Recent offshore fishing reports from the East Central region.
Ponce Offshore Mahi
Florida Sportsman member: zak2006
The wife and I ran out in pretty flat conditions, with the seas getting flatter throughout the day. The water temperature was just shy of 77. We ended up running out to about 250′ were we came up upon a thin, but long weed line. We put out the spread around 7:30 and wrapped up by 11:30 with 20 ‘phins in the boat. My wife caught the second and third largest fish, which ended up being a bull and cow. The big bull is my largest mahi to date.
Click here for full forum report.
Port Canaveral Weekend
Florida Sportsman member: Wavewalker
Saturday was a little sporty, but we managed a nice mahi close in. We were pleasantly surprised when it hit a spoon on a wire leader in 50 feet of water. Next we bottom fished and had some fun. Sunday was calmer and we worked our way out to 280ft. We got several nice mahi and a blackfin. We also saw a sailfish and a cobia, but they were not hungry. On the radio it sounded like some others got on the mahi.
Click here for full forum report.
Sebastian Inlet Dolphin
Florida Sportsman member: beachside321
We made another circle and got another knockdown. This time it was a serious one. A big bull was dumping line and jumping everywhere. We knew we were in for a marathon. After an hour on the rod, we got the shock cord from the planer, wired the fish up and stuck the gaff in him.
Click here for full forum report.
Ponce Dolphin
Florida Sportsman member: Fool’s Gold
Most fish were holding in around 250′, there was a temperature change and some scattered weeds. If your going in the next couple days, there was a nice line forming in 230′.
Click here for full forum report.
Ponce Inlet Mixed Bag
Florida Sportsman member: reeladdiction
Trolled east until about 210′ and picked up a nice dolphin, followed by a thirteen pound blackfin, both into the ice box. We continued east into the bumpy seas until about 240′ where we picked up another dolphin. He had some company.
Click here for full forum report.
Fin-tastic Fishing Sebastian Dolphin
Florida Sportsman member: Filets
We ended up boating about one fish every 45 minutes, with them getting progressively bigger throughout the day. Every dolphin hit naked hoos on the riggers.
Click here for full forum report.
Mahi Hunt Success
Florida Sportsman member: CAPTMOE
There was a nice weedline in 175ft and the water was around 74 degrees. Minimal flyers, but there were lots of other bait they were crushing. They hit everything, but the Bart’s lures lit them up. Big lure of the day was a purple and black island lure on a planer.
Click here for full forum report.
Port Canaveral Wahoo
Florida Sportsman member: tryacc
About 220′ we see some signs of life and drop the spread heading east. About 230′ we have a strong take down and long run ensues.
Click here for full forum report.
Ponce Inlet Dolphin
Florida Sportsman member: dudemanbubba
We came up on the edge which formed a nice thick weedline in 350 feet. The water temperature jumped to 78 degrees and we started working the line along with about a half dozen other boats. Nothing huge, but managed three not-quite-gaffers and two decent dolphin.
Port Canaveral Trolling and Bottom Fishing
Florida Sportsman member: Wavewalker
We left early and picked up two mahi right away in about 130′. Later we got a few bonitos and a shark on the troll, that was a first for me.
Ponce Inlet Trolling and Bottom Fishing
Florida Sportsman member: Mako224
We headed back to the ledge we started at and wanted to work some bottom. This paid off. Lots of vermillion, stud mangos, triggers, porgies and jacks.
Port Canaveral Schooling Snapper
Florida Sportsman member: Docked Wages
We took the Ribcraft offshore Friday afternoon for its first bottom fishing trip. We got to bend the rod all afternoon, primarily with one species. Water was clean and seas where calm.
Port Canaveral Mahi
Florida Sportsman member: tonytali
My wife and I got a late start, but headed out of Bluepoints at about ten and headed out to the stream. We dropped lines in at about 180′ and trolled out to the edge which was at about 360′. She picked up this ten lb mahi right at the line.
Port Canaveral Offshore Mixed Bag
Florida Sportsman member: tonytali
The weather was perfect with nice temperatures, light winds and flat seas all day. We left Bluepoints at 7:30 and went to the edge of the gulfstream about 40 miles out at 350 ft. We picked up a 10 lb Mahi at about 320 ft and another pushing 20 lbs at about 145 ft. Worked into Pelican Flats and picked up four King Mackerel and a Bonito.
Rough Port Canaveral Mahi Trolling
Florida Sportsman member: tonytali
There was a strong north breeze so seas were a little choppy. We put the spread out at Pelican and headed south, with no strikes for about an hour so we turned east. Got a strike at about 170′ but came off so kept heading east. Went out to about 225′ and turned around picked up this nice dolphin at about 180′.
Trolling Port Canaveral Mahi
Florida Sportsman member: tonytali
Headed out of Bluepoints Marina about 8:30 and with flat seas, ran 30 knots out to 220′. Trolled out to 700′. Ran back to 230′ and put back in headed west. Had a triple knock down at about 220′ and got two of three, but it was slow the rest of the day.
Ponce Inlet Offshore Bite
Florida Sportsman member: Fishesman
After a quick stop for bait we headed offshore and spent the day bottom fishing and trolling. My main goal was to catch a good sized red snapper and that I did! Over on the west coast I catch plenty of trophy gags, but big red snapper are usually further out than I typically venture.
Sebastian Phins
Florida Sportsman member: No_Cool_Name
Hooked two running the together at 124 feet. We hooked the cow and had Rodney reel her in slowly so I could get lines hoping for a tagalong. Once the fish was next to the boat saw the bull and pitched a ballyhoo on the spinning rod.
Ponce Offshore
Florida Sportsman member: chompchomp
We found a decent rip in 450′ with decent weed and ended up catching 10. Several times we had to drop back five or six times to hook up, but every time we finally got the 30 plus pounders next to the boat, they had big friends tagging along.
First Phin
Florida Sportsman member: Kim Chi
With my son on the rod he fights it to the boat, which seemed like eternity and I stretched out to gaff this one to make sure he didn’t get away, gaff hits the target and my son’s first dolphin is in the box and I feel relief!
SLI Gaffers
Florida Sportsman member: Captain Dave
We worked the area for a half hour or so when Pete and I both saw a nice gaffer approaching the starboard rigger bait. Pete hooked her up and fought her like a champ and I put her to sleep with a stroke of the gaff.
Grocery Run
Florida Sportsman member: DeHaven
After 30 minutes we determined they were strong and healthy and switched from bottom rigs to trolling gear in 180 feet and headed East. We started picking fish off one at a time every thirty minutes or so blind trolling all the way to 400 feet.
Ponce Variety
Florida Sportsman member: Fool’s Gold
We were moving south and into the 28th fathom when we came across a pallet. It had several keeper tripletail, which we caught four of. While trying to catch the tripletail a couple random dolphin swam by two different times and we caught them both.
Port Canaveral Dolphin
Florida Sportsman member: tonytali
My wife and I decided to go out deep for mahi. We left around 8am and put lines in at 200 feet. Our first bite was a 30 pound mahi around 400 feet. We trolled out to 1000 feet and picked up six smaller phins along the way.
Port Canaveral Offshore
Florida Sportsman member: tonytali
My son and I left Bluepoints at 7:30, seas were big and a little confused so it was slow going out but put lines in at 120 and within 10 minutes had a nice mahi.
East Central Dolphin Bite
Florida Sportsman member: DolphinTailin
We leave the weed patch and head off to the Southeast and not too far off we find a big blue crate just under the surface, As we pass the crate we look behind the boat and see tons of dolphin greyhounding through our spread, three guys on the boat and all four rods go down.
Sebastian Bull
Florida Sportsman member: TeamReelShady
We left the inlet at 5:30am and went out to 130 feet, with signs of life we put out lines trolled all the way to 240 feet, when we saw a massive weed line, dragged baits all over with no takers.
Port Canaveral Offshore
Florida Sportsman member: TIGHTLINEZOFFSHORE
So then we decided to head through 8a to the buoy trolling and had several short strikes and 3 cuda knock downs. Then in 100 feet we landed our first phin. On the way back line a red and white islander gets smoked then goes slack, finally catch up to the line and reel in a nice wahoo.
New Personal Best
Florida Sportsman member: dtm
I slowed the boat and looked back and this fish was jumping about 300yds back. Alex went to work pumping and winding. After a while the fish came alongside we got a good look and seen he was a nice one.
Ponce Offshore Fun
Florida Sportsman member: Koifarmer
We then freelined some squid wrapped in chumdrop chum balls and it did not take long before we were hooked up . The fish were shy , 15 pound fluorocarbon and a small circle hook did the trick. We lost many many fish , but did manage to get 4 fish up to 9 pounds.
Cobia X7
Florida Sportsman member: Paragon1
“After about an hour or so we finally got to my first spot to try for some early morning cobia. We weren’t disappointed. On the first drop we had two hits, with me getting the hookup.”
Want to catch cobia like these? Click here for how-to videos, feature stories, and more.
Tripletail Fun
Florida Sportsman member: Docked Wages
Some chunky bamboo we came across north of the Port last friday. After releasing a few shorts we motored up and filmed a variety of species co-mingling underneath. Two Tripletail stuck around for the video.
East Central Dolphin and Coia
Florida Sportsman member: Paragon1
My boat is too low to the water to sight fish them effectively, so instead I prefer jigging deep structure. So in 100 plus feet of water we started working. First one came aboard on about the third drift, when I spotted them on the finder and decided to drop one last time before resetting. Nice 35 pounder to start the day.
Port Canaveral Offshore
Florida Sportsman member: Hotpursuit
With fish in the box, things slow for a bit as we continue east. We found scattered weeds and what appeared to be an upwelling or something with dirty green water on the edge of the stream. Start working the area when the close pink and white skirted hoo gets slammed for the second time.
December Dolphin Bite
Florida Sportsman member: cflcycleparts
The water temp was a bleak 70 degrees, our only hope was to make it into the warmer waters of the stream. We make our way out to the cones about 30 miles out and find 74.99 degree water. It’ll do. We happen to run by some debris including a floating log with weeds around it, and then pandemonium.
Sebastian Offshore
Florida Sportsman member: bighardey
We put the lines back out and slow trolled at 5 knots and about 11:15 on blue & green Islander skirted ballyhoo the hoo hits hard, heads deep. Yanked her back to the boat nice and easy, gaffed and put in the box. It was a super day and good to be back.
Record Breaker Out of Ponce
Florida Sportsman member: InLimbo
No further bite came after the first couple of hits. I said, “maybe you should drop down a little more and she interrupted and said “no, no, no, she’es still there I know it” so I shut up and watched as we both concentrated on the rod tip then the rod tip just bent straight down, her face turned red and all of her effort when into turning the reel and it was on. Hook up! She was right, she was still there. The 15 minute battle began.
Red Snapper and More out of Ponce Inlet
Florida Sportsman member: Fool’s Gold
Made some stops early Friday way south and shallower to try and get away, we did get away from the crowd but also the snapper. Moved out to around 95 feet and caught our limit rather quickly up to 15 pounds. Picked up a few triggers, sea bass and a cobia both days.
Hitting the Nearshore Numbers
Florida Sportsman member: Davidson
Good day nearshore. We were on fish all day in about 50 feet of water. A lot of big jacks, Bonita, sharks, and a few cobia were still around. We were able to get a couple for the freezer. Water has definitely warmed up, showing 76 degrees all day.
Canaveral Dolphin
Florida Sportsman member: Canaveral Offshore
Forum member Canaveral Offshore found the Dolphin in the east central section. Multiple trips producing great numbers of quality fish. Fishing in 120 to 240 feet of water.
First Hoo and A Good One at That
Florida Sportsman member: psless
Made it to about 165 feet and saw some weed lines so we began trolling. Fairly early in the morning we snagged this beast on a mono leader. Hook was barely in his mouth when we gaffed him! Not a bite the rest of the day. Had some sushi this past weekend, awesome! First time catching and eating wahoo.
Cobia Chaos
Florida Sportsman member: Keystroke
I soon realize that he is trying to save his other rod that has fallen in the water. You see the jig pole he had sat down in the heat of the moment had gotten caught in the prop and was yanked in the water. I watch the cobia disappear yet again as Dave splashes headfirst within 15 feet of her. So I’m standing there with my live sardine dangling, watching this spectacle. I pitch the sardine into the water, stick the rod in a holder, flip the bail open and go to assist my man overboard.
Port Canaveral Offshore
Florida Sportsman member: captryan5878
First bait in was a large split tail mullet that got tagged in the prop wash as I was dropping it back. Got a 30 pound bull almost boat side and flipped a tipped jig to about a 15 pound cow that was trailing. Both came unglued 5 seconds later. Depressing, but it was a good sign. Got our 5 bait spread deployed with a variation of split tail mullet and skirted hoos. Every color produced strikes. Ended up with 5 quality fish in the boat up to 25 pounds.
Sebastian Inlet Phins
Florida Sportsman member: beachsideandy
Checked out some stacked weed lines from 72 to 80 feet, but the water was still cold. Headed out to around 250 feet where we had a temperature change of 73.5 to 75.5 degrees with a good amount of weeds mixed in. Picked up four phins with this one being the largest. They seemed to be hitting small green and green and yellow lures with medium hoos, pretty close to the boat, clipped down off the transom.
Solo Trip Produces Dinner
Florida Sportsman member: ownleme
Found a great rip in 330 feet with a 3 degree temperature change 73 to 76 degrees, scattered weed line, and ripping current on the east side. First strike before 8am and kept coming. At one point I had just put one in the box, had one still pulling on another line, and tossed my alien head at its shadow to hook up with 20 plus pounder.
Plan B, for Bottom
Florida Sportsman member: Keystroke
Cobia sight fishing conditions were poor so we decided to work some bottom spots. We got on one spot that was loaded with big triggers. They showed nicely on the Furuno elevated above the reef. It was sweet hooking them on a 2 ounce jig with strip. Popping this on the bottom was fun and more productive than a typical trigger rig. But, when my fancy jigging rod doubled over, I said “that’s no trigger boys”. I’d work her up a few pumps then she’d tear the 30 pound braid right back off.
East Central Dolphin Days
Florida Sportsman member: captryan5878
Pulled skirted hoo’s with a variety of colors including green, pink and blue. Also dragged a few large split…
