Scouting Around Palm Beach/Martin County Area

INSHORE

     There are good numbers of pompano being caught in the surf along Jensen Beach; the morning bite is best. Bluefish and Spanish mackerel are hitting spoons along the beaches.

     In the Indian River, the Middle Cove area has been great for catching redfish. Bluefish and jacks are everywhere, and flounder are biting near the jetties. Bridges – especially Roosevelt – are the best way to target snook at this time.

     The water is cleaning up along the beaches of Jupiter, which has led to some great fishing. A lot of pompano were reported this week. You can catch them all day, but you need a rod that will allow you to get your bait out past the sandbar.

     Bluefish and Spanish mackerel are all also biting. Your best bet is throwing spoons.

     The fishing was great in the Intracoastal Waterway in and around the Jupiter area this week as well. Jacks and ladyfish are thick, and pompano are starting to show up. Snook can be caught in the morning along the seawalls and by the bridges and around the dock lights at night.

     Those fishing the Loxahatchee River are reporting jacks, snook and ladyfish, and they’re catching redfish by bouncing shrimp off the bottom.

     The surf from Palm Beach to Boca Raton has been good for catching jacks and ladyfish this week, along with a few bluefish and the occasional pompano. Small numbers of snook were reported around the county’s various inlets, but the best bet for catching them at this point is in the Intracoastal around structure. Jacks, sheepshead and snapper are also being caught in the Intracoastal throughout central and southern Palm Beach County.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

     The cooler weather over the past week has definitely improved the fishing on Lake Okeechobee. Bass are being caught from first light until late in the evening. You wouldn’t have any trouble catching them during the late-night and early-morning hours either – there just isn’t anybody on the water at that time to report on the action.

     The best bass bait is along the outside edges and back in the grass, and they are hitting live shiners and artificial lures. You can’t go wrong either way, although the bigger fish seem to be hitting the shiners.

     A lot of fish in the 3-pound range were reported this week, and there have also been some over 6 and 7 pounds that were snagged.