Florida Fish Report

Inshore Fishing Report

Sheepshead are still thick throughout the area and remain one of the most dependable inshore targets right now. Bridges, dock pilings, seawalls, jetties, and rock piles are all holding fish, especially anything with barnacle or oyster growth. Small pieces of shrimp, fiddler crabs, clam, or oyster on a light leader and a small hook remain the go-to setup. Use just enough weight to stay in contact with the structure, and remember that the bite is often subtle. When the water goes clearer, the anglers who stay patient and precise will catch more. 

Trout are still heavy around the region and continue to provide some of the best action on the flats, along potholes, and near mangrove shorelines. During the day, focus on broken grass, sandy depressions, deeper troughs, and any edge where bait can get pushed. As conditions stabilize and warm, we often see trout spread onto deeper flats during the warmest parts of the day. Live shrimp, shrimp imitations, and small paddle tails worked slowly are excellent choices. If the water is crystal clear, do not overpower them with too much leader or too much weight, and remember to match the hatch with your lures too. If the bait around is smaller, use smaller lures matching the natural bait present in the area you are fishing.  

Redfish are moving around more and acting more like spring fish. They are still around oyster bars, mangrove points, and grass flats, but they will begin roaming more and feeding in shorter, more aggressive windows as things warm. Look for mullet, nervous bait, and birds. Cut bait is a great option when they are laid up and feeding by scent, while jerkbaits, paddletails, and weedless artificials shine when you are covering water. 

Flounder continue to show around sandy patches near structure, bottom transitions, potholes, and passes. Slow is still the deal. Bounce a soft plastic carefully across the bottom or drag a live shrimp along the sand and let the fish commit before you really come tight. 

Snook are around and should start becoming more active as the warming trend continues. In the mornings, they may still be tucked into deeper canals, creek mouths, and dark muddy shorelines, but warmer afternoons should have them sliding outward toward points, cuts, and eventually the passes. Fish the solunar majors, fish the warmest part of the day, and keep your presentation clean and natural. 

Blacktip sharks and bonnetheads are also active and should become more common as this warming pattern holds. If you want some added excitement, a fresh chunk of cut bait on heavier tackle can make for some serious fun in the passes and along the beaches. 

Fishing Tips

• Snook: Use live baits like greenbacks, threadfins, and shrimp, or try flair hawks and soft plastics at night.
• Redfish: Look for them around mangroves, oyster bars, and flats, and use dead baits during higher tides.
• Trout: Target them with soft plastics, white bait, and shrimp around deeper flats and potholes.
• Tarpon: Target them during the full moon with crab flushes, making it an ideal time to target them.
• Flounder: Find them near sandy bottoms and structures, biting on bottom baits.
• Pompano: Be prepared to move frequently to stay on their bite.
• Sharks: Use big dead baits in areas with moving water.

Nearshore Fishing Report

Near shore has a very fun spring transition feel to it right now. Mackerel are back, and that is one of the biggest signs that things are heating up in a hurry. The water temperatures along the coast are already in that sweet range where Spanish mackerel can really get going, and with them back in better numbers, kingfish should not be far behind. If this warming trend continues, those beachside bait schools and tide lines are going to get more and more exciting. 

Hogfish are still going strong, and this is a great time to target them before things get too warm. Live shrimp remains the best overall bait, and lighter tackle absolutely matters. A 4000 to 5000 size spinning reel, 20 to 30 pound braid, a long fluorocarbon leader around 30 pound test, a 3/0 to 4/0 hook, and 1 to 2 ounces of weight is a proven setup. Focus on broken hard bottom, shell patches, and smaller ledges in that 40 to 70 foot range, and be patient. Hogfish often show after the faster pickers settle down. 

Lane snapper should begin picking up as conditions stabilize. Shrimp, squid, and cut threadfin are all effective, with the better lanes often favoring live shrimp or fresh-cut threadfin chunks. Mangrove snapper are possible near shore, especially deeper and around cleaner structure. If they are finicky, downsize hooks, leader, and bait pieces. Red grouper remain an option in the deeper near shore zones, but expect to sort through smaller fish before you find a legal keeper. Bigger baits like whole squid, thicker strips of cut bait, or live pinfish will help you target better fish. 

Flounder can also show near shore, especially around sandy edges next to hard structure, so work those bottom transitions thoroughly and do not rush a good-looking area. 

Fishing Tips

• Red Grouper: Target the deepest near shore waters with big dead baits or solid live baits. Use 60 lb test and 7/0 hooks for best results.
• Red Snapper: Use big dead baits like whole squid and bonita strips with heavy tackle to focus on larger fish. Prime trips include the 12-hour extreme, 39-hour, and 44-hour trips.
• Scamp Grouper: Use small to medium pinfish and cut threadfin, especially while targeting mangrove snapper.
• Mangrove Snapper: Near shore, use live shrimp and small chunks of threadfin on 30-40 lb test with 3-4/0 hooks. Offshore, use bigger chunks of cut threadfin or medium pinfish on 40-60 lb test with 5-7/0 hooks.
• Vermillion Snapper: Start around 100 feet of water using cut squid or threadfin. These fish are aggressive and not leader-shy.
• Yellowtail Snapper: Use shrimp, cut squid, and threadfin.
• Pelagic Species: Keep flat lines and pitch rods ready for sailfish, kingfish, wahoo, tuna, and mahi mahi.

Offshore Fishing Report

Offshore fishing is setting up in a very exciting way as these water temperatures climb. Triggerfish are back open, which adds another great-eating target to the deep-water mix and should make offshore trips even more productive. For triggers, keep your hooks on the smaller side and use narrow, chewy strips of squid or cut bait. Bait size matters just as much as hook size when you are trying to get those fish pinned. 

Red grouper remain a major offshore target and continue to respond best to big, meaty baits. Whole squid, octopus, thick strips of bonita, and quality live baits all deserve a place in the rotation. Fish hard bottom, potholes, ledges, and rocky stretches, and do not be afraid to move until you find the right life on the machine and on the line. 

Mangrove snapper continue to be a very important part of the offshore bite. Cut threadfin on a double-snell rig remains one of the best all-around producers for numbers, while small live pinfish often help target the bigger fish. If the water gets especially clear, expect larger mangroves to get leader shy and be ready to fish a lighter setup. 

Scamp grouper remain a quality bonus fish on the right deeper structure. Medium pinfish, stout leader, and a clean presentation on good ledges will keep you in the game. Mutton snapper are still around too, and they continue rewarding anglers willing to fish a little slower and a little cleaner with lively bait and a solid presentation. 

We are also seeing plenty of heads-and-tails action offshore with vermillion snapper, porgies, and almaco jacks. Those species not only help fill the cooler, they also tell you that you are around productive bottom with active life. 

Most exciting of all, pelagic action feels like it is on the verge of really firing up. With water temperatures rising, bait becoming more active, and spring patterns starting to form, the odds for blackfin tuna, kingfish, mahi, and wahoo continue improving. Keep a pitch rod ready, stay alert for birds, bait showers, color changes, and floating debris, and be ready when the opportunity shows itself. 

TERMS OF REFERENCE-  

Inshore: This covers the areas from the inner bays, through the bridges, and right up to the beaches.

Near Shore: This includes the coastal waters from the beaches up to twenty miles offshore, or up to a depth of 100 feet.

Offshore: This extends from twenty miles offshore or from a depth of 100 feet and beyond.

For more fishing reports, photos, videos, and other content, check out Hubbard’s Marina on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest, or Snapchat by searching for @HubbardsMarina. Remember our family motto: “If you’re too busy to go fishing, you’re just too busy!” Thank you for reading our report.

Capt. Dylan Hubbard, Hubbard’s Marina
Phone or text: (727) 393-1947