The wind and seas kept boats under 35ft from getting out to the blue water, but I crushed it inshore. It was mostly last minute trips with a busy schedule. In total, I caught a 40lb tarpon, jumped a few smaller, a 48 inch red, a 31 inch red, and missed several large trout. The only thing I didn’t find was the snook.

This past week has kept me inshore with 20+ mph northeasterly winds, but that was not a problem. The mullet were nowhere to be seen close to shore during the week, but huge schools could be found near manatee signs, causeways, and the ICW channel. Once the east wind picked up, big numbers showed up close to the east bank in spots. 30-60lb tarpon were schooled up in parts of the ICW and near bridges. I also noticed the water level is super high everywhere.

The fishing on Friday was very good. We made a long run out deep at the crack of dawn. The amberjack fishing would have been absolutely epic had the elusive sandbar sharks not been so thick. Fish vertical jigs or live bait over large, deep structures with heavy spinning or conventional gear. If they are around, you will mark them sometimes more than 100 feet off the bottom. Reel as fast as you can once they show up. They will be a good target as long as the current stays light like it has ever since Dorian.

I would not go unless you own a cruise ship. The following is for our offshore waters. Tonight East winds 20 to 25 knots and gusty. Seas 10 to 12 feet with a dominant period […]

West winds behind Dorian pushed the Gulf Stream way out there and the water is a stirred up turquoise/clay within 25 miles before some gradual clearing. The debris and weeds were all likely 40+ miles offshore due to the wind. These conditions gave us a rather unusual opportunity to fish at depths where the current is typically so strong you can hardly fish.

This week, the fishing turned back to the August we all know. Plenty of fishing opportunities within our nearshore and offshore waters. Looking through my past catches, it’s clear that August is slower than May, June, September, and October.

The inshore fishing within north Brevard has not been productive lately probably due to algal blooms. I honestly can’t remember it being this bad in all of my life other than freezes and extreme weather. With 2 inches of clarity and manatees accessing the shallows, you can say goodbye to the little manatee grass that recovered from the slight improvements this lost (spelling deliberate) summer. Yes, it’s rained over 18 inches in the past two weeks, but shouldn’t that get the bait and tarpon going despite dirty hyposaline water? I usually crush the snook and slot reds in high water too.

This year has had brown water for all but a total of 30 days. I’ve only caught one (by mistake) since April. I’ve ceased fishing for them entirely since May. I remember the good ole days before 2016 when 30 inches was considered a big trout and 100 trout tips were the norm. This disturbing year has encouraged me to get heavily involved.

We left the boat ramp at 3:30 Saturday and went to 130ft with live baits in hopes of bigger red snapper. They were definitely bigger than last weekend, but I’ve caught them three times as big in the past. There’s still no shortage of them even after “experts” decided to have a mini season during the peak spawning time of the year. If only the eggs would hatch inside the Port. That won’t realistically happen but maybe they will move into state waters someday?

Catching our red snapper was not a problem and we got some big mangrove snapper in the mix. We struck out on tarpon off the beach Wednesday but that was a good thing because we changed our tactic for red snapper completely. Nearshore tarpon fishing still will be good anytime the water is above 76 or so. Nothing major is happening with cobia, but be ready while snapper fishing.

We still had some nibbles even with the thermocline and massive crowds!

Red snapper are still out there, just took a little bit extra to figure it out.