How to hook a live shrimp for fishing the flats, Mustad How to

Sebastian Inlet Report

06-30-15 TUESDAY: SLOW BITE DURING THE DAY, A LITTLE MORE ACTION AT NIGHT It's a beautiful summer morning at the inlet. Fortunately we have some wind this morning which is helping keep our anglers cooled down. Winds are blowing out of the Southwest at 8 mph, gusting to 11 and the water is calm. Fishing remains on the slow side, particularly during the daylight hours. The fish are hiding out in cooler spots during the heat of the day, in the mangroves, holes, under docks, etc. Low light and evenings have been more productive. We spoke with SISP Manager Kevin Jones who reported the new Assistant Park Manager Zach Lozano has been having pretty good luck in the evenings using croakers he lands off the beach. Zach has been landing C/R Snook, Reds and even got a 26" Cubera Snapper on the outgoing tide.

From Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

 Inshore there has been some scattered trout and reds around by Harbor Branch to Round island and back around the Queens Cove area soft baits and live shrimp have produced well.The beach fishing has been good around the bait schools with snook tarpon and a few big jacks find the bait and you will find the fish.

Scouting Around - Jensen Beach

A few photos from this weekends scouting wading trip in Jensen Beach...A few snapper, and this  Juvenile Gothath Grouper caught on a Monster 3X shrimp. If you haven't tried these lures you should give them a try                             ( I'll be talking more about them Soon)...

Sebastian Inlet Report

06-29-15 MONDAY: SNAPPER, REDS, JACKS AND C/R SNOOK 

It's a beautiful Monday morning at the Sebastian Inlet. Winds are blowing out of the West-Southwest at 6 mph, gusting to 10 and the water is calm. There are no NOAA advisories this morning but we have a chance of afternoon showers/thunderstorms which is common for this time of year. 

Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop said Mangrove Snapper was the best bite over the weekend. They are being pulled in by the greenies that are coming in and out of the inlet. Other baits include mojarra and some croakers. Reds, C/R Snook and Jacks came over the rails as well. Snook are in spawning mode right now and it's best not to target them, they are strictly catch and release until September 1st. We are still seeing the big clumps of algae floating out of the inlet out the outgoing tide. 

From Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

Inshore the reds and trout have been around the from middle cove to the power plant on soft live shrimp and soft baits like the D.O.A cals, Monster 3X and  gulp baits.The beach fishing has been good with the snook and tarpon in the bait schools find the bait and you will find the fish.

Good Eats

Coconut Crusted Mahi-Mahi in Thai Curry Sauce

(Note Mahi can be substituted with another white flakie fish)

Ingredients:
• 7 ounces coconut
• shredded 1/2 cup rice flour 2 eggs
• large 1/2 cup water
• 4 (8-ounce) fillets mahi-mahi
• 1/4 cup rice flour (for dredging)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon red Thai curry
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 leaves fresh basil, finely chopped

Directions:
• In a small bowl, mix shredded coconut with 1/2 cup rice flour.
• In another bowl, make an egg wash with eggs and water.
• Dredge fillets in 1/4 cup rice flour and dip in egg wash.
• Dip fillets in coconut-flour mixture.
• Sauté fillets in oil over medium-high heat until fork tender, browning both sides.
• Remove fillets and set aside.
• In same pan, add the Thai curry, coconut milk and honey.
• Simmer over high heat until reduced by 1/2.
• To finish sauce, add basil to taste.
• Return fillets to pan and spoon sauce to cover.
• Serve with steamed jasmine rice.

From Todd / Eric @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

                         

Looking Around - Palm Beach Area

INSHORE

     Big snook are moving along the beaches of the Treasure Coast.

They are around all day but the best bite is at high tide. Tarpon are around early in the morning.

     You can always find whiting and croaker in the surf, and big jacks – up to 35 pounds – are being caught throughout the day.

     In the Indian River, there are big numbers of redfish around docks on the west side early in the morning. Flounder are still hanging around seawalls ad docks on the west side.

     Big snook are biting around docks and bridges, and there are tarpon there early in the morning and late in the evening. Mangrove snapper are also holding around bridges and structure. Use shrimp with a jig head.

     Anglers are now hooking good numbers of snook and tarpon from the beach in Jupiter, with the best results coming early in the morning and late in the day or evening. Jacks are being caught throughout the day.

     The Intracoastal Waterway action has been the same from Jupiter all the way down through central and southern Palm Beach County. It’s snook at night around bridges and dock lights. Some nice-sized snapper are cruising around structure as well, especially near the county’s various inlets.

     Snook and tarpon are holding in the Boynton Beach Inlet, and are also being caught in the surf off Boynton Beach. Permit are also in the surf.

FRESHWATER

     The early-morning bite is still solid on Lake Okeechobee. It’s definitely hot out there, but if you’re on the water at first light, you can catch good numbers of bass.

     Fish the offshore islands, as this is where the best action has been for the past several weeks. You can still catch some nice largemouths back in the grass, but you’re odds of hooking up are much better out in the main lake. Live shiners and artificial lures are all working well, so it’s a matter of preference.

     Bass over 5 pounds were reported this week. The bite turns off by 11 a.m., but it does pick up again later in the day (around 8 p.m.).

report courtesy of Palm Beach Post

Sebastian Inlet Report

06-25-15 THURSDAY: REDS, C/R SNOOK, MANGROVE SNAPPER AND JACKS 

It's a real pretty morning at the inlet. We have a nice breeze blowing out of the South-Southeast at 7 mph, gusting to 10 and the water is calm. There are no NOAA advisories this morning but we have a chance of showers and thunderstorms today. 

Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reported that crabs are attaching themselves to the algae clumps drifting out of the inlet on the outgoing tide and those crabs are attracting Redfish. There was a good Redfish bite this morning. Tommy reported a lot of bait in the water, greenies, mojarra and a few silver mullet. Jacks and a few Mangrove Snapper have been showing up as well, but not in huge numbers.
Our photo is from David Haretwell who has been doing very well on the snappers this summer so far.

Looking Around - Stuart/Ft Pierce Area

Surf anglers this is the time, be down to the surf edge early, pay attention for the bait schools and make that cast.  Watch for activity that will put you on the fish and there is plenty.  North or south there is a catch to be made, spoons, that Bomber, the wind cheater to name a few and yes live bait will work, watch for the bait.  Snook and Tarpon it is their time, water is perfect you just have to be there. Lots of twenty pound line and forty pound leader will get you started.  Can not make that dawn time catch a high tide but dawn is the answer, fish that trough, the fish are up that close and once you get one on you will know what I was talking about when I said lots of line.  Real sharp hooks and take the barbs off  you are going to release them as quick as possible, step into the water please don’t crank them up into the sand, is the camera ready?   Snook and Tarpon young mans game I am old and love the Whiting and Croaker there all day and piece of shrimp will get them, just my speed.

     River anglers you have to fish early, by ten you should be on your way for breakfast.  Good Trout,

Reds, Jacks and Flounder in many locations but early is the secret. From Nettles Island to Little Mud is the area, the cool part is they are chewing what ever you are throwing.  Has to be early, as the sun rises look deeper then they will shut off, they want out of the sun.  So we can’t get there early look to fish the shaded water, under docks, tree lines or the bridges, some place away fro the sun.   Jacks, Snapper and Drum will fill your catch list or go early  and get beat beat buy the Tarpon and Snook again dawn is the best time for them, me being old I will sleep in and hear about   the catch.  Not a lot of Flounder but it seems every body is catching one or two and the good part is they are of good size and I can catch them when I get up.

Sebastian Inlet Report

06-24-15 WEDNESDAY: C/R SNOOK, A FEW MANGROVE SNAPPER 

It's a gorgeous morning at the inlet. We have a little breeze blowing at 4 mph out of the South that is gusting to 7. Unfortunately, we have a cyanobacterial bloom coming from the river which is tangling angler's lines this morning. 

We spoke with inlet regular Tony Swiderski of Sebastian who reported catch and release Snook were chasing greenies early this morning but the bite died off as the sun rose. Only two Mangrove Snapper came over the rails during Tony's time on the jetty, not much else was landed either. 

From Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

photo courtesy of christinaweberfishing.com



Inshore the snook bite has been good in the inlets and around the bridges on the outgoing tide.There has been a few reports of some nice trout around midway road to the power plant on the east side of the river with a red mixed in.The beach fishing has been good with a few snook and tarpon showing up in the bait schools find the bait and you will find the fish.

Sebastian Inlet Report

06-23-15 TUESDAY: MANGROVE SNAPPER, LOOKDOWNS, REDS, C/R SNOOK, JACKS AND SPADEFISH 

We have a real nice summer morning at the inlet. Winds are blowing out of the South at 8 mph, gusting to 12 and there is a light chop on the water. We have cloud cover this morning which is making our anglers a little more comfortable. It's still hot and humid out there, but the sun isn't beating up our anglers (yet). 

Mangrove Snapper have been ruling the "table fare" from the inlet jetties and beaches. Anglers can use live shrimp, cut shrimp, greenies, small crabs and lures to entice these feisty fish. Once hooked, they can put up a fun fight. Oversized Reds have been giving anglers a good workout and the evening hours are fooling C/R Snook into biting. The water has been very clear and those smart fish are hard to fool during daylight hours. A small number of Lookdowns, Atlantic Spadefish and a single Blue Runners will show up on the end of a line. 

Our angler of the day is Ashley Hill of Winter Haven. Ashley landed this big C/R Snook from the south jetty over the weekend. The big Snook has released unharmed right after the photo. 

Sebastian Inlet Report

06-22-15 MONDAY: REDS, MANGROVE SNAPPER, LOOKDOWNS, JACKS, BLUE RUNNERS AND C/R SNOOK

Welcome summer, because it hasn't been hot enough for us! Winds are barely moving out of the West-Southwest at 2 mph, gusting to 5 this morning and there is a light chop on the water. There are no NOAA Advisories. We have a beautiful morning at the inlet, although very warm and still. If you head to the inlet be sure to take plenty of water, sunscreen and insect repellent. 

Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reported a pretty good weekend for our inlet anglers. A lot of oversized C/R Reds were active, quite a few Atlantic Spadefish came over the rails (which is unusual for this time of year), a few Lookdowns, Jacks and Blue Runners were in play but the draw remains Mangrove Snapper. Tommy talked with a couple of snorkelers over the weekend who reported a lot of fish in the water. Plenty of big C/R Snook are out there too, it's spawning season and they aren't real active now. 

Our photo of the day is courtesy of  Rich Thomas. who was using a Rapala X Rap lure to entice this big 9 lb. Mangrove Snapper that broke the hook just as Rich grabbed the fish...whew, lucky save! Tim reported that Snook were busting out of the water but they had no luck with them. This Snapper was quite the catch.

One of our readers sent an inquiry regarding bag limits that we thought would be helpful for other anglers with the same question. The following bag limit overview came from the FWC web site:

Overview
In general, the daily bag limits set by Commission rule for saltwater fishing are for a calendar day (24-hour period from midnight to midnight). These limits are also possession limits. Therefore, it is illegal to possess more than one day's bag limit "while in, on or above the waters of the State or on any dock, pier, bridge, beach or other fishing site adjacent to such waters" with regard to most species.

Once you have caught and possess the bag limit for a species, you may not harvest any more of that species until the next 24-hour period. Thus it is illegal to take the catch to shore and then return to the sea to harvest another daily bag limit during the same calendar day.

Exception
There is an exception that allows individuals to possess double the daily bag limit certain fish only when fishing from a headboat or charter boat on a trip that spans more than 24 hours and:
The vessel has a sleeping berth for each passenger aboard the vessel; Each passenger possesses a receipt issued on behalf of the vessel that verifies the length of the trip.
Species included in this exception include: snapper (gray, red, Atlantic vermilion, cubera), red grouper, hogfish, black sea bass, red porgy, amberjack (greater, lesser, banded rudderfish)

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                                        

06-19-15 FRIDAY: NICE WEEKEND IN THE FORECAST, TGIF! 

We have another beautiful morning at the Sebastian Inlet. Winds are blowing out of the Southeast at 11 mph, gusting to 14 and the water is clear and calm. We have a real nice weekend forecasted for our boaters but always check the NOAA forecast prior to going offshore. The US Coastguard has released a new free app to help boaters improve boating safety. Features of the app include: State boating information, Safety equipment checklist, Free boating safety check requests, Navigation rules, Float plans and Calling features to report pollution or suspicious activity. When location services are enabled, users can receive the latest weather reports from the closest National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather buoys as well as report the location of a hazard on the water. The app is not intended to replace a boater's marine VHF radio; it was designed to provide additional boating safety resources for mobile device users. The app is self-contained, so personal information is stored on the phone and is not sent to the Coast Guard unless the user chooses to send it. To download the app, search "Coast Guard boating safety" in either the Apple App Store or Google Play store. 

Fishing this week has been hit or miss, most of the action has been taking place in the evening hours and low light periods. We're seeing a lot of Snook suspended in the water, they're not very active during the day. Nights have been more productive for C/R Snook and oversized Reds. Tarpon and Permit have been hitting in the evening hours as well. Daytime fishing has been on the slow side but Mangrove Snapper have been keeping anglers coming back. A few Spanish Mackerel, Jacks and Lookdowns have come over the rails and a few Flounder have been landed on the south side.

Our photo today is courtesy of inlet regular Chuck Fischer of Satellite Beach. Chuck was fishing the river at Long Point Park yesterday with his son Ryan and grandsons Landon and Tyler who are camping there. The guys landed several Mangrove Snapper using live shrimp. Our photo features Landon Fischer of Satellite Beach with his first Mangrove Snapper. 

Free Kids' Fishing Clinic promises day of learning, fun 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will offer a free Kids' Fishing Clinic for children between the ages of 5 and 15 from 9 a.m. to noon June 27 at Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal No. 3, 2020 Christopher Columbus Drive.

This free clinic enables young people to learn the basics of environmental stewardship, fishing ethics, angling skills and safety. In addition, environmental displays will offer participants a unique chance to experience Florida's marine life firsthand.

Fishing equipment and bait are provided for kids to use during the clinic, but organizers encourage children who own fishing tackle to bring it. A limited number of rods and reels will be given away to participants upon completion of the clinic.

Individuals or companies interested in helping sponsor this event or volunteering at the clinic should contact Eric Griggs at 321-986-7596 or the FWC's Jason Dalton at 850-487-0554.

To find out more about fishing clinics for kids, go to MyFWC.com/Fishing and select the "Youth & Student" option under "Education".

From Todd / Eric @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

                         

Sebastian Inlet Report

06-18-15 THURSDAY: C/R SNOOK, REDS, MANGROVE SNAPPER, PERMIT AND SPANISH MACKEREL 

We have another beautiful morning at the inlet. We have a little more wind this morning; it's blowing out of the Southeast at 7 mph, gusting to 9 which makes being out on the jetties a lot more pleasant. There is a light chop on the clear water, there are no NOAA advisories.

Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reported that there are still quite a few greenies schooling around the jetties, a few silver mullet and mojarra can be found as well. Anglers using live shrimp and artificials in the evening hours have had good luck with C/R Snook and mostly oversized Reds. Crabs have been floating out of the inlet on the outgoing tides which are attracting some good sized Permit, particularly at night. Mangrove Snapper and Spanish Mackerel have been the draw for most anglers but the bite is only fair.

Our angler of the day is inlet regular Cory Luke. Cory confirmed the C/R Snook night bite with this monster he landed from the south jetty. Cory was using a plug to land this magnificent fish which was carefully released right after the photo. 

Free Kids' Fishing Clinic promises day of learning, fun 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will offer a free Kids' Fishing Clinic for children between the ages of 5 and 15 from 9 a.m. to noon June 27 at Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal No. 3, 2020 Christopher Columbus Drive.

This free clinic enables young people to learn the basics of environmental stewardship, fishing ethics, angling skills and safety. In addition, environmental displays will offer participants a unique chance to experience Florida's marine life firsthand.

Fishing equipment and bait are provided for kids to use during the clinic, but organizers encourage children who own fishing tackle to bring it. A limited number of rods and reels will be given away to participants upon completion of the clinic.

Individuals or companies interested in helping sponsor this event or volunteering at the clinic should contact Eric Griggs at 321-986-7596 or the FWC's Jason Dalton at 850-487-0554.

To find out more about fishing clinics for kids, go to MyFWC.com/Fishing and select the "Youth & Student" option under "Education." 

Looking Around - Palm Beach

INSHORE

     Resident whiting and croaker are being caught in the surf along Jensen Beach along with big jacks (up to 30 pounds). There are some nice snook around as well, and they are also holding in the St. Lucie Inlet. If you’re targeting snook, your best bet is fishing during the higher tide.

     Big numbers of redfish, trout and snook were reported on the west side of the Indian River this week. Small tarpon are rolling through, especially during early-morning hours, on the east side. Topwater plugs are working well.

     You can always target snook around bridges and docks at night.

     There is a lot of bait moving along the beaches of Jupiter, which has resulted in better snook and tarpon numbers. The best time to fish for them is early in the morning or late in the evening.

     Snook are biting around the bridges and docks in the Intracoastal Waterway in Jupiter, but most of them are on the small side. Small mangrove and mutton snapper are also chewing near structure.

     Snook are tarpon are holding in the surf and in the inlets of central and southern Palm Beach County. They are also being caught around bridges and docks in the Intracoastal. Jacks are in the mix on the beaches and inside.

     In Boynton Beach, the tarpon and snook are around early in the morning and during the incoming tide. There are also some permit around. Mangrove snapper are holding near the jetty at the Boynton Beach Inlet.

     Sheepshead are being caught near structure, and there have been some nice bonefish catches in the flats around the inlet and near the Snook Islands.

  photo courtesy of Dee Kaminski

FRESHWATER

     Those fishing early in the morning are catching good numbers of bass on Lake Okeechobee. The bite definitely turns off by about 10:30-11 a.m., so you want to be out on the water before sunrise.

     It’s not uncommon to catch a few bass in the 5- to 6-pound range, and guides are putting clients on 35-40 fish for morning (four-hours) trips.

     Live shiners and artificial lures are both working well, and the best action still seems to be out on the main lake and around the offshore islands. It has been a little slower back in the grass and along the outside edges. 

     For those interested, the water level on Lake Okeechobee is currently at 12.6 feet. 

report courtsey of Palm Beach Post

From Capt. Charlie @ Fishing Center - Ft Pierce

It's been a HOT summer so far and appears we are in for lots more warm days ahead. Lots of days in the 90's to bake in the sun! Rains have been scattered lately for our area and it's still dry. Get out early or late in the day to beat the heat and have the best opportunities. Sunscreen and hydration is essential in this weather!

It has been a good week fishing for us. The bite has been early and tapers off by noon. Mangroves and grass flats have been most productive for us this week. Both lures and live bait have given us some exciting action for anglers.
The fish are feeling the heat as much as we are. The water temps are in the mid 80's and the sun has been beating down on us. Look for mangroves, docks and deeper water that hold fish this time of year. 

Our trout have come from the drop offs around the grass flats and sand bars. Snook and redfish have been hanging under docks and mangroves for us. June is a great month to enjoy the fishing, but it's hot and you must use some different tactics to find the fish in these temperatures. 

Sebastian Inlet Report

06-17-15 WEDNESDAY: C/R SNOOK, REDS, MANGROVE SNAPPER AND A SMALL VARIETY OF OTHER SPECIES 

We have another beautiful morning at the inlet. Winds are barely blowing out of the South-Southeast at 3 mph, gusting to 5 and the water is calm with a light ripple on the surface. The water is very clean and clear. We're going to see another hot day today with high humidity, be sure to take plenty of water, sunscreen and insect repellent with you if you head to the inlet today. No wind usually means the no see 'ums will be out and biting.

Fishing has been slow to fair, depending on the day and time. Big C/R Snook have been more active during early mornings, dusk and evenings. During the hottest part of the day, they are hiding out in the cooler spots. It's the same story with most of the Reds that are being landed. Mangrove Snapper have been hitting all day but inconsistently. Jacks of all sizes can be found all day as well but nothing is coming over the rails in huge numbers. A few mid-sized Flounder have been landed on the south side.

Our angler of the day is Donte Williams. Donte fished the north side and hooked up with a large fish using a live Jack Crevalle as bait. Donte is "walking the dog" in our first photo. Donte has something REAL big on the line and realizes it's one of the huge Goliath Grouper that lurk under the north jetty. Photo two is of Donte's fishing rod bent practically in half! The big fish broke off after a lot of anticipation, excitement and exhaustion!

The information below is from the FWCC web site:

Catching and Releasing Goliath Grouper
What to do when you've caught a goliath grouper?

Harvest and possession has been prohibited in both state and federal waters off Florida since 1990.

Must be immediately returned to the water free, alive and unharmed.

Photographs can be taken but only during the active act of release. Photographs or any other activities such as measuring the fish should not delay release in any way.

Large goliath groupers should be left in the water during release. The skeletal structure of large goliath grouper cannot adequately support their weight out of the water without some type of damage. If a large goliath is brought on-board a vessel or out of the water, it is likely to sustain some form of internal injury and therefore be considered harvested.

Removing smaller goliath groupers from the water to remove hooks is not necessarily a bad practice, but this process must be done with care, using proper fish handling techniques, and return the fish to the water as expeditiously as possible.

Good Eats

From Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

Inshore the reds have been  to the north around Harbor Branch to Vero shores on the west side of the river with a few trout mixed in.The jetties have has a few nice snook and reds around at night with a few tarpon mixed in.

Sebastian Inlet Report

06-16-15 TUESDAY: C/R SNOOK, REDS, MANGROVE SNAPPER, JACKS AND A FEW SPANISH MACKEREL 

We have a gorgeous morning at the Sebastian Inlet. Winds are blowing out of the East-Southeast at 4 mph, gusting to 5. The water is clean and calm and but the humidity is 92% and it's pretty steamy out there! There are no NOAA advisories this morning. It would be a great day to get offshore if you have the opportunity. Take plenty of water, sun screen and insect repellent if you head to the inlet today. 

We are still seeing lots of oversized C/R Snook coming over the rails. Snook are strictly catch and release until September 1st. This is spawning season so be sure to handle those fish with care, we need those Snook to go out and make more Snook. If photographing, hold them horizontally under the jaw and belly and get them back into the water as quickly as possible. For more tips on photographing C/R species, see the FWCC catch and release guidelines in the top right corner of this page. Oversized Reds have been active and an occasional slot sized like the one on our fishing report yesterday, will find its way to a lucky inlet angler. Mangrove Snapper have been taking greenies and mojarra. 

                                       

                                       The Mighty Mangrove Snapper Run

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Area anglers are treated to a “run” of good mangrove snapper fishing. Although these feisty fighters are found year around in our waters, late mid summer to early fall is perhaps the best time to target them.

Mangrove snapper most often are found in areas of heavy cover such as jetties, pier pilings or under bridges. No mangrove is likely to go far from the safety of cover to chase a bait, but bigger fish hold ever tighter, almost seeming to be part of the structure. This cover-hugging behavior dictates a few things about mangrove fishing. First off, baits and lures must be cast extremely close to structure in order to draw strikes. Secondly, stouter-than average tackle must be used if an angler has any hopes of landing fish once they strike.

The tackle needed to land these fish may raise a few eyebrows, especially considering mangroves rarely get over 16 to 18 inches and most fish are in the 10 to 14-inch range. However, once one is hooked, the necessity of stout tackle is evident.

To begin with, a real rod is needed. A 6'6" medium-heavy trigger stick should be considered the minimum requirement for convincing snapper to leave their rocky havens. The rod should be mated with a baitcast or spinner reel loaded with 15 to 20 pound test mono or, even better, 50 or 60 pound braided line. Tie about a foot of 15 to 30 pound leader to this. Don't worry much about the drag, because you'll want it locked down. If you choose to leave a little leeway in the drag, be prepared to put a stout thumb on the spool as soon as the fish hits. Remember, a big mangrove is rarely more than one tail beat away from cover.

Like tackle, lure size takes some consideration. Large snapper will, if given the opportunity, gobble up tiny tidbits. However, in order to increase the odds of landing a sow, anything a small snapper can fit in its mouth - or thinks it can - should be avoided. All too often the more aggressive juvenile fish will dart from under a rock before the bigger fish can make their way to a bait. So, choose a bait big enough to remain unmolested long enough for a sow snapper to get a gander at it.

Seeing as how finger mullet are among the top food items on the mangrove's menu, it is only natural to choose either mullet or a mullet-imitating plug. Bomber Mullets and 52-Series Mirrolures are both good choices, as are Storm's Wild Eye Shad. However, perhaps the top two baits for this type of fishing are the DOA Deep Running Baitbuster and the new 5-inch Stanley Wedgetail Minnow. These baits are about as close to a mullet as a lure can be and their single-hook configuration helps keep them from hanging on rocks and makes handling hooked fish much safer. Again, if big mangroves are the target, it is essential to get as close to cover as possible. Having baits that are less likely to hang up allows for more confidence when presenting in tight cover.

Like mullet, shrimp will produce good catches of snapper. However, there are few shrimp - regardless of size - that can make their way past the hungry mouths of juvenile snapper. When using natural baits for mangroves, it is better to stick with finger mullet, mud minnows or pinfish.

Once rod, reel, and bait are selected, it is time to find some big mangroves. Practically any piece of structure that sees some current flow will have mangroves hanging around. But again, many of these fish will be less than 10 inches. Finding where the big ones hang is a bit more involved.

Mangrove are always more aggressive when the water is moving, just like any fish relating structure in tidal water. The key is finding where the water moves differently in one area of the structure than in others. Near docks and bridges, this may be caused by humps or channels on the bottom. Or, it may be simply which piling is nearest or furthest from the shore. Once you have determined the direction and strength of the current, you can usually guess where the fish are. Most often, they are on the down-current side of pilings, allowing the water to flow around them as they wait for dinner to be swept by.

Finding solid fish along jetty rocks is a bit more complicated. While small mangroves will be scattered over virtually every rock, larger fish are more finicky when it comes to picking a hiding spot. The first thing to do is find irregular spots in the jetties - like those where rock outcroppings extend well away from the base. Also look for underwater "tunnels" - areas where water flows from the channel side to the many body of water  and vice-versa. Also look for "pockets" where the current swirls or eddies.

Regardless of the type of structure you are fishing, the bait has to be pitched close to it. Allow lures to fall on a taut, not tight, line. In other words, use just enough line pressure to maintain contact with the lure as it falls, but not so much as to swing it back toward you and away from the rocks. Don't worry about feeling the strike - mangroves aren't shy. If anything, make sure you have a good grip on your rod.

When a fish strikes, immediately slam the hook home - hard. Sometimes mangroves will simply hold a lure in their powerful jaws without being hooked, so the hookset must be forceful enough to pull the hook from its grip and gain penetration.

After setting the hook, begin working the fish to open water as soon as possible. Again, any lapse can and will allow the fish to bury himself in structure. If they do manage to regain their position behind cover, immediately reduce pressure on the fish by dropping the rod tip. Any heavy pressure at this point only serves to "saw" the line in half. Often times allowing bit more slack will relax the fish. Once it has settled down, try again to convince him to leave cover. At times this may mean repositioning yourself to get a different angle of pull.

Once the fish is in open water, it is just a matter of keeping steady pressure on until they tire. However, these fish are bulldog-tough and don't tire easily. And, at any point in the fight they will return to structure if allowed, so it is critical to keep pressure applied throughout the fight.

Anglers seeking mangroves should also keep in mind there are a number of other fish inhabiting these same areas. While tossing baits  around deep-water structure, fishermen are just as likely to catch snook, gags, grouper, rock hinds and host of other species.

Finally, use caution when handling mangrove snapper. Sharp gill plates and spiny fins offer a bit of a challenge, but the real danger comes from those powerful jaws, which house needle-sharp canine teeth. Always grab mangroves firmly behind the gills and use needle-nose pliers, not fingers, to remove the hook from their mouth.

Sebastian Inlet Report

               06-15-15 MONDAY: C/R SNOOK, REDS, MANGROVE SNAPPER, SPANISH MACKEREL AND PERMIT 

Our wind gauge is not working. Thank you for your patience while the issue is being addressed. Water temperature gauge update: parts have arrived; we are just waiting on a good day to dive and repair. 

We have a hot, humid day at the inlet. Fortunately we have winds blowing out of the Southeast at 12 mph, gusting to 15 making it a little more tolerable on the jetties. The new moon is bringing extreme tides over the next few days. Tommy Turowski of the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reported a fair weekend. A lot of large C/R Snook and Reds came over the rails; anglers using live shrimp had the best luck. Mangrove Snapper have been active and a few Spanish Mackerel have been landed. Anglers who are lucky enough to find crabs for bait have been landing some large Permit in the evening hours. 

Our angler of the day is David Hernandez. David landed this real pretty slot Red from the T-Dock on Saturday. This Red was 22". 

From Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

The beach fishing has started to pick up with the bait showing up snook,tarpon,and jacks have been in the bait schools at first light and late in the evening.The trout fishing has been steady around middle cove to the power plant with with a red mixed in nothing big but fun to catch. 

Reading the Beach - Identifying Sandbars, Troughs, & Cuts

From Todd / Eric @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

Sebastian Inlet Report

                06-12-15 TGIF! 

With little chance of showers or thunderstorms this weekend, Inlet anglers can focus on the bite instead of running for cover. This morning's overcast skies will turn sunnier by this afternoon. Area winds will stay ESE over the next several days blowing at 10-15 mph. Boaters will see a moderate chop on the Intracoastal. NOAA has not posted any advisories today.

Tommy Turowski from the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reports it's been a hot, but quiet morning at the Inlet. He says the catch is mostly Mangrove snapper, a few Reds, some Spanish mackerel, and a few more of those big permit coming in. 

Our featured angler today is Luke Vila of Kissimmee, Fla. who caught a handful of sheepshead using live shrimp.

jupiter inlet snook frenzy Part II

jupiter inlet snook frenzy

From Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

           Photo courtesy of Jayson Arman That's R-Man Land-Based Fishing Charters


Inshore the trout fishing has been good around middle cove with a few reds mixed in.The snook fishing has been good along the beaches in the bait schools with a few tarpon mixed in just find the schools of bait and you will find the fish. 

Sebastian Inlet Report

06-11-15 THURSDAY: REDS, SHEEPSHEAD AND PERMIT 

While not as intense as yesterday, offshore showers and thunderstorms are still in the forecast for Thursday and into this evening. Friday and the weekend look to be a little drier. Today, winds will shift to the SE at 5 to 10 mph and create a light chop on the Intracoastal. As of this moment...a little after 9:00 A.M...winds are blowing out of the north at 10-15 mph with an outgoing tide. In some areas, a strong north wind and an outgoing tide mean snook are likely to be feeding around structures. We'll have to wait for our reports to come in to see if that holds true today. Let's hope the overcast skies have a positive effect on the bite at least. 

Tommy Turowski from the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop says it's mostly snapper coming over the rails, but anglers have caught a few big reds, some sheepshead, lookdowns and permit. Tommy reported a few permit every morning this week with one caught in the 30-lbs range.

Juno Bait is "Back In Business"!

Happy to report that Juno Bait is back open for business in it's new location: 12770 US Highway 1 Juno Beach, Fl 33408 We will resume our normal business hours as of Wed June 10th. M-F 7am-6pm Sat...

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                                    
06-10-15 WEDNESDAY: MACKEREL, JACKS AND SNAPPER 

It's cloudy skies above the piers today. The colliding sea breezes should result in numerous showers and thunderstorms in the area tapering off after midnight. Winds are predominantly out of the S-SW at 5 to 10 mph. Those winds will put a light chop on the Intracoastal until this evening when it should smooth out. Again, NOAA has no advisories for our area.

Hopefully, the overcast skies will amp up the bite which has been slow over the last few days. If we're lucky, those southerly winds should help the fish go on the feed pretty soon too.

Today, our featured angler is Estefania Bautista of Miami. She and her boyfriend, Rangelo Soriano, made the trip up  to fish the Inlet. Using greenies, Estefania beat up on a school of Spanish mackerel and brought in two of those inshore gamers. Rangelo reported some additional action with jacks and Mangrove snappers.

Looking Around - Palm Beach

INSHORE

     There are a lot of small male snook holding in the surf along Jensen Beach and the Treasure Coast, and the action should really pick up in the next week or so. The bite is best early in the morning.

     Whiting and croaker are always around, and there are still some pompano being caught at the top of the tide.

     Anglers fishing in the Indian River are reporting big numbers of trout on the east side and small snook on the flats. Bigger snook are holding near bridges.

     Some nice flounder were caught along the seawalls and in areas with harder sand bottoms. Shrimp on a jig head seems to be the most effective bait at this time. Tripletail are also being caught near the river’s channel markers.

     Snook are biting in the early-morning hours along Jupiter’s beaches and also at the Juno Beach Pier. Jacks, whiting ad croaker are also in the mix, and tarpon are starting to show up.

     The best action in the Intracoastal Waterway in Jupiter and throughout central and southern Palm Beach County has been jacks and snook around bridges and dock lights at night.

     Some decent-sized tarpon were hooked in the Boynton Beach Inlet this week, as they were chasing schools of pilchards and sardines.

                           

FRESHWATER

     Not much has changed on Lake Okeechobee this week. There’s still a steady bass bite early in the morning, and the action continues until about 11 a.m. If you’re out on the water at first light, you can catch good numbers of bass. There have been some pretty big catches as well, with a few 6-pounders reported earlier this week.

     At this point, bait is just a matter of personal preference, as live shiners and artificial lures are both working pretty equally. Your best bet is to work the lake’s offshore islands. That’s where the best and most consistent action seems to be.

report courtesy of Palm Beach Post