Inshore:
It must be May! The time has come now where it is not really a question of whether you can go out and catch a few fish right now, but more of a question of WHAT do you want to catch. While reds continue to be steady and available around docks at low water and grass edges near high water, the reds are only one of dozens of options to target right now. Spanish and bluefish have begun to school in the harbor and along the front beaches, flounder are showing up in our inlets, sheepshead are still biting well, and the trout bite has really turned on lately. Trout in good numbers are being found around shell rakes and creek mouths in 3-6ft of water (look for a good current rip in these areas) using live shrimp under popping floats, DOA shrimp, and Zman PaddlerZ. Sheepshead continue to feed on fiddlers and shrimp fished along rock piles and pilings, and the spanish and bluefish are chomping almost anything silver you can rip through the water quickly(my preference being a #00 clarkspoon with a 3/4 oz trolling lead in front of it). If you are into the flounder fishing side of things, you owe it to yourself to come by and check out the new flounder weighted hooks and jigheads we now carry in here, we have been getting rave reviews from all that have tried them!
Offshore:
Much like the inshore report, the offshore season has turned on in full swing with solid catches of good dolphin, a still solid wahoo bite, some blackfin still hanging around, and sails and blues already showing back up. Though everyday is a different day on the big pond, we have been hearing good dolphin catches anywhere from 110ft of water all the way out to 1300ft. The majority of the ‘hoos and blackfin are still being found along the ledge in that 150-250ft range. Don’t forget that while May marks some of our best offshore trolling of the year for pelagics, it also marks the start of grouper season opening back up! Vermillions are being found in great numbers in 80-110ft along live bottom and artificial reefs, and we are looking forward to hearing the first grouper reports of the season this week as the boats begin to head out with their live baits and butterfly jigs at the ready.
Scott Hammond
Manager – Haddrell’s Point
843-573-3474