Fishing Report 05/30/2019

 

Inshore / Nearshore:

Spanish fishing’s been “Red Hot” for us this week with the big boys showing up at the reefs. One of our trips had plenty of fish in the 4 to 6lb range earlier this week and all you wanted of the smaller fish. We also have been seeing plenty of fish along the beaches and around the inlet areas. For the beach fishing anglers are having good luck trolling Clarkspoons, Bowed-Up Spoons, Squid Chains and Mackerel Trees. Along with the trolling, we’ve been casting Spanish Candies, Thingama Jigs, Jig Fish and heavy Glass Minnows Jigs from the shop having great luck too, nothing better than catching a 3lb Spanish on light tackle. It’s getting that time of the year when you can catch these larger fish by trolling Dead Cigar Minnows on Dead Bait Rigs and Mac a Hoos along with Live Bait. When slow trolling the dead and live bait around the reefs that opens the door for a chance at King Mackerel also.

We have started seeing some King Mackerel also in the area, last weekend we weighed our first fish over the 30lb mark. So, things could be setting up for another season like we saw last year when anglers were catching 40 to 60lb fish in July which doesn’t happen to often in our area. What’s been caught so far has been around the AR315 Reef and Offshore just a bit in the 20 to 30-mile range. Dead Cigar Minnows fished on the Dead Bait Rigs and Mac a Hoos will work well on the Kings unless you can get catch some Live Bait to slow troll.

Flounder fishing has really picked up over the last few weeks. With the majority being caught at the AR reefs just off the beach like 315, 320, 330 and 285 are all holding fish. It’s just a matter of coming across the right hump or structure that they're stacked on. Right now, if you find the right spot it doesn't take long to catch your limit. Fishing Spro 2oz Bucktails off the bottom tipped with a 4” Gulp White Shrimp is hard to beat. Also, it's a good idea to put out a Live Mud Minnow to drag while you're jigging, it's a good way to pick up more fish. A few of our trips last week had limits of fish when they came back and we’re seeing some big fish on the reefs. One customer stopped back in last weekend with one pushing 8lbs he caught off the reef on a Spro Bucktail. As far as Flounder fishing on the inside we haven’t seen that much, we do know there’s been a few nice keepers caught off the Port Wall over the last week so they are beginning to move in.

I’ve been getting a lot of calls about the Cobia fishing, it for sure has been an off year for us. But just this week one of the captains went out in search for them; caught a really nice one and saw 6 more. So, there’s still a good number of fish in the area to catch. I looked back in my reports the other day and usually we weigh some of our biggest fish of the year around the 1st of June so the season is far from over. So, anyway you look at it; we still have a few weeks left in our Cobia Shootout and there’s some serious cash on the line. Bottom fishing at the Cape with Dead Shad and Live Eels has been the best way to catch them by just riding around sight fishing along the beaches looking for bait balls, turtles, rays or anything a Cobia might be swimming along with. We do still have some Live Eels; this will be our last shipment because the water temps are getting to high to keep them. So, come get you some. These have been the key to not catching as many skates and sharks while bottom fishing and the Cobia never turn them down.

Seeing more and more Sheepshead, the Port Wall and Bridges seem to be holding the most fish. The bridges seem to be producing the majority of Sheepshead in the area.  Live Fiddler Crabs and Sea Urchins will be the best bait of choice. We do have Live Crabs in-stock with the new Jail Bait Crab Jigs in the shop has been working great. These keep Mr. Crab alive and you directly in contact with the bait helping you not miss as many fish. We also now have Live Sea Urchins in-stock and will keep them the rest of summer. Along with the Sheepshead, we’ve been seeing some nice Black Drum in the same areas, especially around the docks along the water way; been plenty of fish hanging in the shade.

Speckled Trout fishing’s been good over the last few weeks, the rivers have been holding very good numbers. Some of our crew has been catching some really nice fish on the Flats in our area. Look for grass growing off the bottom, bait, good water and with these together anglers are finding good fish. As the water heats up, you’ll also start to find them along Core Creek and the ICW in the deeper water areas where they like to hide in the summer. We’ve been finding Redfish in the same areas as the Trout, as far as lures Top-waters are working great, Z-Man Plastics and the Trout have been loving the Get” Em Shads, Live Mud Minnows and we now have our first batch of “Live Shrimp” in the house.

 

Piers / Surf:

The Bluefish and Spanish bite’s still good off the piers. Over the last few weeks these boys have been coming right up along the Surf Zone allowing Surf Anglers to catch them from the beach. From the pier, the best bite’s been on Got-Cha Plugs and from the beach the Spanish Candies have been working great.

There’s been a few Flounder showing up in the last few weeks along the beaches, with a few nice keeper fish coming by the shop that customers have caught fishing our Live Mud Minnows along the Surf edge.

Bottom fishing’s seeing a mix Sea Mullets, Hog Fish, Croakers, Sharks, Rays, Bluefish, Drum and a few small Flounder moving in.  Not a lot of any, it’s getting into that Summertime pattern when who knows what you might catch. Fishing with Bait Shrimp, Bloodworms, Squid and Mullet on the bottom also, maybe some Live Mud Minnows will get you some action.

 

Offshore:

Dolphin fishing’s still going strong, over the last few weeks. We’ve been having some huge fish on our scales with the largest so far weighing in at 65lbs. Along with lots in the 30 with more fish in the 50 lbs. If you’re after big Dolphin now’s the time to get at it before they move on. These fish don’t stay in our area that long so before you know it, they will be gone. Most of the action still’s been out past 20 miles up to 50 miles toward the Big Rock area. We’ve been seeing the best luck on Sea Witches and Iland Lures rigged up on Bait Master Ballyhoo from the shop. Also, it’s that time of the year the Monkalur play a huge role in catching fish. A customer stopped back by just yesterday and pick up some more, stating he couldn’t believe how this lure out fished everything in his whole spread.

Along with the Dolphin, anglers are still catching some nice Wahoo, seems like what we’ve been seeing the ones that are in the area now are nice ones. Last weekend, we weighed a few over the 50lb mark and the majority were caught on the same lures, anglers are Dolphin fishing with. So, with that said it’s always a good idea to have some Wahoo colors out or a DTX Minnow this time of the year, so you don’t miss that shot at a big Hoo.

Bottom fishing’s still going strong, every trip we have ran to the grounds been bring back limits of Grouper. The Groupers are holding pretty close to shore, we have been finding keepers within 15 miles. If you head on out you can find plenty of Trigger Fish, B-Liners and the big Amber Jacks are starting to show up.  

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