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Dolphin, tuna, trout are on the catch list for Space Coast anglers Memorial Day weekend

ed killer, florida today
·4 min read

As we wind our way to Memorial Day Weekend, fishing patterns seem to be slowing down a little bit. Bottom current is making fishing for grouper and snapper a little more challenging. Trollers are still finding dolphin and blackfin tuna bites, but the frequency has certainly slowed down. Even kingfish and sailfish seem to be slowing a little.

Nearshore and along the southern end of the region, the big jacks are back. Use flies, light lines or poppers for the best approach to get hooked up to a lean, mean fighting machine. Early mornings are best and there will be some a tarpon, too. Look in 10-30 feet of water between Disney Resort and Melbourne Beach for the biggest schools.

Along the northern part of the region, look for kingfish, sharks and tarpon in the pogey schools.

Anglers aboard Fired Up fishing charters boated mahi mahi May 18, 2024 off Port Canaveral.
Anglers aboard Fired Up fishing charters boated mahi mahi May 18, 2024 off Port Canaveral.

Florida fishing regulations and fishing season opening and closing dates:

  • Gag grouper: Recreational harvest in Atlantic waters will be open May 1 through June 15, 2024. Harvest will then close for gag grouper from June 16 through May 1, 2025.

  • Other grouper: Harvest opens May 1 in Atlantic waters. Includes red grouper, black grouper, scamp, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind and rock hind. Harvest closes Jan. 1, 2025.

  • Greater amberjack: Harvest opened May 1.

  • Red porgy: Harvest open May 1. Closes June 30.

  • Snowy grouper: Harvest open May 1. Closes June 30.

  • Blueline tilefish: Harvest open May 1. Closes July 18.

  • Hogfish: Harvest open May 1. Closes Nov. 1.

  • Alligator: Application dates for hunt season (Aug. 15-Nov. 1) limited entry permits begin May 3. More info here: MyFWC.com/license/limited-entry/apply

  • Red snapper: No season dates have yet been announced by NOAA National Marine Fisheries.

  • Bass: Bass at Headwaters Lake is strictly catch-and-release.

  • Golden tilefish: Harvest closed March 1 in Atlantic waters. Season re-opens Jan. 1, 2025. Harvest closed based on annual catch limit set by NOAA.

  • Lobster: Harvest closed March 31. Sport season (mini-season) will be July 24-25, 2024.

  • Snook: Harvest open through May 31 on Atlantic coast. Harvest closed June 1-August 31.

  • Spotted seatrout: Harvest opened Jan. 1. Harvest closed Nov. 1-Dec. 31.

  • Cobia: Bag limit: Two fish per vessel. Size limit: 36 inches fork length. No closed season.

  • Redfish: Harvest of redfish has been banned in the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon since Sept. 1, 2022. FWC will reevaluate in the future.

  • Dolphin: Bag limit is 5 fish per day per angler. Vessel limit is 30 fish per day. Captain and crew may not be included in limit. Regulations in state waters began May 1, 2022.

  • Flounder: Harvest opened Dec. 1, 2023. Harvest closed Oct. 15-Nov. 30.

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

Mosquito Lagoon

Capt. Jon Lulay of 2 Castaway Charters in Titusville said the bite in the lagoon has been consistent all season. Look in shallow water, less than a foot deep in areas with seagrass and wading birds, to find tailing fish like black drum and redfish. Use either freelined live shrimp or live shrimp rigged behind a popping cork early in the morning when the sun is low. As the sun climbs higher in the sky, switch to soft plastic jerk baits or artificial shrimp.

Offshore

Dolphin have been biting good the past few weeks as weather conditions have allowed bluewater anglers to explore offshore. The best depths have been in 120 to 300 feet of water and trolling ballyhoo has enabled anglers to cover territory. Greater amberjack, gag grouper and catch and release red snapper are in 120 to 200 feet. Fishing the other side of the Gulf Stream has been productive for yellowfin and blackfin tuna.

Surf

It's been quiet in this zone all week. Pompano are gone with the exception of one or two undersized fish still making their way north. Whiting have been more prevalent, but there's little size to them. Sand fleas and Fishbites have been best baits. Soon, snook will be in the trough searching for whiting, but June 1 they become catch and release until Sept. 1.

Sebastian Inlet

Inshore of the inlet, there has been excellent fishing for snook, jacks and trout. Topwater plugs cast along mangrove shorelines of Long Point, the spoil islands through Grant and around the islands in front of Squid Lips down to Mulligan's has been productive. Snook anglers are visiting the inlet regularly to catch the season's last legal-sized snook before the June 1 closing date.

Indian River Lagoon

Speckled trout are being caught in areas with grass along mangrove shorelines on live shrimp, jerk baits or topwater plugs in shallow water. Thousand Islands and Sykes Creek in the Banana River Lagoon are two other spots to check for trout, jacks, redfish and black drum. Small tarpon are being caught in the channels.

Freshwater

Bass fishing has been excellent at Headwaters Lake in Fellsmere with anglers able to catch 30-50 bass per trip. Wild shiners on circle hooks (it's the law) work well and remember, this is a catch and release fishery. Another reminder is that the boat ramp there will be closed for maintenance from June 10 to June 20, according to the St. Johns River Water Management District.

Ed Killer writes about the outdoors for florida today. Email him your fish story to ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Memorial Day weekend: Dolphin and trout action for Space Coast anglers