Fishing Florida in April, one of the best times of the year to be on the water! The water temperatures are up, the air temperatures are warm and the fish are active. So what should you be targeting now?
Key Species
Black Drum and Red Drum (Redfish)
Both Black Drum and Redfish are abundant this time of year. They can be found on flats, bays, along shorelines and up in coastal creeks. The warmer water will cause these fish to become very active early in the day and slow down as the heat of the day settles in. Once the water warms, these fish can be found in deeper water.
Flounder
The offshore breeding season for Flounder has pretty much finished by now so the adult flounder will start to migrate back inshore. While this migration is much more sporadic than the winter migration offshore, Flounder can be found on incoming tides in inlets all around Florida.
Mangrove Snapper
The number of inshore Mangrove Snapper starts to increase this month. They can be found in mangrove shorelines, by reefs and other rocky cover. Using mud minnows will almost guarantee a strike from a mangrove snapper if they are in the area.
Pompano
The northbound migration of Pompano continues this month. For the southern part of the state the Pompano season is pretty much over, but mid-north Florida can still find decent numbers of Pompano.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead are currently abundant around bridge, docks, and piers. Anywhere barnacles and other shellfish grow, Sheepshead can be found. As with all other times of the year, small crabs are the best bait. Be prepared to miss a lot of fish, as their hard mouths with a ton of teeth can be difficult to stick a hook in.
Snook
The warmer waters are bringing the snook out throughout its full range in Florida. Look for them in passes and mangrove shorelines. They can be VERY active this time of year, so using a large and faster moving lure may be helpful.
Trout
Trout will be found easily in the mornings on the flats searching for an early meal. Look for sand potholes in the flats and run your lure through them. Trout tend to ambush bait right on the edges of these holes.
Whiting
Whiting are always abundant in the Florida Surf. They are not quite as popular this time of year because of the multitude of other options. If you are targeting them, use peeled shrimp or sand fleas in between breaking waves!
