VOLUSIA COUNTY

from SSFHMagazine March/April 2023

by SSFHMagazine

MARION-CITRUS COUNTY

P.O. Box 290002

Port Orange, Fl. 32129

386-478-3725

Email sfandginc@yahoo.com

WRITERS:

Front Caption

Capt. Marty Goldy’s with Reel Harmony Fishing Charters with a nice mahi caught offshore Ponce Inlet.

Kathy with a nice redfish caught on bait from Donald’s Bait & Tackle in Port Orange.

CENTRAL SEMINOLE-ORANGE COUNTY

CAPTAIN LYNDA

HAWKINS

AHOY MARINE, INC. 407-323-8373 Tina and Steve said they caught about 4 pounds of shrimp recently down by the RR Bridge. Specks are on fire in Lakes Monroe and Jessup.

Steve does a great job and has been repairing boats and engines most of his life, let him make sure everything is in good running order on your boat.

WEST COAST CRYSTAL RIVER & DUNNELLON

By Captain Lynda Hawkins

ANGLER’S FAMILY RESORT 352-4892397 Alex reports fishing has been really good. Some nice crappie are showing up. Bass are being caught on both wild or domestic shiners. On the Withlacoochee River they are catching bass around the lay down trees or any structures.

By: Desiree’ Harbster and Capt Lynda Hawkins

Fishing Ponce Inlet/New Smyrna Beach

By: Capt. Bruno

2023 has already started off Great! The weather is being cooperative and the fish are ready to get Caught Up Right now we’re catching a lot of Sheephead Mangrove Snapper and weakfish. A few Reds and Black Drum are in the mix. Looking into the next 2 months we will be looking forward to seeing the water warm up which will bring the migratory species up the coast to our region of Florida. Starting from inshore we will be targeting Snook and Reds. Tarpon are still hanging around which is only going to get better for us and hopefully give our clients more opportunities to hook into and jump their first Silver King. Of course as Spring conditions improve we will be running the coastline. Sight fishing Tripletail and my personal favorite fish Cobia that are swimming around the Giant Manta Rays. Offshore we will be chasing Mahi, Sailfish, and Kingfish trolling and Bottom fishing for a variety of snappers, triggers, and jacks. Lots of Upgrades have been made to the 243cc Everglades. New 2023 Yamaha 300. RayMarine electronics. New stereo, Upholstery and of course a Ceramic wax detail by David with Epic Yacht Detailing. Caught Up is ready for You!!! Book a charter with Capt Bruno.

City of South Daytona Parks & Recreation has several upcoming events this Spring.

We hope you all can join us!

Egg Hunt | April 1st 9:45am | Reed Canal Park | Ages 10 and Under| Free Come meet the Bunny, hunt for eggs, check out the petting zoo, and grand prizes will be given for finding the golden eggs. The egg hunt begins promptly at 10:00am.

Mother’s Day Tea | April 29th 11am Piggotte Center | $15 per person

Join us for high tea on April 29th. Your ticket includes a selection of finger foods, petite desserts, hot tea and lemonade. A photo station will be available, and a take home gift will be provided. Call to reserve your spot!

Join us for one of our classes:

Cards & Games | Mondays & Wednesdays 11:00am-3:00pm | Piggotte Community Center | Free

Silver Sneakers | Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00am | Piggotte Center

Tai Chi| Tuesdays | 6:15 | Piggotte Center $10 Weekly

Karate | Wednesdays | 6:30 | Piggotte Center | Weekly Fee

Palette & Brush Club | 1st and 3rd Thursdays | 1:00 | Piggotte Center

Cheerleading | Thursdays | 6:00 | Youth Activity Building | $10 Weekly

Sewing Group | Fridays | 10:00am12:00pm | Piggotte Community Center Free

Please visit our website and Facebook Page for updates on events and meetings. www.southdaytona.org and @City of South Daytona-Government

City of South Daytona Summer Soccer Registration Opens March 15th to April 28th.

This is a coed recreational league with an emphasis on developing the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, courage and a sense of belonging. Children new to the sport are welcome. Every child will be encouraged to play and have fun doing it! The cost is $85 with a $10 discount to South Daytona residents. To encourage kids to finish what they start; no refunds will be given. Jerseys and shorts are included in registration cost. Players will need to provide socks, cleats and shin guards. Practices & Games will be twice a week Monday-Friday at either 5:30pm or 6:30pm. Practices run May 8th-June 2nd. Games run June 5th to July 21st. Visit the Parks & Recreation page on the City’s website to register www. southdaytona.org. Please call the office if you have any problems (386) 322-3070.

Late Winter/Early Spring Fishing Report: (Ponce Inlet/Spruce Creek Region)

By: Captain Marty Goldys with Reel Harmony Fishing Charters

With any species of fish that you plan to target, it pays to understand their individual habits. How they feed, what they prey on, water temperatures they thrive in, and where they prefer to position themselves in their environment. Some call it, “thinking like a fish”, I call it “knowing your fish". A few tactics I prefer to exercise when targeting these species are listed below.

Capt.

Speckled Trout tend to hang out on the flats, in seagrass beds, or close to mangrove lines. They can also be found congregating in holes, trenches, or even in mudbank areas. One thing that remains a common denominator is what Speckled Trout prefer to feed on, in most cases a Live shrimp. While I’ve caught speckled trout on a live mullet, a live mud-minnow, and even on a live fiddler crab, if given the choice, I’d always utilize a Live shrimp on a popping cork (with a tiny circle hook) and drift it through some of the prevalent areas mentioned above. A natural presentation being key when targeting speckled trout. Sheepshead while difficult to target can be very rewarding once mastered. Most understand that Sheepshead love to feed on crustaceans (i.e. barnacles, clams, oysters, fiddler crabs, sand fleas, blue crab chunks, and even shrimp). Knowing this paired with the arrangement of their unique teeth, I’ve had the most luck utilizing a very small, very sharp J-hook on a knocker rig (aka Carolina rig with a short 8”-12” leader). Then, it becomes a game of finesse. Waiting for that perfect moment, mid-bite to set your J-hook is key. My preferred bait of choice is the fiddler crab given their hard exoskeleton making it more difficult to steal from my very tiny J-hook. Again, be patient as it may take a few baits before getting in the rhythm and catching these fish.

Black Drum love to seek out dead smelly baits. While Black Drum (aka Big Uglies) are capable of attacking a Live bait, it seems they prefer an easy target such as a dead shrimp, clam bellies, and even cut blue crab. Given Black Drum are know to feed off the bottom, I tend to utilize the Carolina Rig but with a larger/heavier duty circle hook to ensure my fish stays fastened (weight pending the water flow in the area you are fishing). Target Black drum near inlets, jetties, bridges, docks, and/or sea walls for the best result. Spotting Schools of Black drum can also be common during migration and spawning so always be prepared.

Flounder fishing never gets old. Such a treat to target and eat. You’ll quickly learn that patience is the key when flounder fishing. While flounder can be found under any dock, in any pass, or on any flat, they all tend to feed on their prey the same way in all of these areas. I have always had huge success using a jig head (weight pending the water flow in the area being fished). Baits such as shrimp, mud-minnows, or small finger mullet make excellent targets for hunting flounder. Essentially dragging your Live bait/jig head combination on the bottom will get you on the flounder and produce a bite. Once you get a flounder strike it is easy to identify as it feels as you’ve hooked a wet towel along the sea floor. It’s important to understand that flounder often regurgitate their prey after their initial strike. This is where ‘patience’ comes into play. Simply pause for an additional 6-8 seconds to allow this feeding flounder to fully ingest your Live bait/jig head arrangement. Always have a landing net nearby when targeting flounder as this fish is known for flipping off your hook once boat side.