The ultimate guide to fishing in May

May is one of my favorite months to fish.

 

The weather is ideal. Warm enough to fish in shorts and a T-shirt but not scorching hot like in August.

 

In addition to the great weather conditions, pretty much all the inshore, nearshore, and offshore species of fish are available.

 

Inshore: Our year-round residents, trout and redfish, are abundant and hungry. They are joined by flounder, sheepshead, and Spanish mackerel that are returning to the harbor from their winter homes. Nice weather and lots of hungry fish. May is a hard month to beat.

 

Nearshore: Cobia and spadefish are taking up summer residence around artificial reefs and natural ledges. Both are ravenous. In May, a cobia will eat just about anything. I guess that is how they get so large. Spadefish have a definitive preference for cannonball jellyfish. If you go fishing near an artificial reef, you will definitely see them and probably catch a few.

 

Offshore: The pelagic species are back. May kicks off the offshore fishing season. Mahi-mahi and blackfin tuna are seemingly everywhere. Marlin and sailfish, while less abundant, are available in good numbers.

 

If offshore conditions are calm, Elliott, Brody, the amazing fish-finding and stock-trading dog, and I will target marlin and sailfish. When fishing for billfish, we often accidentally catch mahi-mahi, blackfin tuna, and wahoo. In May, we eat a lot of fish tacos and sashimi!

 

If it is rough offshore, we will often target cobia in nearshore waters with slow-pitch jigs. Cobias are a lot like Brody. They are brown, will literally eat anything, and never get full. We target cobia with slow-pitch jigs.

 

If it is really rough nearshore, we will harass inshore species or go surfing.

 

Great weather. So many choices. Yes, May is one of my favorite months to fish!

 

Contact Captain Greg Peralta at captgregp@gmail.com or call (843) 224-0099.