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    May 6, 2024 at 4:53 pm

    

    Capt. Kirk Waltz PRO

    • Enterprise Fishing Charters
    • (904) 626-1128

    

    The month of May should begin to turn the corner for us here on the First Coast. The last few weeks of April brought some up and down weather especially with the several fronts that brought some serious windage. This change affected the arrival of many of our spring predators that typically follow bait schools that will move in for the summer. Look for pogies to show enmasse in the next few weeks on the beaches outside of the St. Johns River jetties at Mayport, there were some small pods that pushed through already. These big schools in turn will attract schools of marauding jack crevalle, cobia, bull reds, sharks, and even a few kingfish. Grab a net full of these tasty baits and pitch them right back into the schools for a quick strike. I like to use a fairly stout spinning rod like a Shimano Teramar 7’6’ Rod with a Shimano Saragosa 6000 and 40-60lb braid on a Carolina rig. You can also slow troll these baits behind the boat just outside of the pods using a short wire leader king rig for great results.

    The big question of the month will be cobia and will the manta rays show, though a few small numbers did show the final week of the month. If calm seas allow it look for the manta rays to come thru and the cobia to tag along. Pogies are good baits for this as well as jumbo shrimp or squid. All this bait will begin to start our ventures to the party grounds for striking fish. Look for good numbers of kings, sharks, cudas, cobia, bonita, and even a few sailfish. Deplore the pogies on our local reefs and wrecks by slow trolling or drop them on the bottom for a quick strike on red snapper, sea bass, and other wreck fish. Good numbers of these should still be around through May.

    The rocks at Mayport should be on fire this month. Because of the late cold weather the sheepshead fishing should be excellent. Redfish, black drum, blues, Spanish, ringtails, and sea bass will all be on the feed bag around the rocks. Shrimp and fiddlers are good choices as well as a piece of cut blue crab to be effective. Pogies are also great bait around the rocks for bruiser reds and large bluefish this month too! I like a nice 3/8oz jig pitched on the rock edges or soak the baits deep on the edges in 36 ft of water on a stiff rod deploying a Carolina rig or 3-way swivel.There should also be some huge, big black drum around so don’t hesitate to drop down some cut blue crab for these dinosaurs.

    The Mayport basin back to the ICW and little jetties will be good. Look for jacks, sheepshead, trout, black drum, and reds, on the river edges, oyster bars, rock piles, and deep drops. I caught quite a few bull reds on the edges of the river and think they will still be around. Run the beach for pogies and then dash back into the river. Soak them on the river channel edges around the little jetties. The big reds love them.

    Listen to the Outdoors Show from 7-10am every Sat for reports, weather, and tides on 1010am or 92.5fm. Look at Enterprise Fishing Charters for info on how to book a charter. I can be reached at 904-626-1128 for booking arrangements or if you prefer find us on Facebook and Instagram.

    Whether it's inshore or offshore, light tackle or heavy tackle, it's time that you contact Enterprise Fishing Charters to book your trip of a lifetime. Call to book a trip, or visit Enterprise Fishing Charters on the web.

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