Fishing across the state was solid on this long Memorial Day Weekend. Reports have been coming in from anglers in Jacksonville all the way around the state to Pensicola. Here is a general overview of the fishing over the weekend.
East Coast
Surf
The Whiting Bite continues to be strong with reports of anglers catching about a dozen good sized keepers. Flounder have begun to move out of the inlets and into the surf on their way out to deeper water and have been caught with finger mullet and mud minnows around structure. Around that same structure a few Redfish and quite a few Black Drum were caught over the weekend.
Inshore
The migration of Flounder continues and they are being caught frequently near bridges and passes. Use a scented soft plastic lure slowly dragged across the bottom! Redfish are being caught on the flats by wade fishermen early in the morning and late in the day. When the sun is high, the Redfish go to deeper cooler waters. Snook and Trout are starting to show up around dock/bridge lights and are being caught on lures that mimic bait fish.
West (Gulf) Coast
Surf
Just like the East Coast the Whting bite continues to be strong. Use fresh pealed shrimp right behind the surf zone for success. A few anglers reported Cobia and Tarpon catches from the surf and piers on the beach. Large live baits under a float or free lined are the best bet for these large predators. Spanish Mackerel still continue to prowl the surf line of the Gulf, but not in the numbers they did last month.
Inshore
Snook and Redfish dominated the inshore reports this weekend. From South West Florida all the way up the Gulf Coast Redfish where found all over the inshore waters and Snook where very active as well. For Redfish, look for flats that you can wade early in the morning, and for Snook look for shore lines with mangrove over hangs!
