Palm Beach Report

INSHORE

     The best beach fishing along the Treasure Coast this week has been at Walton Rocks, where big numbers of snook have been caught. Tarpon and jacks are also biting.

     Whiting and croaker are pretty thick at all the beaches, and they are there throughout the day, although the best action is at high tide.

     There's plenty going on in the Indian River but it's a very early bite now. Very early! Schools of permit are showing up on the west side of the river, and there are big snook on the west side as well.

     Fishing the bridges at night has also been productive. Black drum, sheepshead, flounder, snapper and, of course, snook are all biting Shrimp seems to be working best.

     The beach fishing has slowed along Jupiter but there is a great snook and mangrove snapper bite at the Juno Beach Pier. Mangrove snapper are being caught at the jetty near the Jupiter Inlet.

     There haven't been many anglers fishing in the Intracoastal Waterway, but there are still snaook being caught near bridges and docks at night - that's the case from Jupiter to Boca Raton.

     The inshore action has been rather slow in central and southern Palm Beach County, but you can always try your luck at the bridges and docks. Some nice snook have also beein hooked in the area's channels and spillways.

     Remember, snook season opens on Sept. 1, so the wait is almost over.

                                                 photo courtesy of christinaweberfishing.com

FRESHWATER

     It's awfully hot on Lake Okeechobee this time of year, but if you get out on the water early enough - well before sunrise - you can catch quite a few bass. However, if you're still out there past9 a.m., you're probably wasting your time.

     Bass are biting out in the main lake early, but the later it gets, the more likely you are to catch them along the outside edges and back in the grass. Artificial lures are actually working a bit better than live shiners right now, but if you're out there at the right time and you set up in the right spot, you should have success either way.

     Guides are still putting their clients on about 20-30 bass on a morning trip, and there have been some bass over 5 pounds reported this week.