Florida fishing: Dolphin, tuna, cobia and bass are biting in the last weeks of May

As we wind our way to Memorial Day Weekend, fishing patterns seem to be slowing down a little bit. Bottom current is making fishing for grouper and snapper a little more challenging. Trollers are still finding dolphin and blackfin tuna bites, but the frequency has certainly slowed down. Even kingfish and sailfish seem to be slowing a little.

Nearshore, the big jacks are back. Use flies, light lines or poppers for the best approach to get hooked up to a lean, mean fighting machine. Early mornings are best and there will be some a tarpon, too. Look in 10-30 feet of water between Hobe Sound and the Power Plant for the biggest schools.

Florida fishing regulations and fishing season opening and closing dates:

• Gag grouper: Recreational harvest in Atlantic waters will be open May 1 through June 15, 2024. Harvest will then close for gag grouper from June 16 through May 1, 2025.

• Other grouper: Harvest opens May 1 in Atlantic waters. Includes red grouper, black grouper, scamp, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind and rock hind. Harvest closes Jan. 1, 2025.

• Greater amberjack: Harvest opened May 1.

• Red porgy: Harvest open May 1. Closes June 30.

• Snowy grouper: Harvest open May 1. Closes June 30.

• Blueline tilefish: Harvest open May 1. Closes July 18.

• Hogfish: Harvest open May 1. Closes Nov. 1.

• Alligator: Application dates for hunt season (Aug. 15-Nov. 1) limited entry permits begin May 3. More info here: MyFWC.com/license/limited-entry/apply

• Red snapper: No season dates have yet been announced by NOAA National Marine Fisheries.

• Bass: Bass at Headwaters Lake is strictly catch-and-release.

• Golden tilefish: Harvest closed March 1 in Atlantic waters. Season re-opens Jan. 1, 2025. Harvest closed based on annual catch limit set by NOAA.

• Lobster: Harvest closed March 31. Sport season (mini-season) will be July 24-25, 2024.

• Snook: Harvest open through May 31 on Atlantic coast. Harvest closed June 1-August 31.

• Spotted seatrout: Harvest opened Jan. 1. Harvest closed Nov. 1-Dec. 31.

• Cobia: Bag limit: Two fish per vessel. Size limit: 36 inches fork length. No closed season.

• Redfish: Harvest of redfish has been banned in the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon since Sept. 1, 2022. FWC will reevaluate in the future.

• Dolphin: Bag limit is 5 fish per day per angler. Vessel limit is 30 fish per day. Captain and crew may not be included in limit. Regulations in state waters began May 1, 2022.

• Flounder: Harvest opened Dec. 1, 2023. Harvest closed Oct. 15-Nov. 30.

For complete fishing regulations in Florida go to MyFWC.com.

IR Firefighters 3rd Offshore Tournament

When: June 7-8; Fishing June 8. Where: Sebastian Saltwater Marina and Restaurant. Entry: $250. Potential purse: $14,000 paid out. Species: Grouper, kingfish, dolphin, snapper. Format: Big board. Information to become a sponsor or to fish: Brad Eskew 772-643-1361, Matt Bloch 772-532-2569 or bradeskew@bellsouth.net.

Indian River County

Offshore: Dolphin and wahoo can be caught in the currents of the Gulf Stream 20-24 miles from the inlet. Use trolled ballyhoo and take one bait and drop it down 40 feet below the spread using a trolling sinker or down planer. For better results rig the ballyhoo behind a black and red Ilander lure.

Inshore: Capt. Glyn Austin of Going Coastal charters in Sebastian said there has been excellent harvest-size snook fishing around the spoil islands and shorelines. He's been using live croakers, live greenies and crabs. Jacks, trout, tarpon and sharks have been in the mix also.

Freshwater: Trophy bass catches continue out at Headwaters Lake, undoubtedly one of Florida's most remarkable bass fisheries. Remember, the bass are strictly catch and release. Also, anglers must use circle hooks when employing live bait like wild shiners. The ramp will be closed by SJRWMD June 10-20 for repairs.

St. Lucie County

Offshore: Grouper fishing has been the main activity the Fort Pierce charter boats have been engaged in since May 1. Harvest closes for gag grouper on June 15. The best depth to target gag grouper has been in 160 to 200 feet with dead sardines, cut grunts and conventional fishing gear.

Inshore: Capt. Mark Dravo of Y-B Normal charters in Fort Pierce continues to steer anglers to catches of snook, trout, redfish and tripletail. Moving tide is best, especially outgoing at certain spots around structure. Live sardines and pilchards are hard to beat for best baits. Tripletail prefer live shrimp.

Surf: Pompano have gone up the beach, so don't expect to find that many. Most are shorts. Whiting however have been caught during the end of the incoming tide on casts to the sand bar.

Martin County

Offshore: Melissa Fox of Salt Strong caught a 40-pound cobia while fishing with her father Leonard in 70 feet of water off St. Lucie Inlet recently. Mutton snapper fishing has been steady in 65-75 feet of water along the Loran Tower Ledge and Six Mile Reef, too. Use dead sardines and long fluorocarbon leaders. Jacks are closer to shore, but in 10-30 feet of water.

Inshore: Snook fishing is leading the bite right now. Big fish are still upriver looking for mullet and bluegill to fatten up for spawning season beginning with the moons in June. Tripletail can be caught on shrimp off of bridge fenders and channel markers.

Lake Okeechobee

Use beetlespins, crickets and red worms to catch bluegill and shellcracker around the entrance of Harney Pond Canal to the lake near Lakeport. Bass fishing has been pretty steady as the lake nears a level of 13 feet.

Ed Killer writes about fishing for TCPalm. Email him at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida fishing: Dolphin, cobia, bass biting in the last weeks of May