Tomoka Basin to Sebastian Inlet
Includes Daytona Beach, Titusville, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa and Melbourne

Nov. 20-22

PONCE INLET

OFFSHORE-Capt. Jay at the Fishin’ Store in New Smyrna reports king mackerel and red snapper greeted their half day charter boat when they got to the 90-foot reef on the first decent weather day we had this week. Sardines and squid were the offerings of choice. With the excellent sight fishing conditions anglers may also find cobia in the 30 to 60-foot depths now that the seas aren’t quite so rough.

INSHORE-Bluefish are a best bet in the surf and along the beaches this week. Any small moving object resembling a baitfish should get the job done. Capt. Fred Robert reports good numbers of over sized redfish in the inlet this week as well. Live pinfish, mullet or croakers seem to be the best choices, but cut baits will also draw strikes from these huge fish. A few flounder are starting to make their way into the inlet, but no huge migration has occurred yet this year.

PORT CANAVERAL

OFFSHORE-Scattered king mackerel are hitting spoons and sea witch/mullet strip combos on the 80 to 90-foot reefs. Most of these fish are in the 10 to 15 pound class. Look for larger fish to start showing up over the next few weeks on these same reefs. Snapper and grouper catches are getting better by the day as the conditions return to a more normal sea state. Live pogies and finger mullet when available are the best choices for these fish but a cut or frozen squid or sardine presented properly should also do the job. Vertical jigs are another great way to find aggressively feeding bottom fish on most of the structures in the 70 to 140-foot range.

Scattered weeds may bring tripletail and cobia inshore of the 60- foot mark. If calm conditions maintain through the weekend it will make sight fishing for these two species much easier. Bluefish are everywhere along the inshore waters this week. Anything resembling a small baitfish will get their attention.

INSHORE-Redfish catches have not been as good as they were last week despite the calmer conditions. Hopefully this trend will not last through the weekend. The trout bite still remains good throughout all three lagoons, but remember these fish must be released during the months of November and December in this region.

SEBASTIAN INLET

OFFSHORE-No current reports. Hopefully the snapper and king mackerel catches being made farther up the coast will also be seen out of this inlet soon. Tarpon should be following bait pods along the beaches as the water temperatures warm into this weekend.

INSHORE-Redfish and snook catches at the inlet on outgoing tides remains good for anglers using live finger mullet. Mud minnows are accounting for a few small flounder but no reports are coming in of good numbers at this time. Most of these fish are running less than 3 pounds. Trout, snook, and redfish catches are good along the flats inside the inlet. Small plugs, spoons and jigs that imitate mullet are working best.

Until next week….Catch a memory!

By Captain Jim Ross
captjimross@cfl.rr.com | www.captainjimross.com

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