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Space Coast fishing: Sharks, snook, trout, tripletail are biting

Ed Killer, Florida Today
·4 min read

Sharks, snapper, trout, snook and tripletail have all been in the recent catch reports.

Space Coast fishing is definitely in a springtime pattern. Pogies, kingfish and Spanish mackerel are in the 20-40 feet zone. Greater amberjack are entering their monthlong spawning closure April 1 to April 30 so no harvest during that time.

Huge trout like this one caught and released March 25, 2024 with Capt. Peter Deeks have been along the shorelines.
Huge trout like this one caught and released March 25, 2024 with Capt. Peter Deeks have been along the shorelines.

Florida fishing regulations and fishing season opening and closing dates:

  • Golden tilefish: Harvest closes March 1, 2024. Harvest closed based on annual catch limit set by NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service. Season re-opens Jan. 1, 2025..

  • Snook: Harvest opens Feb. 1 along Florida's Atlantic Coast. Bag limit: One snook per day per angler. Size limit: No shorter than 28 inches and no longer than 32 inches. License: Anglers must have a valid Florida saltwater fishing license and $10 snook stamp. Check regulations for more at MyFWC.com.

  • Spotted seatrout: Harvest re-opened Jan. 1. Central East region regulations — Bag limit: 2 per harvester, zero captain and crew bag limit when on a for-hire trip. Slot limit: More than 15 inches and less than 19 inches total length. May possess one over 19 inches per vessel or, if fishing from shore, one over 19 inches per person, included in the bag limit. Harvest closed Nov. 1-Dec. 31.

  • Grouper: Harvest closed Jan. 1. Includes gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, scamp, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind and rock hind. Harvest re-opens May 1.

  • Hogfish: Harvest re-opens May 1.

  • Blueline tilefish: Harvest re-opens May 1.

  • 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.

  • Lobster: Harvest will close March 31. No egg bearers, 3-inch minimum carapace length. Lobster stamp required. Sport season (mini-season) will be July 24-25, 2024.

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

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

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

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

Mosquito Lagoon

The fishing in this zone has been pretty steady for speckled trout, black drum, redfish and snook. Anglers can catch any of these by tossing a freelined live shrimp or rigging the shrimp under a popping cork. Working the popping cork will mimic the sound of trout feeding which always get other fish in the area excited.

Offshore

Dolphin have been caught along the currents of the Gulf Stream. Troll ballyhoo to cover territory. Blackfin tuna are in the same zone. Put a bait down behind the spread 40 feet deep using a trolling sinker or planer to get bites from wahoo. On the reefs in 70-90 feet, mangrove snapper and lane snapper have been biting. Other catches include triggerfish, kingfish, sharpnose sharks and occasional cobia.

Surf

Fish the last hour of the incoming tide and the first two hours of the outgoing tide to catch whiting, pompano and croaker between the trough and the sand bar. Longer casts will yield bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Use sand fleas or Fishbites in the EZ flea flavor.

Sebastian Inlet

Bluefish, sharks, jacks and Spanish mackerel are being caught as most of these species are migrating back north. Casting out large topwater plugs or chrome jigs will get bites from the blues and macks. Live bait like croaker and mojarra fished on the bottom during the outgoing tides will get bites from snook and redfish.

Indian River Lagoon

Sheepshead can be caught using shrimp-tipped jigs and casting around dock pilings, bridge pilings, piers, seawalls or catwalks. Black drum schools are moving around the northern Indian River and Banana River lagoons. Cast split blue crab to them. Redfish and snook will also pick up a split crab.

Freshwater

Bass fishing is at its best right now. Fish the edges of ponds, lakes and canals around the new and full moon phase to get reaction bites while fish are on the beds. Bluegill and shellcracker fishing has been better as temperatures warm up. Use live crickets and red worms for best action.

Ed Killer is an outdoors writer for USA Today Florida Network. Email him you fishing report and photos to ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Space Coast fishing: Sharks, snook, trout, tripletail are biting