Central Florida fishing: Cobia, tripletail driving offshore action; Snook biting inshore

St. Patrick's Day kicks off the fishing weekend and if Space Coast anglers can get offshore, they're going to feel pretty lucky.

It might be a little bouncy, but kingfish, cobia and snapper have made offshore efforts worthwhile. Mahi mahi are on the current edges along with blackfin tuna and wahoo, too. Also, the big jacks are back to play and will take large topwater poppers and chuggers.

As it is every March, inshore fishing is all about snook. They seem to be everywhere unless you are looking for them. Bridges, docks, seawalls, mangroves and anything that can be substituted for inshore structure will hold snook. Be sure to get some crabs in the livewell whether you chase after cobia, tarpon, black drum, redfish or snook.

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Closures & regulations changes in effect: Anglers are reminded about these fishery harvest closures currently underway and ones about to begin and end.

• Lobster: Regular season ends March 31. Two day sport season (mini-season) open July 26-27, 2023. Regular season opens Aug. 6.

• Cobia: New bag and size limits for state waters. Bag limit: Two fish per vessel. Size limit: 36 inches fork lenght.

• Snook: Harvest opened Feb. 1. One fish bag limit, 28-32 inches, snook stamp required..

• Grouper: Harvest closed from Jan. 1, 2023, through April 30, 2023. Includes gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, scamp, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind & rock hind. Harvest reopens May 1, 2023.

• Spotted seatrout:  Harvest open as of Jan. 1 in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin & Palm Beach counties. Harvest closes November and December 2023.

• Flounder: Harvest reopened Dec. 1.

• Hogfish: Harvest closed from Nov. 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. Harvest reopens May 1, 2023.

• Redfish: Harvest of redfish is banned in the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon beginning Sept. 1. FWC will re-evaluate later in the year.

• Alligator: Hunt season open Aug. 15-Nov. 1. Permits required.

• Dolphin: New fishing regulations began May 1, 2022 for state waters. Bag limit is now five fish per day per angler; Vessel limit is now 30 fish per day. Captain and crew may not be included in limit.

• Tilefish: Harvest is open as of Jan. 1.

• Bass: Bass at Headwaters Lake will soon become all catch-and-release.

For complete fishing regulations in Florida go to MyFWC.com.

Mosquito Lagoon

Fishing the shorelines of the islands or south of Biolab ramp has been decent for redfish, snook and black drum. Use live shrimp, either freelined or under a popping cork, to get bites. Speckled trout and jacks are other catches that are possible.

Offshore

Mangrove snapper fishing has been steady for the boats working out of both Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet. The best depths have been 80-100 feet of water. Kingfish, sharpnose sharks, gray triggerfish and occasional cobia are also being caught in this zone. Current edges have been producing catches of mahi mahi and blackfin tuna for trollers. On calm days, yellowfin tuna are possible on the east side of the Gulf Stream. Tripetail can be caught from the Canaveral buoys.

Surf

There has been steady fishing for whiting and croaker in the surf zone at Melbourne Beach and Canaveral Seashore. Are there pompano coming? Supposedly, according to anglers who are still catching them in the Palm Beaches, but the fish should be on their way soon. Use Fishbites in the EZ Flea pattern or shrimp pieces for bites.

Sebastian Inlet

It's been all about snook in this region. Fish are being caught from both jetties on a mix of live baits, dead baits and jigs. Snook are hanging around the reef within casting distance of the north jetty, but work with the boaters fishing the same spot, otherwise jetty privileges will be limited again. Other catches include Spanish mackerel, redfish, jacks and sheepshead.

Indian River Lagoon

Topwater plugs are a good way to catch speckled trout early in the morning in 2-3 feet of water throughout this zone. Zara Spooks, Yo-Zuri Hydro Pencils, Rapala Skitterwalks, Bomber Badonkadonks all catch fish. Snook and redfish will also ambush these lures. Switch to jerk baits or live shrimp later in the morning once the sun gets higher in the sky. Sheepshead and black drum can also be caught in these same areas.

Freshwater

Bass fishing at area lakes has been excellent on wild shiners. But stick worms, spinnerbaits, topwater frogs and lipless crank baits are also getting plenty of bites. Live crickets will catch bluegill, warmouth, shellcrackers and Mayan cichlids.

Ed Killer is a columnist with florida today. Email your fishing reports to ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Space Coast anglers: Cobia time is now; Tripletail, snook being caught