Port Canaveral, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, and Orlando

Last Month’s Action
Like I stated in my February report, we were going to have to work hard to make it happen and that is exactly what we had to do. February was tough and I for one am glad to see it go bye bye. The near shore fishing was decent, especially the pompano bite. The port and all structure in and outside of it was holding sheepshead, black drum, spanish mackerel and triple tail. Shark fishing was decent toward the end of the month. Finetooth sharks and my personal favorite the big gnarly sand tigers made several appearances. Offshore was brutal, some were calling a early mahi run and while I can agree we had a couple decent days I wouldn’t call it a run. If you drag baits long enough in the stream it doesn’t matter what time of year it is your bound to catch a couple and that is exactly what we did. Amberjacks wanted to be day savers but we couldn’t get many past the sharks. The bottom fishing was a lot of fun and a solid go to for those wanting to just bend rods. We always have a bunch of red snappers to release but I haven’t seen this many quality lane snappers in a very long time. Overall February worked itself out like always but I am glad March is here. Check out the Port Canaveral March Fishing Forecast below.

March Near Shore Fishing Forecast
March is a great month for those looking to take the family fishing. Spring Break is quickly approaching, the waters are calming and the fishing in close is great. Surf fishing, taking your own boat, public access parks or chartering will provide great action if you just keep it simple. I really want to stress this point. Keep fishing simple and don’t suck the fun out of it. Honestly any spinning rod with a chicken rig or what is known as a pompano rig, a bucket of live shrimp, and a cooler packed with drinks and snacks you have the makings for some fun time on the water. This set up will provide nonstop action wherever you go, doesn’t break the bank and will probably score you dinner in addition to fun family memory’s. Any local bait and tackle shop will help you get set up or feel free to contact us here at Sea Leveler, Cory at All Water Adventures, Dustin at Time & Tide Tours. We can point you in the right direction. We want to see families enjoying the water this Spring Break. Pompano, spanish mackerel, sheepshead, black drum, whiting, jacks, bluefish, mangrove snappers will all be abundant. Triple tail fishing will be red hot now that the water is getting right and everyone’s top fish for March the almighty cobia has big potential this month. Unusually cold water might be just what we needed to have a great season.

March Offshore Fishing Forecast
Cobia will be on everyone’s mind. Will we have a decent season this year? My gut is telling me yes. My only reasoning is the last handful of years have been terrible for cobia but we have some unusually cold water that stuck around this year. I am guessing the cold water is because of this polar vortex, whatever the heck that is. We needed something different and now we have it so let’s be optimistic. As soon as that water creeps to that 67, 68 degree mark the cobia will be holding at that temperature like being stopped by a wall. With the shallow water shoals found off of Canaveral that can be warmed by the sun and the cold water looming just to the North of us we fall into the perfect cobia stopping ground. Just find that magic temperature and you will find cobia. I do believe we will continue to see some mahi because of the warm gulf-stream water forming up tight to the colder inshore waters. This is not a early run it is just the advantage of a hard edge. Anytime you get well defined current edges, temperature changes, or color changes you will find fish. The main reefs will be where it is at. The bottom fishing for lane snapper, mangrove snapper, trigger fish, vermilion snapper and of course red snapper has been fantastic. We will also see our king mackerel show back up any day and my guess will be right at the same time as the cobia. This will be a good March it might just need a week or so to get to the correct temperature but look out when it happens. We have a great forecast to start the month with so it should be easy from here on out.

Captain Greg Rapp – Sealeveler Sport Fishing Charters
Captain Greg has been fishing the waters of Port Canaveral and the Atlantic for over 30 years. He has the largest and most highly rated private charter business in Port Canaveral, Florida. Greg and his team of full time captains fish well over 200 days each per year. They keep a detailed catch history for every trip ran since 2010. You can access this history at www.sealeveler.com/reports. His engineer wife, Amber, has analyzed the catch history along with other historical data such as water temperature and weather patterns. Greg uses his fishing experience and knowledge along with his wife’s statistical analysis to bring you the best fishing report available for Port Canaveral. Greg will give you the honest truth on how the fishing has been along with his best prediction of what to expect by using all of this information.

Capt. Gregg Rapp
Sealeveler Fishing Charters
Port Canaveral, Florida
321-794-3474

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Interested in fishing on Florida’s west coast? Check out Captain Travis
March Tampa Bay Fishing Report