Central Florida fishing: Cobia showing, black drum, trout, snapper all biting, too

Ed Killer, Florida Today
·4 min read

Spring time arrived in Florida a few weeks ago, according to the temperatures and bright sunny days. Warming waters have the fish in a spring mood for sure.

This week's full moon spurned a lot of activity from fish. Cobia were wandering around. Specks and bluegills were sitting on beds. Tripletail were eating crabs. Black drum could be caught in the Mosquito Lagoon. Snook were biting everywhere.

Mahi mahi are on the current edges and there are plenty of snapper being caught on the reefs. The kingfish should be arriving on the reefs any day now.

There was even news of a 125-plus pound yellowfin tuna caught just off Jupiter, so get out and enjoy the great spring fishing before its gone.

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A cobia was caught on the Fired Up out of Port Canaveral March 5, 2023.
A cobia was caught on the Fired Up out of Port Canaveral March 5, 2023.

Closures & regulations changes in effect: Anglers are reminded about these fishery harvest closures currently underway and ones about to begin and end.

  • Cobia: New bag and size limits for state waters. Bag limit: Two fish per vessel. Size limit: 36 inches fork lenght.

  • Snook: Harvest opened Feb. 1. One fish bag limit, 28-32 inches, snook stamp required..

  • Grouper: Harvest closed from Jan. 1, 2023, through April 30, 2023. Includes gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, scamp, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind & rock hind. Harvest reopens May 1, 2023.

  • Spotted seatrout:  Harvest open as of Jan. 1 in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin & Palm Beach counties. Harvest closes November and December 2023.

  • Flounder: Harvest reopened Dec. 1.

  • Hogfish: Harvest closed from Nov. 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. Harvest reopens May 1, 2023.

  • Redfish: Harvest of redfish is banned in the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon beginning Sept. 1. FWC will re-evaluate later in the year.

  • Alligator: Hunt season open Aug. 15-Nov. 1. Permits required.

  • Lobster: 48-hour sport season (mini-season) open July 26-27, 2023. Regular season opens Aug. 6.

  • Dolphin: New fishing regulations began May 1, 2022 for state waters. Bag limit is now five fish per day per angler; Vessel limit is now 30 fish per day. Captain and crew may not be included in limit.

  • Tilefish: Harvest is open as of Jan. 1.

  • Bass: Bass at Headwaters Lake will soon become all catch-and-release.

For complete fishing regulations in Florida go to MyFWC.com.

Mosquito Lagoon

The shallow waters of the lagoon have been heating up with the temperatures. Speckled trout, snook, redfish and black drum can all be caught around the islands and along the shorelines. Use live shrimp either freelined or under a popping cork. Bigger fish can be targeted on the north end with jerk baits or artificial shrimp. Split crabs will get bites in the Haulover Canal.

Offshore

Cobia are still the talk of the docks around the port and Sebastian marinas. They are curious fish that often wander up behind the boat when fishing for something else. Free swimming fish are being found by anglers live bait drifting for mackerel. It's been calm enough to run across the to the other side for yellowfin and blackfin tuna. Mahi mahi have been showing up in the Gulf Stream currents and eddies, too. Snapper fishing for mangrove snapper and lane snapper has been steady on the reefs. There have been tripletail along the buoys.

Surf

There have been some pompano moving through the area. Whiting and croaker are more common catches right now, but pompano are coming soon. Use Fishbites or pieces of shrimp for baits. Fish the last half of the incoming tide and first half of the outgoing.

Sebastian Inlet

The inlet at Sebastian Inlet State Park has been snook city this week, according to Wayne Snookman Landry. Live pinfish, croakers and mullet have been getting fish. The entire north jetty is open to anglers. Redfish, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, snapper and jacks make up the other catches along the jetty. South jetty is yielding mostly snook and snapper. Remember, redfish caught at the park must be released because it is all considered part of the Indian River Lagoon.

Indian River Lagoon

Snook, tarpon, trout, jacks and sheepshead can be caught near Turkey Creek, the Eau Gallie River and anywhere with concrete structure like seawalls, bridge pilings and causeways. Use live shrimp or shrimp-tipped jigs for the most action. Topwater plugs will get bites from trout early in the morning. Snook fishing is particularly good right now with the warm water.

Freshwater

Watch out for area lakes and ponds starting to show algae in the water. Health advisories have already been issued for Lake Washington. With the full moon earlier in the week, expect bedding fish to be moving away from the beds. Bass, bluegill, specks will all be caught on the edges with stick worms, lipless crank baits, live crickets or live minnows, respectively.

Ed Killer is an outdoors writer with florida today. Email him your fishing report at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Central Florida fishing: Cobia, snapper, black drum, trout all biting