Mutton snapper, snook & tripletail lead the Space Coast fishing report

February weather patterns along the east coast of Florida are always a little "iffy." Weekly cold fronts sweep across the country bringing high winds and a little rain. Temperatures bounce up and down like a dribbled basketball. Cool lows on Monday give way to record highs by Thursday.

Fish act a little confused. Many of the migratory fish are finished moving south for the winter, having already reached their seasonal spawning grounds. Some of the fish accustomed to warmer waters aren't sure whether to feed or go into their seasonal fasting period.

That leaves anglers hunting for whatever will chew on a bait or lure. Sometimes, cobia will arrive with migratory manta rays, whale sharks or sea turtles. Sometimes, speckled perch will be gathered in area lakes over brush piles. Sometimes, snapper fishing is good on the reefs and snook fishing is good around structure.

So pick your days and spots, and good luck on getting the bites you seek.

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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.

• 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.

• Lobster: 48-hour sport season (mini-season) open July 26-27, 2023. Regular season opens Aug. 6.

• 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

Capt. Jon Lulay of 2 Castaway Charters in Titusville has been on the oversized black drum the last couple of weeks. He's been steering his customers to catches multiple fish a day in the 25-pound range using a combination of split crabs or jigs and shrimp. Redfish, jacks, trout and snook are other possible catches on these trips between the railroad bridge in the northern Indian River Lagoon and the southern half of the Mosquito Lagoon.

Offshore

Canaveral Princess party boat out of Port Canaveral reports good fishing for multiple species of snapper — mangrove snapper, mutton snapper, lane snapper and vermilion snapper. There have been some sharpnose sharks and triggerfish caught on the reefs, too. In 40-60 feet of water there have been catches of kingfish and cobia, too.

Surf

Some beaches have had an arrival of Portuguese man-o-wars so watch out if they are being carried in with southeast current flows and easterly winds during incoming tides. Pompano fishing has slowed a little bit, but soon the fish will begin their migration back north. Whiting, croaker, snook, jacks and bonnethead sharks are being caught by Space Coast anglers.

Sebastian Inlet

Half the north jetty is open, but not the deep water half so anglers are catching sheepshead, small snook and jacks with live shrimp. It's been slow fishing in this zone due to winds stirring up water conditions. No pompano, hardly any flounder catches have been reported. Some black drum in the middle of the inlet caught by boaters. Boaters can also find a few pompano bites and tripletail inshore.

Indian River Lagoon

Sheepshead and black drum can be caught around the causeways by fishing with live shrimp around the pilings and rocky shorelines. Fish with shrimp-tipped jigs to catch jacks, ladyfish, croaker and trout on the flats in 3-4 feet of water. Redfish and snook can be caught under docks and around mangrove shorelines.

Freshwater

Speck fishing is still steady in area lakes with live minnows and speck jigs. Bass fishing is best along the edges of lakes and ponds. Try using topwater lures, artificial frogs or stick worms to get reaction strikes from bedding bass.

Ed Killer is a columnist for florida today. Email him at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Mutton snapper, snook, tripletail: Space Coast fishing targets