Space Coast fishing: Snapper, pompano and snook are on the catch list - Florida Today

Happy leap day (if you're reading this on Feb. 29, the day it publishes) which is good for anglers because it means we all have an extra day to fish. That's especially good because there are several bites that are going off this week.

But first, we have one surprise harvest closure anglers must take note of: golden tilefish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close March 1 through the end of 2024. Open date is now Jan. 1, 2025. Harvest is closing, according to federal fishery managers, because annual catch limits for recreational fishers in 2024 have been met.

However, anglers fishing for snook, pompano, bluefish, snapper and tripletail have plenty to be happy about since those fisheries seem to be producing nicely lately.

A big lane snapper came aboard Feb. 26, 2024 for an angler on Fired Up charters out of Port Canaveral.

Florida fishing regulations and fishing season opening and closing dates:

  • Golden tilefish: Harvest closes March 1, 2024. Harvest closed based on annual catch limit set by NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service. Season re-opens Jan. 1, 2025..
  • Snook: Harvest opens Feb. 1 along Florida's Atlantic Coast. Bag limit: One snook per day per angler. Size limit: No shorter than 28 inches and no longer than 32 inches. License: Anglers must have a valid Florida saltwater fishing license and $10 snook stamp. Check regulations for more at MyFWC.com.
  • Spotted seatrout: Harvest re-opened Jan. 1. Central East region regulations — Bag limit: 2 per harvester, zero captain and crew bag limit when on a for-hire trip. Slot limit: More than 15 inches and less than 19 inches total length. May possess one over 19 inches per vessel or, if fishing from shore, one over 19 inches per person, included in the bag limit. Harvest closed Nov. 1-Dec. 31.
  • Grouper: Harvest closed Jan. 1. Includes gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, scamp, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind and rock hind. Harvest re-opens May 1.
  • Hogfish: Harvest re-opens May 1.
  • Blueline tilefish: Harvest re-opens May 1.
  • Cobia: Bag limit: Two fish per vessel. Size limit: 36 inches fork length. No closed season.
  • Redfish: Harvest of redfish has been banned in the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon since Sept. 1, 2022. FWC will reevaluate in the future.
  • Dolphin: Bag limit is 5 fish per day per angler. Vessel limit is 30 fish per day. Captain and crew may not be included in limit. Regulations in state waters began May 1, 2022.
  • Lobster: Harvest will close March 31. No egg bearers, 3-inch minimum carapace length. Lobster stamp required. Sport season (mini-season) will be July 24-25, 2024.
  • Alligator: Hunt season opened Aug. 15-Nov. 1. Permits required.
  • Flounder: Size limit: 14 inches. Bag limit: 5 fish per person. Harvest closed Oct. 15-Nov. 30.
  • Bass: Bass at Headwaters Lake will soon become all catch-and-release.

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

Mosquito Lagoon

After a weak front moves through Friday, look for sight fishing opportunities to return over the weekend. Redfish, black drum, snook and speckled trout can be found working down shorelines or schooled up offshore of islands. Sometimes fish will be seen tailing in the seagrass beds that have returned.

Offshore

Snapper have been on the reefs in 70-90 feet of water. Anglers are catching lane snapper up to 4 pounds and mangrove snapper up to 5 pounds using squid and cut grunts as bait. Occasional cobia have been seen wandering the zone in 20 to 40 feet of water. Sharks and kingfish can be caught in the same area. Tripletail can be caught using shrimp on the buoy line out of the port.

Surf

There have been a good number of pompano in the surf along with catches of whiting, bluefish to 15 pounds and Spanish mackerel. Cast 60 to 75 yards. Rod spacing seems to help with getting more bites. Try the Fishbites electric chicken crab and powerlime crab if sand fleas are not available.

Sebastian Inlet

The north jetty is back fully open to anglers again. The spring time threadfin herring have re-appeared in solid amounts for the first time in years. That has energized the bite for bluefish, Spanish mackerel and snook. The water temperature is still a little on the cool side. Use gold spoons or diamond jigs for the blues and macks. Use live herring for snook and a few redfish.

Indian River Lagoon

The lagoon action has been steady. Redfish can be caught in the area near Sykes Creek on 3-inch long jerk baits, artificial shrimp and live shrimp. Pitch to the mangrove shorelines and look for moving fish when sight fishing allows. Speckled trout will be in 2-4 feet of water on grass flats. Around the end of docks is a good place to fish for sheepshead and black drum with live shrimp or shrimp on jigs.

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Freshwater

This is a good week to try your hand at fly fishing on the Little Econlockhatchee River. Flows are decent and there may be a small hatch taking place. Flies can catch bluegill, shellcracker, bass and even maybe a bowfin. Fish the bottom with natural bait for catfish.

Ed Killer is an outdoors writer for USA Today Network Florida. Email him your fishing reports and photos to ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

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