Space Coast fishing report: African pompano are on the wrecks; Snook season's last week
Two important things for anglers to know about this week:
Snook harvest season ends for anglers along Florida's Atlantic coast at midnight June 1.
NOAA Fisheries announced a two-day red snapper season for Atlantic anglers.
More details are below, but we have arrived upon Memorial Day weekend — the unofficial start of summer around the country. Here on the Space Coast, summer began about three months ago. The fishing patterns reflect the weather, sort of.
Snook are biting everywhere it seems. Dolphin, blackfin tuna and a few wahoo can be caught along the currents and eddies of the Gulf Stream. Tarpon and big jacks are roaming along the beaches. Kingfish are a little deeper, tripletail are on markers and black drum and croaker can be caught on the bridge pilings.
The weekend forecast looks fishy with a cold front blowing through. But don't expect it to get cold, it'll just bring the wind.
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Manatee lawsuit: Another group of conservationists plans to sue US government unless they save manatees
Lagoon money: Florida lawmakers put Indian River Lagoon in line for $100 million in cleanup projects.
Closures & regulations changes in effect: Anglers are reminded about these fishery harvest closures currently underway and ones about to begin and end.
Snook: Harvest closes 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.
Mosquito Lagoon
Topwater plugs can be effective in some parts of the lagoon. Use mullet patterns such as Yo-Zuri Hydro Pencils, Rapala Skitterwalks, Heddon Super Spooks and Bomber Long A's to get bites from trout, jacks and snook. Redfish and black drum will take live shrimp, artificial shrimp or jerk baits.
Offshore
Kingfish and tarpon have been around schools of pogeys in 40-70 feet of water. Mangrove snapper can be caught on the reefs in 70-90 feet of water along with triggerfish, lane snapper, sharpnose sharks and occasional cobia. Dolphin and blackfin tuna have been in deeper 200-300 feet of water.
Surf
Sargassum seaweed is dominating the majority of this zone. If tides and winds have given a few hours of relief to a beach, fish with Fishbites or pieces of shrimp to catch croaker, whiting, bonnethead sharks, snook and a few pompano.
Sebastian Inlet
Snook anglers have a week to get a keeper. Fish are being caught on a variety of live baits. Fishing action is a little better during the outgoing tide. Redfish can be caught and released by drifting small live blue crabs in the middle of the inlet during the outgoing tide.
Indian River Lagoon
Try fiddler crabs or cut clams to catch sheepshead, snapper and black drum around dock pilings and bridges. Trout have been biting in the early morning on topwater lures. Fish with large live baits to catch snook and tarpon near Grant and Thousand Islands.
Freshwater
Target the edges of the floating vegetation in Lake Poinsett or Lake Washington with swim baits and 9-inch worms. Recent rains have brought up the water levels a little bit. Bluegill, shellcracker and catfish can be caught in these areas. Use live crickets to get bluegill here.
Ed Killer is an outdoors writer with florida today. Email him your fishing report at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Space Coast fishing report: Last week of snook harvest season
