ST. JOHNS RIVER

Largemouth bass and black crappie are nearing the end of their spawning season—easy fix, change target species to schooling bass, sunshine bass, big catfish and stringers full of bluegill. We sure could use some April showers for May flowers. The St. Johns River went from the highest in 100 years to very low levels in March. When water levels are low, the fish don’t have the extra places up in the pastures to hide.

Shad schools are moving back into the lakes, and the schooling bass will be feeding heavily on them. Look for raining schools of shad (or minnows) near creek mouths, or where the river enters and exits Monroe, Harney and Jessup. Dropoffs near river bends will hold schools of bass waiting for the current to push bait up. Rat-L Traps and jerkbait soft plastics will work well in deeper water. When you can’t see the shad on top, you can sometimes locate them with your fishfinder in deep holes. Target the dropoff when you find the shad deep. In the lakes, find old bass beds and throw a Carolina rig. Fish will move in on these beds likely for the last time this year around the full and new moons. After these moon phases the bass will be hungry and eating.

Crappie will be taken by jigging near bridge pilings or around the many sunken trees left from the hurricanes and high water.

Catfish: the big cats spawn is triggered by big rains. Two to three days following a heavy rain, you can find them ready to take a piece of peeled, fresh shrimp in any deep river bend or near creek mouths.

Alas, stripers (sunshine bass here in the St. Johns) are back. Use shad imitations or live shiners along the channel edges between the I-4 Bridge and downtown Sanford for striper fun.

Watch for insect hatches on the river then break out the fly rod. Poppers and floating bugs will entice bass and bluegill for sure.

Confessions of a Fishaholic, by Thatch Maguire, is a hilarious and irreverent look at one man’s quest to catch fish in spite of life’s annoying interferences. You’ll travel with this awkward adventurer as he risks home and health to pursue his passion for fishing...regardless of the consequences. Anglers of all expertise levels will immediately identify with why his addiction is incurable. This book defines the blurred line between passion and obsession.

April surf fishing along the Space Coast looks to remain strong with pompano, whiting, bluefish and flounder available on local area beaches. The sand renourishment projects will absolutely deteriorate the beach and surf fishing conditions, so make sure to stay clear of those “projects.” Additionally, the blacktip shark migration will be in full effect! So if chasing trophy sharks is in your wheelhouse, then spring months have a lot to deliver.

Pompano fishing looks to remain consistent if you can stay with the pockets of fish. As these fish charge back to the north we should get another shot at higher quality pompano fishing, although finding the cleaner water will continue to hold the keys for success. Be sure to look for shades of blue and green waters with a translucent look when the waves roll through. Consequently, fish the edges of deep troughs and sandbars for the highest probability of finding a concentration of fish feeding.

In addition to the pompano coming back through, we can celebrate the whiting bite that’s typically very good this time of year. Traditionally, March and April have a phenomenal large bull whiting bite. This year has been on the slower side when compared to years past. Certainly I’m looking for that to change for the better as we approach this spring fever and really get an opportunity for insane whiting bites.

The go-to rigging for pompano, bluefish, whiting and drum will remain the standard pompano rig with circle hooks, beads and floats. Using multiple color beads and floats is a sure fire bet to find the optimal color combination fish prefer that day or tide. Rig your pompano rigs with live sand fleas, cut shrimp or clams for the best opportunity to catch pompano and whiting. With that being said, if it’s bluefish you’re after, then make sure to use chunks of fresh cut bait on the same pompano rigs with heavier leader.

In conclusion, it looks to be an outstanding month of surf fishing from Port Canaveral and Cocoa Beach south to Sebastian Inlet. April marks one of my favorite times of year because of the diversity on tap. With everything from pompano to blacktip sharks, to catching flounder on jigging rods, it’s a fun time to fish the beach. Make sure to get out there and spend time on the beach and surf fishing with the family. If you want to book a beach fishing excursion, then please contact us online or directly at (321) 205-4672.

CAPT. LUKAS BRICKWEG cocoabeachsurffishingcharters.com

(321) 205-4672

April is one of my favorite months weather wise; not too hot or humid just yet, and we get a few fronts that will push through with great fishing opportunities just ahead of them. Early in the month I will be wrapping up my sheepshead-targeted trips as their spawn will be just about over. I will be focused on structure for these guys as I have mentioned before such as the jetties, docks and the causeways. A short Carolina rig or a jig head tipped with fiddler crabs is the best bet, but you can also use shrimp and even an extra piece of fish bites.

On the calmer days early in the month, cobia will be a good fish to target. Throughout the past couple of years, they have gotten so much pressure that they tend to stay down more than they have traditionally, but on the right day you may hit the jackpot. Regulations have changed on them in regards to size and quantity so please do your homework before heading out on the hunt. My favorite way of targeting them is cruising the beach looking for rays. When you spot a ray with fish on it, PLEASE—and I cannot urge you enough—PLEASE don’t cast right at the ray and snag it. You will only ruin your chance of catching a fish. You have to stay far enough away that you can cast ahead of the ray and get your bait alongside it or even to swim under it. I like using both bucktails and large, soft plastics for cobia. My color preferences are green, chartreuse, and pink, but I have heard plenty of other success stories with other colors. Also, if there is a boat on a ray, out of common courtesy, do not run up on that same ray and start casting. I see it happen every spring and it blows my mind that anglers would act this way as all this does is ruin the chances of either boat getting a fish.

Lastly, as the month rolls on and we get some fishable offshore days, the mahi bite should turn on. This year, as the water is somewhat warmer than usual this time of year, everything should happen a little sooner than usual. Ballyhoo accompanied with a skirt of your color preference will do the trick. Weedlines, temperature changes, and even just some sort of floating debris should have a fish on it!

As always, get out there and catch some fish! And if you see us on the water, please say hello!

Finding Your Next Catch

It’s that time of the year when largemouth bass are coming off their beds and gorging themselves on pretty much anything they can feed on. Living in Florida offers anglers an abundance of freshwater fishing opportunities. Rivers, canals, lakes and even neighborhood retention ponds offer up convenient family fun for the day.

Even though the weather here offers anglers year-round fishing, there is something alluring to anglers this time of year. The water is the perfect temperature where fish are very active and aggressive, making it easy to draw a strike or have them engulf your bait. Believe it or not, almost every freshwater body of water in the state that has been there for any length of time has fish in it. I’ve seen some monster largemouth come out of neighborhood retention ponds that residents were told held no fish. Since most retention ponds are kept mowed and clean around the banks, this is a perfect place to take kids to introduce them to fishing.

On a recent trip, Bentley was fishing a retention pond and caught a small bluegill. With the bluegill in hand, he thought, “If there are bluegill, then there are probably other species of larger fish.” He took his other rod and tied on a circle hook and casted the bluegill out freelined on the bottom. Within minutes the line started to pop out the slack and make short runs. He lifted the rod until he felt pressure loading up and then started cranking. He wasn’t sure what kind of fish he had. A number of larger species could have picked up the bait from the bottom, but soon an aerobatic largemouth came to the surface leaped from the water, tail walked and shook its head trying to free itself from the line.

Bentley

This excitement while fighting a bass is one of those experiences that hook young anglers into the lifelong pursuit of fishing. That morning of fishing in a pond that supposedly had no fish left smiles on faces and a personal best for a young fisherman that will no doubt lead to more trips to the pond and exploring new areas.

After all, the mystery of not knowing draws a person’s interest into exploring. Whether you are a seasoned fisherman or new to the sport, take the time to get out and explore what this state has to offer. You never know, that spot of water you pass every day might just hold your next personal best.

Never pass up the opportunity to take a kid fishing, those smiles and excitement create memories that will last a lifetime for the both of you.

See you on the water!

— By Gary Carney GO2 Weapons Inc.

www.go2weapons.com

April is one of the best months to fish. The water is getting warmer and the fish become more active.

Hopefully the shrimp will venture in and, thereby, bring the fish with them. If that takes place, we will have an assortment of fish to catch.

In the beginning of April, we will have sheepshead around the docks and bridges. Choice of baits are fiddlers, sand fleas and shrimp. The best location is the Halifax River. The basin should be holding reds, snook and trout. Look for jacks, bluefish and ladyfish following the shrimp.

The later part of April will be a good time to night fish in the Halifax targeting the docks that are lighted. I like shrimp on a floating cork and free lining a shrimp or finger mullet. If you are an artificial fisherman I like Z-Man’s 3-inch paddle tail on a 1/8 ounce jig head in red or yellow with a white or chartreuse tail. Yo-Zuri’s 3-inch floating minnow is dynamite with a superb wiggle.

Keep an eye open for the tarpon in the river and basin and use a popping cork with a mullet or crab floating with an open bail. Tight lines!

CAPT. BARRY ENGLEHARDT

Fish With Captain Barry fishwithcaptainbarry.com

(386) 871-8500

Let’s grow with Florida together.