SPACEBYTE REPORTS
Check out the most recent reports submitted by our readers and regular contributors!
Summer Sea Trout on the Flats
This past weekend’s charters did not present many opportunities for fishing on the fly, however the early morning Sea Trout bite on top water was on fire. I had the pleasure of introducing a client from Utah to the bounties that the Indian River Lagoon still has to offer. Thursday we boated probably close to 20+ fish which include all we needed to award him with an Inshore Slam consisting of a Redfish, Snook, and Sea Trout.
Catfish Aggressive & Abundant
We had several good trips this past week starting with Topwater Tony. Targeting spotted seatrout in the south Mosquito Lagoon he gave his favorite lure a workout. The bone colored Skitterwalk caught a good number of released fish and we didn’t bother with getting any photos.
IHB/Satellite Beach
Inshore, the fishing has been really good lately in the canals around Satellite/IHB. Redfish, juvenile tarpon, snook, mangrove snapper and sheepshead are all being caught in good numbers from Dragon Point to the Pineda Causeway.
Find the Bait Pods on the Beach
Had a good week fishing nearshore and offshore out of Sebastian Inlet. Bait has been hit or miss and moving quite a bit but the fish are close behind when you find the bait pods.
Seasonably Good on the Ocean and Good Snook Bite in the Lagoon
June is always excellent in the nearshore and offshore waters out of Port Canaveral. We have been seeing shifty thermocline conditions, so don't count on bottom fishing. The best bet right now is a live pogy or threadfin on a stinger rig over 8A and Pelican. You can also find the kings on shoal ledges, and shallow wrecks.
Topwater Snook & Speckled Trout Action + Florida Wildlife Inshore Slam
First report of the summer! My body still feels like its learning to walk again, as summer is more of a time for mental/physical recovery for teachers rather than vacation. This week I’ve been focusing the majority of my trips close to home, around the south end of the Banana River. The east/west winds have been providing a strong wind current in/out of the residential cuts from the river to the Grand Canal. Combine these winds currents with a lot of bait that has been present in the area and there has been a lot “fishy” action.
Full Moon Mangrove Snapper Fishing
How do you beat the heat and still get your fishing fix? Full moon mangrove snapper fishing is your solution. This is the time of year, when the seas are calm, the water is clear and bait fish are abundant - the full moon can create a mangrove snapper feeding frenzy. With superior eye sight and ideal hunting conditions mangroves will venture all the way to the surface and spread out across the reef to feed on crabs, shrimp, squid bait fish and anything else they can catch.
Mangrove Mania on the Party Boat!
Our last report seemed as if the fishing was starting to slow way down and get into that Summer lull that we typically see when thermo-cline conditions start to creep in. We are very happy to see that was just a off week. The fishing this past week or so has been phenomenal.
Nearshore and Inshore
The kingfish bite along the nearshore waters continues to be really good this week. I've been slow trolling with live greenies in the 25 - 50 ft depths around bait pods that I'm marking on my Simrad elecctronics. A wire stinger rig consisting of a #4 nose hook and a #6 stinger hook have been my rigs of choice with the current type and size of baitfish we've been using.
Fishing Bait Pods on the Beach
Had a great week fishing the beach for kingfish, tarpon and sharks from Melbourne Beach to Sebastian Inlet. Fishing live bait along the bait pods was the most productive, but artificial have been working well, too. We caught a nice tarpon and some spanish mackerel using soft plastic lures on 3/8 ounce jig heads. With the good weather this week, I look forward to more of this action on the beach. We'll be utilizing these same methods over the course of good weather that's projected during this upcoming week. It's all about locating the bait. Do that, and you'll find the action!
Hot and Cranky
Fishing has improved this week, but the unusually hot weather has both fish and anglers a bit cranky. Right now it's best to avoid the mid-day heat and fish in the early morning and later afternoon.
Getting Snooky in the Lagoon
Things have been a bit snooky as of late. Even with the low water levels our juvenile snook population is happily relating to shorelines. If you find a shoreline area with tree branches extending over the water offering a bit-o-shade to hide in, you might find several snooklettes hiding there and fighting over your jig!
