PC/PCB Fishing Report 4-4-25
March went out like a lion not a lamb and now the lion is like a house guest that has overstayed their welcome! Wind is the deal, and it will be a huge factor in planning your trips. So look at your apps and plan to find areas to fish this weekend that are protected somewhat. Despite the wind there are still great options out there to catch fish. So, let’s get into it!
Bay Fishing
This week, “The Bay is The Way”! There is a lot of wind to deal with, but the bay adds some protection. The great news is that Spring has sprung and there are spanish being caught all over at times. Other times they are a bit tougher to find. The best was in the morning. They are chasing the rain minnows all over the bay. Don’t go too big with the Clarkspoon. A size “0” or “1” should better match the hatch. According to the reports, the single spoon is out fishing the mackerel trees on most occasions. Make sure you have at least 8 to 10 feet of 40lb mono or fluorocarbon between your lead and the spoon to maximize the bite opportunities.
The trout bite is very good right now! You can get them by day or night with the right tide. Captain Eric Wilkas with Semper-Fi Charters has been hitting the bay regularly with all the wind. Based on catches this week he recommends a smaller fluke. The trout are keyed in on smaller baits like the rain minnows. He said they are hitting the 3”- 4” flukes. He found them outside the creek mouths, and flats nearby. He said the morning high tides are great for this bite. He and another customer mentioned if you catch one trout, fish that area because there are more around. A customer that struggled a bit this week finlly found them and caught around 50 in an hour or so. Basically, one on every cast.
Later in the week, generally after Wednesday, the tide switches around to night highs. The docks after dark should be good. Live shrimp are the way to go since the dock lights attract shrimp and the trout are looking for them. A pinfish or other minnow might or might not get them to feed. The shrimp rarely misses. A bit of advice is to get your shrimp early in the day. With wind, sometimes the shrimp supply gets bought up. Therefore come in early and get your shrimp before they sell out. A nice aerator and bucket kept cool can keep the shrimp all day. Freeze some water bottles to put in the bucket to keep the temperature down. Avoid using ice from your fridge as it contains chlorine.
*BRAND NEW* Ghost Shrimp FishBites
Get 'em while they're hot! We now have Ghost Shrimp FishBites to pair with your bait.
In May they handed out samples to try that were actually early batches. Reports were excellent. They tweaked and improved a few things and now you absolutely should be using some on your next fishing trip to the beach.
Surf Fishing
The pompano bite is on, and the winds should not stop you from going at all. As predicted, the whiting bite has sprung back into full form with some anglers picking up 15 or so to add with their pompano caught. We will have southeast to east winds so it is fishable, but you may find a longshore current with the high wind. Make sure you go heavier with your lead up to and including sputnik style lead or it will roll and move you away from your zone. If you are fishing just a single rod, an effective way to find some fish is to use an egg or small pyramid in a carolina style rig. Allow the current to move it through a cut or down the current to a cut. Let it drift and give it line as needed but regularly get tight and lightly bump it. A peeled shrimp works great for this threaded on your hook. This is a great way to pick up some nice whiting and some pompano as well.
As always, our blanched fleas work well anytime, but there are some live fleas to be had on the beach. Peeled shrimp are great to have as well. Basically, the fish get to pick what they want so always have some shrimp, some blanched fleas, and a sand flea rake.
Fish-N-Mate Rake and Spike Carrier
This easy to attach accessory will make your next trip to the beach a whole lot easier! This Rake and Spike holder fits 4 Fish-N-Mate Sand Spikes and a Fish-N-Mate Sand Flea Rake.
Pier Fishing
The pier has been good. Pompano are being caught along with redfish, whiting, bluefish, spanish, and the old annoying catfish! As the wind settles you had better get out there early for a pompano spot. There were some limits caught in a hurry really early in the morning.
Gothcha plugs with this wind for the spanish and bluefish should work. Blanched fleas and peeled shrimp for pompano as well as our custom pompano jigs.
Bottom Fishing
The bite is good, but no one can get out with these winds. There might be an opportunity to sometime Monday, but if there is it will be a tight window. Wednesday it appears to be forecasted to settle. The fish should be hungry and cooperative. There might be a bit of extra current with all this wind for days on end. Therefore, take some extra lead. The vermillion bite, some red grouper, triggerfish, and some porgies should all be ready. Always take some squid, but other cut baits might work too as well as jigs.
Nearshore Trolling
This report has not changed except for the wind and couple of other things! It will be too rough at least through Tuesday. There should be some king mackerel showing up as well so while bottom fishing throw out a flat line with a cigar minnow. Also have a pitch rod ready or a cobia jig. With this SE wind there may be some cobia popping up.
Once the wind settles, the pass and the spots and just outside the pass near the bars are going to be best. If there are schools of rain minnows kissing the surface early in the morning, they might have schools of spanish on them. Especially if it is not too rough. The best trolling rigs will be generally a 2oz lead on one rig and a 4oz to 6oz lead. Both will be followed by an 8ft to 10ft piece of 40 lb mono of fluorocarbon, no wire. After that your lure. Some use the Christmas tree rigs and others like the Clarkspoons with the red bead. Keep heavy rig sclose and the light rigs long. This will prevent tangles when turning. Between 5-6mph is usually good. Most boats that is somewhere close to 1700-1800 rpms.
Offshore
It should be great once the wind settles a bit, but for now we have no reports and do not expect any for at least 5 days or so.
