches have been slow this past week. Most blame the
tropical systems, however, hot temperatures could play a role as well.
Sandfleas are abundant along the beaches right now, and we're seeing lots
of birds diving within casting distance, so we should start seeing more fishing
activity. When fishing is slow, try a variety of baits. At times, fish can be picky.
Live sandfleas are always a favorite, however, cut squid and fresh cut shrimp
are quiet effective and can provide the added bonus of strong scent when fish
are not as likely to feed.
Today, my client caught a spotted eagle ray, something I have never seen in
this county - a beautiful fish! We released it and bid it well after it awed all the
beach-goers around us. You just never know when you will see something truly
amazing in the surf.
Surf - July 1
Fish are active on the beaches, often throughout the day. Afternoon
thunderstorms, which are extending into the evening, have been preventing
many anglers from fishing past about 4 p.m., so try to get onto the beach early
to avoid the worst of the heat.
Atlantic croakers and whiting continue to be the most abundant species,
besides the numerous under-sized black drum. Often the croakers are small,
between 6 and 10 inches, however bigger fish are usually mixed in with the
little ones. Diving pelicans are usually an indication of schooling croakers in
the area. Whiting also seem to be schooling in with the croakers, or at least,
the two species are taking advantage of the same food supply.
Low tide periods usually push the schooling fish out past casting range,
accept along deeper beaches, such as those south of Indialantic and toward
Sebastian.
Plenty of bigger species are following the croakers, including; snook, sharks,
tarpon, jack crevalle and king mackerel. While it's rare to catch king mackerel
from the beach, boaters can often target them within a mile of the surf zone
during the summer. Look for tarpon, jacks and snook in close during high tide
periods and mornings and evenings.
Edges of coquina rock and pilings around piers, such as the Canaveral Pier,
are excellent areas to target flounder. Use a live bait such as a mojarra,
shrimp or finger mullet on a stationary rig with a pyramid sinker or a more
mobile rig with an egg sinker. Remember, the size limit on both our species of
flounder is 12 inches.
Surf - July 31, 2008
I'm hearing of some Spanish mackerel in the surf around Port Canaveral,
often within casting distance of the jetties and south beach area - but more
commonly being caught from boats drifting the area. If you're casting from
the surf there, try a Diamond Jig or Gotcha Plug with a short piece of steel.
Look for diving terns to give the fish away!
Further south, fishing is slowly picking up - today my clients caught some
whiting, which are nice to see - around Indialantic. Catfish and sting rays are
also abundant in the surf, however, we should start seeing more species
venturing in close due to the bait fish in the surf zone. We saw something
big - kings or tarpon perhaps, breaking about a 1/2 mile out. Pelicans are
constantly diving between 300 yards and 1 mile out all along Indialantic and
Melbourne Beach. Pogies maybe? Glass minnows are schooling in about 1
foot of water around the first breaker - watch that area for mackerel!
Sandfleas are abundant - anglers using fleas should pick up some
sheepshead and margates around rocks. Cut squid and shrimp work better
for the whiting.
I'm hearing of some Spanish mackerel in the surf around Port Canaveral,
often within casting distance of the jetties and south beach area - but more
commonly being caught from boats drifting the area. If you're casting from
the surf there, try a Diamond Jig or Gotcha Plug with a short piece of steel.
Look for diving terns to give the fish away!
Further south, fishing is slowly picking up - today my clients caught some
whiting, which are nice to see - around Indialantic. Catfish and sting rays are
also abundant in the surf, however, we should start seeing more species
venturing in close due to the bait fish in the surf zone. We saw something
big - kings or tarpon perhaps, breaking about a 1/2 mile out. Pelicans are
constantly diving between 300 yards and 1 mile out all along Indialantic and
Melbourne Beach. Pogies maybe? Glass minnows are schooling in about 1
foot of water around the first breaker - watch that area for mackerel!
Sandfleas are abundant - anglers using fleas should pick up some
sheepshead and margates around rocks. Cut squid and shrimp work better
for the whiting.
Fort Pierce - Capt. Joe Ward - July 31, 2008
INSHORE - The inshore fishing has been good this week in the cooler hours of
the day -- 6am to 10am and from about 5pm until dark. Try using top water baits
for the trout and the catch and release snook around the docks along South
Indian River Drive and at Bear Point. To the north try Harbor Branch or around
Queen's Cove. After about 8am fish live baits like a pinfish or a shrimp under a
popping cork in 2 to 5 feet of water which seems to be the best spot. The redfish
bite has also been good when using soft plastic baits or a small live pinfish.
There have been good reports of redfish from Round Island down to Queen's
Cove. There has also been some reds along the shore line at Bear Point down
to Big Mud Creek. There has been a lot of snapper along the channel edges,
around the local bridges and in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Try fishing with a small live
bait or a small live shrimp. Also, there has been a fairly good black drum bite in
those same areas.
OFFSHORE - Anyone want a kingfish? They haven't been hard to find. Try
fishing a live bait like a pilchard , blue runner or a mullet in 20 to 50 feet of water
along the beaches. I am still some reports of cobia in 50 feet of water and sailfish
in 100 to 125 feet of water. Several wahoo were reported this week and they
were caught in 350 feet of water on a red/black skirted ballyhoo. The bottom
fishing has picked up for anglers fishing in 90 feet of water and using live baits or
chunks of squid. The late afternoon bite has been the best after the rain storms
pass. And, along the beaches look for schools of big jacks, spanish mackerel
and even a tarpon or two. Just look for the birds and the schools of bait. On the
first day of mini season the boats that went to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet
came back empty. The ones that went south all got their limits. No monsters
were brought back to the docks.
INSHORE - The inshore fishing has been good this week in the cooler hours of
the day -- 6am to 10am and from about 5pm until dark. Try using top water baits
for the trout and the catch and release snook around the docks along South
Indian River Drive and at Bear Point. To the north try Harbor Branch or around
Queen's Cove. After about 8am fish live baits like a pinfish or a shrimp under a
popping cork in 2 to 5 feet of water which seems to be the best spot. The redfish
bite has also been good when using soft plastic baits or a small live pinfish.
There have been good reports of redfish from Round Island down to Queen's
Cove. There has also been some reds along the shore line at Bear Point down
to Big Mud Creek. There has been a lot of snapper along the channel edges,
around the local bridges and in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Try fishing with a small live
bait or a small live shrimp. Also, there has been a fairly good black drum bite in
those same areas.
OFFSHORE - Anyone want a kingfish? They haven't been hard to find. Try
fishing a live bait like a pilchard , blue runner or a mullet in 20 to 50 feet of water
along the beaches. I am still some reports of cobia in 50 feet of water and sailfish
in 100 to 125 feet of water. Several wahoo were reported this week and they
were caught in 350 feet of water on a red/black skirted ballyhoo. The bottom
fishing has picked up for anglers fishing in 90 feet of water and using live baits or
chunks of squid. The late afternoon bite has been the best after the rain storms
pass. And, along the beaches look for schools of big jacks, spanish mackerel
and even a tarpon or two. Just look for the birds and the schools of bait. On the
first day of mini season the boats that went to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet
came back empty. The ones that went south all got their limits. No monsters
were brought back to the docks.
Mosquito Creek Outdoors Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing
Forecast, August 2008
Capt. Tom Van Horn
The summer heat is on, as fishing opportunities kick in along the Indian River
Lagoon Coast of Florida. As long as the summer squalls stay away and the
Labrador currents do not cool inshore waters too much, fishing along the beaches
and in the inlets will remain equally as hot.
Along the beach, look for the silver kings (tarpon), smoker kings, blacktip sharks,
jumbo jack crevalle, and redfish to be shadowing pods of Atlantic menhaden
(pogies), threadfin herring (greenies), Spanish sardines, and bay anchovy (glass
minnows) in close to the beach. Also look for snook fishing in the surf to improve,
as we get closer to the commencement of the fall bait run. Remember snook are
out of season, so if you target them, handle and release them with care. In and
around the inlets, look for Spanish mackerel, tarpon, jack cervalle, and bonita to
be working schools of glass minnows on the outside, and snook, redfish,
mangrove snapper, and flounder in the area of jetties and other structure. If
snook are of interest, Sebastian Inlet is the place to be.
The Labrador currents are pushing in right on cue, cooling down bottom
temperatures and the bottom fishing in some areas along Florida's east coast.
With average bottom water temperatures in the mid sixties, finding warmer water is
the key to locating fish. Look for the blue water bite to improve along the inshore
reefs and wrecks of Chris Benson, 8A Reef, and Pelican Flats, with kingfish,
dolphin, black fin tuna, and cobia serving as the primary species, along with an
occasional wahoo or sailfish. This is also the time of year when cooler waters
sometimes push the giant manta rays in close to the shoals off the Cape, bringing
cobia with them. Further off shore, the Gulf Stream typically moves in closer
making tuna a possibility for smaller boats working in the areas of anchored
shrimp boats and thermals, and as long as the summer squalls stay away, running
to the other side of the stream isn't out of the question.
Angling on the in-shore lagoons will continue to show improvement, with fishing in
the predawn and late evening hours being most productive. Look for schools of
redfish in the skinny water holding in the vicinity of bait concentration, and target
them utilizing smaller top-water plugs and soft swimbaits like the D.O.A. Bait
Buster. Once the sun starts to grow hot, the top-water bite will shut down, and bait
becomes your better option. For larger trout, fish live pigfish in close to docks and
other structure adjacent to deeper water. In deeper water, look for large schools
of ladyfish, small trout, and tarpon pushing schools of glass minnows near the
surface. These schools are easy to locate by watching for concentrations of birds,
terns and cormorants, joining in on the frenzy, and they are perfect for fly anglers
who are interested in the continuous fast and furious action provided by these
speedsters. Heavy rainfall has elevated water levels in the Lagoon, so target
areas of moving water like culverts and spillways and up close against the
shoreline for snook feeding on small minnows, and redfish feeding on fiddler
crabs. Last but not least, look for pompano schools holding in the shadows of the
causeway bridges. Fish jigs tipped with shrimp or sand fleas (mole crabs) along
the deeper edges and drop-offs.
Forecast, August 2008
Capt. Tom Van Horn
The summer heat is on, as fishing opportunities kick in along the Indian River
Lagoon Coast of Florida. As long as the summer squalls stay away and the
Labrador currents do not cool inshore waters too much, fishing along the beaches
and in the inlets will remain equally as hot.
Along the beach, look for the silver kings (tarpon), smoker kings, blacktip sharks,
jumbo jack crevalle, and redfish to be shadowing pods of Atlantic menhaden
(pogies), threadfin herring (greenies), Spanish sardines, and bay anchovy (glass
minnows) in close to the beach. Also look for snook fishing in the surf to improve,
as we get closer to the commencement of the fall bait run. Remember snook are
out of season, so if you target them, handle and release them with care. In and
around the inlets, look for Spanish mackerel, tarpon, jack cervalle, and bonita to
be working schools of glass minnows on the outside, and snook, redfish,
mangrove snapper, and flounder in the area of jetties and other structure. If
snook are of interest, Sebastian Inlet is the place to be.
The Labrador currents are pushing in right on cue, cooling down bottom
temperatures and the bottom fishing in some areas along Florida's east coast.
With average bottom water temperatures in the mid sixties, finding warmer water is
the key to locating fish. Look for the blue water bite to improve along the inshore
reefs and wrecks of Chris Benson, 8A Reef, and Pelican Flats, with kingfish,
dolphin, black fin tuna, and cobia serving as the primary species, along with an
occasional wahoo or sailfish. This is also the time of year when cooler waters
sometimes push the giant manta rays in close to the shoals off the Cape, bringing
cobia with them. Further off shore, the Gulf Stream typically moves in closer
making tuna a possibility for smaller boats working in the areas of anchored
shrimp boats and thermals, and as long as the summer squalls stay away, running
to the other side of the stream isn't out of the question.
Angling on the in-shore lagoons will continue to show improvement, with fishing in
the predawn and late evening hours being most productive. Look for schools of
redfish in the skinny water holding in the vicinity of bait concentration, and target
them utilizing smaller top-water plugs and soft swimbaits like the D.O.A. Bait
Buster. Once the sun starts to grow hot, the top-water bite will shut down, and bait
becomes your better option. For larger trout, fish live pigfish in close to docks and
other structure adjacent to deeper water. In deeper water, look for large schools
of ladyfish, small trout, and tarpon pushing schools of glass minnows near the
surface. These schools are easy to locate by watching for concentrations of birds,
terns and cormorants, joining in on the frenzy, and they are perfect for fly anglers
who are interested in the continuous fast and furious action provided by these
speedsters. Heavy rainfall has elevated water levels in the Lagoon, so target
areas of moving water like culverts and spillways and up close against the
shoreline for snook feeding on small minnows, and redfish feeding on fiddler
crabs. Last but not least, look for pompano schools holding in the shadows of the
causeway bridges. Fish jigs tipped with shrimp or sand fleas (mole crabs) along
the deeper edges and drop-offs.