East Central Florida Forecast
January 21, 2022
By Capt. Jim Ross
Capt. Jim Ross discusses fishing from Tomoka Basin to Sebastian Inlet, including Daytona Beach, Titusville, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa and Melbourne
January 21 - 23
CALL TO ACTION: SIGN THE "SAVE THE MAHI" PETITION HERE
REGIONAL OFFSHORE Winds will keep the ocean slightly rough again this weekend. Many of the boaters that got out during the mid week did very well on wahoo though. The western edge of the Gulf Stream and any rips or temperature breaks associated with it should hold these fish. High speed lures are the most effective way to get these fish to strike. The best bite ahs been around the middle of the afternoon. Most of the wahoo are running around 30 pounds. Smaller king mackerel continue to hold on the 70 to 90 foot reefs. Lipped plugs, sea witch and strip combos ballyhoo trolled at 4 to 5 knots will get them to strike. Frozen herring, cigar minnows, or sardines slow trolling on a wire stinger rig will get them to strike as well.
PONCE INLET INSHORE Weakfish and sheepshead are your best options again this week. Live shrimp seem to be working best for them. Up in the creeks small black drum, snook, and bluefish are possible near undercut mangrove and oyster bars with good current flow. Bull redfish and snook are strong options at the inlet jetties on days when the ocean will let boaters can stay out there. Live croakers and pinfish are good live bait options for them. Cut crab will also work for the reds.
PORT CANAVERAL INSHORE Speckled trout are the bet bet for anglers looking to pull on something this weekend in the lagoons. Saltwater Assassin 4-inch sea shad are a good choice for these fish. The black drum bite has been good in the southern end of the Mosquito Lagoon this week with large fish schooling on the flats near the Whales Tail. Live shrimp, or cut shrimp on a circle hook are good for these guys. Sheepshead, whiting, bluefish, shark, black drum, and tripletail can be found inside the port and outside along the beaches. Sand fleas and shrimp will work for most of these fish. the sharks will hit cut baits like mullet and bluefish.
SEBASTIAN INLET INSHORE The snook and big reds are still feeding on live baits like majorra, croakers, and pinfish drifted through the inlet on the incoming tides. Trout, ladyfish, bluefish, and jacks are prevalent inside the river adjacent to the inlet as well. Small bucktail jigs and Saltwater Assassin 4-inch sea shad tails will get these fish to strike.
Until next week... catch a memory!!
Capt. Jim Ross www.FinelineFishingCharters.com
