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Friday, February 27, 2015

Sebastian Inlet Report


02-27-15 FRIDAY: SLOW ACTION 

We thought spring was right around the corner, but it doesn't feel like it today. Winds are blowing out of the North-Northwest at 17 mph, gusting to 25 and it's chilly out on the jetties. The skies are gray and cloudy and it's expected to stay that way throughout the day. NOAA has issued a small craft advisory for winds in effect this evening and a small craft advisory this evening through Sunday evening. It looks like our boaters will probably stay at the dock this weekend. 

We are still experiencing a slow bite at the inlet. A smattering of Snook, Reds, Blues, Pompano, Black Drum, Sheepshead and Trout are making sporadic appearances but overall, luck is playing a big part. The first two hours of the incoming or outgoing tide seem to be the most productive. We spoke with Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop and he did get some live shrimp delivered yesterday. Shrimp were scarce earlier this week due to the cold weather.

Our first photo today is courtesy of Pete Ghirghi of Winter Park. Pete sent in this photo of his 17 year old son, Nick who landed this beautiful Redfish on a chilly February night last year. This nice Red hit a live shrimp and was quickly released unharmed to fight another day.

From Todd / Eric @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach




INSHORE- The flats around Munyan Island and MacArthur State Park produced a few snook and pompano this week, along with other assorted species.  LIve shrimp(which have been tough to come by) under a popping cork remains a great tactic for catching a nice mixed bag.  Pompano can also be caught on a light goofy jig or Vudu shrimp.  The snook are laying up around dark bottom to soak up some warmth, but generally won't pass up an easy meal.  A nicely placed shrimp lure (or a fly) rarely goes unnoticed by a snook soaking up some sun.  The Loxahatchee River is also holding fair numbers of Snook and a few Pompano.  Not much to report (at least that we've heard about) from the Hobe Sound Flats.  Snook fishing around the bridges remains pretty good at night.  Shrimp Jigs and soft plastic shrimp tails (like the DDX Obese Shrimp) are a good choice.

SURF/PIER- Surf and pier action remained steady this week.  Bluefish continued to bite well early in the morning and late in the afternoon on silver spoons and cut mullet.  Pompano action remains very good north of Jupiter Inlet, and fair to the south.  Anglers spending time on the beach with sandfleas, clams, and fishbites in the water are getting some pompano bites for sure.  Scattered schools of Spanish Mackerel have been moving around the Juno Beach PIer, and have been fairly willing to grab a gotcha plug.  Lots of spinner sharks around right now.  A nice fresh chunk of bait will usually not go unnoticed by a hungry shark for long.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Sebastian Inlet Report



02-26-15 THURSDAY: CLOUDY, RAINY AND WINDY CONDITIONS 

We have we heavy, gray clouds hanging over the inlet this morning. Winds are blowing out of the Southwest at 17 mph, gusting to 22 and there is a moderate chop on the water. The forecast is calling for a day of clouds and potential rain. Sometimes the fish bite best in this kind of weather, throw on a rain coat and head to the inlet!

We don't have many folks out fishing this morning but Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reported that there have been varied, scattered species landed. Black Drum, Reds, Snook, Trout, Sheepshead and small Blues have been landed from the north jetty and loads of Pompano were landed off the beaches the past couple of days, but all he saw were undersized and returned. 
Our angler of the day is Jim Stafford of Jackson Hole, WY with a beautiful slot Snook he landed on  using live shrimp. 

Palm Beach


INSHORE
Bluefish and Spanish mackerel are chewing along the beaches of the Treasure Coast early in the morning, and there’s a decent pompano bite south of the St. Lucie Inlet. The bluefish and Spanish mackerel are biting throughout the day, but the pompano bite is best a high tide, usually from mid-morning to around noon.
Trout and redfish are being caught on the west side of the Indian River, and there are black drum everywhere. Snook have been very active around the bridges, especially at night. The Roosevelt Bridge has been the most productive.
There are big numbers of pompano and bluefish running the beaches in Jupiter. The fish are there all day, but the bite does seem to turn on and off at times.
In the Intracoastal Waterway, fishing the flats — such as the Marker 42 area — has been best. Jacks, pompano, and lane and mangrove snapper are all being caught.
The inshore bite has been slow in central and southern Palm Beach County, but fishing bridges and docks is always a good bet. There are resident snook around, and there are also Spanish mackerel, jacks and ladyfish around.

FRESHWATER
The best fishing is still along the outside edges and back in the grass, which has been much easier to do since the wind has lied down. The East Wall has still been a hot spot for anglers fishing the south end of the lake near Clewiston.
Good numbers of bass are being caught, and the bite is good throughout the day. Some good size fish have also been reported, including several over 6 pounds.
Live shiners and artificial lures are both working well, but the shiners still get the edge at this point.
story courtesy of The Palm Beach Post

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Snook 

The perennial favorite gamefish, snook. As most anglers know, snook experienced a wicked cold-kill in 2010, and with our recent cold snap, they may have been injured again. No recent reports are available yet, but so far, it appears that the population is still fairly healthy.

Many anglers will continue to practice catch-and-release even during the open season. This attitude stems from the grass-roots movement of the past several years to respect the fishery and not take more than you can eat when fishing certain species.
This is simply a terrific attitude displayed by most recreational anglers and by the guides who take tourists on snook hunts. If the day comes when we have as many snook in the Gulf and backwaters as Lake Utah has carp, then anglers can have a snook-bake to end all snook bakes.
But the catch-and-release movement is so popular now, that it seems a fine equilibrium has been achieved through the efforts of agencies such as the FWC and also by everyday Joe-Fisherman paying respect to his aquatic backyard.

Some Important Facts About Snook

Toleration - Snook cannot tolerate water temperatures below 60˚F. Also, snook can tolerate wholly fresh or saltwater. Currently, on Feb. 21, 2015, water temperatures in St. Petersburg are about 63 degrees, while further north, in Pensacola, they are 51 degrees. Based on this information, anglers may have a cold day finding snook on opening day, March 1. But a warming trend is upon us, and by the time we hit mid-week March 4th, the snook will likely be navigating the waters where they usually are found.

Habitat -- Snook are found from central Florida south, usually inshore in coastal and brackish waters. They are also common along mangrove shorelines, seawalls, and bridges. Snook are also on reefs and around pilings nearshore.
Behavior -- They congregate in large schools during summer in deep passes and inlets to spawn. Snook begin life as males, but between 18 and 22 inches long some become females. Spawning occurs primarily in summer. Snook school along shore and in passes during spawning season. They feed on fish and large crustaceans.
State Record -- 44 lbs., 3 oz., caught near Ft. Myers, FL.
Fishing Tips and Facts -- Snook will orient themselves to face moving water and wait for prey to be carried down the current. Snook jump clear of the water, and burst into long runs. Use live pinfish, small mullet, shrimp, or sardines free-lined or fished off the bottom with a fish finder rig. They take a large variety of lures based on water conditions. Beware of the snook's razor-sharp gill covers! 
Limits -- In the Gulf, anglers may keep one snook per day that is not less than 28 or more than 33 inches total length, which is measured from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed while the fish is lying on its side. A snook permit is required to keep snook, along with a saltwater fishing license unless exempt from the license requirements. Only hook-and-line gear is allowed when targeting or harvesting snook.

Sebastian Inlet Report

02-25-15 WEDNESDAY: TROUT, BLACK DRUM, SHEEPSHEAD, BLUES, SNOOK, POMPANO AND WHITING 

We have gray, cloudy skies over the inlet this morning and it's not expected to get much better through the day. This morning we have a steady wind blowing out of the North-Northeast at 7 mph and the water is choppy. Winds are expected to increase this afternoon and NOAA has issued a small craft advisory for winds in effect from this evening through Thursday morning. 

The good news is that the water temperature has risen a few degrees over the past day and hopefully that trend will continue. Spotty catches of Snook, Black Drum, Sheepshead, small Blues, Trout and a few Pompano and Whiting have been landed in the surf over the past few days. We understand that inlet regulars Chuck Fischer of Satellite Beach and Tony Swiderski of Sebastian both landed slot Snook off the north jetty on Monday. 

Our angler of the day is Lisa Morely of Newport News, VA. Lisa and her husband were happy to escape the snow for a few days for a trip to the inlet. Lisa landed a 16" Black Drum, her first! 

From Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart


STILL A FEW SNOOK BEING CAUGHT IN THAT ILLUSTRIOUS SLOT LIMIT AROUND THE BRIDGES AND JETTYS. THE RECENT COLD SNAP CAUSED A BIT OF A BITE IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. LOOKING SOUTH IN THE RIVER SOME POMPANOS HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE RIVER SKIPPING OFF THE FLATS AS WELL AS JAYCEE PARK AND THE INLET. REPORTS OF SOME NICE SIZED TROUT BEING CAUGHT SOUTH IN THE RIVER IN STUART AND NEAR THE POWER PLANT. SOME REDS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED NORTH OF HARBOR BRANCH ON THE WEST SIDE RECENTLY AS WELL.
photo courtesy of Gus Montoya@DOA Lures

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Sebastian Inlet Report


 02-24-15 TUESDAY: SPOTTY CATCHES OF SNOOK, TROUT, SHEEPSHEAD, BLACK DRUM AND POMPANO 

What a beautiful morning at the Sebastian Inlet. Winds are blowing out of the West at 4 mph, gusting to 6 and there is a light chop on the water. It looks like a great day to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather and with a little luck maybe even catch a fish!

Fishing has picked up a little. We've seen more activity over the past few days with catches of Trout, Sheepshead, Black Drum, Snook and Pompano but catches remain spotty. It's all about being at the right place at the right time. Spring is right around the corner and we should start seeing the action increase soon. 

Our photo today is courtesy of Sally Baughman of Jackson Hole, WY. Sally took this shot of Jim Stafford of Jackson Hole measuring a Snook he landed on live pinfish yesterday. Unfortunately for Jim the Snook was over the slot and was returned to the water to fight another day.

From John @ Moon Light Charters /Stuart Angler

Inshore, we have incoming tide all morning to try for trout and redfish in the Indian River. Lots of sheepshead and black drum have been caught along causeways and inlet with the occasional pompano. Mackerel are still . 

Sebastian Inlet Report

02-23-15 MONDAY: SMALL BLUES, SNOOK, SHEEPSHEAD AND DRUM 

While the weather warmed up over the weekend for the anglers, the water temperature remains a chilly 63 degrees. This has caused a real problem for the bait shrimp harvesters. The shrimp have buried up around the State making them scarce to net. The lack of live shrimp for bait have forced anglers to resort to other offerings. Reports from the weekend include an 8 lb. Spotted Seatrout caught on a plug. Also, a huge (50 lb. range) Snook was hauled in on a plug and released. A few big Reds are hitting plugs as well.

For those able to find and capture a few Pinfish, these baits are attracting Snook and Reds. With no shrimp in the tank, frozen bait is the old reliable. There have been a good number of Sheepshead and Drum caught on the frozen stuff.

Today's photo is proof that frozen clams can provide a good response. Val Wallace caught this Pompano in the surf on Sunday as well as some good Whiting. 

From Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

Inshore there has been a few reds from Vero to Sebastian on the west shoreline most of the fish have been around Vero Shores area.The south Jetty in Ft pierce has had a few snook,pompano and flounder around live shrimp has produced the best.Sebeastion inlet has had a few flounder around with a few snook mixed in with the big reds all over.

Friday, February 20, 2015



Wade Fishing: Gear, Bait & Tackle


Not long ago we published a story about bumping into a manatee while wade fishing and mistaking it for a bull shark - not a rare event when wading. It turned out that there was nothing to fear but fear itself (and a BIG shadow in the water where we were fishing). Looking back, it was one of our funnier experiences. Shark are not one tiny bit interested in wading anglers, so fear aside, knowing how to wade fish will dramatically improve your chances of catching; you will find more fish, reach fish that a boat could not reach without having an eight foot fan hooked to its rear end, and you will catch more fish than anybody not willing to walk in the water. Wade fish and be the fish. Be the fish and you will catch more of them.
 Wading is something that can range from ankle deep to chest deep - but puts the angler in touch with the fishies in a way that a boat, pier, or simply standing on the shoreline out of the reach can not do. We're amazed at how many experienced and effective anglers have never gotten into the water with the fish. This short article will talk about the ins, outs, and getting wet.

Wading Gear: Boots to Body Armor

When we were kids (there goes that old experience thing) we used to fish with sneakers, white socks, and tight-legged blue jeans. Bell bottoms were for girls and guys with girl hair. We twisted the ends of the straight-legged and socially conservative jean legs and tucked them into our white socks, which in turn went into tight high top sneakers. You did not want to come out of your shoes on an oyster bar.
We did not carry much in the way of tackle. We used the little bait buckets with the snap-open round tops, and put a dozen or three select shrimp in them, tied them on a string to our waist, and walked into the water. We would have a small plastic box with some hooks, a loop of leader material, nail clippers, and some split shots. A pair of nail clippers served as our sole survival tool. A stringer line held our never-released catch, and we drank water before we walked. We knew where to park and never walked all that far, in reality. A mile away waist-deep in water is a real walk. Softer bottoms are worse than hard bottom, but it still takes a lot of effort to walk in the water.
As far as apparel, you have to consider a few different things:

Shoes or waders

You can pick from three different options (four if you count our blue-jean and sneakers, which still work just fine, thank you very much).
Wading boots: Wading boots make a lot of sense, and a lot of us that fish regularly have a pair. They are made of heavy-duty soft plastic and fabric, and are much like hiking boots but better. There are also soft versions which a lot of anglers find more suitable for sandy and grassy flats wading. They are almost like fishing in your bare feet - something we strongly advise you never do. Even beach anglers should consider these felt footies to protect bare (feet) bottoms.
They do not keep your feet dry. That is not what they were made to do. They are made to keep you from slipping on slimy rock and keep you from getting sliced. Despite the relative absence of slimy rock south of about Aripeka (for those of us fishing the gulf coastal waters), slimy rock or slimy concrete are something a wading angler has to consider. Cutting yourself is easy if you are fishing around oyster bars, and although razor-sharp oysters can probably cut a soft wading boot, you still have a better chance of not getting cut if you're wearing them than you do if you're not wearing them.
Good wading boots like these two are hard to beat. If you are serious about wade fishing like we are they are a great investment in comfort and safety. The ones on the top - from Cabela's - are soft and made of felt. Your alternative to felt boots -- which most of us wear - are more like hiking boots and very well suited for rockier and more slippy conditions. Oyster bars come to mind, but if you spend as much or more time on grassy and gravelly flats, the ones on the top are going to work out better for you and you'll be more comfortable. They do not keep you dry, and you're going to fall into the water at one point or another, so even if you're wearing a space suit you're going to get wet wade fishing. Keep your phone in the car and be prepared to shed your pride once in a while. But you will catch more fish - by far - than the people on the docks, decks, or shorelines. Wading is a consistent, powerful and effective method of doing our thing.
Knee/Thigh waders: If you like the scary thought of walking into the water to better access very fishy locales but are not willing to actually let your private parts enter the deep (30"???) darkness, you can use boots meant to go no higher than said privates. Called thigh boots or crotch-pinching torture devices by those of us who have fished very cold mountain streams for rainbow trout while having just wasted perfectly valid coin at a local tackle shop to own a pair, they are perfect for the two things they are designed for: keeping your feet and legs dry and pinching places on your upper thighs really not meant to be pinched.
All you need to do is step into a slightly deeper space on that grass flat, or have to step over a space between two three-ton-pieces of concrete left in the bay in the nineteen twenties and you will get wet. They will still pinch when it happens, mind you, but will let water into your socks and suddenly get very heavy.
Do we sound like we do not recommend them for fishing Florida waters - or any waters, for that matter? We mean it.
Waterboard me, OK? Although we have to figure there are some fishing conditions - a puddle of muddy water comes to mind - where these thigh-pinching wading boots work perfectly, and are worth the pain we know they impart, we don't recommend them.
Waist/Chest waders: Once again referring to fishing cold, fast streams in cold, fast states, chest deep waders will keep you dry, keep you safe from stepping on hard and sharp things, and will make you swear that you will not know if you are standing in the water or the water is standing in you. Which it is. Along with vegetarian meals and spending time at the tofu bar doing Gulf of Mexico fishy management meetings, we are not big fans of sitting or standing inside a big runner sock. We can hear the fourteen worldwide fans of wearing chest waders under our normal warm-water fishing conditions saying "they are NOT MADE OF RUBBER!" as a weak attempt at self defense. And or "They are great man!!"
A hot rubber sock is exactly what we want when we go fishing. In another universe, maybe, where the water averages forty degrees, the fish are called rainbows, and you might hook a salmon or something. Here? Not a good idea. If you feel like white trash wearing sneakers and tough tight blue jeans with the bottom tucked into white socks so the crabbies cannot crawl into your pants (!!!), you should consider boots made from felt and tough tight blue jeans. Fishing is not a fashion show, although we have had a friend say that they didn't like the color of a $50 microfabric sun-protection shirt. Only girls care about fishing fashion, and even our true friendly fishing babes like Debbie Hanson and the active angling women on our forums are more interested in lure color than blouse color.
What's best? Boots and tight jeans.

Tackle for Wade Fishing

We will talk a little bit about the inherent goodness of fly fishing while you are standing in the water, but before we talk about tackle we need to talk about flats caddies. What is a flats caddy? The key comes from the word "Caddy" - the guy or girl who carries golf balls and clubs for a golfer. In a way, that is what a flats caddy is; a non-talking friend who will not bother you while they carry your stuff. They can carry your iPad if you're nuts or have it wrapped or packaged properly, they can carry soda, tackle boxes, bait wells, and more. The coolest ones,we had ever seen were pieced together by forum members - people just like you and me - and were not manufactured on purpose or in volume. There are a definitely a few companies making very cool caddies, and if you love perfection might consider one, but we are still lovers of the homemade variety. You can make them from plastic milk crates, floating tubes designed to keep your children from sinking to the bottom of the pool, and you can make them from a host of plastic and metal things you can either get at Ace Hardware, the liquor store (caddies carry whiskey very efficiently. We know they do) or your garage. You can even get rid of that extra PVC pipe you and your wife are tripping on every year when collecting holiday lighting.
If you are gonna get serious about wade fishing, consider a caddy. This image came from the forums, and is a DIY caddy. There are commercial ones we're gonna see if we can work with a company to get you deals, and if we do we will let you know, but making a homemade fishing tackle shop like this guy did is a fun project that will take an afternoon and give you years of fishy fun.
A lot of time when you wade fish, it is in open, skinny water near structure or in the open. Either way you are very near the fish; you can turn them easier and more effectively unless you're near very deep structure where the advantage of having more leverage if you are higher in the water holds true. That means that you can use anything you want effectively. It is a great place to fish with light tackle, as long as you make sure you do not overplay and thereby over stress the fish. If you go light when you wade, fight harder and try to release the catch gently and as quickly as possible.
We already mentioned long rods - fly rods - when you are wading. Because you can get into the water and easily position yourself with wide-open space behind you, you can deploy a long cast, with plenty of room behind yourself for that most important back cast. There are lots of ways to let a fly line out; do not get us wrong, but in the keys where they catch those huge permit or bonefish, or here on open grass flats fishing for redfish, snook and trout, you can cast the furthest. Get the wind over or behind one of your shoulders and you can throw that weight-forward or torpedo line a long distance. Working those big open grass flats with a fly rod is heavenly.

Spinning Tackle...

Spinning tackle is our go-to tackle, however, they are easier to use, can swap between live and and artificials with a simple re-tie of a knot, and can be used to catch anything. We like slightly longer rods - seven or even seven-six or eight footers - with fast action. That means their bend is closer to the rod's tip and not in the middle or near the rod butt and where your hands are holding the rod. A spinning rod that feels "whippy" like a great flyrod is not great as a wade fishing tool. You cannot set the hook well if the rod is too "soft". They are cool if you need to cast a million miles, but if you are wade fishing, you can walk closer and cast shorter.

Shorter casts are fine if you are quiet. And you can never, ever, ever be as quiet floating on glass, plastic, metal, or even standing on a pier. Think about that. At some very deep core level, it is why wading is so very effective. Silence.

Baits and Lures for Wading

Baits and lures for fishing on the flats is the same as fishing from a pier or fishing from a boat or paddle craft. Live baits work better, but artificials have their own magic and will produce fish when worked right and when worked where the fish are. When we are wading we always favor live shrimp. They are easy to get just about anywhere you're likely to be walking into the water to go fishing, they stay alive while you drive them to the spot, and they will stay alive forever in one of wonderful and timeless yellow floating bait buckets. Heck - we call them shrimp buckets and always have for good reason.
If you are fishing live shrimp, tie your leader directly to the line - no terminal tackle, please. You do not need a swivel or clip. Lose them at the car before you get wet. Also, try fishing them without any weight - what we call free-lining - before you try anything else. If the water is really flowing hard, use a split shot to get the baits further down in the water column (an imaginary tube in the water with stratum - lines - where temperatures change). Change their size and get the bait deeper and deeper till the fish eat it.
                                     
Carry bobbers. Weighted popping corks increase casting distance, and the splash does not seem to spook fish for too long. Work them sort of like you would a topwater lure, popping them and waiting a minute in between pops to let the rings settle down. They can sometimes attract fish from far away when you are wade fishing.
As far as lures are concerned, the same rules apply here as they do anywhere else; you can fish topwater, you can fish suspension, or swimming lures, and you can fish with our favorite all around artificial lure: the infamous and ubiquitous jig. You can fish them with anything connected; you can put a live shrimp on them, you can put shrimp tails on them, you can put squid on them, you can put strips of smelly organic fake strip baits on them and many, many more types of bait.

A Last Thought on Walking in the Water with the Fishes...

One last thought: consider chumming. You can break a few dead and frozen shrimp from your last trip and put them in a baggy. Granted, they will stink when you open them, but you are standing alone on the water, so who cares if you and your gear stink? Same thing with squid or any smelly baits. Chop some, crush some, and take some with you. You can throw them by hand, or you can do something we learned from a girl named Emma, who you are going to meet one of these days: she throws chum using a slingshot. She does it fishing for carp on the British Isles, but she can throw chum further than anybody we have ever seen. We have to try it. I would work with any solid chum pieces like shrimp or tiny squares of chopped squid strips.

Stay Safe and Don't Wade Alone

And know one thing: if you start wading, get ready to fall into the water. Your phone, your tackle, your fish, your bait, and without question your pride are very, very likely to fall into the water in ways we're not really hoping for as a result of your reading this piece. But you will fall. You will slip, you will get your foot sucked into a bottomless sink hole, you will feel something alive touch you and panic like a seven year old girl, or you will just fall down for no good reason. Because of the surety that you will get into the water when you least expect it, never - ever - wade fish without a friend along for the walk. It's dangerous. You can slip and cut yourself, you can get bit by a bull shark (not really, but why not get your attention before you sign off?) and you can just have a better time with a fishing friend. But never go alone. You might not get home to fry that delicious 29" speckled trout you have tied to a string to attract that bull shark.

From Capt. Charlie @ Fishing Center - Ft Pierce

Coldest weather of the year has driven temperatures down into the thirties for a few nights this week and it's cold! I woke up thinking they moved Florida and didn't notify me.... Water temperatures will also plummet into the fifties for several days until the sun can get things back to normal again. Summer can't get here quick enough for me. It's been that type of winter on the Treasure Coast, but it hasn't snowed yet.

Fishing has been good when you can deal with the winds and weather conditions. We have been fishing in areas where you can get some protection from the winds and having success in the process. The best bite has been drum, sheepshead, croakers and even some nice whiting with the occasional redfish in the mix. Docks have been active when you can fish those areas. Deeper water will be the best opportunity to catch fish right now. As the sun warms things up you can find fish moving into shallower water to feed and keep warm. Pompano should love this weather along with bluefish, mackerel and a few other species. I love fishing this time of year...but it can certainly be a challenge!
Dress for conditions! It will be cold at night and warm up during the day. Some days will bring a thirty degree swing in temperatures. Have fun and be safe on the water. Winter is almost over and thing will warm back up for us.

From Todd / Eric @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach







INSHORE- Snook fishing was a little slower this week, but still enough around to keep things interesting.  If your snook fishing during the day look for them to be on dark mudflats, around docks, and along seawalls.  Snook don't like the cold, so look for areas with lots of sun that warm up quickly and the snook won't be far away.  At night look for the snook to be around bridges with deeper water and good current.  LIve shrimp, or realistic shrimp lures, are a good choice for the snook in cold conditions.  A few pompano have been caught in the Loxahatchee River this week on Doc's Goofy Jigs.  The colder weather may help push some more pompano into the river or ICW this weekend.  Lots of jacks around inshore right now to keep the rods bent.

SURF/PIER- Lots of good action in the surf this week.  Pompano fishing was very good early in the week, and a few fish will no doubt be caught into the weekend.  Bluefish invaded the Juno Beach Pier in big numbers this week.  Spoons, diamond jigs, gotcha plugs, and X-Raps will all work on the bluefish, as will a chunk of bait on a bottom rig.  Spanish mackerel moved down the beach in big numbers.  Spinner and blacktip sharks have been around in good numbers.  Lots of good surf action right now, get em while they're here!

SHOP UPDATE- ALL Custom Rods will be on Sale March 6th-March 8th.  More details over the next week as we get closer.  It'll be a good chance to grab that custom rod you've been looking for!

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Palm Beach Report


INSHORE
There are plenty of bluefish, jacks and Spanish mackerel along the beaches of the Treasure Coast. The good news is, the bite seems to be lasting throughout the day.
In the Indian River, trout and redfish are being caught, but you’ll want to fish in deeper water (3-4 feet). The bridges will keep you busy as well — black drum, sheepshead, jacks, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and plenty of snook are all in the mix.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are thick on the beaches in Jupiter, too, and there are some pompano around. When the wind picks up and the conditions get rough, head over to the Juno Beach Pier.
The fish are around all day, but avoid low tide if possible. The first three hours of the incoming or outgoing tide are the best times, and look for clean water.
The key to catching fish in the Intracoastal Waterway this week has been working the bridges and channel markers. These areas are holding ladyfish, pompano and snook. There are also a few redfish and trout around.
Those targeting Spanish mackerel and bluefish are having success in the surf off Palm Beach. There are big numbers of jacks there as well. They’re also thick in the Lake Worth/Palm Beach Inlet.
The reports from the southern end of the county have been thin this week, but you can always target bridges and dock lights in the Intracoastal at night. There are snook and jacks around, along with some small snapper.
          photo courtesy of Rod"Gatorbait" Salser
FRESHWATER
If you’re bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee, keep working those outside edges and get back in the grass — if and when the wind will allow. There are fish being hooked throughout the lake, but for the best and most consistent action, those are the spots you want to be.
The bite lasts all day, and good numbers of fish are being reported. Several large bass (over 7 pounds) have been caught as well.
Artificial lures are working well, but live shiners are definitely the bait of choice at this time.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Sebastian Inlet Report

        
02-18-15 WEDNESDAY: SNOOK, TROUT, SHEEPSHEAD BUT NOT IN HUGE NUMBERS 

We have significant cloud cover over the inlet this morning. Winds are blowing out of the Northwest at 14 mph, gusting to 24 and there is a moderate chop on the water. NOAA has issued a small craft advisory for winds through Thursday afternoon. It's a real chilly morning and we expect it to be cool over the next couple of days.

Fishing remains hit or miss. We have had a few nice fish but they have been landed by the more patient angler. The new moon is bringing us extreme tides and according to the "Farmer's Almanac" February 18 - March 5th are going to be good fishing days and it goes on to say that fish tend to feed more during high tide periods. Even though the winds are frustrating anglers with tangled lines, use a little heavier tackle and get out there and wet a line! 

Our photo today features Ko Chang who landed this big, C/R 39" Snook using live pig fish to land this beautiful Snook that was released unharmed after the photo. 
                    

The 4th Annual Melbourne Beach Women's Fishing Clinic will be proudly presented by the FWCC, Sebastian Inlet State Park and Sport Fish Restoration on Saturday March 14, 2015. Participants must be 18 years of age and have a valid saltwater fishing license unless exempt. This is a catch and release only event. Fishing equipment is loaned during the clinic but you may bring your own gear. All participants must pre-register for the event by contacting Heather Sneed at 850-617-9646 or Heather.Sneed@MyFWC.com. See photo four for the Fishing Clinic poster.

From John @ Moon Light Charters /Stuart Angler

Inshore
Snook fishing the bridges and deep channel edges continues to produce slot fish using First Light Jigs and big shrimp. Redfish and trout in the Indian River is doing nothing but picking up. The grass flats outside Little Mud Creek has been great for trout. The flats along Indian River Drive has been holding reds. The 3-5ft range on a incoming tide throwing DOA CAL jigs, spinner baits, and shrimp. The pompano continue to show up along the Crossroads and St. Lucie Inlet. Chartreuse color goofy jigs are working best.

From Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

Inshore yesterday there were a few reports of some snook in the inlet around the jetty live bait has produced well.The reds have been around the north bridge flat with a few trout mixed in.Bear point has had a few trout and pompano on the out going tide.

Sebastian Inlet Report


02-17-15 TUESDAY: SLOW 
Winds are blowing out of the Southwest at 13 mph, gusting to 18 and there is a moderate chop on the water. The weather is predicted to turn this afternoon; we could see higher wind, rain and the temperature will drop. Small craft should exercise caution and there is a NOAA advisory in effect from late tonight through Thursday afternoon.

Fishing has been on the slow side. It's all about being at the right place at the right time. Fishing the Indian River Lagoon and Sebastian River has been productive for some anglers; the cold water temperature has species looking for shallow, warmer hideouts. 
We didn't see a lot of activity over the weekend according to Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop. The prevalent species were Blues and Sheepshead with a smattering of Snook, Trout and Reds thrown into the mix. 

Our First photo today is courtesy of Pam Winegar of Palm Bay. Pam took this photo of an Egret with a tasty treat in its beak. 

The outher is of Meir Genoune of Deerfield Beach. Meir landed this big C/R Snook off the north jetty using live pinfish to land this beauty that was released unharmed right after the photo. 

From Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

Ft Pierce
Inshore there has been a few reds on the north bridge flat with some nice trout to.The pompano bite has been good in the inlet on the incoming tide and off J.C. park jigs and sandflease have produced well.The snook fishing at night has been hit or miss but there are a few fish around live bait and jigs have produced well.

Stuart
Inshore over the weekend was good with some trout and reds around back to the north around Walton road soft baits and live shrimp have produced well.There has been a few pompano reported around the sailfish flats with jacks and lady fish mixed in.The snook fishing has been good around the bridges at night with jigs on the out going tide.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Friday, February 13, 2015

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                      
02-13-15 FRIDAY: A FEW SHEEPSHEAD, REDS AND TROUT 

It's windy and cold out on the jetties this morning, winds are blowing out of the North-Northwest at 16 mph, gusting to 21 and the water is choppy. NOAA has issued a small craft advisory through late this evening. 

This week has been hit or miss at the inlet which is typical for this time of year. Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reported a slot Snook was landed off the north jetty this morning and big Reds were hitting lures on the outgoing tide yesterday. There's been some good sized Sheepshead landed, but not in huge numbers. Sheepshead are structure and crustacean lovers, shrimp, small crabs, sand fleas, clams or jigs tipped with those baits dropped near a piling, dock or similar will usually pan out. 

Our angler of the day is Sherree Falls Thornbrough of Atlanta, GA. Sherree landed this big C/R Snook while fishing the beach just south of the south jetty. This was Sherree's first Snook and she released it unharmed to fight another day. 

The Sebastian Inlet State Park will be hosting several workshops on "How to Surf Fish". The workshops will be from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., meet at the Fishing Museum on the south side of the State Park. Take a pen and notepad for taking notes. Info on rod and reel selection, rigging, baits and more! The dates are on Saturday's, February 14th (take your sweetheart), March 14th and April 11th. 

Jupiter Report

INSHORE- Snook action remains on the slow side, but those putting their time in are finding a few.  If your snook fishing during the day look for them to be laid up on dark mudflats or boat docks and seawalls with dark bottom, as they use the dark bottom to soak up some heat.  At night look for the snook to be hanging around bridges and docklights, especially those with good current and deeper water.  The Hobe Sound Flats are producing a few pompano, ladyfish, jacks, and a few spotted seatrout.  Throwing a goofy jig or drifting a live shrimp under a popping cork is a good choice for fishing the flats right now.  Scattered reports of sheepshead and a few black drum around the bridges are trickling in.



SURF/PIER- The Juno Pier had a great day yesterday; with Spanish mackerel, bluefish, pompano, jacks, and pompano all being caught.  The swell for the next few days will make surf fishing a little tough, but the later part of the weekend should be ok.  Pompano action has improved over the past week, with sandfleas and clams producing the most bites.  Blacktip and spinner sharks moving along the beach in good numbers, and are willing to bite a chunk of fresh bait pretty quickly.  

Thursday, February 12, 2015

From Capt. Charlie @ Fishing Center - Ft Pierce

Well, ol' man winter has taken over the weather on the Treasure Coast this week. Looking ahead at the forecast isn't a pretty site. I guess I will be digging out the long johns for a few days... Lots of windy days ahead will challenge any angler's fishing skills and as the water temperatures drop below our norm of mid 60's, you will face an additional test. Even though this won't be the freezing weather for a few years ago, it will force you to use all your tactics to find areas to fish productively in this weather. 

We have enjoyed the usual winter catch each week of redfish, drum, sheepshead, croakers and snapper with the added mackerel, jacks, pompano and ladyfish in the mix. Fishing channel edges, docks and mangroves have been the most productive areas for us. As water temps drop, fish deeper water for best results.


We have a few more weeks of this cold stuff before things will begin to warm up for us. I like smaller lures in winter like DOA CAL paddle tails around mangroves and docks. It's a little easier to place your lure under the mangroves where the fish like to hide. I haven't fished the grass flats as much lately with the cooler temps, but that will change very soon. Even though this weather isn't as cold as a few years ago, it can test your fishing skills. Winds, tides and water temps can be both challenging and frustrating at times. I always use winds and tides to my advantage. It will change throughout the day and you will need to make adjustments to the conditions as things change. We tend to move around much more in winter. 

Dress in layers to cope with the days weather and don't forget the sunscreen. Winter is nearly over, but the winds will remain for a while longer. Enjoy the fishing...it's much better than shoveling snow! Isn't that right Mark, who lives in Massachusetts!