Slot size redfish are holding in exactly the same places you find the sea trout (usually around the pods of finger mullet)  and they are hitting pretty much the same baits, both artificials and live or cut baits.

The slot redfish are running in small pods, so when you catch one fish, try to get another bait right on top of the hooked fish to get a double hookup.

During March, the shallow flats around the Peacocks Pocket Road shallow water boat launch are a good place to look for redfish, sea trout and huge schools of juvenile black drum.

 

Bank and wade fishermen in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge fishing the north Indian River are catching slot redfish and sea trout using live finger mullet, mud minnows, shrimp and chunk baits.

The north Indian River Lagoon above Titusville is home to some monster redfish and gator sea trout .

You can take advantage of the early morning topwater bite by tossing a Storm Chug Bug, Rapala Skitterwalk  or any other top water bait around the schools of finger mullet.

 

According to the Fish & Game people,  Shiloh Marsh road will remain closed for the immediate future, so access to this area is limited to foot traffic or bikes.

 

The early morning top water bite in both lagoons is pretty much over by 9:00 am, so get out early.  

Playalinda Beach and South

 

Surf casters fishing the areas between Indialantic and Patrick Air Force Base during May will have great fishing for  Black Margate, sheepshead, juvenile black drum, whiting, lookdowns, snook, pompano and even some flounder.

Black Margate, also known as Sea Bream are excellent eating and are a common surf catch during the month of May.

 

The fish average 2 to 4 pounds but can achieve a weight of over 10 pounds. The current 15 1/2 pound world record black margate was caught in Fort Pierce Inlet.

 

 

In rocky beaches around Patrick AFB; shrimp, crabs, sand fleas and small baitfish are attracted to the coquina rock and dead coral heads in the area.

 
During low tide periods, surfcasters using long surf rods tipped with sand fleas or peeled shrimp who cast past the outcrops can often load up with a mess of fish.

This area is also good for large snook.  Use a sliding sinker rig with a live 10" mullet for bait, cast past the "rocks" and hold on!

 

The annual spring cobia migration has begun and as they start to show up between Sebastian and Port Canaveral, which is where they are now, you can expect to get in some great fishing.

The migration follows the 68 to 72 degree water temperature break, and that's what the temperature happens to be right now.

I've received reports of multiple fish being caught on multiple boats out of Port Canaveral and last week the cobia began to show up around Ponce Inlet, so now is a good time to get out there and catch some fish.

The anglers in our area do a lot of sight fishing for cobia instead of jigging around structure.  

Look for free swimming fish, manta rays, bait pods, or anything that will hold fish.

Most of the fish caught this past week have been up and free swimming in the 35 to 90 foot depths.

When you spot a cobia cruising along, try to get a live menhaden, croaker, pinfish, shrimp or whatever in front of the fish or a white/chartreuse or white hook up jig if you fish lures.

Some of the local anglers have been swuccessfully using a pearl color, silver or bluegill color Rapala glidn'rap.  The pearl color is reported to be "hot" this past week.

The cobia are averaging 20 to 30 pounds however 50 pound plus fish are not uncommon.

 

Right now king mackerel are also being caught in these same depths so you can find fish on the Brevard reef on some of the inshore wrecks like the "Dutch Wreck" or you can head out to the 8A or Pelican Flats reef anywhere from around 45 to 90 feet of water to catch some nice fish.

Use a live or slow trolled dead menhaden with a duster in front of it on a wire stinger rig with a VMC 9626 model hook.

Most guys use the #4 or #2 size treble because of it's extra strength and ability to hold on to the baits better.

Some of the kingfish caught this past week are in 30 to 35 pound range.