And make sure to fish around bait pods in the river. Something is always hanging by them waiting for an easy meal.

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I was right.

Thanks for the input! At work now and not sure when I'll get back home yet. Can't wait to put that I-pilot to work. When the temps cool off over the next few months how should I be changing my fishing strategies inshore? Shallower or deeper?

This site is helpful too. I don't think solunar tables are the gospel, but they definitely have an effect in my experience. (especially on "New" moons) tide/moon tables

Edited: 10/25/2018 at 08:00 AM by Plan B

Do you guys use live or dead bait also? Been catching nothing but catfish in the river in Cocoa Beach. Tried live shrimp and ended up not even getting a bite. We are new to fishing also and haven't had any luck. They should seriously make a fishing lure/rig guide and how to fish them.

Unfortunately, in the past year or 2 I've only been fishing a fraction of the amount I used to (that'll change again soon) but inshore I use artificials 95% of the time (mostly because I like the challenge and ongoing activity... plus I mostly fish from my kayak, so dealing with bait is an extra PIA) but if I was to use bait, live for sure (I only use dead bait for surf fishing, or when fish are really lazy (drum in cold or hot water, etc) to avoid the trash fish. "Gulp minnows" would be a good lure to start with (theyre almost like bait anyway )

Edited: 10/29/2018 at 07:41 AM by Plan B

^ good advice from Plan B...you could also do an Inlet Drift, get a few blue crabs and drill a small hole on one side of the shell; get a bottom fishing rod with heavy weight line, steel leader, etc. Drop the crab over and spend the next 30-45 mins fighting large fish. . Or fish the inside inlet out of the channel for fish you can actually eat (Mangrove snapper) but that is usually a summer time event. Never had too much fun on the river, Jacks, are fun to catch but I do not eat them (or anything else out of the river). The inlet drift you cannot do solo, always need someone at the helm...Good Luck... . Not sure if I'd take an 18' Panga offshore but if you have all the safety gear, and back ups to those , ditch bag, raft with even more radio backup(s), a Sea Tow membership and TRIM TABS you can get out to the fishing grounds but it will be a rough ride...Maybe just target the Bethel Buoy to start?

Edited: 10/29/2018 at 01:14 PM by SurferMic

If you pick-and-choose your days, I'd definitely take out a 18 Panga. I used to take an old 17 Whaler within 10 miles+ chasing kings and such. Granted mostly spring-summer when its flat.... chase tarpon, kings and cobes. And in May if you're really lucky a wahoo or sail

Your boat will be able to handle a lot offshore. I have been fishing out of my pangamarine 18 skiff for 10 years. I fish up and down the whole coast. I have been on the water my whole life so I take all the precautions and watch the weather when i plan on going out in the ocean. I have fished my boat as far as 35 miles out. Since you don't have any offshore experience, I would recommend when you start going offshore, maybe your first couple of times go out of canaveral inlet or fort pierce inlet. Make sure the seas are no more than 2 feet. Sebastian inlet can be a bitch and if you have no experience, it could get bad fast. It may be fine going out but coming back if the waves are against the current, situations like that can make it sporty. Read up on the hulltruth about safety equipment to carry and things like that. Fishing inshore in the boat is a no problem either. I have fished the inshore areas around sebastian several times and the boat can go all over in those areas. Get a top spot map of whatever area you plan to fish so you can learn the area and a gps to know where you are with a marine chip to give you bottom contours.