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Central Florida fishing: Dolphin daze are here; Snook harvest season closed

ed killer, florida today
·4 min read

Snook harvest has ended for the spring portion of 2023 along Florida's Atlantic coast. Now the popular fishing is strictly catch and release until Sept. 1. That's when the fall portion of the harvest season opens.

Anglers can shift gears to spend more time chasing after dolphin, snapper and tarpon. Dolphin have been showing up along the current edges. Mangrove snapper and mutton snapper have been on the reefs in 40-90 feet depths. Tarpon have been along the beaches and near both inlets.

Kingfish, blackfin tuna, greater amberjacks and grouper are giving bluewater anglers plenty of reasons to hit the water.

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Dolphin have been coming back to dinner for Space Coast anglers like these aboard Fired Up fishing charters May 18, 2023.
Dolphin have been coming back to dinner for Space Coast anglers like these aboard Fired Up fishing charters May 18, 2023.

Closures & regulations changes in effect: Anglers are reminded about these fishery harvest closures currently underway and ones about to begin and end.

  • Snook: Harvest closed June 1. One fish bag limit, 28-32 inches, snook stamp required.

  • Red snapper: Harvest open 12:01 a.m. July 14 to 12:01 a.m. July 16 in Atlantic waters. Recreational bag limit is one fish per person per day. No minimum or maximum size limits.

  • Grouper: Harvest opened May 1, 2023. Includes gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, scamp, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind & rock hind. Harvest closes Jan. 1, 2024.

  • Hogfish: Harvest opened May 1, 2023. Harvest closed from Nov. 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

  • Lobster: Season closed April 1. Two day sport season (mini-season) opens July 26-27, 2023. Regular season opens Aug. 6.

  • Cobia: New bag and size limits for state waters. Bag limit: Two fish per vessel. Size limit: 36 inches fork length.

  • Spotted seatrout:  Harvest open as of Jan. 1 in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin & Palm Beach counties. Harvest closes November and December 2023.

  • Redfish: Harvest of redfish is banned in the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon beginning Sept. 1. FWC will re-evaluate later in the year.

  • Alligator: Hunt season open Aug. 15-Nov. 1. Permits required.

  • Dolphin: New fishing regulations began May 1, 2022 for state waters. Bag limit is now five fish per day per angler; Vessel limit is now 30 fish per day. Captain and crew may not be included in limit.

  • Tilefish: Harvest is open as of Jan. 1.

  • Bass: Bass at Headwaters Lake will soon become all catch-and-release.

For complete fishing regulations in Florida go to MyFWC.com.

Red snapper: Two days

NOAA Fisheries announced Tuesday there will be two days in the Atlantic red snapper season for recreational anglers. The season will run from 12:01 a.m. July 14 until 12:01 a.m. July 16.

Anglers are allowed one red snapper per person per day. There is no maximum or minimum size limit. For more information go to http://fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-limited-openings-recreational-and-commercial-red-snapper-3.

Redfish are biting in the Mosquito Lagoon like this one did aboard 2 Castaway Charters with Capt. jon Lulay May 25, 2023.
Redfish are biting in the Mosquito Lagoon like this one did aboard 2 Castaway Charters with Capt. jon Lulay May 25, 2023.

Mosquito Lagoon

Anglers fishing in this region are catching oversized redfish by fishing with large natural baits in deeper water such as the Haulover Canal. Use dead mullet, pinfish or split blue crabs and black drum will hit, too. In the shallower waters of the adjacent lagoon, anglers can catch speckled trout, slot-sized redfish and snook (release only) or jacks. Use jerk baits with a 1/4-ounce jig head or live shrimp.

Offshore

Dolphin fishing really picked up last week. The key is to troll along the current and eddies of the Gulf Stream. Some of the best action requires a long run to 200-400 feet of water. Deploy a bait behind a red and black Ilander lure 40 feet below the surface as you troll to get bites from wahoo. Snapper fishing has also been very good in 70-90 feet of water.

Surf

There's simply too much sargassum to recommend this fishery this week. Grass in the surf washing in with the tides and waves will foul fishing gear, unless one can find a grass-free beach. Good luck with that.

Sebastian Inlet

Snook season has ended for harvest so it's strictly catch and release here. Schools of tarpon have been roaming the beaches near the mouth of the inlet. Tossing a sardine in front of the tarpon schools can be productive. Schools of jacks are in the area, too. Drifting live small blue crabs in the middle of the inlet during the outgoing tide can yield catches of redfish.

Indian River Lagoon

Juvenile tarpon, speckled trout, snook, black drum and redfish can all be caught on the flats around Thousand Islands near Cocoa Beach. Fish the points for speckled trout and snook in Palm Bay, Eau Gallie and Rockledge. Sheepshead and flounder can be caught around the causeways with live shrimp.

Freshwater

Want to catch tilapia along the canal banks or banks of ponds? Try bowfishing. Tilapia will hang around beds along the edges of waterways. Anglers can also catch bluegill, shellcracker and mayan cichilds by using live crickets and red worms.

Ed Killer is an outdoors writer with florida today. Email him your fishing reports at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida fishing this weekend: Dolphin daze, snook closed, tarpon time