Space Coast fishing: Calm seas invite tuna, dolphin, snapper fishing
Welcome to the Lake Atlantic. That's what it will seem like the next few days as calm seas will invite anglers to make long runs for yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, dolphin and wahoo.
Long runs to the other side can often be rewarded with a blue marlin hookup, too, but the meat fishing is the real attraction.
Closer to the beach, look for the silver king to be in the mix. Work the edges of pogy schools to find these monsters or kingfish, cobia and sharks, too.
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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.
Dolphin: New fishing regulations began May 1 for state waters. Bag limit is now 5 fish per day per angler; Vessel limit is now 30 fish per day. Captain & crew may not be included in limit.
Grouper: Shallow water grouper season is open May 1 through Dec. 31. That includes gag grouper, red grouper, scamp and six other lesser species.
Hogfish: Harvest of hogfish is open May 1 through Oct. 31, 2022 in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida.
Lobster: Mini-season is July 27-28. Regular season reopens Aug. 6.
Red snapper: No harvest allowed. There is two-day fishing season which is July 7-8.
Bass: Bass at Headwaters Lake will soon become all catch and release.
Mosquito Lagoon
Capt. Jon Lulay of 2 Castaways charters in Titusville said the redfish bite is pretty good in this region, but so is the catch and release action for snook right now. Use live shrimp either freelined or under a popping cork to get bites from both as well as black drum, trout and jacks.
Offshore
The possibilities in this zone are endless. Well start with the Gulf Stream and work our way back to shore. The weather forecast for the weekend is favorable for long runs over to the other side of the stream for yellowfin tuna. Anglers have been catching tuna to 70 pounds. There are also some dolphin and wahoo biting. There are dolphin closer to the beach in 80 to 200 feet of water. Snapper are biting, too. Mangroves and catch and release red snapper are biting in 90-100 feet. Lanes and muttons are in shallower like 40-60 feet of water. Tarpon and kingfish can be caught in 20-30 feet of water around bait schools.
Surf
It's all about the whiting right now. For beaches with little to no seaweed, a 100 foot cast will bring in whiting and a few croaker. They'll take Fishbites and Fish Gum, pieces of shrimp or clam strips. Outgoing tide has been a little better for grass.
Sebastian Inlet
Mangrove snapper have been the reason to go to the park lately with snook season closed until Sept. 1. There are some tarpon just outside the inlet and redfish in the inlet taking live crabs floated by boats during the outgoing tide. Sharks and jacks round out the action here.
Indian River Lagoon
Capt. Peter Deeks of Native Son fishing charters in Merritt Island has been steering clients to a collection of monsters lately. HIs clients have caught trout, tarpon, snook and jacks by fishing with a combination of live bait and lures. Fish are with 2-3 foot of water with topwater lures early in the morning to get trout bites. Switch over to mid-depth lures later in the morning.
Freshwater
Anglers fishing early are finding a good bass bite in the shallows, but these fish head for deeper water and head for cover later in the morning. Use swim baits or topwater lures like frogs to get bites early. Switch to flipping and pitching worms later in the morning to keep the action going.
Ed Killer is florida today's outdoors writer. Friend Ed on Facebook at Ed Killer, follow him on Twitter @tcpalmekiller or email him at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Tarpon, snapper will be on the catch list for Space Coast anglers
