Scouting Around - Palm Beach Martin County Area

INSHORE

     Blue-green algae has led to the closure of Martin County beaches this week. While anglers are still free to fish, most have stayed away. There has been plenty of action in the Indian River, however, with tripletail and lane and mutton snapper all holding near the channel markers north of the Jensen Causeway. Snook are everywhere – bridges, flats, docks, channel markers, inlet - as well, although keep in mind that the season is closed.

     There are snook all over the beaches in Jupiter and Palm Beach first thing in the morning. There’s a lot of small bait fish there at that time and the snook are incredibly active.

     Snook are also thick in the Jupiter and Lake Worth (Palm Beach) inlets. They, and tarpon, have been reported in the Intracoastal Waterway, along with jacks and snapper.

     Snook, tarpon, permit and jacks are all cruising the surf along Boynton Beach, and are especially thick around the inlet.

     There hasn’t been much action in the Intracoastal in central and southern Palm Beach County this week, but you can target the usual spots – bridges, dock lights – for snook, although they are moving around and can be found just about anywhere at this point. There are tarpon in the mix as well.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

     If you’re targeting bass on Lake Okeechobee this time of year, it is crucial that you’re on the water before sunrise. The best action is at first light, and the bite turns off by 10 a.m.

     Good numbers are still being caught early, and live shiners and artificial lures are both working well. You’ll definitely want to fish the outside edges, and that has be a problem with the recent weather conditions.

Sebastian Inlet Report

                               

06-30-16 THURSDAY: THE BITE REMAINS FAIR 

Winds are picking up thank goodness; the early morning was very still. We have southerly winds blowing at 5 mph, gusting to 8 and the water is calm. Winds are predicted to shift to the Southeast early this afternoon. We have a chance of showers and thunderstorms later today. We had a good rain shower yesterday afternoon, just when the water was starting to clear up!

Sarah at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reports a few Mangrove Snapper coming over the rails; they are good sized but sparse. Blue Runners were active and Reds and Snook were hitting in low light periods. A few Spanish Mackerel and Whiting were chasing greenies in the surf yesterday. 

Our first photo today features Andrew Horner of Melbourne. Andrew was fishing the south side when he landed the 45" C/R Snook using live shrimp around 12:15 in the morning,. Andrew released the fish unharmed right after the photo. 

Photo two features Trenton Tessinari of Apopka with a good sized Blue Runner he landed off the north jetty using shrimp. 

THREE LURES REDFISH LOVE (AND YOU DON’T USE)

Whether you have been inshore fishing all your life or just this year, these are three lures redfish love and you want to consider adding to your arsenal.

Probably the all-time favorite of inshore anglers for catching redfish is the gold spoon. It’s a classic, has been around for years and works wonders. However, these three lures redfish love will perform in areas the gold spoon cannot and, above all, you will have a blast smashing redfish on them!

These spoons are a classic but had their time. Today I use different lures to demolish redfish.

THREE LURES REDFISH LOVE

The

V&M WILD THANG CRAW

This is my go-to in all situations. The claws have a great action, the bait is durable and is capable of being skin-hooked. A lot of companies say their baits are cooked with pork fat and embedded with salt, but not like these. They are literally tasty, like eating salted peanuts. Try one. Seriously, put it in your mouth.

This Wild Thang Craw is tough, durable and can be skin-hooked in order to make it ultra-weedless. This color is Sapphire Junebug.

There are many different colors to be had but I have found that Sprayed Grass is my general purpose color.

I retrieve this lure like a spinnerbait, usually on a 1/8oz swim hook for shallow water with grass and a 1/4oz for deeper water. I like to use Owner hooks but also use Gamakatsu. The best thing about a setup like this is that I can speed the retrieve up or slow it down, and even bounce the craw across the bottom. You just can’t do this with gold spoons.

RAGE SHAD

This lure is great for fishing areas with heavy grass. You can let it sink and retrieve it through the water, but it does best going across the top of the water like a buzz bait.

This Rage Shad is rigged on an Owner hook. Notice how the tip of the hook is under the skin of the Rage Shad. This is called a “skin hook” and improves weedless ability.

We got the idea for this lure from a bass angler who fishes tournaments in Louisiana and abroad. Terry Jones took 1st place in the Dockside Marine Tournament Trail last year and suggested we use the Rage Shad to fish thick grass that not only bass populate, but also tournament-winning redfish.

When grass is too thick to properly present lures, using a weedless topwater becomes an effective method to get fish out. Be advised, this technique requires patience!

JOSH HALL’S HD SPINNERBAIT

Redfish are pound-for-pound some of the hardest fighting fish in the marsh. Slot redfish can get pretty big, weighing from 8 to 10 pounds and it’s not uncommon to land bull reds that are well over 40lbs. Redfish of this class will wreak havoc on an ordinary spinnerbait and that is why we employ heavy duty spinnerbaits hand-crafted by redfish tournament angler, Josh Hall.

Josh Hall’s HD Spinnerbaits are made of heavy duty materials (like 1.6mm thick gauge wire) that can stand up to the brutality of a redfish fight over and over again. Take a closer look below and you will see why.

  I prefer to use a black or purple soft plastic on my HD Spinnerbait. Pictured is a Vortex Shad in Purple Haze.

Add these three lures redfish love to your tackle box and be ready to catch those pumpkins in ways you have never done before! 

story courtesy of lafishblog.com

From The Crew @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

                                                   

The snapper bite to the north has slowed a little with some cool water moving in but should pick up when it warms back up. Inshore there snapper fishing has been good around the bridges in Ft. Pierce with a few flounder mixed in live shrimp and white baits have produced well. The inlet has produced a few snook and tarpon at night on live bait with the dock lights holding snook and trout to on the outgoing. The water in Ft. Pierce seems to be cleaner than down south where the beaches are closed and cant go in hopefully it dose not spread up this way.

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                           
06-29-16 WEDNESDAY: THE BITE IS FAIR 

It's a beautiful morning at the inlet. Winds are blowing out of the Southwest at 5 mph, gusting to 7 and the water is calm. Winds will shift to the Southeast this afternoon and we have a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. There are no NOAA advisories this morning. 

We have a good amount of bait in the water, particularly running along the beaches. The water clears up a little more each day but the outgoing tide is still on the murky side. The incoming cleans it up and that seems to be when the Mangrove Snapper bite turns on. We aren't seeing a huge number of fish but we are seeing variety. Catch and release Snook, oversized Reds, Lookdowns, Margate, Sand Perch and Whiting in small numbers have been coming over the rails.

Our angler of the day is Don Welch of Sebastian. Don fished the north jetty when he landed his 14" Mangrove Snapper using mojarra. The wind was so still that morning, it was a scorcher! Not much came over the rails until the tide switched to incoming, when Don landed this nice fish. 

Easy Bake Fish

Ingredients:

2 -3 pounds of fish
Spring Onions (Green onions) x 4 Copped into slices
Chilly x 1 deseeded and chopped small or add cayenne if desired
Ginger -2 tablespoons grated
Garlic-3 big cloves peeled and crushed
Shallots  x 3 or medium onion sliced and chopped
Vegetable oil or canola
Corn Flour  x2 tablespoons
Soy sauce x 3 tablespoons
Vinegar  x 1 1/2 tablespoons
Sugar  x 1 tablespoon
2 x large tomatoes finely chopped or a can 1/2  to 3/4 can of finely chopped tomatoes
Lemon Grass x 1 stalk finely chopped (can be bought at asian stores, fresh market etc.)

Cooking Instructions:

• Fry in oil the onion or shallots ,lemon grass, chilly, ginger and garlic. Add 2 cups of water or use the juice of the canned tomatoes to make a thin sauce.
• Add the tomatoes, soy sauce ,vinegar, sugar.
• Stir up and pour over the fish which should be placed in a baking pan in the oven
• Bake for 20 minutes at 300 degrees.
• When cooked remove the sauce and  thicken the sauce with corn flour and water. Replace the sauce by pouring over the fish.
• Sprinkle the chopped green /spring onions on top .
• Serve with white Jasmine rice and vegetables such as broccoli, snow peas  or Bok Choy.
• Some people also like to chop up fresh cilantro and sprinkle over the finished dish.
• courtesy of Beach Fishing Adventures

From David Ronald Hartwell @ Big Dave's Slay City. Land based lessons.

Multi species 101

I love meeting new friends and teaching them to be better fisherman. As you know, teaching people to fish is my passion. I love the chance to broaden somebody's horizons and change how they see things. Seeing somebody making the transition from a bug stinky skunk to regularly catching and not just fishing thrills me to no end.
Getting to the point where you're catching fish on a consistent basis is not something that happens over night. Education and a nudge in the right direction are fantastic tools when learning to fish on a higher level but there is no substitute for time spent on the water. Experience is the best teacher. I learn something new every time I hit the water and that fact is what keeps me coming back for more.
During the endless process that is learning to fish on the same level as the big boys means maximizing your time on the water and doing your homework. Every fish requires different strategies and techniques to target and though the basics can be taught, it is the intricacies and subtleties involved that cannot. These must be experienced first hand.
Now, I have a few tips for you all and they are what I live by. These may seem basic and simplistic but to build up a strategy for targeting a specific species means starting from the fundamentals. Here we go folks.
1) To catch a certain fish you need to have a basic understanding of its biology. Google is a great tool for furthering your knowledge. Researching your target fish's habitat, diet, spawning behavior preferred temperature range and feeding behavior will serve you well in the long run.
2) When you get to the water with some newfound knowledge in hand, use it to make enlightened observations. This means that things you may have overlooked before will begin to affect how you approach targeting specific fish.
3) Fish with the understanding that most fish are only available with consistency during certain seasonal periods. Simply put, you can't do the same thing day in and day out and expect to stay on the fish.
4) Think, "outside the box," experimenting with various baits, lures and unorthodox strategies can break you out of a slow spell.
5) When you do inevitably skunk, instead of just feeling sore and disappointed, try and figure out why you struck out. Sometimes it's only a very small observation that can put you back on the fish during seemingly poor conditions.
6) Remember to be patient, attentive, persistent, level headed and goal oriented.
Hopefully these small tips will help you get on the bite and keep the ball rolling!

Sebastian Inlet Report

      

06-28-16 TUESDAY: MANGROVE SNAPPER, LOOKDOWNS, BLUE RUNNERS, SAND PERCH, MARGATE, REDS AND SNOOK 

We have another beautiful morning at the Sebastian Inlet. Winds are blowing out of the South at 7 mph, gusting to 10 and there is a light chop on the water. Winds are predicted to switch to the Southeast and increase this afternoon which will feel pretty good with the temperatures reaching the low 90's today. There are no NOAA advisories this morning but we have a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

The water is clearing up a little more each day. The incoming tide has been more productive during the daylight hours for Mangrove Snapper. Early morning and evenings have been producing quite a few catch and release Snook. Lookdowns, Jacks, Blue Runners, Sand Perch, a few Margate and Reds have been coming over the rails in ones and twos. We have good conditions forecasted for the rest of the week, get out and do a little fishing. Try the beaches! 
  Our photo today features Jake Patterson. Jake was fishing the beaches about 5 minutes south of the inlet when he landed and released the 76" Nurse Shark in the photo. 

From The Crew @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

Inshore the redfish  bite has been good to the north of Ft Pierce around Harbor Branch with a few trout mixed in.The Beach fishing in Ft. Pierce has been good with a few snook and tarpon in the glass minnows and mullet schools.The  Martin County Beaches have been closed do to the  Blue Green Algae washing ashore there is a Beach clean up and save our river clean up July 2nd at Stuart Beach at 10am for those who would like to come help its sad that a Holiday weekend is coming and the Beaches in Martin Country are closed and they are telling people to stay away from the water.Hopefully we can start getting this stuff cleaned up soon before we destroy our pretty beaches and river.

                                               photo courtesy of Capt. Michael Conner

Scouting Around Boynton Beach Jetty Area

Not a great day but still a day fishing. Bait was biting early, Cudas, some Jacks, snooks and snapper. And apparently this puffer.

                                                                               

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                                  

06-27-16 MONDAY: SPOTTY ACTION, THE HEAT IS ON!

We have another beautiful morning at the Sebastian Inlet. Northwest winds are blowing at 5 mph, gusting to 6 and the water is calm. Winds are predicted to increase some this afternoon and we have a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. There are no NOAA advisories this morning.

Over the weekend we saw a nice variety of fish but not in large numbers according to Sarah and the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop. We have a lot of bait in the water and fish are plentiful but lethargic due to the heat. The beaches are holding some nice fish also. Sarah recommends light tackle if fishing the beaches. A few Snapper, Margate, Lookdowns, Whiting, Reds, Mackerel and Blue Runners came over the rails over the weekend but it was spotty. The C/R Snook bite was good however. It's best not to target them during spawning season, but if you land one be sure you know how to handle it. All Snook are catch and release right now. 
 Our angler of the day is Bob Green of Vero Beach. Bob landed and released the 30" Red in our photo using live mullet. The Red was released unharmed right after the photo. 

Best Rod and Reel Combos For Pier Snook Fishing!

How to Make Snook Rigs for Pier Fishing!

10" DDX Paddletail

From Todd / Eric @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

INSHORE:  Catch and release snook fishing remains good around the bridges at night.  Flair hawk jigs and big swim baits are good bait choices right now.  Look for the outgoing tide to be the most productive.  

Reports of the mangrove snapper moving inshore are starting to ramp up.  Best bet for the snapper is also going to be fishing at night  Live shrimp and small live pilchards will make good baits for the snapper.  Other inshore action is slow.  For best luck definitely be sure to fish during low light periods of the day.

SURF/PIER:  Snook are the main game in town right now along the beach and pier.  They will be feeding best early and late in the day.  This is also the best time to get a chance at a tarpon cruising the beach.  Croaker are biting small live sand fleas and small live shrimp in the first trough.  Maybe a few big jacks cruising the beach as well.

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                 

06-24-16 FRIDAY: TGIF! 

We had a very quiet morning on the north jetty. There was very little wind and not much was biting. The outgoing tide was very dark, one Jack was landed and a few Lookdowns. After the tide switched to incoming and the water started clearing up, a few Mangrove Snapper hit live greenies. One Blue Runner was landed on shrimp. Hopefully the incoming continued to produce after our departure. The wind has picked up this afternoon and conditions must be a lot better for those still out on the jetties, it was very hot this morning with no wind. We have Easterly winds at 13 mph, gusting to 15 with no NOAA advisories in effect. The weekend looks like a good one for all of our anglers, boaters and shore based alike. 

Laura Weinberger, her father Bill and friend Steve fished the north jetty at night when Laura landed the nice C/R Snook in our first photo on live shrimp. 

We received an update from Jerry Connors who fished with his daughter Heather last night. Large Snook started feeding from 9:00 - 11:00 p.m. but all they wanted was large mullet and were only hitting on the ocean side. Jerry saw one oversized Red in the 30 lb. class come over the rails but afterward the bite turned off. Around 2:00 a.m. a school of Ladyfish were picky and short striking live shrimp. Heather landed the beautiful C/R Snook in photo two around 10:00 p.m. on live mullet. She had four hard strikes from 11:00 - 4:00 a.m. 

Making Paddle Tail Soft Plastic Fishing Lures

Speckled Truth - Choosing the right Jig Head

Scouting Around Palm Beach/Martin County Area

                           photo courtesy Chris@ Beachwalker Guide Service

INSHORE

     The snook bite has been red hot in the surf along Jensen Beach and there are big jacks around as well. Whiting and croaker are always in the mix, too, and make excellent table fare.

     In the Indian River, flounder are being caught on the east side. Fish around bait schools and you should have plenty of success. The snook action has also been very good, and there are a lot of small tarpon showing up around the bridges.

     The snook fishing has been great around the Juno Beach Pier and at Jupiter’s beaches. There are also tarpon on the beach.

     Snook are everywhere in the Intracoastal Waterway in and around Jupiter, and there are snapper and sand perch around structure. You’ll also find jacks anywhere there’s bait. Fishing the seawalls first thing in the morning is always a good idea.

     Snook and tarpon have made their way out of the Lake Worth Inlet and are now being caught in the surf along Palm Beach. There are jacks in the mix as well.

     Tarpon, snook, jacks, permit and mangrove snapper are all being caught in the surf around the Boynton Beach Inlet. The flats around the inlet are also holding permit, tarpon and a few bonefish.

     Those fishing the Intracoastal in central and southern Palm Beach County are catching snook and tarpon. There’s great action at the bridges but they can be caught throughout the Intracoastal.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

     If you’re on the water early – at first light – you can catch a good number of bass before the bite turns off in mid to late morning. You definitely want to fish the outside edges for the best numbers.

     Skilled anglers are having success with both live shiners and artificial lures.

     Guides are reporting between 30 and 40 catches on morning trips, with some of the biggest bass weighing about 5 pounds.

courtesy of Palm Beach Post

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                 
06-23-16 THURSDAY: MANGROVE SNAPPER, REDS, SNOOK, JACKS AND CATFISH 

We have beautiful conditions at the inlet this morning. Winds are barely moving out of the East-Southeast with gusts up to 2 mph. The still air is making it feel a little sticky out there and no see 'ums can be a real problem when there's no breeze. Be sure take insect repellent if you head to the inlet today. The forecast looks as if our boaters will get a chance to get out and try their luck over the next few days. Always check the NOAA forecast prior to boating as conditions can change quickly.

Sarah at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle shop reported there were a few Mangrove Snapper that came over the rails this morning but that the outgoing tide is very dark due to the recent rains. Hopefully with dryer weather on the horizon we will see it start to clear up. A few large C/R Snook have been landed in the late evening hours and C/R Reds are hitting as well. We are seeing some species in small numbers like Lookdowns and Margate.

Ken Weaver of Lake Alfred fished the north jetty  managed to land his first Redfish using small pinfish. The 30" Red was released unharmed right after the photo. Ken also landed a Jack and saw a lot of Catfish come over the rails. An angler had a 6' Nurse Shark on the line but lost it before he could get it to the net. 
 Charlie Achinelli of Melbourne was fishing the north jetty doing the week before the winds and rain came through and landed quite a few Mangrove Snapper, Lookdowns and Blue Runners.

From The Crew @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

Inshore the trout fishing has been good to the south around Bear point to Middle Cove with a redfish mixed in. The snook fishing has been good around the islands to the north of north bridge on live bait.The channel ledges have had a few flounder and some nice snapper around with white baits and live shrimp have produced the best.

From Capt Joe Ward @ Bait Shack - FT Pierce

 Everything has really started to heat up in June including the weather. The best inshore action should be from first light until about 9 a.m. and from 6 p.m. until dark. During these hours try a topwater bait like a Zara Spook, Chug Bug, and for the anglers that like to throw soft plastic baits, try a D.O.A. Bait Buster. For the rest of you that like live bait try a pigfish, mullet, shrimp or a crab. This method will catch a snook, trout, redfish, and lots of big jacks. Try places like Harbor Branch, Round Island or Queen’s Cove to the north and to the south you can try Bear Point, Herman’s Bay or the docks along South Indian River Drive. Just remember that as of June 1st snook season is closed and is catch and release only. The snapper fishing should also be good around the bridges and the channel edges. A live shrimp fished on a #2 hook, a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader, and a 1/2 to 1 oz. lead should work just fine. The tarpon should be here in full force in the Ft. Pierce Inlet, the Moorings and around the Big Mud Creek area. Try using a live mullet.
                                        

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                                     

06-21-16 TUESDAY: CONDITIONS ARE SETTLING DOWN... 

Conditions have started to calm down. Winds are blowing out of the East at 9 mph, gusting to 14 and there is a moderate chop on the water. NOAA is calling for a slight chance of showers today although dark clouds are hovering over the inlet and rain can be seen offshore. It looks like a good day to go prepared.

The sloppy conditions over the past few days didn't seem to bother the Reds, they like it rough! A few Snook, good sized Jacks and a few Spanish Mackerel were in play but the Mangrove Snapper disappeared. With conditions settling down we should see them back on the scene soon.

Our featured angler today is Palm Bay native Patrick Miller. Patrick landed the beautiful C/R Snook off the south catwalk using greenies on June 10th. The fish was returned to water unharmed right after the photo. 

The FWC and the Florida Sport Fishing Association will be hosting a free Kid's Fishing Clinic on June 25th at Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal # 3, 220 Christopher Columbus Drive, Cape Canaveral, FL from 9 - noon. Children ages 5 - 15 will learn the basics of conservation stewardship, fishing ethics, angling skills and safety. Fishing equipment and bait will be provided but organizers encourage those 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. All participants must be accompanied by an adult. Individuals or companies interested in helping sponsor the event or volunteering should contact FWC at 850-487-0554. For more information regarding the clinic go to MyFWC.com/Fishing and select the "Youth and Student" option under "Education".

From The Crew @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

                              

                     photo courtesy of Jayson Arman That's R-man Land Based Fishing Services  

Inshore the snook fishing has been good with some nice fish around the islands north in Ft pierce with live bait.The Trout fishing has been ok with a few nice trout and reds around Big Mud to Middle cove soft baits and top water around first light have produced the best.The snapper bite has been good in the river on the channel ledges with white baits and shrimp.

Topwater Speckled Trout and Redfish Rig

courtesy of The Speckled Truth

Scouting Around - Boynton Beach and Juno Pier Area

Bait, Juvenile Tarpon, Snook, Mangrove and small Mutton Snapper have been the catch at Boynton Beach Inlet

                               

Croaker, a few Snapper, Bait and 

""SNOOK""are whats happening at Juno Pier.  This 43 inch snook was also caught and released on a croaker over the weekend. Head out to the pier today to kick off the first day of summer!

                                

Scouting Around - Sebastian Inlet Area

The bite has been fair according to Sarah at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop. Sunday a few nice Flounder were landed on live shrimp, Spanish Mackerel and Reds (most were C/R) were biting but the rough conditions kept the Mangrove Snapper away. Sarah recommended Gotcha lures, topwater lures and spoons for those of you who use artificial baits. 

Spills & Snook Thrills

When Rain Water Flows Swiftly At The Spillways, Game Fish Will Converge.

STEVE WATERS ON OUTDOORS

For more than 40 years, Tom Greene has caught snook everywhere from the remote mangrove islands and unnamed creeks of Everglades National Park to the bridges and inlets along South Florida's Atlantic coast.

But among his favorite snook spots are the spillways where the contents of rain-swollen freshwater canals are dumped into saltwater canals. With the rainy season finally here, the next several months should be prime time for catching spillway snook.

"Spillway fishing to me is the easiest fishing of any fishing in the world," Greene said. "When you get that discharge of fresh water, all these fish in all these back canals will go to the spillways just like salmon go up rivers, because that's where the snook get fed the best."

When the spillways are opened to release the water dumped by rainstorms, small freshwater fish such as shiners, shad and bluegills are swept through the spillway by the moving water. Snook, which apparently can sense the sudden influx of fresh water, congregate at the spillways to gorge on the baitfish buffet.

Greene, 55, has lots of spillway memories. He'll never forget an outing at the Boca Raton spillway, mainly because his sister won't let him.

"The Boca spillway in the C-15 Canal opened in 1970," Greene said. "My sister got married that day.

"I went to the spillway and caught 17 snook that day. The reason I remember is because I missed my sister's wedding, and I was one of the ushers. My name has been mud ever since. But I caught 17 snook. I couldn't leave 'em."

DOA shrimp rigging and info from Mark Nichols

From The Crew @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

Inshore the trout fishing has been steady in 3 to 5ft of water to the north and south soft baits have produced well.

The snapper bite on the channel edges has been good with live shrimp and white baits. The south jetty in Ft Pierce has had a few snook,flounder and a few tarpon mixed in. 

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                                        


06-16-16 TGIF! JACKS, SNAPPER AND MACKEREL 

It's even odds on the chance of showers and thunderstorms today with mainly westerly winds and a high near 90. Ditto that forecast for both Saturday and Sunday with the daytime highs just a few degrees cooler than today. NOAA recommends that small craft exercise caution with 3 foot seas and choppy conditions on the intracoastal. 

Sarah from the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reports another good day for the snapper bite with most anglers bagging their limits. Rounding out the catch were blue runners, some big jacks, red fish, a few Spanish mackerel, and whiting in the surf. Sarah reminded us again of the plentiful sharks and barracudas lurking around.

Today's featured angler is Heather Connors. Heather was fishing the north jetty when a huge jack crevalle took her bait of live mullet. This monster jack scaled out at 30.4 lbs. and measured 92 centimeters. Her father, Jerry Connors, thinks this jack may be close to a world record length for the Atlantic. Adding to the day's excitement, Heather's boyfriend, Sean Graham, hooked a large snook a few hours later. Unfortunately, after a five-minute fight with the snook, a giant shark made other plans and devoured Sean's catch in one bite. Jerry reported that he saw a few lady fish coming over the rails that day along with a decent cubera snapper.

How To Unhook A Catfish (With or Without Touching It)

It's Hot Outside .... "Africa Hot" Tarzan Couldn't Take This Heat

Heat stroke and heat exhaustion!

It seems to be another hot year for the Treasure Coast. Last year was as warm as I can remember in the past 35 years. Fishing continues to be good around the area and how hot the water temperatures get will determine where, when and how you will fish this summer. Last year the mangroves and docks were very productive for us in the heat of the day. Being prepared for those hot days are essential to staying healthy and safe when out on the water. Drinking plenty of fluids and recognizing signs of trouble can not only keep you safe, it could save your life.

Heat Stroke/Heat Exhaustion
With the heat of summer upon us, make sure you have a plan for an emergency. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion is always a possibility when out on the water.

SIGNS: 
Heat exhaustion: 
Cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal. 

Heat stroke: 
Hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high-- as high as 105 degrees F. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel dry. 

TREATMENT: 
Heat exhaustion: 
Get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine. Let the victim rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his or her condition. 

Heat stroke: 
Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Help is needed fast. Call 911 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water or is vomiting or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink. 

                             

Big Thanks to Capt.Charlie Conners

From Todd / Eric @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

INSHORE:  Not a lot to write about on the inshore side of things.  Catch and release snook fishing remains good, especially for those putting the time in at night around the bridges.  Flairhawk jigs and big swim baits are still getting plenty of play, as will bigger live baits fished along a shadow line.  Those not wanting to fish at night will find some snook laid up along seawalls and boat docks, especially early in the morning.  A few mangrove snapper reports starting to trickle in from local bridges.

SURF/PIER:  Summer time fishing is upon us for sure.  Catch and release snook fishing will be the most consistent surf action for a while.  Look for the snook to be most active early in the morning and again at dark.  Swimming plugs, like Rapala X-Raps and Yo-Zuri's, are great plug choices right now.  During higher sun periods scale back to smaller jigs and soft plastics for the best luck with the snook.  Croaker are around in the first trough and willing to bite small pieces of fresh shrimp.  The Juno Beach Pier has had some big jacks and scattered tarpon early each morning.  
                                             

From The Crew @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

                                       
The Tarpon are on the beach right now, White or Black Hogy lures will work well. If you can get live Pilchards use them! The Snook are also on the beach as long as there is clean water. Remember the Snook will sit right in the surf so you don’t have to cast that far. The Trout bite has slowed down by Round Island but you can still catch a few good fish.

Its Hard to Explain... “Why do you like to fish?”

If you’re like me and are totally finatical about fishing, then you’ve been asked this question a time or two. That said, if the person is unfamiliar with fishing, particularly for trout, then save your breath, because he or she that posed the question, will never understand your response.

Over the course of my life, my answer has changed a time or two. When I was younger, I loved filling an ice chest full of those silver wonders. However, as I’ve gotten older, the subtleties of the trip speak more to my soul than the gratification of the catch. From preparation the night before, to feeling the glide of ole’ yellamouth slip trough your fingers as you release her to make babies and fight another day. No matter where you’re at in your fishing endeavor, the response you provide I’m sure falls in the spectrum of the two.

Here is a brief reflection of the 3 things I LOVE about fishing for trout.

1. Feast or Famine: If you’ve been pursuing trout for very long you know what those 3 words mean. It means you can fish for 6 hours with minimal luck and then in desperation and little persistence you stop at one last spot and load the boat in an hour. So what’s to love about that? Everything. Its a microcosm of life personified in fish.Its a precursor that if we choose to put forth the effort, with mental toughness and purity of heart, the reward is iminent and gratifying. However, the pursuit itself is what separates the men from the boys. A lot of people give up on their dreams, they don’t stay the course, however if they only moved “to one more spot”, stuck it out one more day, the reward would have been way more than you could ever ask for. Stay persistent and never give up!

2.The “Tap”: Again if you’re an avid trout fisherman, you know the tap. Its something so light that injects itself so heavy into our heart. Its a drug. It will cloud your mind and decision making, and  will cause you to make more poor decisions than good. However, the tap is more than a bite, its the result of perfection, here’s why. Trout, particularly big trout, get very finicky which means presentation is paramount. So when you feel it, it means you’ve embodied perfection, and setting the hook and watching the head shake is the reward. Its something so simple, but through its simplicity you understand the complexities of this world. Its perfect.

3. The head shake: This is my favorite. I’ve been fortunate to catch a few trout in my life, both big and small, and like clockwork, the most distinct characteristic is the head shake. Its a side to side action, with gills flared and that yellow mouth opened wide. With some of my more notable catches, its the thing I remember the most. Its like PTSD for trout fisherman. I sometimes get lost in a 1000 yard stare, and have to physically shake my head to brush off the memory of head shakes that have either ended is success or gut wrenching failure. Without a doubt, I’d have a few more trophies for the wall if it wasn’t for this consistent reaction of a trout, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. If it wasn’t for this action, it’d be like catching redfish, and who wants to do that :-) just kidding!! What I’ve learned the most from the head shake, is that when she’s successful in throwing the hook(s), the reaction is transfered over to you. If its a big fish lost, you find yourself  shaking it off, only to get back up, and with confidence know it won’t be your last. Another life lesson of coming back stronger. Without a doubt life is hard, but how we bounce back from those “head shakes” in life, determines our attitude to tackle the next task or embrace those times of success. Again, never give up. Instead, thread a new soft plastic on the jig head of life and get back out there.

  

“So Chris, why do you like to fish?” For those that share my passion for chasing trout, the aforementioned will do. However, for those who haven’t, my response is simple, “It’s hard to explain.” As suggested in my blog name, trout speckle truth into our lives. Having the wisdom to see it is something we should all seek, but it never hurts to try to catch a few along the way. 

story courtesy of Chris@The Speckled Truth - trophytrout.blogspot.com