May is normally the month that anglers anticipate the most, mainly due to warmer ocean temperatures, calmer seas and just plain more fish showing up, especially later into the month. So far the month has not disappointed, as both offshore and inshore anglers are having fantastic luck with a variety of species. Unfortunately, as is all too often the case, just when things start getting good, here comes Mother Nature with a curve ball and if this plays out, it’s going to be a doozy. Without getting into too many particulars, as I type this report, a coastal low is forecast to meander around the coast through the weekend. If it comes to fruition, and it’s looking like it will, anglers will be hampered by very strong winds and lots of rain, which will most certainly put a stop to what has been one of the best fishing seasons that many can remember. Depending on how strong an impact the storm has, the fishing will definitely falter some, but will hopefully rebound sooner rather than later.
The fishing in the Gulf Stream was very good over the weekend with plenty of catches of wahoo, gaffer mahi, blackfin tuna and even some billfish. The typical known locations such as the Same Ole and Steeples all produced fish, as did some areas in between. Doing your research, asking around the docks and tackle shops and finding some temperatures breaks will all help the cause with finding fish in the blue water.
Bottom fishing in the 30-mile range was steady with reports of grouper, snapper and black sea bass. Some keeper black sea bass were caught in the 10-mile range but for more quantity and quality, deeper water of 100 feet or more will improve your chances. The deeper water will also keep you away from the sharks, which have been reported in large numbers by bottom fishermen in the shallower water.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been on fire just off the beach on out to around 5 miles. Trolling Clark Spoons on No. 1 planers is a good tactic as is sight casting weighted spoons to the schools of busting fish. There have been some reports of some small fish mixed in so be sure that the fish you’re keeping are larger than the 12-inch minimum, which is a fairly small Spanish. As I’ve said before, if you really need to measure that fish, it ought to be released. The action with the Atlantic bonito has been hit or miss the past week but there are still plenty of fish around. The problem seems to be keeping the lure away from the Spanish and bluefish. Some reports of king mackerel have reemerged with some small fish being reported in the 10-12 mile range.
Inshore, the flounder bite has picked up dramatically in the creeks and inlets, with some fish weighing up to 5 pounds being reported. The larger soft artificial baits will work but there’s also some natural baitfish around, you’ll just have to work for it. Red drum fishing is improving as the waters continue warming, and which are now reading in the upper 60s.
