This week the tripletail bite has been on fire in the near shore waters. Keep an eye out for weed lines and other floating debris for these fish to school around. Most of our luck with getting these fish to bite has come from using a ½ ounce jig head with alive shrimp on it. The fish are ranging anywhere from 10 to 25 inches with some even bigger fish now and then.

The fishing has been on fire on the east central coast with tripletail being caught off the beach and cobia on the chamber of commerce days following rays in 65 feet of water. The Mosquito Lagoon has been on fire with extremely shallow clean, cold, clear water for trout and redfish. Expect the black drum to start showing themselves over the next seven days with the clear cold nights.

Reds up to 27 and black drum up to 36 inches are on the flats on the eastern shoreline Indian River Lagoon near North Merritt Island. I was using live and frozen shrimp. Target the reds around mid-day on flats near the mangroves. Look for tails in 2-3 ft of water after 4:30 PM until last light. Water cleared up nicely after the front with 3-5 ft of vertical visibility.

Odds are, you’ve probably already heard everything there is to know about the Man Eating Wolf Moon because it’s been all over the headlines in newspapers and on the internet. BUT, what you may not know is that this blood lusting celestial event coincides with the season’s PEAK period of fish activity, as projected by the solunar forecast. Sunday is projected to be great for fish activity, but the true peak begins almost precisely upon the end of the Blood Thirsty Super Wolf’s eclipse.

The black drum bite continues to keep our customers’ rods bent this week. Most of these fish are striking live shrimp rigged on a ¼ ounce Saltwater Assassin chartreuse colored jig head. When the fish are not grouped into schools, we switch tactics. We often rig cut crab on a sliding sinker rig with a 5/0 to 6/0 sized VMC 7385 circle hook. Fish this type of bait around bridge pilings, rocky areas and docks for drum that are 30 plus pounds.

This week was outstanding once again. Sail fish continue to surprise us with double hook-ups seen daily. They are eating the same baits as the kings, so nothing special is needed to get the attention of these beautiful fish — just the usual bunker and dead sardines are getting the job done. The reef and the ridge are both good places to start. Or, just go straight out to the lumps. Kings are still holding strong as well. A few areas are holding the big ones. 30-40lbers this time of year are not uncommon. Live bait 100% works better for the smokers.

Inlet and inshore bite was great this week. The Flounder bite is still decent for guys fishing with live bait along the channel edges. Pompano are thick around Sebastian on the beaches and in the Indian River Lagoon. We caught most of our pompano jigging either Goofy jigs or Storm Coastal Shrimp rigged on 1/4 ounce jighheads. If the bite was slow, we put a little pro cure on to help the bite. Along with the Pompano, the jacks, bluefish, mackerel and ladyfish have been thick. Same baits as we use for the pompano worked well on these species.

The surf fishing has been great lately and anglers are having some real fun out on the beach. Lots of species are biting and being caught, including big drum, permit, pompano, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel. Anglers are also doing well catching these same fish at the Sebastian Inlet Jetty.

We had three enjoyable trips early in the week with Tony joining me on Monday. As usual Tony starts his day tossing a top-water walking plug and it paid off in spades for him.

The trout bite was on and while he caught a bunch of lower slot trout and a few under-slot fish as well, his best trout came on a “twitchin’ mullet” lure. The chunky twenty plus inch fish was not a trophy by any means it was still welcome catch.

Lots of activity north of the jetty at Port Canaveral this weekend. Pompano, Whiting and some other beach going fish. The bite was good with shrimp. Was in my flats boat just past the breakers […]

I have been slammed working on the boats lately, but when granted the opportunity to go fishing, the bite has been AWESOME both nearshore and offshore. The reef is on fire with sailfish, kingfish, dolphin… I mean, everything! Live bait is plentiful all over and easy to catch. Slow trolling with these live bait rigs should produce good results. Nearshore is also insane with sharks of many species and giant reds schooling up and down the beach. Look for the birds and you’ll find the fish. Cobia have also been out there in good numbers from PAFB to Buoy 2. Look for the rays and you’ll find the cobia.

I live Connecticut waiting for warmer weather. I enjoy your reports , helps me get thru New England winters. 👍