SPACEFISH REPORT

5.22.2018 – 5.28.2018

A BREVARD COUNTY FISHING REPORT EVERY TUESDAY

Space Coast Fishing Report: 5.22.2018 - 5.28.2018

Rain is NOT a good reason for not going out fishing this week. Lightning, on the other hand, is a pretty legit excuse…

When it rains, it pours

Not to wear out Forest Gump with two references in three weeks, but the shoe just fits:

“One day it started raining, and it didn’t quit for four months. We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stingin’ rain, and big ol’ fat rain, rain that flew in sideways, and sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath.”

the rain continues...

Click if you got an itching to see the classic clip from the movie!

No doubt, we’ve seen all kinds of rain on the Space Coast lately, and we’re going to see plenty more of it over the next week. Just don’t let the threat of getting wet stop you from bending your rod. The fish are biting so suit up and get out there — but, do be cautious as thunderstorms are forecast throughout the week and lightning is no joke. In the famous words of Lieutenant Dan Taylor, “Try not to do anything stupid, like getting yourself killed.” (okay, no more Forest Gump references, promise).

GIVEAWAY CONTESTS

Every week, we randomly draw a name from our email subscriber list to award a $20 Strike-Zone Fishing Gift Card. 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, Brad Voltz of Palm Bay. If you’re not already a Spacefish subscriber, click here to sign up.

SQU’ALL HEARD ABOUT SPACEFISH?

We’ve also got a winner of our PENN Squall combo giveaway. Congrats, AJ Lueck of Indian Harbour Beach — this ready-to-fish rig is all yours!

JOHN’S GOT A NEW BOAT!

And finally, congrats to John Dobbins on winning the Central Florida Shootout’s Grand Prize Giveaway of a 2018 Nautic Star 215XTS.

John couldn’t make it to the awards ceremony for the live drawing, so the Shootout team surprised him with news at at work. The video capturing the moment — and John’s disbelief — is priceless. It goes without saying, but, enjoy it, John! We know you will!

Full Mounty Redfish Giveaway Contest
SPACEFISH Weekly Giveaway Contest

American Air & Heat of Brevard

SPACE B.O.I. FORECAST

OFFSHORE

49.84%

INSHORE

64.82%

SURF/JETTY

54.8%

WEATHER OVERVIEW: If you were wishing for clear skies and low wind this week, don’t hold your breath. However, it appears the wind will die down a bit on Wednesday, so if you are looking for your opening to make a run offshore, Thursday looks like the day. In the lagoons and inlets, we’ve got decent conditions and the fish are biting. As for the surf, the weeds are still pretty thick, but we’re hoping to see it clear up a bit as the week continues.

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

SPECIES INDEX

Shrimp Fishing

Shrimp

Enjoy the peak of Brevard's way-too-short peak of shrimping while you can, even if it means getting a little wet out there.
Tarpon Fishing

Tarpon

Rapid creek flow from all the rain has made for some nice backwater action with Juvenile tarpon. Meanwhile, the bigger ones are showing up in Sebastian River, Inlet, and off the beach!
Black Drum Fishing

Black Drum

The black drum bite has been pretty strong both in Haulover Canal and around docks in the lagoon towards the South end of the county.
Bluefish Fishing

Bluefish

Cooler waters have kept the bluefish around a bit longer and they are especially prevalent at the north and south end's of Brevard County.

fish on the radar

ON THE RADAR: When the weeds on the beach clear, it will be just about primetime for targeting some big daddy snook in the surf. If you can find a window to get offshore, the bite has been reportedly great for dolphin, kingfish, and grouper.

Word on the Bite

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
Everything is Biting Offshore
May 21, 2018

Everything is Biting Offshore

the weather may be poor, but the bite is still great

We only made it offshore two days due to the weather but it’s hot out there right now. Everything seems to be biting. We are getting Amberjack’s fairly deep, grouper in 150,’ kingfish on the reef, and Mahi on the troll. Be ready to go for the next break in the weather…

by Capt. Chris Cameron
Fired Up Charters | (407) 222-3573

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Good Sight Fishing
May 21, 2018

Good Sight Fishing


With all of the rain, the water in the lagoon is high but has remained clear which has allowed for some outstanding sight fishing this week. On overcast days the trout bite has been on fire using either croakers, pigfish or topwater plugs like the skitter walk. Tarpon are starting to show up along the beach and inlet as well.

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

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Snook and Tarpon in Sebastian River
May 21, 2018

Snook and Tarpon in Sebastian River

The rain has made it tough to fish but for those that have ventured out we are seeing big snook and tarpon in the Sebastian River. The black drum bite has remained strong around the docks as well. A well placed live shrimp will get their attention.

by Masterbaiters Bait & Tackle
Masterbaiters Bait & Tackle | (321) 674-2060

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Good Action in the Grand Canal
May 21, 2018

Good Action in the Grand Canal

The Grand Canal has been hot with reports of slots reds, small snook and mangrove snapper. Fish live shrimp up against the mangroves for your best action. At Mather’s Bridge the mangrove snapper have been pretty consistent as well. There seem to be a lot of sharks in the river recently, too.

by MOB
Man Overboard Bait & Tackle | (321) 777-8860

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Yep, It’s Still Raining
May 21, 2018

Yep, It’s Still Raining

Well, with the rain there is not much to report… We still have big black drum and big reds being caught in Haulover Canal — use live blue crabs. Our shrimping has gotten better in Titusville. We are seeing 2 to 3 gallon pulls of large and jumbos at the Cracker Jack pier, Train Bridge and Haulover Canal.

In Mosquito Lagoon lots of trout and over slot reds are being caught right now. Use cut mullet are cut lady fish.

Playalida beach, no reports due to weather. If had to guess, sharks and whiting. That was he word prior to the bad weather. For sharks use cut bonito; for the whiting, use fresh dead shrimp or fishbites (electric chicken in the shrimp flavor works great).

After this rain the river will be very deep so fishing should be pretty good around any culverts with fresh water run offs.

by Capt. Hooks Bait & Tackle
Capt. Hooks Bait & Tackle | (321) 268-4646

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Ready for Beach Snook
May 21, 2018

Ready for Beach Snook

Dodging seaweed, catching snook on the beach!

I can’t believe it’s this time of year again already! Hopefully these weeds will clear out and we will be targeting snook on the beach. Xiou caught this snook along with half a dozen margate while managing to avoid most of the seaweed.

Lots of rain this week making the creeks flow rapidly creating fun tarpon and snook backwater action. I got out on the Indian River dodging the rain and 2 ft. seas and managed to find some jacks and a ton of juvenile trout to play with.

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

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Despite Rain, Water Remaining Clear
May 19, 2018

Despite Rain, Water Remaining Clear

decent bite despite the poor weather this week

The weather wasn’t the best this week as we had to cancel a few trips but we managed to get out a few days. Despite all the rain, the water inside the lagoon remained clear. We fished inshore for trout and reds using Storm Coastal Jerk baits. Quite a few trout were caught but the reds were picky. We did manage a few small snook as well.

Tarpon and snook bite up in the Sebastian River has slowed a bit with the rain flowing out unless you can fish the spillways where the bite stayed good as the water flows. Storm Shrimp or live shrimp worked well as did live shiners and live shrimp. As long as the rains continue, the spillway bite should stay good too!

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

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Topwater Tony Goes Soft
May 19, 2018

Topwater Tony Goes Soft

Topwater Tony pursues a 10lb trophy trout in the Indian River Lagoon with Capt. Mark Wright

I seldom fish on a charter unless asked OR when I’m fishing with Tony (Mr. Top-water). Tony is on a mission to catch a 10 pound spotted seatrout and to make things more challenging he uses Skitterwalk plugs almost exclusively.

Tony has had several 10+ pound Gators on the line, though to date he has not boated one. Stuff happens; broken knots, pulled hooks and torn lips.

When I decide to actually fish I toss soft-plastics; usually Z-Man Diezel Minnowz. I fish through water Tony has already explored thoroughly with his plug. After all, I certainly don’t want to catch HIS trophy trout out from under him 😉

This morning after Tony fished his plug around and across a favorite point without incident I grabbed my Memory Stix 701 rod. Cast number 2 produced a near top-slot redfish. Several casts later a 22/23 inch trout. After another smaller trout I put the rod and pearl white Diezel Minnowz back in it’s holder. I think I made my point; there are fish here… (sorry no pix)

About an hour later and further in the back waters I pick up my rod again. A few casts and a few more fish. I put the rod away again rather than risk upsetting my favorite client.

Here’s the “thing” — at least a dozen decent fish halfheartedly smacked at, busted on and pulled under the plug with zero hook-ups. Stuff happens; stuff happens way too often!

I believe the only reason Tony finally tossed a soft plastic was to avoid getting skunked today. The over-slot trout was a solid fish, but no trophy. I’m not sure if I’m more proud of Tony for sticking to his guns by using a lure the fish were not so interested in today or for his willingness to move beyond his comfort zone.

BTW, the lure in the trout’s mouth is a Z-Man Grass Kickerz and one of my favorite big trout lures.

by Capt. Mark Wright
Florida East Coast Fishing Adventures | (321) 302-3474

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
It’s Friday, Everybody!
May 18, 2018

It’s Friday, Everybody!

Nice Snook!

It’s Friday everybody! Welcome to the weekend and we hope everybody had a great week despite the weather conditions. The anglers that were able to get out in between thunderstorms caught a variety of fish in the lagoon and some small sharks showed up around the causeways. The sheepshead, mangrove snapper and trout are also still snapping.

If you’re thinking about having a little fishing fun this weekend with some light tackle, you might want to try the canals. Several snook were caught and released this week. They were caught around the mangroves and docks using live shrimp.

For the beach anglers, there was still some Margate and Whiting being caught despite the large amount of weed in the surf

Have a great weekend from all of us at Man Overboard Bait and Tackle!

by MOB
Man Overboard Bait & Tackle | (321) 777-8860

On the Radio with Mark Moses: 5/18/2018
May 18, 2018

On the Radio with Mark Moses: 5/18/2018

Spacefish checks in with the Mark Moses Show on Sports Radio 1960AM THE FAN to talk some Space Coast fishing! Ryan Wood of RWood Outdoors joins the conversation to discuss the current controversy surrounding the sport of land based shark fishing . We also recap the Central Florida Shootout and look forward to the awards party on Sunday at Grills Riverside, where somebody is going to win a new $60k boat!

by JC

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Tournament Director Champion
May 18, 2018

Tournament Director Champion

Reporting from Beyond Brevard AND Back
Baker's Bay Invitational in the Bahamas

Since 2015, local Brevard county resident Captain Ed Dwyer and his beautiful wife Candy have been directing the Baker’s Bay Invitational over at Baker’s Bay in Great Guana Key, Bahamas. The 2018 tournament, which consists of one day of golfing and two days of fishing, took place this past weekend with 24 Bakers’s Bay Member teams and guests competing for the title of 2018 Top Boat.

During the first day team Galati-HMY-Viking Yachts put together a Slam, consisting of a blue marlin, sailfish and white marlin to secure 1050 points and take the 1st place daily prize. Captain Ed Dwyer and his team aboard the Bear Trap, consisting of owner John Stout, Bobby Jacobson, Gary Angel and first mate Kyle Schiedel, released 3 white marlins for 450 points to put themselves in second place going into Day 2. Day 2 however was completely different with the Bear Trap releasing 7 white marlin for 1050 and racking up a total of 1500 points for both days and claiming the title of 2018 BBI Top Boat, Top Captain and Top Angler going to Gary Angel.

Team Plane Simple consisting of mostly Brevard county residents, including owner Jim Jensen and Captain Jimmy Werling came in a respectable 3rd place with 850 points. The tournament has raised nearly $500,000 over the past 4 years for different charities including Every Child Counts, the only special education school in the Abacos. Brevard County residents Leslie Matthews, Wilson Scott, Mark Wilson and Kimberly English assisted with the tournament coordination. Way to represent Brevard, guys!

by Troy Denson
Mount This Fish Company | (321) 403-6677

IRL Canals are Alive!
May 15, 2018

IRL Canals are Alive!

The canals in the Central IRL are really fishy with the recent rain as of 5/14. Cast net a lot of finger mullet on the flats (they are thick right now) and be prepared for tarpon, snook, reds, and trout. If there’s a break in the weather, fishing the flats would be a good idea as shallow flats have had reds. In deeper flats, the early morning topwater trout bite has been pretty good at select spots. I got my first grand slam — watch the video!

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Check out what’s been caught on camera while fishing in around the Space Coast this week.

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THANKS FOR READING!

Thanks for reading another weekly edition of the Spacefish Report. Since Spacefish began in January of 2018, we’ve now published TWENTY fishing reports — one for every week of the year. We are constantly working on improving the quality of content, improving features, and enhancing the user experience, and we hope it shows. Also, 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.

Spacefish on the Radio!

kayaks by Bo