7/4/2020 East Central Florida Fishing Report

Just got a 7/4/2020 inshore and offshore fishing report from a couple of Captains fishing out of Port Canaveral for East Central Florida.

This year the recreational season for red snapper in Atlantic federal waters will be open July 10, 11, and 12, and July 17.

  
The red snapper bite is really good with most of the fish in 60 feet to 250 feet of water.   The largest snapper, those above 20 pounds, can be found in good numbers outside of the 120 foot depth range.

Almost any live or frozen bait, including squid, including vertical jigs will get you a snapper strike.

The king mackerel bite is strong along the 8A and Pelican Flats out of Port Canaveral and just about any of the wrecks and reefs that are in the 15 to 20 mile zone that are outside of Ponce Inlet.

A slow trolled Sea Witch and strip combo or a live or frozen bait on a wire stinger rig are the two best ways to catch kingfish but they have also been hitting lipped diving plugs early in the mornings, especially those that are running 10 to 30 feet deep.

In the morning, the kingfish typically feed a little bit higher in the water column which is why you don't need a plug that goes 40 feet or deeper.

Most of the king mackerel in our region are running in the 12 to 18 pound range but out of Port Canaveral along the buoy line, you generally find larger kingfish in the 30 pound and over category.

Closer inshore, the tarpon in the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River and inshore along all our beaches have been biting well.  

Small flies that imitate glass minnows, baby ballyhoo, or needlefish are working really good, as well as flies that imitate small crabs or shrimp in the backwaters around Shiloh Road. 

Live or cut mullet, pogies, sardines, pilchards, or other large baitfish are also working well off the beaches.   

Most anglers are using 7/0 or 8/0 circle hooks on heavy fluorocarbon leaders to catch them.

Most of the tarpon right now in our area are running 60 to over 90 pounds.

The mangrove snapper in our area are plentiful on the reefs and wrecks  offshore right now, but you can also find them on any deep water dock, bridge piling, causeway, pier, or other hard structure in the lagoon system.

They are super easy to catch on a small piece of shrimp and a 1/0 circle hook which makes them perfect for your kids to catch when you take them out this weekend.   

Most of the fish are running 8 to 14 inches right now.

Sea Trout and Red Snapper

 Got this email from one of my readers who likes to go catching; not fishing!

"John,

I fished PP last Saturday too.   I only fished from 18:00 to 20:00.

I did very well on a KEITECH “Easy Shiner” in Silver Flash Minnow color.

These are infused with squid. The fish were trying to swallow them. I think that flavor is a winner.

The trout were all real nice upper slot fish with one up to 24”.

I even caught one on a rubber bass frog buzzing it across a flat I saw some feeding action in. Sweet!

In addition to the trout I landed and released a nice 30” Red on the same swim bait.

I rigged them on 3/0 weighted swim bait hooks with the screw locks to keep them weedless.

The Red really smoked the bait. I saw it’s dorsal pop up under a mangrove bush.

I tossed the bait about a foot in front of it’s nose and let it hit the bottom.

A short pause, one shake and PAPPOW!

When we went up to Port St. Joe, we fished the “Fishing Express” party boat.

Last year we were allowed 2 per day over 16”. Of course were looking for fish over 10#.

We fished him 2 days together during the open season in federal waters and boxed some very nice snapper.

This year the FWC changed the program and limited the number of permits to the captain for Federal Waters.  As result to extend his trips, the captain limited the daily bag to one fish per angler.

With a one fish retention, we released some pretty nice snappers in order to retain fish in the 12 to 14 pound class.

On our first day we used hole squid. Brought our own 5 pound box. We did pretty good.

On our second day we caught some pinfish at the dock and split them up between a couple buckets with bubblers.

I changed the water frequently and they stayed lively until they were gone.

With live pins, I set them up on 3 ounces with a 7/0 Gamakatzu circle hook snelled on 50# fluorocarbon.

The bites were fast on live bait. Mary and I both got spanked by grouper on 50# with our drags cranked down. Just couldn’t stop them before they rocked us up.

What a fun trip. Were considering trying the long range overnight boats out of Johns Pass.

I did that trip about 5 years ago. What a blast!

Hope to see you on the water. Keep your tip up!"

I just love fishing................

Tight Lines.