Aprils Fishing Report
Capt. Eddie Woodall
April 20, 2015
Navarre - Saltwater Fishing Report
April's Best Bet has got to go to the Man in the Brown Suit! Mr. Ling, the Lemon Fish, The mighty and highly sought after Cobia! Live eels, crabs and small fish are good baits for cobia. Keep your bait near the surface or, if they are deeper, add just enough weight to get the bait down and still retain its movement. Medium to heavy spinning tackle is a must to land these brutes that average 30 pounds with the larger fish in the 50-80 pound class. Cobia is an excellent table fare. The state record is just over 130 pounds and was caught near Destin.
Inshore – let's go Speck fishing; this is back to my roots fishing. Free-line live shrimp, small pinfish or small pigfish near the bottom to entice trout out of their grass-bed holes. Attaching a float will allow these baits to drift over the grass beds as you search for trout while casting with soft-bodied jigs, top-water poppers and spoons. Trout are very delicate, so returning unwanted, short or oversized fish promptly to the water is necessary to maintain a healthy fish. Spotted seatrout are a good eating fish also. The state record is 17 lb. 7 oz. and was caught near Ft. Pierce. My boat record weighed in just less than 10 lbs.
Red Fish is going to be next, Red drum are one of Florida's most popular sport fish and the state's most widespread estuarine fish. Free lining a live shrimp or floating one under a popping cork is a good way to fish for red fish on the grass flats. They also like crabs, mullet, pinfish and mud minnows. Casting soft-bodied jigs, spoons and even top-water plugs will catch the attention of these powerful species. Red fish also make great table fare. The state record Red Fish is 52 lb. 5 oz., caught near Cocoa.
Sheepshead is by far one of the best fish for table fare. Old molar mouth can be a little difficult to hook at times but once you learn to feel the bite - it's on. Use live shrimp, sand fleas or fiddler crabs on a small hook fished on the bottom. Our state record is 15 lb. 2 oz., caught near Homosassa.
Offshore – wait for it… wait for it… NOW set the hook! That is what I'll be coaching my guest as we start fishing for Reef Donkey's – Mr. AJ, the mighty Amberjack. As the weather fares out and the Gulf lays down I'll be making my way out to the near shore reefs in search of these mighty and tasty fish. Fish in the 10 to 30 lb. class will be plentiful around the bigger near shore artificial reefs. Live baits are best to catch these fish although they will readily take a fast moving jig. Our state record is 142 lb., caught near Islamorada, I feel sorry for that fellow he is probably still recovering from that butt kickin!
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