FEBRUARY RECAP

I was ready to whine and complain about February until I actually looked back at our catch statistics and what the ocean gave us to work with. When I look at the statistics from the last ten years that I have been keeping them, it actually shows February 2020 to be a banner month.

Early in the month, the king mackerel and cobia let loose with the occasional blackfin tuna, mahi or sailfish in the mix. Slow trolling in the morning and sight fishing in the afternoon was a winning combo. Bottom fishing for mangroves, muttons and lane snapper was also very good, and bonus cobias were steadily being caught off the bottom, in addition to the great sight fishing we already had for them. Like usual for February, we had more rough days where we had to stay in close than we had offshore days, but the sharks and red drum did their thing and kept rods bent. We didn’t do much of it based on what our customers preferred to do, but by all accounts, the tripletail fishing was great, and fishing the surf and port for snook, pompano and sheepshead was also very much on point.

Port Canaveral monthly fishing forecast

NEARSHORE

Cobia potential is here, and all the signs for us to have a fantastic cobia season are present. The problem is that the rough seas are keeping them further offshore and/or keeping them pushed down. If we can get rid of the North wind and the ocean would settle down a hair, it’s going to happen. Water temperature is key at 68 degrees or warmer — if the temperature breaks, you will find them. As all the water reaches the correct temperature you will then narrow your search by finding bait, weeds or color changes. Always have a designated tripletail rod ready with a live shrimp because you will be presented with triple tail opportunities every single time you go looking for cobia.

The beach fishing will continue to produce great catches of pompano, whiting and sheepshead. Shark fishing usually slows a little in March, but I don’t really see that happening ever again. Sharks will always be here, abundant and sustainable. Years of restrictions have literally made a sharknado across the entire Atlantic, and for those that love to fight sharks, it is now your paradise. Truth be told, if you just step back and really think about it, the shark is our ultimate fish. Easily accessible, an unreal fight, and if you don’t listen to everyone else’s mouth and just give it a try, they are phenomenal eating. A properly prepared 3 to 5 ft small coastal shark is fantastic table fare. Shark fishing Cocoa Beach and up to the tip of Cape Canaveral can be very good year round.

OFFSHORE

Whatever it is that you need to do to get pumped up and ready for Spring Break Offshore Fishing, you need to do it now! It is time to climb into the tower and jam out to Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi while you scan the water for cobia. Put out the dredges, teasers and ballyhoo in search of sailfish and mahi while jamming out to Jump by Van Halen. Crank up ACDC Thunderstruck as you are lowering to the bottom for mangrove and mutton snapper. Live bait trolling over the reef with Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins playing in the background. Riding in after a great day on the water sipping on a refreshing beverage singing along to Jimmy Buffet’s Boat Drinks as you reflect on a fantastic day. I am a product of the 80’s, so everyone else, apply your own genre. If you were born after the 90’s, sorry about your luck, and once again, rely on your parents’ advice ;-).

All the scenarios above are coming our way. I am hoping it will be this month, but that all depends on mother nature and her North wind. It might be March, it might be April, and I pray we don’t have to wait until May. Not much of a report here I know. On this one, I just wanted to get everyone in the correct mindset. It is time for this ocean to let loose and give us the Spring Break weather and sea conditions we deserve. Once that happens, all you do is rely on your captain, have a good time and put your angling skills to the test.