East Central Florida Forecast
February 27, 2024
By Capt. Jim Ross
Capt. Jim Ross discusses fishing from Tomoka Basin to Sebastian Inlet, including Daytona Beach, Titusville, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa and Melbourne
February 27
REGIONAL OFFSHORE Scattered dolphin, blackfin tuna and wahoo can be expected along the rips and temperature breaks associate with the western edge of the Gulf Stream. The wahoo prefer dark-colored high-speed lures pulled at 10 to 15 knots. The black fin and dolphin are striking naked chin-weighted ballyhoo, or small- to medium-sized ballyhoo with a small skirt over them. Any form of flotsam that you come across should be investigated for fish that may be holding beneath it. Bottom fishing for mangrove, lane, and mutton snapper remains pretty good on the reefs and wrecks that have clean water and decent bait marks on them. Small chunk baits are generally best for these fish.
PONCE INLET INSHORE Weakfish action in some of the deeper holes inside the inlet remains good for anglers using live shrimp or small fingerling mullet on bottom rigs. Sheepshead are another species that anglers can target this week. These fish are holding near structures like the jetty rocks at the inlet, or near pier pilings along the I.C.W. from the inlet southward to Edgewater. Live or frozen sand fleas and fiddler crabs are the best bait to use on these fish. Mangrove snapper and snook can also be found in these same areas if you are using live shrimp for bait. Father south in the lagoon redfish, black drum and a few scattered trout are possible. Saltwater Assassin 4-inch sea shad tails rigged on a 1/8-ounce spring lock jig head are a great way to cover water. Once you locate an area with fish, slow down and try live shrimp free-lined to the area that the fish are holding in. Afternoon catches are better than morning catches right now.
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PORT CANAVERAL INSHORE Black drum can be found around many of the bridge pilings in the Indian and Banana rivers right now. Cut crab or large shrimp are good baits to use for these fish. Redfish and slot-sized trout are cruising the shorelines. Since there is very little vegetation right now, you will normally find them holding very close to mullet schools, or areas with overhanging mangrove branches that they can hide in. Outside of Port Canaveral there are plenty of sharks in the near-coastal waters. Cut baits like ladyfish, bluefish, pilchards, or bonito rigged on a wire leader are a good way to get them to strike.
SEBASTIAN INLET INSHORE Trout, snook, jack and ladyfish are possible on the flats and near spoil islands right now. The inlet and waters just outside of the inlet are good places to try for those last two species as well. Snook are best at night for anglers casting R&R flair hawk jigs, Rapala lipped diving lures, and Saltwater Assassin Artemis shad on a 3/4 to 1.5-ounce jig head.
Until next time … catch a memory!
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Capt. Jim Ross Fineline Fishing Charterswww.FinelineFishingCharters.com (321) 636-3728 captjimross@cfl.rr.com