Fishing has been for the most part good! When tides have been small, the current has been slow likewise the bite was slow. For the most part the best seatrout bite has toward high water close to the sounds. Shrimp are still scare. Some bait shops are carrying Florida shrimp: Ray’s at the beach and Adam’s Baitshop in Thunderbolt. The down side to Florida is they are small. The upside is you have bait, it’s hardy and will catch fish. Peanut size menhaden can be seen in thick schools. Having a cast net is a good idea! Small menhaden are another very good bait for seatrout. When fishing a small bait downsize your hooks from a 1/0 or 2/0 to a # 2 or even smaller size. This is also a good time to fish a bleeding bait (red) hooks. Seatrout action can be very good when fishermen “find the fish”. Even when fishing a hot spot timing is everything. Usually a drop will produce for a certain time. Then the bite will slow. Good flounder action in the creeks off the intra coastal waterway on bait and plastics. Mud minnows and finger mullet are great bait for flounders. Flounders will readily eat cut bait such as a chunk of blue fish as well. Typically flounder, black drum and sheepshead bite best on days with small tides. Look for flounder during the lower stages of the tide. Some small brown shrimp in the head of creeks. When throwing cast net in the creeks expect to pick up a lot of mud and trash. Fishermen can cast for shrimp but at present they aren’t plentiful. Usually by the 1st. of June small brown shrimp are plentiful enough for bait shrimpers to make drags.
For those wanting their lines tightened this is excellent time to play with some sharks. Lots of atlantic sharp nose sharks in local waters. Some black tips and bonnet heads present. Male sharp nose sharks are thick.
As May wraps up tide are on the increase. As tides build the bite will build till it reaches a diminishing point. Often fishermen arbitrarily pick a number as the diminishing point. For some fisherman 8 feet is the magic number for others 8.1 or 8.2 or 8.3 or some other number. You can catch fish on tides over 8 feet. We have had outstanding days on tides in the 9 foot range. In general on high tides look for clean water and places with gentler currents.
Hope this of help for the coming week! Practice catch and release!
Good fishing! Capt. Jack McGowan