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