Space Coast fishing: Mullet are moving on; Dolphin, pompano filling in behind them

Starting Monday, flounder become off limits to harvest along Florida's Atlantic Coast until Dec. 1 as part of a recent spawning season closure instituted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Right on the heels of the flounder closure, gag grouper in the Southeast Atlantic close for harvest Oct. 23 until May 1, 2024. Annual catch limits in both recreational and commercial sectors have been met, according to NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service officials.

A week later, on Nov. 1, then it's time for hogfish and spotted seatrout to close. Seatrout will re-open Jan. 2, 2024. Hogfish will re-open May 1, 2024.

Good news is, dolphin and blackfin tuna have been migrating south along the currents and eddies of the Gulf Stream. Troll ballyhoo in 120 to 180 feet of water to find decent numbers of medium-sized fish. Fall dolphin fishing can be surprisingly productive.

Florida fishing regulations and fishing season opening and closing dates:

• Flounder: Harvest closes Oct. 15 to Nov. 30. Size limit: 14 inches. Bag limit: 5 fish per person.

• Gag grouper: NOAA NMFS announced that gag grouper will be closing to commercial and recreational harvest on Oct. 23, 2023. The annual catch limit has been met.

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

• Hogfish: Harvest closes from Nov. 1 to April 30, 2024. Harvest re-opens May 1, 2024.

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

• Blueline tilefish: Harvest closes Sept. 1 in state and federal waters of the Atlantic. Harvest re-opens May 1, 2024.

• Golden tilefish: Harvest closed July 17. Harvest re-opens Jan. 1.

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

• Lobster: Regular season opens Aug. 6-March 31, 2024. Bag limit: 6. Lobster stamp required.

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

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

• 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. These fishing regulations began on May 1, 2022, for state waters.

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

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

Gag grouper season closing early

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service announced Monday that recreational and commercial anglers can no longer harvest any gag grouper in waters of the Atlantic after Oct. 22, 2023. Harvest is scheduled to re-open May 1, 2024. NOAA NMFS also announced that recreational anglers in the Gulf of Mexico can no longer harvest gag grouper after Oct. 18, 2023. Annual catch limits in both fisheries have ben met, according to NOAA. Go to NOAA Gag Grouper for more information.

Citizen catches wanted

ORCA in Vero Beach is sponsoring an Indian River Lagoon-wide contest to encourage recreational anglers to donate catches to science. There is a raffle going on for catches donated from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30. Snook, flounder and pompano get three raffle entries each. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are among the catches that receive two raffle entries. Coast Del Mar Tailfin sunglasses are first prize. A Z Man fishing lure package is second prize. A DOA Lure fishing package is third prize. Instruction on catches and more information can be found at TeamORCA.org.

Mosquito Lagoon

Capt. Jon Lulay of 2 Castaway Charters in Titusville said the shallow water fishing in this region has been pretty good lately. Redfish are showing pretty well even on days with a little wind. Scout the shorelines and islands for sight fishing opportunities. Use a freelined live shrimp to make casts at rooting reds. Jacks, trout and snook will also be caught.

Offshore

Dolphin fishing has been picking up for anglers who are running out to the current edges in 120 to 150 feet of water and trolling ballyhoo. Kingfish, sharks and some tarpon have been in 40-60 feet. Anglers can also find mangrove snapper in 70 feet of water with cut grunts.

Surf

As the mullet run winds down, the next migrations are showing along shorelines. If the shorebreak allows for fishing from shore, try casting 100-150 feet out with double hook rigs to get bites from whiting, pompano, jacks, bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Use Fishbites in the EZ crab or shrimp flavors.

Sebastian Inlet

Capt. Glyn Austin of Going Coastal fishing charters in Sebastian said the tarpon fishing in the inlet has held up well for the past month with the mullet moving through the area. Snook, redfish, jacks and black drum are other catches anglers can expect if drifting live baits through the inlet during the outgoing tide.

Indian River Lagoon

Wade fishing the Indian River Lagoon will be good during the morning rising tides. Try getting in the water at one of the waterfront parks or causeways. Remember to shuffle feet to avoid stingrays. Fish topwater plugs early in the morning to get bites from trout, snook, jacks, redfish and flounder. Cast to the ends of docks, bridge pilings and seawall corners for action from sheepshead and black drum.

Freshwater

Bass fishing will be at its best in the coming weeks around the edges during full moon and new moon phases. Fish wild shiners, topwater frogs and chatter baits around the lily pads and bulrushes.

Ed Killer is an outdoor writer with USA Today network Florida. He can be reached at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Space Coast fishing: Mullet moving on; Dolphin, pompano filling in