Area Fishing Forecast

FRESHWATER: Try the Butler Chain for crappie and bass. Look for schools of crappie in open waters and use minnows and jigs tipped with minnows. Look in shallow waters throughout the chain for bass. Some fish will be on beds; others will be staging in waters near the shoreline. Treat all these fish with care during the spawn.

SALTWATER: Try the Pelican Flats out of Port Canaveral for a mixed bag. Troll ballyhoo or drift with live baits for king mackerel, blackfin tuna and a few sailfish. Plenty of bonito will be in the mix. Look for anything floating on the surface and cobia and tripletail could be nearby. Jigging structure also works well for cobia.

Note: Tides on back page of Local Section.