Wind, wind and more wind! Despite an easterly wind, negative tides and a lack of bait fishing has been surprising good. One fisherman, commented yeah there’s not much bait but when find you the fish they’re hungry. This is pretty much on target. Less bait, hungry fish! Water temperature has jumped already to upper 70’s. Lots of small of small blue fish and menhaden in the sounds as well some spanish mackerel. Menhaden about five to six inches are plentiful. Small menhaden are an excellent bait for redfish or sharks. The whiting bite has slowed but the shark bite is RED hot! Large pre spawn sea trout can be caught near the sounds as well in the back waters. Shrimp have been scare for the past couple of weeks. Some small brown shrimp have moved into local creeks but local bait dealers are still having difficultly in finding local or buying Florida shrimp. Best bet in obtaining shrimp, call ahead. Sea trout, redfish, flounder and sharks will readily take a mud minnow or a pogie. Artificials and plastics can work as well. When shrimp are scare, “fish the bait that’s present! Redfish, seatrout and flounder are feeding on pogies, glass minnows, silver sides, mud minnows, fiddlers crabs and finger mullet. Remember to take a cast net on your next fishing trip and try fishing the bait that’s present. You’ll likely be rewarded with some nice tugs. As water temperatures continue raise anticipate the bite to heat up. The best bite will likely be in deeper, moving water. Guy Hoffman reported catching a dozen flounders on mud minnows. Best fishing action this week has been in the sounds. Poor drifts due to opposing wind and current can be difficult to fish. Poor drifts on lower tides stages are usually good for flounder and sheepshead. Good reports of sheepshead caught off the jetties last week.
Tides for the 1st week in June are barely over 6 feet. Water should clear up. The coming week (weather permitting) will likely provide plenty of opportunities to target redfish, flounder and sheepshead. Shark action is hot!
Hope this of help! Always practice catch and release!
Good Fishing! Capt. Jack McGowan