The rig keeps the finger mullet from burying themselves into the grass and the distinct click/rattle of the float pulls in redfish and sea trout from quite a long distance.

The average size for redfish in our East Central region right now is between 20 and 30 inches.

As of this past week, the big gator sea trout are running right along with the redfish, but the biggest sea trout are still in really, really, shallow water around the mullet pods.

When the waters are calm or later on in the day towards evening, try using a saltwater Assassin or that new vapor shad rigged on a weedless worm hook.  This setup is great for keeping the floating grass off your bait or for fishing in super shallow, weedy water.

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Surf Fishing

 

Whiting is one of the sweetest tasting fish in the ocean, and the months of May and June is a peak time for Whiting along the Atlantic surf in East Central Florida.

 

The main problem with Whiting is that they generally run less than a pound, so you need a mess of them for a decent meal or a fish fry.

 

Whiting are now in their spawning mode and the larger "bull" whiting (spawning females) are in the surf in larger numbers, making them easier to catch.

 

The deeper surf zones like those along the Canaveral National Seashore south of New Smyrna Beach, Playalinda Beach east of Titusville, and the stretch of beach between Melbourne Beach and Sebastian Inlet are historically the best places to target "southern kingfish", but anywhere you find a deeper trough or hole is a potential hot spot where they gather to feed.

 

Unless you are going after Pompano, you can put away your long surf rods and heavier terminal tackle this month.  

 

If you're after Whiting, pull out your light 7 or 8 foot river rod instead.

 

The fish are generally going to be closer to the beach and in the troughs where a simple flip cast  will do the trick. 

 

Spool your reel with 8 or 10 pound mono and rig it with a sliding sinker rig. 

 

A 1/2 oz. barrel sinker threaded on the main line above a swivel and 18 inches or so of 8 to 10 pound test line below the swivel with a number 2 hook, is all you need to catch a mess of Whiting.

 

The trick to success is to use a freshly peeled piece of shrimp no larger than the tip of your little finger threaded on the hook for bait.  

 

Don't use a sand spike to set your rod into.  Instead, hold the rod so you can feel the light tap and you'll catch more fish.

 

Whiting have small  mouths and the peeled shrimp gives off more scent than a bait with the shell on.

 

To find the fish, make casts of varying distances until you get a strike and then fish that general area.  Start shallow and slowly go deeper.  Don't make the mistake of overcasting the feeding zone.  (I do it a lot!)

 

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Near Offshore

 

During this past month clean water conditions and fair seas rewarded anglers who slow trolled live baits with limits of Kingfish on the reefs and wrecks like 8A and Pelican Flats.

 

Although 8A seems to have been the best bet, slow trollers have been getting limits of kings almost
every day along with a stray Cobia, sailfish, Mahi and plenty of Bonita.

 

The Cobia have been scattered along with the triple tail.

 

June is also a prime month for Tarpon in East Central Florida in the lagoons and near offshore. 

 

The fish are generally found in the in the 10 to 50 foot depths in our area around the passes, jetties, beaches and off shore following the bait pods of pogies, sardines, pilchards and in the fall mullet.

 

Although mid April to mid Sept are when tarpon are thickest in our area, June is when many anglers really start targeting them in earnest.

 

 

The best bet for catching a big Tarpon is to rig live baits on a 60 to 80 lb suffix leader and a model 7385 VMC 7/0 to 9/0 circle hook.  Most of our tarpon are in the 75 to 100 lb. range but we do get some up to 150 lb. and over.

Mahi or Dolphin is another fish that is targeted during June offshore in our area, and so far this has been an interesting year for Dolphin in our region.

 

The Dolphin bite has literally been changing day to day.  Some days its 240" some days its 120" and out of Port Canaveral that is literally about a 15 mile difference.

 

Schools of Dolphin have been coming in, in waves.  Some days you can fish all day and get skunked, and the next day you can quickly get your limit.

 

Right now your best bet for Dolphin is to troll ballyhoo near the western edge of the Gulf Stream, but they will be moving closer into shore as we move into the summertime period. 

 

Blue and white or pink and white skirts seem to be working best right now along with any light colors, but if you get out on an overcast dark day or are running a down rigger, tie on a purple and black or red and black skirt.  Darker colors seem to work better during dark days.

Fish the weeds, rips and temperature breaks to get the best bite.

In our region most of the captains fish small to medium size ballyhoo with a skirt and troll up to 7 knots.

If you are using a chin weighted or a naked split billed ballyhoo, drop back to around 3 to 4 knots and you will find you will catch more fish. And, your baits will last longer because they don't have the added protection of the skirt ahead of them. 

The Dolphin right now are averaging around 10 pounds but we have had fish in the 20 to 40 pound range caught this spring.

 

 

In addition to Dolphin, trolling ballyhoo on the Western edge of the Gulf Stream this month can get you hooked up to a salifish or a blackfin tuna.   Lets hear it for sushi!

 

Recently, the King Mackerel have moved off of the 60 to 90 foot depths into the 15 to 50 foot clean, green water depths along with some monster Crevalle Jacks and 100 pound plus Tarpon.

 

The Kingfish have been averaging 15 to 25 pounds with some in the "smoker" category.

 

Most all of the Captains I spoke with expect June offshore fishing this year to be much better than last year.  

 

They recommend you fish the temperature breaks, don't pass up the rips and weed lines in water less then 130 feet deep, work your way up ridges and always pay attention to your bottom machine.  

 

If it looks fishy, drop a bait on it!

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Offshore

 

The Grouper bite on the artificial reefs and wrecks in 120 to 150 foot depths, as well as the 180 to 250 foot depths has been pretty good this past week and is expected to get better this month.

 

Look for baitfish stacked up over the tops of the reefs or wrecks and drop down a live pogie or pinfish. 

 

If you're a more aggressive angler and like to fish artificial baits, the Williamson Vortex speed jig  is a good lure to drop, especially in deeper water. 

 

You're going to have a better shot at catching Gag Grouper if you tie on a "glow" jig in the 180 to 250 foot depths and a chrome/black or chrome/yellow jig in the shallower depths. 

 

The average size Gag Grouper being caught right now off of Port Canaveral is 10 to 15 pounds, with some fish running up to 30 pounds.