Last Updated on May 7, 2026 by Capt. Bucky
Well, the bait is really starting to show up on the flats. No more long runs in the dark. Along with the influx of bait everything else is following suit. We have had an influx of fish, consistent stronger tides and water levels are up. No more negative low tides to deal with. May, like April, is such a great time to be out on the water. It is starting to get hot, but we still get nice breezes this time of year.
Tarpon have shown up, and will be here for the next 4 or 5 months as they make their annual migration. The main push of tarpon will be from now until late June/July, but they will remain in our area all summer for months until the water starts to cool off again. While, I don’t do the typical tarpon fishing, I do have secluded spots and local bridges that hold a great deal of fish. Fish can range from 10 to 20 pounds all the way up in to the hundreds.
The trout bite has been really picking up in my area and we have caught a handful of bigger trout in the 22 to 24-inch range. Most of the trout have been coming off of white bait or throwing soft plastics on a jig head. Curly tails, paddle tails, suspending twitch baits, and darting lures like the Lil John on a jig head are a sure way to put numbers in the boat. Smaller size white bait has been the key as well as adding a small spilt shot to get that bait down and out of the way of the ladyfish and mackerel. Trout limits in west central Florida are 3 per person from 15 to 19 inches, or 2 with one over 19. I really wish they would change it to none under and non over the slot limit. The way it is now still allows anyone to kill a big beautiful trout.
Jacks, ladyfish, and mackerel are everywhere. This is a great time for kids to get out there as there is always somewhere you can go for plenty of rod bending action. Our last trip, I had 4 adults on the boat and for an hour we were doubling, tripling, and quadrupling up on jacks and mackerel. It was non-stop action. I stopped counting after 50 something, but they just kept coming.
Snook and redfish bite has been decent. What we really need is rain, rain, and more rain. Rain will for one thing cool of the water temps a bit, which have been in the low to mid 80s already, but it will also lower the salinity. As fresh water mixes with the salt water the salinity levels will drop and that will force these snook and redfish out from the creeks and canals. Couple that will higher water levels and you will once again be able to pound the mangroves with complete confidence.
Snook are approaching their spawning time. They will head out to the beaches and passes in great numbers as well as on to the flats and flats adjacent. May and June have been the best time to catch trophy sized snook. Snook change sexes as they reach sexual maturity, changing from males to females. So, all those big snook you catch are most likely female and should be handled with the up most care. Limit your time handling them and make sure you spend plenty of time reviving them after their brutal hard fights. Upscaling tackle to make shorter fights may be necessary for the health of the fish. Oh and keep your head on a swivel, because nothing is worse than releasing a beautiful snook or redfish only to watch them fall pray to Dolphins. Dolphins are the worse!! They can come crashing in from nowhere and ruin your bite.
I have had a few calls recently with people asking for guarantees that they will catch fish. Now while it has been longer than I can remember since I have been skunked, and there are those days you struggle more than others, but there are no guarantees. I can guarantee you that I will work hard and try harder to put you on fish. I always say that being a fishing guide is guessing wrong so many times that you just guess wrong less frequently. LOL. Fishing is fun!
