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| Saltwater Reports |
| Fish Brevard is brought to you by Sinclair Enterprises. For questions regarding this website, please e-mail the webmaster at sinclair@fishbrevard.com Copyright © 2006 Sinclair Enterprises. All rights reserved. |
| For Freshwater Reports, click here |
| We are always looking for accurate fishing reports, from professionals and recreational anglers alike. Feel free to drop us a line if you have information you'd like to share! |
Surf - July 1
Fish are active on the beaches, often throughout the day. Afternoon
thunderstorms, which are extending into the evening, have been preventing
many anglers from fishing past about 4 p.m., so try to get onto the beach early
to avoid the worst of the heat.
Atlantic croakers and whiting continue to be the most abundant species,
besides the numerous under-sized black drum. Often the croakers are small,
between 6 and 10 inches, however bigger fish are usually mixed in with the
little ones. Diving pelicans are usually an indication of schooling croakers in
the area. Whiting also seem to be schooling in with the croakers, or at least,
the two species are taking advantage of the same food supply.
Low tide periods usually push the schooling fish out past casting range,
accept along deeper beaches, such as those south of Indialantic and toward
Sebastian.
Plenty of bigger species are following the croakers, including; snook, sharks,
tarpon, jack crevalle and king mackerel. While it's rare to catch king mackerel
from the beach, boaters can often target them within a mile of the surf zone
during the summer. Look for tarpon, jacks and snook in close during high tide
periods and mornings and evenings.
Edges of coquina rock and pilings around piers, such as the Canaveral Pier,
are excellent areas to target flounder. Use a live bait such as a mojarra,
shrimp or finger mullet on a stationary rig with a pyramid sinker or a more
mobile rig with an egg sinker. Remember, the size limit on both our species of
flounder is 12 inches.
Surf - June 20
Atlantic croaker and whiting are grouping up along the shallow coquina reefs,
sandbars and troughs along Brevard County beaches. Anglers are finding
these two species in such high numbers, at times, that it can be non-stop
catching for hours at a time. Also mixed with these species are some
under-sized black drum, pinfish, pigfish, snook and jack crevalle.
Snook, of course, are out of season and all fish should be released unharmed.
Anglers can specifically target the snook by using small live croakers on a
sliding sinker rig. Just take extra care when handling these fish.
Whiting by far are preferring cut squid over most baits, while the black drum
are taking fresh cut shrimp. The croakers, however, will hit sandfleas, clam,
shrimp or squid fairly consistently.
Time of day does not seem to make as much of a difference as the weather
right now, with high tide periods being best. However, it is best to avoid the
middle of the day when the sun is highest as the fish tend to move to deeper
water.
A word of caution - Atlantic croaker have spiked and razor-sharp edges on
their gill plates that cut fingers, so handle with care.
Fish are active on the beaches, often throughout the day. Afternoon
thunderstorms, which are extending into the evening, have been preventing
many anglers from fishing past about 4 p.m., so try to get onto the beach early
to avoid the worst of the heat.
Atlantic croakers and whiting continue to be the most abundant species,
besides the numerous under-sized black drum. Often the croakers are small,
between 6 and 10 inches, however bigger fish are usually mixed in with the
little ones. Diving pelicans are usually an indication of schooling croakers in
the area. Whiting also seem to be schooling in with the croakers, or at least,
the two species are taking advantage of the same food supply.
Low tide periods usually push the schooling fish out past casting range,
accept along deeper beaches, such as those south of Indialantic and toward
Sebastian.
Plenty of bigger species are following the croakers, including; snook, sharks,
tarpon, jack crevalle and king mackerel. While it's rare to catch king mackerel
from the beach, boaters can often target them within a mile of the surf zone
during the summer. Look for tarpon, jacks and snook in close during high tide
periods and mornings and evenings.
Edges of coquina rock and pilings around piers, such as the Canaveral Pier,
are excellent areas to target flounder. Use a live bait such as a mojarra,
shrimp or finger mullet on a stationary rig with a pyramid sinker or a more
mobile rig with an egg sinker. Remember, the size limit on both our species of
flounder is 12 inches.
Surf - June 20
Atlantic croaker and whiting are grouping up along the shallow coquina reefs,
sandbars and troughs along Brevard County beaches. Anglers are finding
these two species in such high numbers, at times, that it can be non-stop
catching for hours at a time. Also mixed with these species are some
under-sized black drum, pinfish, pigfish, snook and jack crevalle.
Snook, of course, are out of season and all fish should be released unharmed.
Anglers can specifically target the snook by using small live croakers on a
sliding sinker rig. Just take extra care when handling these fish.
Whiting by far are preferring cut squid over most baits, while the black drum
are taking fresh cut shrimp. The croakers, however, will hit sandfleas, clam,
shrimp or squid fairly consistently.
Time of day does not seem to make as much of a difference as the weather
right now, with high tide periods being best. However, it is best to avoid the
middle of the day when the sun is highest as the fish tend to move to deeper
water.
A word of caution - Atlantic croaker have spiked and razor-sharp edges on
their gill plates that cut fingers, so handle with care.
Capt. Tom Van Horn - June 14, Port Canaveral - offshore
As we approach the summer solstice in the tropic of cancer, long hot days set
the stage for some of the hottest fishing experienced along Florida's Indian
River Lagoon Coast all year. Long hot days also signal a shift in strategy to
fishing early in the morning and late in the evening and at night to beat the
heat and our typical afternoon thunderstorms.
My first adventure this past week was a near-shore trip out of Port Canaveral
with one of my longtime fishing buddy and best friend Mike Murray, and our
plan was to target kingfish along the beach. We left the Port heading south
along the beach, and we quickly located and netted pogies just south of the
pier. After acquiring bait, we immediately started trolling live baits with no
success. That's when we started looking instead of fishing, covering 40 miles
of ocean with only one shark, one barracuda, and a 50-pound class tarpon
who released itself after leader touch. As it turned out, the kingfish were
staging in about 30 feet of water, one of the only locations we didn't look.
As we approach the summer solstice in the tropic of cancer, long hot days set
the stage for some of the hottest fishing experienced along Florida's Indian
River Lagoon Coast all year. Long hot days also signal a shift in strategy to
fishing early in the morning and late in the evening and at night to beat the
heat and our typical afternoon thunderstorms.
My first adventure this past week was a near-shore trip out of Port Canaveral
with one of my longtime fishing buddy and best friend Mike Murray, and our
plan was to target kingfish along the beach. We left the Port heading south
along the beach, and we quickly located and netted pogies just south of the
pier. After acquiring bait, we immediately started trolling live baits with no
success. That's when we started looking instead of fishing, covering 40 miles
of ocean with only one shark, one barracuda, and a 50-pound class tarpon
who released itself after leader touch. As it turned out, the kingfish were
staging in about 30 feet of water, one of the only locations we didn't look.
Captain Charlie Conner - June 12, Indian River
Parish and Chantel Murphy were down over the weekend and we hit the waters of
the Indian River at first light. Parish topped off the day with a 26" trout and 26"
redfish from the flats. Chantel had a huge trout hit her top water lure just beside the
boat, but only left us a big wake as it left us quickly. The the week, I spent at the
DOA Outdoor Writers Festival in Jensen Beach. Met some top notch anglers and
writers from around the state of Florida. Scott Allgood and Spencer Hobby spent a
day on the water and met the challenge of the shallow water flats. Scott boated
three snook up to 26" and two redfish that were 26" and 31". Spencer showed his
skills by catching a 20" gag grouper and two trout of 23" and 26" for the day. We
had a short day with James Hall and Mark King and managed a few short snook and
some angry jack crevalle in a few short hours on the water. We used all DOA Lures
and proved they produce fish! It was a fantastic week out there! Look for some of
the photos on next weeks report.
Some large trout have been holding on the grass flats. Bear Point, Queen's Cove
and Harbor Branch have been productive. Try a DOA Deadly Combo for some good
trout action. Spencer worked one with a glow shrimp for his two gator trout. Parish
hooked up with his on a DOA CAL jig head with a jerk bait for his gator.
There are still some small redfish schools cruising around the area. We landed two
reds on top water this week. Parish had one inhale a Skitterwalk and Scott with his
ever faithful DOA Bait Buster proved they would eat one also. Look in the shallows
and you might see a few tailing on the flats. Stealth is a must this time of year. Soft
plastics on the flats can work great this time of year.
We found some snook holding around some of the docks and mangroves this week.
James nailed a couple of shorts and Scott landed three.....all on DOA Bait Busters!
Remember...snook season is closed, so get a quick photo and release them safely.
Lots of mutton and lane snapper on the river. We found schools of snapper feeding
on the glass minnows. You can find lots of snapper along the channel edges and all
the Spanish mackerel and Bonita you want around the inlet on the incoming tides.
The beaches have held tarpon around the bait schools along with mackerel,
bluefish and jacks.
Tip of the Week: Think about slowing down your ride with the price of gasoline.
Running slower can save a lot of gas in a years time and will only keep you from
those fishing spots for a few minutes longer. Keep your motor tuned each year and
change your spark plugs several time a year to keep your engine running efficiently.
The gas prices will only keep going up and you can save some money by managing
your trips. Plan your trips to minimize traveling whenever you can. Slow down a little
and save some money!
Parish and Chantel Murphy were down over the weekend and we hit the waters of
the Indian River at first light. Parish topped off the day with a 26" trout and 26"
redfish from the flats. Chantel had a huge trout hit her top water lure just beside the
boat, but only left us a big wake as it left us quickly. The the week, I spent at the
DOA Outdoor Writers Festival in Jensen Beach. Met some top notch anglers and
writers from around the state of Florida. Scott Allgood and Spencer Hobby spent a
day on the water and met the challenge of the shallow water flats. Scott boated
three snook up to 26" and two redfish that were 26" and 31". Spencer showed his
skills by catching a 20" gag grouper and two trout of 23" and 26" for the day. We
had a short day with James Hall and Mark King and managed a few short snook and
some angry jack crevalle in a few short hours on the water. We used all DOA Lures
and proved they produce fish! It was a fantastic week out there! Look for some of
the photos on next weeks report.
Some large trout have been holding on the grass flats. Bear Point, Queen's Cove
and Harbor Branch have been productive. Try a DOA Deadly Combo for some good
trout action. Spencer worked one with a glow shrimp for his two gator trout. Parish
hooked up with his on a DOA CAL jig head with a jerk bait for his gator.
There are still some small redfish schools cruising around the area. We landed two
reds on top water this week. Parish had one inhale a Skitterwalk and Scott with his
ever faithful DOA Bait Buster proved they would eat one also. Look in the shallows
and you might see a few tailing on the flats. Stealth is a must this time of year. Soft
plastics on the flats can work great this time of year.
We found some snook holding around some of the docks and mangroves this week.
James nailed a couple of shorts and Scott landed three.....all on DOA Bait Busters!
Remember...snook season is closed, so get a quick photo and release them safely.
Lots of mutton and lane snapper on the river. We found schools of snapper feeding
on the glass minnows. You can find lots of snapper along the channel edges and all
the Spanish mackerel and Bonita you want around the inlet on the incoming tides.
The beaches have held tarpon around the bait schools along with mackerel,
bluefish and jacks.
Tip of the Week: Think about slowing down your ride with the price of gasoline.
Running slower can save a lot of gas in a years time and will only keep you from
those fishing spots for a few minutes longer. Keep your motor tuned each year and
change your spark plugs several time a year to keep your engine running efficiently.
The gas prices will only keep going up and you can save some money by managing
your trips. Plan your trips to minimize traveling whenever you can. Slow down a little
and save some money!
