WEEKLY FORECAST

1.15.2018 – 1.21.2018

A CENTRAL FLORIDA FISHING FORECAST EVERY TUESDAY

big black drum

Capt. Alex Hughey’s fishing game is so strong he is sometimes accused of photoshopping his catch photos. No photo editing required, people — that’s the real deal!

DRUM POUNDING ACTION!

The hot start to 2019 rolls on! Inshore, anglers are having a hay day boating +30lb monster black drum. In the surf, pompano and trophy permit continue to produce some banner days, while big reds remain schooling just off the beach. Offshore, cobia are showing up in record numbers and boats are doubling up on sailfish. Heck, a world record breaking 9.65lb puffer fish was just caught out of the Port. It’s an incredible time to hit the water no matter what type of fishing you want to do, so get out there!

Also, don’t forget about the big lunar event on Sunday night/Monday morning — this Bloody Supper Wolf Moon coincides with the season’s PEAK period of fish activity, according to the solunar forecast.

Sunstate Pest Control

SPACE B.O.I. FORECAST

OFFSHORE

85.73%

TOP TARGETS

  • Sailfish
  • Kingfish
  • Cobia
  • Tripletail

INSHORE

86.44%

TOP TARGETS

  • Black Drum
  • Flounder
  • Pompano
  • Spotted Seatrout

SURF/JETTY

82.01%

TOP TARGETS

  • Pompano
  • Bluefish
  • Spanish Mackerel

WEATHER OVERVIEW: This week will provide another round of north vs. south, wind that is. With another cold front now upon us, Tuesday and Wednesday will bring high temperatures in the mid to upper 60’s. Winds are expected to die down on Wednesday evening and should remain low for the following few days. Thursday and Friday will be beautiful sunny days with high temps in the low to mid 70’s. Contributors are reporting that there’s been some phenomenal fishing offshore, so this looks to be a great window to venture out. Over the weekend, the wind will pick back up and shift out of the south. With another cold front on its way, next week may start with some rain. There will be plenty of opportunities to fish this week so get out there and have some fun!

Click here to check out the forecast from the National Weather Service.

GIVEAWAY CONTESTS

Every week, we randomly draw a name from our email subscriber list to award a $20 Strike-Zone Fishing Gift Card. The winner’s name is published in every weekly report. The only catch is, if you are announced as a winner, you must email us to claim your prize. Congrats to this week’s winner, Tony Harrelson of Mims. If you’re not already a Spacefish subscriber, click here to sign up.

cocoa ford

Fishing Reports

In every week’s Spacefish fishing report, we turn to both fishing pros and average joe’s for input on what’s happening in and around Brevard County’s many fisheries. Check out what people are saying about the bite in the Space Coast this week:

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Get Down to the Beach and Play!
January 21, 2019

Get Down to the Beach and Play!

Surf anglers are catching lots of Spanish Mackerel on casting jags and gotcha. Pompano are being caught on sand fleas, but orange and pink Wacky Jigs are also producing. Everyone’s been talking about the big black drum in the lagoon but they’re also cruising the beaches right now, too. These big uglies will eat pretty much anything — shrimp, clam, Fishbites, sand fleas, you name it. Get down to the beach and play!

by Black Dog Bait & Tackle
Black Dog Bait & Tackle | (321) 725-1200

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Plenty of Action in the Inlet
January 21, 2019

Plenty of Action in the Inlet

jacks

Had a good week of Pompano, Trout, jacks Bluefish and a few flounder. Plenty of action in the inlet with the species mentioned on soft plastics and goofy jigs. We fished the spoil islands and got into some school trout but with the 62 degree water temps the fish were finicky.

I never went off the beach because it was too rough early in the week and had to get a boat ready to sell on the nice days. But the guys that did get out got into some rays and cobia off of satellite beach and Port Canaveral. The kingfish are also still around for the guys that want to go chase them. The sailfish bite should pick up with this front but they could be anywhere from Port Canaveral to Fort pierce. Trolling ballyhoo is the best bait for the sailfish.

by Capt. Glyn Austin
Going Coastal Charters | (321) 863-8085

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Even BIGGER Black Drum
January 21, 2019

Even BIGGER Black Drum

black drum fishing

Black drum action continues to be outstanding in the Indian River this week. We’ve had a group of larger fish move in from what we had previously been catching. These new fish are in the 30 to 50 pound class. We are having to tackle up to pull them away from the structures they are holding on using our cobia rods instead of our typical flats fishing rods. Most of these fish are hitting the Saltwater Assassin redfish colored Sea Shad tails rigged on a ¼ to ½ ounce jig head. Live shrimp and cut crab are also working on these big fish. Bull reds over 40 inches long are mixed in with the drum on some days. Along the beach, cobia, tripletail and giant drum are the main targets. When the seas allow we are outside chasing those species as well. If you are looking for a really great rod bending experience, you need to get out with us in the next few weeks before these fish are gone.

by Capt. Jim Ross
Fine Line Fishing Charters | (321) 636-3728

Weekly Radio Show with Mark Moses (1.19.2018)
January 19, 2019

Weekly Radio Show with Mark Moses (1.19.2018)

Spacefish checks in with the Mark Moses Show on Sports Radio 1960AM THE FAN. We talk about the effects of a potential early shark migration, this weekend’s super blood wolf moon, fast food at the White House, and more. Check it out!

by JC

Captn’, We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Ship!
January 18, 2019

Captn’, We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Ship!

Keep everyone off the beach, small craft should head into port, there is a man-eater on the loose! Ok, maybe a slight exaggeration, but I did manage the biggest shark I’ve ever caught this past Sunday.

I went out of port Canaveral Sunday morning and headed north a bit into the Bight. I anchored about 20 yards from the beach and threw out a chunk of Ladyfish I caught the day before toward the shore and fished a live shrimp with the rod in my hand. Not knowing what the fish wanted that day, I figure giving them options would be the best start.

It wasn’t five minutes and I saw the rod the Ladyfish chunk was on bend and drag start going. I picked it up and set the hook, or at least tried to, anyway. The line snapped and I reeled back in nothing but line. Thinking I’d snagged it on something, I re-rig as before; line, swivel, mono leader, hook.

The same thing happens again, a few minutes later; Ladyfish chunk soaks for a few a minutes… rod bends… I feel a tug this time, then reel back in… nothing but line. This ain’t no snag, I’m thinking now. Its a toothy critter taking my chunks.

I look in my tackle bag to see what I have for toothy critters and luckily I have a packet of 9″, #30, coated wire leader. I tie that on my line, and away goes another chunk of Ladyfish.

A few minutes later the rod bends again and, now, knowing I’ll get a good hookset with the leader I tied on; I tug hard. Snap! Reel in nothing but line – again.

Ugggghhh, I’m pretty pissed by this point three chunks of Ladyfish, and still nothing. I have one more trick up my sleeve… a roll of #50 stainless steel leader. I cut off a three foot piece, tie it to a swivel and give one of the three last pieces of Ladyfish a cast.

I see the tip bend after a five minute soak, I grab the rod and give it a tug to check if it is waves or something that grabbed my bait. To my surprise, the line tugs back and starts heading towards the ocean. FISH ON! I give a harder tug once I know its a fish and the fight was on!

It ran out towards the sea, on what felt like the bottom. I’m pulling right, its going left… I pull up, it digs deeper… I can feel its head shake from time to time and don’t recognize it… it made a couple of runs back towards the boat and then back out towards open water… is it a red, a bonnethead, a jack? I’m not not sure…. The battle lasts 15 or 20 minutes.

Finally, it’s worn out and I’m able to get it beside the boat and I finally see what it is. The biggest, baddest, toothiest, thing I’ve ever caught… A 6-8 foot man-eating, children scaring, ocean roaming Shark!

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!

Checkout the video of the sea monster up top.

Sharks.. sharks and…… more sharks
January 17, 2019

Sharks.. sharks and…… more sharks


Lots of sharks off the beach, and plenty of Big Jacks, too. Big poppers got the job done from Jack to shark

Surf report
January 16, 2019

Surf report

pompano
Wife and I went to Melbourne Beach this morning for a couple hours. She caught a Pompano and I caught a blue on salted clam with pink fish bites. Surf was pretty rough with a strong north wind. We’re still new at this and learning as we go. I tried to post a picture but couldn’t figure it out 😯

by Raider

Surf Fishing Doldrums Down South
January 16, 2019

Surf Fishing Doldrums Down South

sharks overtaking the beach

Every year is unique! I’ve been at this since ’58 and I’ve never witnessed an January surf shutdown like this… From Boynton Inlet through Ft. Pierce Inlet, the beach bite is likened to a winter doldrum. I never enjoy not writing an invigorating report, but so it goes.

We’re experiencing a shark infestation of epic proportions. Bulls, spinners and black tips line the surf and hold migratory species hostage in our local estuaries. Several weeks of potentially good fishing has been stymied. Historically, sharks don’t migrate till March and then the spring pompano run goes off the wall.

A month ago a school comprised of pomps and Spanish mackeral showed in Hobe Sound. My commercial boats followed the school North to Jensen Beach the very next day! The following day, Ft. Pierce then jumped to Ft. Pierce Inlet and then to the beaches of Vero. That was a monumental bite — by today’s standards — for 2 days, and proceeded to Sebastian, Melbourne, and finally, Cocoa Beach.

The serious fisherman towed their boats and jumped inlets the entire time. In every instance the gulls and the macks were on the beach. Pomps teaming up with pomps has become a security friendship of sorts. So what happened? My personal opinion is this bevy of beasts drove them north against their migratory will…

Tackle sales dictate what the fish are smacking. The river is lined with bluefish, lady fish, pomps and tons of bonefish. Jigs and quill sales are admirable. My sand flea sales are exceptional in the Boynton Beach area. Sheepshead galore! Convict fish at Lantana Bridge and all the bridges in Palm Beach. So follow your dreams and adjust accordingly!

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Tripletail Remains Hot Target
January 15, 2019

Tripletail Remains Hot Target

tripletail
This week the tripletail bite has been on fire in the nearshore 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. Make sure to check out our website if you want to join us for a great day of fishing!

by Capt. Justin Ross
Fine Line Fishing Charters | (321) 636-3728

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Tripletail, Cobia
January 15, 2019

Tripletail, Cobia

cobia
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.

by Capt. Mike Mann
Fat Fish Guide Service | (386) 295-5991

Tons of Black Drum in the IRL
January 14, 2019

Tons of Black Drum in the IRL

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.

Blood Thirsty Super Wolf
January 14, 2019

Blood Thirsty Super Wolf

fishing on the super blood wolf moon

Is it just me, or do we have newer and crazier sounding lunar events popping up more and more over these past few years? This Sunday, we’ve got a “Super Blood Wolf Moon.” That’s the official name that supposedly was not just randomly made up on a whim.

The Super Savage Blood Hound Moon is expected to be a pretty cool event to behold as the the moon will turn blood red and undergo a total eclipse. The eclipse will occur on Sunday night (the 20th) and is set to end around 12:43 am EST on Monday morning.

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. Below are the major and minor periods projected for these two days.

SUNDAY

Major Period
12:04pm – 2:04pm
Minor Periods
6:36am – 7:36am
5:31pm – 6:31pm

MONDAY

Major Periods
12:35am – 2:35am
1:07pm – 3:07pm
Minor Periods
7:36am – 8:36am
6:39pm – 7:39pm

If you go fishing at the peak major time right after the eclipse, do so with caution. If there’s even the most remote chance that werewolves are real, it’s safe to say that they’ll probably be on the prowl during the night of the Blood Raining Wolf Moon.

by JC

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Drumming Up Some Fun
January 14, 2019

Drumming Up Some Fun

big black drum

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.

Over the past week we also found some large redfish in the 40 plus inch range were schooling in with the black drum so they have added some variety to the days catch. Topwater action for speckled trout has been hit or miss. It’s good when the winds blows from the east or south and not so good when they switch from the north. We have also been getting good numbers of tripletail in the near-coastal waters. See the report from Capt. Justin Ross for more details on these fish. To book a charter with us go to our website.

by Capt. Jim Ross
Fine Line Fishing Charters | (321) 636-3728

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Grills Seafood - Lakeside, Port Canaveral, Melbourne

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THANKS FOR READING!

Thanks for reading another weekly fishing report from Spacefish. Don’t forget to listen to Spacefish ON THE RADIO every Friday at 4pm as we talk fishing with Mark Moses on SPORTS RADIO 1560 THE FAN.

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