East Central Florida Forecast
May 23, 2025
By Capt. Jim Ross
Capt. Jim Ross discusses fishing from Tomoka Basin to Sebastian Inlet, including Daytona Beach, Titusville, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa and Melbourne. Contact Info: Capt. Jim Ross, Fineline Fishing Charters; www.FinelineFishingCharters.com ; (321) 636-3728; captjimross@cfl.rr.com
May 23 Report OFFSHORE
King mackerel are starting to show up in better numbers on all of the 70- to 90-foot reefs. Places like Bethel Shoal, The Pines, and South Pelican Flats are holding some of the bigger fish right now that have moved into the region from the St. Lucie area. This group of fish will continue moving north following the bait into the Canaveral and Ponce Inlet offshore waters over the next few weeks. Dolphin have been hit or miss but they are getting better by the day. Blue/White colored skirts seem to be the ones these fish are picking out of your trolling spread lately. Some of the dolphin are scaling into the 20-pound range, but most are between 4 and 9 pounds. Farther offshore on the eastern side of the Gulf Stream anglers are reporting 20- to 30-pound class yellowfin tuna while trolling skirted ballyhoo, cedar plugs and lipless plugs like the Yo-Zuri bonito. Some blackfin and skipjack tuna are a side bar to the yellowfin for most of the anglers I've spoken with. Grouper action remains good on the 21 and 27 Fathom Ridges. The Cones (or Steeples) are another great place to find quality gag, red, and scamp grouper. Big baits like croakers, grunts, and blue runners are working best.
PONCE INLET INSHORE
Advertisement
The flounder bite is getting better along the near-coastal and inshore/lagoon waters according to Captain Mark Gibson. Mud minnows are his preferred live baits. Mark rigs these on a sliding sinker rig with a circle hook or a jig head large enough to hold bottom. Some of the flounder are scaling to 5 pounds.
PORT CANAVERAL INSHORE
The lagoons are holding a mixed bag of fish. Jack, ladyfish, redfish, speckled trout and black drum are feeding on the flats on most days. Assassin Sea shad tails in the pilchard or opening night colors are working best for them. There are also good numbers of snook around the mangroves and docks in most of the central portion of the reporting area. Live croaker, spot, large shrimp, mullet or pilchard should get them to eat.
Advertisement
SEBASTIAN INLET INSHORE
Snook and gator sized trout can be found around many of the docks in the Vero Beach and Wabasso areas right now. Live mullet, pilchard, or croakers are the best live offerings to use for them. Rapala Skitterwalk topwater plugs or the Large Storm Chug Bug popper can be good for either of these two species at times. Snook action at the jetty has been solid. Anglers are also trolling lipped diving plugs like the Rapala X-Rap 12 or 14 size at night for snook to 40 inches.
Until next time....Catch a memory!!!!!
Capt. Jim Ross www.FinelineFishingCharters.com
PREVIOUS REPORTS May 1 Report OFFSHORE
The annual dolphin migration has begun in this portion of the state and anglers are rigging up ballyhoo and heading offshore. Most of the better catches are coming from weed lines or rips in the 160- to 280-foot depths. Small to medium sized blue/white, pink/white, and red/black skirts seem to be working better than other colors on most days. Make sure to put out one larger skirted bait in your spread because there have been some really nice sized wahoo showing up around these dolphin packs. Green/yellow, or black combined with just about any other color skirt will usually get the wahoo's attention. Farther offshore, on the eastern side of the Gulf Stream yellowfin tuna action remains really good. Unlike last month packs of birds are starting to show up over the feeding tuna schools, which makes finding these fish much easier with your RADAR unit. Keep an eye out for single frigate birds. These birds are usually following larger fish like white or blue marlin or bull dolphin. A few "wee"-hoo can be expected on the east side of the stream as well.
Anglers targeting bottom species will have to weed through the numerous red snapper and sandbar sharks for shots at cobia, mangrove snapper, and lane snapper. Small live baits on fairly light leaders of 30- to 50-pound test are usually the best way to get these fish to bite. You can also chum the mangroves up to the surface on some of the wrecks in the 70- to 120-foot depths. Scattered triggerfish and mutton snapper will also be possible in these depths. King mackerel fishing is a solid bet for anglers slow trolling frozen cigar minnows or live menhaden and threadfin herring on the 70 to 90-foot reefs.
PONCE INLET INSHORE
Snook and bull redfish are striking Rapala X-Rap lipped diving plugs, 5 to 8-inch Saltwater Assassin or Storm swim baits, or live baitfish like mullet, majorra, and croakers at the north and south causeway bridges in New Smyrna. The lure fishing is much better at night than in the daytime. Snook are also a good bet at the inlet jetties on live baits. Redfish, black drum, and spotted sea trout action remains good around the grass flats and oyster bars from Cedar Creek to George's bar. Scented baits like Gulp, Fish Bites, etc. will get the drum better than standard plastic sea shad tails or shrimp patterns most of the time. The trout and reds don't seem to care as much and will strike out of reaction rather than smell. Live pigfish, mud minnows, fingerling mullet, small croakers, or shrimp are top live bait choices for these species. The farther south in the Mosquito Lagoon that you go, the better the topwater bite gets. A Rapala skitterwalk in the 08 cm size will work best in calm conditions and the larger 11cm size will be best on windy mornings. Shrimp are still running at Haulover canal and in the Oak Hill area of the I.C.W., but the size has gone down and the run is much lighter than it was last month.
PORT CANVEAL INSHORE
Sand dredging around the inlet has the water fairly dirty this week. Pompano and snook are the two most common species that we have been catching on live shrimp when we can find clean water. In the lagoons the spring mullet run has started. Although we still are not seeing the numbers of predator fish that we would like to, there has been a definite increase in their numbers overall. Soft plastic jerk baits and Assassin sea shad tails in the silver mullet, northern minnow, and pilchard colors are working very well on the snook, trout and redfish that are chasing these mullet around. Live fingerling mullet is always a good option as well.
SEBASTIAN INLET INSHORE
Majorra, croakers, and mullet are top baits for the snook around the inlet and inside the lagoon this week. Big trout and a few redfish are striking these baits too. Fish near broken down docks or overhanging mangrove bushes. Bull shark and tarpon are hitting live or cut baits inside the Sebastian River. Blacktip and spinner shark are feeding along the beaches and you may run into a pod or two of tarpon out there if the weather stays nice. Pilchards, mullet and croakers are top baits for the shark and tarpon.
Until next time......Catch a Memory!
Capt. Jim Ross www.FinelineFishingCharters.com
April 1 Report REGIONAL OFFSHORE
Cobia are following manta rays in the central and northern portions of the region again this week. With water temperatures in 60- to 90-foot depths ranging from 69 to 72 degrees, the main body or grouping of these migratory fish is working its way northward through our region of the state. They will eventually arrive at their summering grounds offshore of Virginia right around Independence day. Look for manta rays that these fish like to follow. This is the easiest way to find a cobia or two. Bait pods in these same depths as well as wrecks or reefs are also great places to find cobia right now.
PONCE INLET INSHORE
Sheepshead and weakfish are two species anglers can almost count on when fishing near the jetty rocks or the inshore rock piles within a few miles north or south of the inlet. Live sand fleas, fiddler crabs and small shrimp are the best way to target the sheepshead. The weakfish will strike live shrimp as well but can also be caught on sea shad style jigs on a 3/8 ounce head. Snook, redfish, mangrove snapper and black drum can be found throughout the creeks, oyster bars, and around dock pilings from the inlet to Rose Bay and southward to Brown Bay. Fish in the main I.C.W. channel seem to be hitting best as the tide slows or begins to switch. The fish in the backs of the bays are best on the incoming portions of the tide.
PORT CANAVERAL INSHORE
Big bluefish are schooling along the beaches from Melbourne up to Playalinda. Run the beaches in your boat and look for fish tailing in tight schools or blasting baitfish just outside of the surf break. Shore-bound anglers can use binoculars to run and gun from beach access to beach access and cast large Rapala X-Rap plugs or 1/2 to 1-ounce silver-colored Krocodile spoons with good success. In the Indian and Banana River lagoons, anglers are looking for redfish, snook and trout along mangrove covered shorelines and docks that have baitfish holding nearby. Saltwater Assassin sea shad, or soft-plastic jerkbaits in the pilchard, northern minnow, Mama's 14K, or gold pepper shiner colors are working extremely well on these fish. As the baitfish like pilchards and fingerling mullet become more numerous over the next few weeks topwater plugs like the Rapala Skitterwalk should start to get good results during morning and evening periods.
SEBASTIAN INLET INSHORE
Snook and gator-sized trout are following mullet schools along the shorelines from Vero Cove to Wabasso. Live mullet or fairly large swim baits like the Artemis shad from Assassin will get the attention of these fish in low light periods. A live croaker or spot may also work during the daylight hours on these fish. Tarpon, blacktip shark and large crevalle jack are starting to show up along the beaches from Bon Steel park to the Vero Cove. Live pilchards, greenies, or mullet rigged on a 7/0 VMC circle hook are the top live offerings for these fish.
Until next time.....Catch a memory!!!!
Capt. Jim Ross www.FinelineFishingCharters.com
Feb. 16 Report REGIONAL OFFSHORE
King mackerel action on the 70- to 90-foot reefs is picking up throughout the region. Live baits are preferred if you can get them, but frozen spanish mackerel cigar minnows or even small mullet can do the job. Rig these baits on a wire stinger rig consisting of two #4 or #2 treble hooks. Once you get a strike, circle back over that part of the reef and you should get more bites. These same depths are producing bottom species as well. Lane, mangrove and mutton snapper can be found here. Triggerfish and cobia are two other species that you may encounter while targeting bottom species. Anglers making it to the eastern side of the Gulf Stream are reporting yellowfin and blackfin tuna, dolphin and an occasional skipjack tuna while trolling skirted ballyhoo or cedar plugs.
PONCE INLET INSHORE
Redfish and black drum to 10 pounds continue to be the focal points on the flats in the upper Mosquito Lagoon this week. Schooling activity remain good in the 1-3 foot depths. These schools will start to break up and become pods of fish over the next few weeks. Small jigs tipped with shrimp are the best way to get either of these species to eat right now. Once the water warms into the mid 70-degree range, there should be a shift in the redfish's activity level. Topwater plugs and Assassin 5-inch soft plastic jerk baits will become the preferred methods to get these fish to strike. The black drum will also change diet slightly. Crab or sand fleas rigged on a small jig head will become good offerings. Anglers should be able to find pods of drum along deeper drop-offs in the central part of the lagoon, or near rocky areas around the Klinker Islands on the west side of the lagoon.
PORT CANAVERAL INSHORE
Tripletail action continues to be good along the near-coastal waters around the shipping channel at Port Canaveral. Large shrimp or small baitfish like pilchards will usually get these fish to strike. Look for fish free swimming or those hanging around flotsum to feed aggressively on sunny days. Redfish, speckled trout and snook action remains good along mangrove covered shorelines throughout the Indian and Banana River Lagoons. Live baits or Saltwater Assassin Vapor Shad in the Mama's 14K or Pilchard colors are working extremely well on all of these fish right now.
SEBASTIAN INLET INSHORE
Snook and redfish are holding tight to docks and deeper mangrove shorelines. Live croakers or pilchards are producing throughout the day. Small jigs are working for pompano, bluefish, ladyfish and other species around the inlet and just outside on the beaches. Captain Glyn Austin has been chasing these fish around daily with his clients and having good success on days the winds are not blowing from the north. Large “gator" sized trout are striking along shorelines from Wabasso southward to Vero Beach. Find areas with deep water access to mangrove trees, and good schools of baitfish nearby, and you have a recipe for success on these big fish.
Until next time.....Catch a memory!
Capt. Jim Ross www.FinelineFishingCharters.com
Aug. 9-11 Report OFFSHORE
King mackerel remain a solid bet for anglers slow trolling with live mullet, pogies, pilchards, or greenies on the 70- to 90-foot reefs. Many of these fish are running 15 to 20 pounds. The recent weather will push the baitfish around a bit, but once the kingfish find the baitfish schools again we should see the bite get good again. There will also be some kings around the area wrecks in these depths. Cobia are another possible species that anglers may find around the reefs and wrecks once they can get ack out on the ocean. Lane and mangrove snapper are hitting cut baits on these same structures.
PONCE INLET INSHORE
Tarpon and snook are feeding on live mullet and croakers from Edgewater to the inlet this week. For the snook try fishing around the bridges, dock pilings and rocks at the jetty. These are good places to search for them. The tarpon can usually be seen rolling along the channel edges. Mangrove snapper are holding around many of the same docks as the snook. Live shrimp or small fingerling mullet will usually get these keeper-sized fish to strike.
PORT CANAVERAL INSHORE
Mangrove snapper can be found roaming the docks and rock jetties of the Port Canaveral basins. Live shrimp seem to be the best bait to use for them right now. You may also find snapper at many of the area bridges between Titusville and Melbourne. Snook, redfish and speckled trout are holding under mangrove trees throughout the Indian and Banana River lagoons. Soft-plastic jerk baits, sea shad tails and small topwater plugs are producing some nice catches for anglers here. Tarpon action remains good for juvenile fish in the creeks and residential canals of Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, and Satellite Beach on most days. Larger tarpon in the 50- to 100-pound class are feeding on greenie and pilchard pods out in the main section of the river. Look for the best action on these fish between Port St. John and the Pineda Causeway.
SEBASTIAN INLET INSHORE
Good tarpon action remains along the beaches south of the inlet. You can get them to strike live baitfish most of the time. Snook action at the inlet is good during most of the night. Assassin Artemis shad soft plastic swimbaits or Rapala X-Rap lipped diving plugs are working best for these fish.
Until next time ....Catch a memory!
Capt. Jim Ross www.FinelineFishingCharters.com
June 14 Report REGIONAL OFFSHORE
Mangrove snapper action in the northern portion of the region has been solid for anglers fishing on the 90- to 130-foot structures. Live pilchards or fingerling mullet are excellent baits. These types of live offerings really fire up the bigger snapper in the 5- to 8-pound class. The 2- to 4-pound class mangroves will hit fresh dead or frozen baits like sardines, herring, grunts and occasionally squid. Gag grouper are best on the reefs outside of the 150-foot mark. Large live baitfish like blue runners, grunts and croakers have been working best for them. Red snapper and amberjack are also possible on these deeper structures. King mackerel can be found on the 60- to 90-foot reefs. Slow trolling with live or frozen cigar minnows, pogies and such will usually get these fish to strike. Dolphin action is hit or miss. If you find a good group of them around a floater or weedline, you can load up a cooler quickly, if not you just burn a lot of fuel and put nothing in your fish box.
PONCE INLET INSHORE
A mixed bag of flounder, croakers, sharks and redfish are the most common species anglers can expect along the beaches and around the inlet right now. Snook can be added to that list if you have some large live baits like mullet, pogies, or croakers and fish the rocks at the jetty. In the river south toward Edgewater anglers can find large redfish schooling in the middle of the channel. Cut or live baitfish are best for these fish. Rig your baits on a sliding sinker rig with 30- to 40-pound test leader.
PORT CANAVERAL INSHORE
Tarpon and sharks are running the outside edge of the surf break on most days. Look for fish busting baits or rolling to give away the school’s location. Wire leaders are needed for the sharks, but a few can be caught on a large circle hook with 80-pound test fluorocarbon or monofilament leaders. In the lagoons angler are finding snook, redfish and speckled trout under mangrove trees and docks in both the Indian and Banana Lagoons. Saltwater Assassin soft plastic jerk baits or sea shad tails are top producers on these fish. Try the Ripper, Mama's 14k, or Houdini color patterns on a weighted worm hook or 1/8-ounce spring lock jig head.
SEBASTIAN INLET INSHORE
Good numbers of snook are coming from the inlet. Anglers targeting these fish are using live baitfish on most days. Flair hawk jigs, Rapala X-Rap lipped diving lures, or Storm Swim baits in the pogie or mullet color patterns are proving to work best right now.
Until next time … Catch a Memory!
Capt. Jim Ross www.FinelineFishingCharters.com
May 1 Report REGIONAL OFFSHORE
Anglers running to the east side of the gulf stream are finding yellowfin, and blackfin tuna under the bird packs over there. Trolled lures and diving plugs are working very well on these fish.On the western side of the Gulf Stream the dolphin bite is much more spotty. Some anglers are finding groups of fish and catching decent numbers, while others are not. Try to find temperature breaks, color changes, rips, or any type of floating debris that will hold fish nearby and troll or cast baits to these features. Grouper season opens this month and the big gags have been the star of the show. Many fish in the 20 to 30-pound class have been landed this week. Large baits like blue runners, bluefish, croakers, and grunts are the top producers right now. Most of the grouper action is outside of the 130-foot mark with the exception of the south end of Pelican Flats reef and the Bethel Shoal area southward to Vero on the 80 to 90-foot ledge. Closer to shore lane snapper, mangrove snapper, and quite a few black drum are holding on the reefs and wrecks in the 60 to 90-foot zones. Live pilchards, fingerling mullet, or jumbo shrimp and a variety of cut baits are working for these fish. Tarpon are starting to show up along the beaches now that the spring mullet migration is starting to occur.
PONCE INLET INSHORE
Anglers are fining snook and redfish around the rocks at the jetty and near the bridge pilings from Dunlawton Causeway to Highway 44. Live croakers, mullet, or pinfish are top live baits for these fish. Anglers can also have shots at tarpon in a few of these areas. Farther south in the backwaters of the lagoon black drum, redfish, and speckled trout are striking saltwater assassin soft plastic sea shad or shrimp rigged on a light jig head or weedless weighted hook. Look for areas with sea grass and baitfish to hold the best numbers.
PORT CANVERAL INSHORE
Redfish and speckled trout are holding under mangrove roots along naturally vegetated shorelines throughout the Indian and Banana River Lagoon system this week. A variety of soft plastic lures like the Assassin Lil' P&V rigged on a small jig head or weedless weighted worm hook have been working very well for me on my recent charters there. Live shrimp or fingerling mullet are top choices for these fish as well when they don't want to chase a lure. Mangrove snapper and black drum are holding around many of the bridges in these lagoons as well. Some of the snapper are running into the 10 to14-inch range. Baby tarpon are starting to show up in many of the residential canals of Cocoa Beach and Satellite Beach this week.
Remember to listen to the FLORIDA SPORTSMAN PODCASTS each week for more solid fishing information on this website.
Until next time.....Catch a Memory
Capt. Jim Ross www.FinelineFishingCharters.com
March 29 Report REGIONAL OFFSHORE Unfortunately the winds have been brutal lately. As a result, I have no current reports from offshore this week. Once the seas subside, anglers should be able to find trolling species like dolphin, wahoo and sailfish starting around the clean bluewater edge.
PONCE INLET INSHORE Snook action at the south causeway bridge has been very good for anglers using live mullet, croakers or pinfish. The best bite has been at night, but a few are coming from the pilings during the daytime period. Sheepshead and black drum are eating fiddler crabs or sand fleas at the jetty rocks. Redfish and speckled trout are striking live fingerling mullet or Saltwater Assassin 4-inch sea shad in the opening night, houdini or silver phantom colors.
PORT CANAVERAL INSHORE The main river has been pretty much blown out on most days this past week due to the high winds out of the north. Residential canals and spoil islands that provide protection fromn this battering are the places where trout, snook and redfish are holding. Live shrimp or sea shad tails like the ones mentioned above are working well on these fish. Shrimp are also accounting for whiting, sheepshead and black drum in some of these locations.
SEBASTIAN INLET INSHORE Dirty water that had been plaguing the areas from Hog Point to the inlet seems to be clearing up somewhat this week. Snook, pompano, jack, ladyfish, bluefish and others can be found in these cleaner areas now. Fingerling mullet, pinfish, croakers or shrimp are top live bait choices anglers can use during daytime hours. Topwater plugs, 4- to 5-inch soft plastic jerk baits, or suspending lures like the Rapala Subwalk or Twichin' Mullet are excellent choices to use during dawn and dusk periods. Baby tarpon are showing up in the Sebastian River. Small live baits, jigs or flies that imitate baitfish are top choices to use for these juvenile fish.
Until next time … catch a memory!
Capt. Jim Ross www.FinelineFishingCharters.com
March 22 Report REGIONAL OFFSHORE The word is out and the manta rays are wearing new jewelry. Anglers looking for cobia are finding them on Mantas in the 25- to 50-foot depths throughout the region. Slicks, color changes and temperature breaks are good places to find these critters. Large cobia jigs, swim baits and lipped diving plugs, as well as live baits like croakers and menhaden (a.k.a. pogies) will get these fish to strike.
Cobia should also possible on many of the offshore reefs-especially those that have large bull or sandbar sharks holding on them. Remember that the new cobia minimum length is 36 inches at the fork of the tail, so please do not gaff these fish. Instead use a large net to land them because most of the fish caught to date are not legal size yet.
Lane, mangrove and mutton snapper are possible on most of the reefs and artificial wrecks in 70 to 130 feet of water. Use small live baitfish or larger cut baits to get them to strike.
Trolling action hasn't been all that great lately, but there are a few sailfish, wahoo and dolphin possible if you cover enough water (or should I say- burn enough fuel out of your boat.) Naked or skirted ballyhoo are your best bet for getting these fish to bite.
PONCE INLET INSHORE Sheepshead, black drum and redfish are striking crabs, sand fleas and shrimp at the inlet jetties. A few pompano and whiting are moving along the beaches as well. Big bluefish are also possible in the surf area. Large jigs, spoons or Rapala plugs will get these bruisers to bite. A little farther offshore, manta rays are holding cobia within about two to five miles of the beaches. In the backwaters, anglers are finding a few snook, mangrove snapper and redfish near structures like docks and piers. Live shrimp will work best on most days, but Saltwater Assassin 4-inch sea shad will get them to strike on warmer days too. The best colors are opening night, northern minnow, and silver mullet right now.
PORT CANAVERAL INSHORE Tripletail can be found around buoys and floating debris in the Canaveral Bight area. Some of these fish are running into the double-digit range. Big bluefish and giant black drum schools are roaming the near-shore waters outside of the inlet as well. These fish will hit large jigs on most days. In the lagoons and rivers, the bite has been hot one day and cold the next. There really seems to be no predictable pattern to their schedule right now. If you do find some fish that want to bite, stick with them. They should get better as the waters warm in to the lower 70-degree range and stay there in the next few weeks.
SEBASTIAN INLET INSHORE Snook action has been pretty good for anglers fishing from the jetties this week. For the boaters it has been a bit of a struggle. That's because the more experienced pier anglers have been fishing directly below their feet (where the fish are) and not casting their live baits out away from the jetty (where the snook aren't). Spanish mackerel and bluefish anglers are making long cast away from the jetties. Most are using gotcha plugs, jigs, spoons and lipped diving lures like the Rapala X-Rap series to catch these two species of pelagic fish. In the river, the bite has not been very good on most days. There have been quite a few small bluefish, ladyfish and spanish mackerel running along the I.C.W. channel but other than that the mangrove trees and docks are not producing a lot of fish right now. This should change soon as we start to keep the water temperature in the 70-degree range though.
Until next week.....Catch a memory!!!
Capt. Jim Ross www.FinelineFishingCharters.com
