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PC/PCB Fishing Report 4-2-26
If you haven’t heard yet… THE SPANISH ARE HERE! And not just a few, big numbers have moved in and they are absolutely feeding hard. You’ll find them all over the usual spots, plus around the port, City Marina, and pushing up the Intracoastal toward the Tyndall Bridge. They’re stacked from Courtney Point to the pass, behind Shell Island, and even around the old Tyndall golf course area.
Look for diving birds over schools of rain minnows, that’s the key right now. They’re gorging so much you might end up with a boat full of spit up bait after landing a few. As for lures, it’s wide open. Clark Spoons are leading the charge, but anything shiny is getting crushed. Gotchas, diamond jigs, small plugs, and even Christmas tree rigs are producing multiple hookups.
If you want the most fun bite going, throw a topwater like a Chug Bug with a short 40lb mono leader. Find a school, stop, and cast. It’s explosive, visual, and about as exciting as it gets.
Bay Fishing
While everyone is chasing Spanish, trout and redfish are cruising the bay with less pressure on them. Reds are pushing the flats and trout are active as well. With tides improving after the neap phase, conditions should only get better heading into the weekend.
Sheepshead are still in the pass, though rough winds have limited reports near the tip. If you can safely get out there, they should be waiting.
Surf Fishing
Things slowed briefly, but the bite is picking back up. Nice pompano are starting to show, with peeled shrimp paired with Fishbites or Fishgum leading the way. Early season still favors shrimp, though sandfleas will take over once they become more consistent.
Keep shrimp on hand, whiting and redfish will stay on it regardless.
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Pier Fishing
Spanish mackerel and squid are the stars right now, so expect some crowds. Gotcha plugs with a short 40lb mono leader are working great. If you want to slow things down, try a bubble rig with a spoon or straw underneath. It is similar to a popping cork setup but more subtle.
Squid action has been strong this year, and they’re readily available if you have the right jigs.
Pompano are beginning to show, along with some redfish in the shallows. No cobia yet locally, but a few have been caught on piers to the west, so it is only a matter of time.
Bottom Fishing
High winds kept many boats tied up, but those who made early runs crushed it. Vermillion snapper, red grouper, and mangrove snapper have all been chewing.
Target hard bottom in 90 to 110 feet with a simple two hook chicken rig and squid. Save your vermillion, ruby lips, for bigger drop baits. It has been a very productive, straightforward bite.
Nearshore Trolling
Spanish are the main attraction here too. Troll just about anything that resembles a baitfish along the second sandbar. Look for birds and bait, run 4 to 6 oz of lead with about 10 feet of 40lb mono, and you are in business.
Offshore Fishing
Winds have made it tough, keeping most boats in the bay or at the dock. When it lays down, expect things to fire right back up.
