Fishing Report: Huge black drum being caught in river


Fishing is one of the few sporting activities left on the table and anglers are taking advantage of the opportunity.
SURF, PIERS: As long as Volusia County beaches stay open, fishermen will continue to work those waters along the shoreline. Gene Lytwyn at The Fishin’ Hole said the water is fine for fishing. “Our unprecedented streak of warm weather has escalated fishing to new heights,” he said. “Surf and ocean pier fishermen have tangled with some line-stretching large bluefish.”
In addition to blues, anglers have been catching a wide variety of fish including whiting, pompano, Spanish mackerel and one cobia. The Flagler Beach Pier is closed because of the coronavirus outbreak. There is an extremely limited area to fish from the Daytona Beach Pier. The Sunglow Pier in Daytona Beach Shores remains open to the public.
OFFSHORE: The sea has been calm in recent days. The hot catch offshore right now is cobia. These are both local fish and cobia migrating with rays. “We have seen quite a few cobia caught in the last week,” Lytwyn said. “I saw a picture of a brute that weighed 62 pounds.” Anglers going out on the troll are bringing dolphin, wahoo and tuna back to the dock. Bottom fishing has been solid, too. The primary catch has been triggerfish, black sea bass and vermilion snapper.
PONCE INLET, HALIFAX RIVER: Capt. Fred Robert (fishing-guy.com) has been catching a slew of oversized redfish in the inlet. He also caught a pile of mackerel in one recent outing. Capt. Jeff Patterson (smallboatbigfish.com) said the Halifax River is loaded up with bait fish right now. Patterson said the river water temperature has gone from the 60s to a recent reading of 79 degrees. “We landed a decent flounder and missed another in the Halifax using mud minnows,” he said. “We did pick up a Spanish mackerel, too, on an oyster bar near the channel.” Lytwyn reports his customers are getting on sheepshead, mangrove snapper, bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Most of the action is around the bridges and dock areas. “In the backcountry creeks they’re catching snook and redfish,” he added.
TOMOKA BASIN, RIVER: Capt. Kent Gibbens (backcountrycaptain.com) said water temps are on the rise and the best bite has been early in the morning. “We has caught a few redfish and trout, mostly fly fishing,” he said. “The trout are in the 2-pound range.” Gibbens said snook are hanging out up the river “but is takes a lot of hunting to find them.” Patterson has fished this area, too. “The basin has been very hit or miss for me,” he said. “Redfish one day; can't find them the next. We’re doing the best using live mullet.” He said bait fish are stacking up in the basin.
MOSQUITO LAGOON, INDIAN RIVER: This area has come alive, according to a couple of regulars. Capt. Michael Savedow (edgewaterriverguide.com) said he ventured into the Edgewater Backcountry and one of his clients landed a 30-pound tarpon. Other catches include speckled and silver trout, mangrove snapper, sheepshead, black drum, jacks and ladyfish. Capt. Brad Kayholm (whambamcharters.com) is working the lagoon and nabbing giant black drum. “Shrimp and crab are always my go-to baits to get these belly crawlers to take a bite and when they do hang on!”
MATANZAS INLET, RIVER: Keeper-size redfish and sheepshead were the primary catch at last report from this area.
ST. JOHNS RIVER: Capt. Bryn Adams at Highland Park Fish Camp in DeLand sent this quick assessment of freshwater fishing. “Bass fishing remains strong, especially on the main St. Johns River,” she said. “Both live bait and artificial is working right now and we're still seeing some big fish coming in, up to 9 pounds. Water levels are low but still manageable.”
SEND PHOTOS: We want to see your most recent catch. Email your fish photos to godwin.kelly@news-jrnl.com. Be sure to include type of fish, size of fish (weight and/or length), where the fish was caught, first and last names and hometown of angler who caught the fish, and first and last name of person who took the photo. If a child is in the photo, please include their age. The News-Journal will use one or two photos in print each week and the other photos submitted will go into the online gallery called “Readers Fish Photos.”