Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

                                       
 photo courtesy of christinaweberfishing.com

It's 7:30 pm on Thursday night and the anticipated re-opening of the snook season is only four and a half hours away. This past month has seen a lot of snook swimming the beach in the first trough and your chances of taking one home in the upcoming days should be pretty good. Early morning and late afternoon artificial lures like the Live Target Mullet and Sardine baits, YoZuri Crystal Minnows, DOA Baitbusters, and Tsunami swim baits will all provide hook ups. Remember to cast north and south as these great fish will be moving up and down the beach within 15 yards of the edge. If you are going to target them during the day, a live croaker fished on a CP or Fishfinder rig, will certainly draw their attention. We are going to have our full moon next Wednesday and this should certainly get more and more mullet schools flooding down our coast. Snook, tarpon, sharks, big jacks, spanish mackerel, bluefish, and ladyfish will all join the party as well. I just came back from fishing this afternoon and weeds were still a problem at Tiger Shores, Santa Lucea, and Hermans Bay. I went north to Middle Cove Beach access and that spot was very fishable. There was not much bait there but I managed to put a dozen nice whiting and croaker in the cooler. For those of you targeting snook, the near shore edge of the trough at Tiger Shores has been holding lots of 4 to 6 inch croakers, so if you want to catch some live bait, that is the spot I would target to put some of these little guys in your bait bucket. Cast your fishbite between the patches of weeds and you will get some bait quickly. Good luck this weekend and catch em up.

Scouting Around Palm Beach/Martin County Area

INSHORE:

Along the beaches in the Jensen Area, there are still large schools of mullet moving through.

Unfortunately, there has also been lots of grasses in the surf zone. The key has been to find areas where it’s cleared out or washed up on the beach already.

One angler caught several bonefish while fishing from the beach last weekend. Not that common in the area, they were good-sized fish in the 2 to 5-pound range. They were caught using Fishbites

In the same zone, the croaker and whiting bite has been good as well. They’re also being caught on Fishbites.

There have also been some tarpon moving in the surf zone recently.

Anglers have reported good grass beds making a comeback in the Bear Point area of the river.

Snook season opens Friday0901. Remember it’s one slot-sized fish per person, per day.

Slot size is 28 to 32 inches.

Several beaches in the Jupiter area should be excellent for this prized gamefish.

The key is to find a beach or stretch of beach with rocks.

Good areas to check out will be Blowing Rocks Preserve in Hobe Sound, Coral Cove Park on Jupiter Island and bit north of the Juno Pier there is a stretch of beach that is rocky.

Another top spot to look for snook are the bridges spanning the Intracoastal.

The Donald Ross, the Hobe Sound and especially the Flagler Memorial Bridge are excellent spots to fish for them. Best bets are evenings from 9 p.m. to midnight or early mornings from 4 a.m. to dawn.

One more good area to check for snook is the northern end of the Lake Worth Lagoon from Burnt Bridge at MacArthur Beach State Park up to PGA Boulevard. This area can provide great snook fishing from shore, by kayak or wading.

Bait wise live shrimp, live mullet, live sardines or live pilchards will be the way to go.

Surf anglers, fishing the beaches from Boynton Inlet to Lantana Public Beach, are catching barracuda, snook and jacks during the early morning using red or green Tube lures, blue/silver Yo-Zuri Poppers and 3-ounce silver Gator Spoons.

There has been plenty of bait moving around the Boynton Inlet and south parking lot.

Inlet anglers are reporting catching jacks, snapper, snook and small barracuda during the day and snook, tarpon, snapper, moonfish and permit at night. Use either live or fresh cut bait for the snapper.

The Intracoastal Waterway in the Boynton Beach area has had jacks hitting top water plugs along the seawalls both north and south of the inlet.

Night fishing the lighted docks along the intracoastal with small shrimp or epoxy minnow flies for snook and large moonfish has been very effective.

Lantana Bridge anglers are reporting catching small snapper, jacks, and barracuda during the day. Night time anglers have been catching a few snook throwing swimming plugs around the bridge.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE:

Fishing on the lake has been good, but it is still an early-morning affair.

At dawn, artificial baits including swim jigs, spinner baits and some top water plugs have been producing good results.

Later, after that first hour, switch to flipping sticks using jigs and worms.

From The Crew @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

Inshore bite yesterday in Stuart was very productive. Lots of Snook and Jacks feeding on mullet schools from the inlet north to Jensen causeway. Best lures to use are shallow divers, topwater plugs, and swim baits. Dock light fishing has been steady with many Snook being caught in the St Lucie river. Small white flies and plastic shrimp such as the DOA 2.75 and Vudu shrimp will get you hooked up. Snook season opens tonight at midnight! Please don’t be afraid to practice catch and release with the slot fish. A few trout and Redfish are being caught around Vero Beach bridges. DOA Cal shad tails on 1/8th ounce jig heads fished around drop offs / spoil islands have been producing the most numbers.

Nearshore the Albie’s have taken over the beaches from St. Lucie to Ft pierce inlets. Fish were endlessly feeding on small minnows yesterday from 100 yards to 1 mile off. Light tackle and Fly have been the best methods. The Umpqua Gummy Minnow fly , and small heavy jigs will get the most bites. The start of the mullet run has began more are showing up everyday. It will hopefully reach its full peak by the end of September.

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                                      
08-31-17 THURSDAY: C/R SNOOK, SNAPPER, REDS AND JACKS 

Winds have been variable this morning. It was blowing out of the Southwest early and now is coming out of the Northeast at 2 mph, gusting to 4. The water is calm and there are no NOAA advisories. We have a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1:00 today. 

We are beginning to see more baitfish in the water, including finger mullet. We have confirmation that there were many in the water Wednesday night! Justin Jarek of Satellite Beach reports that he has fished his entire life and has fished the inlet many times; he's never seen it like it was Wednesday night. He said there were mullet everywhere and big Jacks, Reds and C/R Snook were active. Justin landed this big Jack off the south catwalk Wednesday night. Thanks for the update Justin, nice catch!

The recreational harvest season for snook starts Sept. 1 statewide. Unique to the region, snook are one of the many reasons Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World. When releasing a snook, proper handling methods can help ensure your fish's survival and the species' abundance for anglers today and generations to come. To learn more about catch-and-release and the best way to handle a fish, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on Saltwater Fishing, then Recreational Regulations and Fish Handling. During the open season, the daily bag limit is one fish per person. In the Atlantic, snook must be not less than 28 inches and not more than 32 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, as well as a recreational saltwater license, is required unless the angler is exempt from the recreational license requirements. Snook may be targeted or harvested with hook-and-line gear only. Snagging is prohibited. In Atlantic state and federal waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, snook are closed Dec. 15 through Jan. 31 and June 1 through Aug. 31. Researchers ask anglers who harvest the fish to save their filleted carcasses and provide them to the FWC by dropping them off at a participating bait and tackle store. For the county-by-county list, go to MyFWC.com/Research and click on Saltwater, then Snook (under Saltwater Fish) and Snook Anglers Asked to Help with Research. If you see a snook fishery violation, call the Wildlife Alert Program at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

                             
                                                Event at Port St. Lucie Location      

Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

"Variety" is the best way to wrap up this weekend's surf fishing results. Weeds came back into play at some beaches like Tiger Shores, Santa Lucea, Bryn Mawr, and County Line today when I went looking this morning, so Randy and I decided to fish the high tide this afternoon at Middle Cove on the northern end of Hutchinson Island. This beach was was weed-free after the tide change and it proved to be a good choice. As I have said before, we are fortunate to have a number of beaches, bridge, and river access points in our immediate area or within a short driving distance - - and finding a fishable area can save the day. We decided to wipe the dust off a couple of the long rods that we put away after the end of the pompano season and send a couple of baits to the second trough 80 to100 yards off of the beach. The first trough produced some whiting and croaker as soon as we got there but that bite only lasted for 45 minutes. Randy managed to land a 50-pound nurse shark that ate the live croaker we put out for a snook or tarpon and the long rods provided all of the rest action. Blue Runners, jacks, and four bonefish rounded out the catch until we left once the rain squalls hit. The whiting and croaker bit as usual on the Orange Clam Fishbites and the jacks, blue runners, and bonefish all favored the EZ Flea scented Fishbites. Whiting and croaker for the table, jacks, blue runners, sharks, and bonefish for catch-and-release action made up for a great afternoon of fishing the beach. The mullet run gets closer day by day, but for those of you that want to bend a rod before that action explodes, there are some great opportunities for you sharpen your skills. The forecast is for some great conditions this week as the rain chances are going to diminish and winds should be favorable. Good luck and catch em up!

Sebastian Inlet Report

08-30-17 WEDNESDAY: SNAPPER, JACKS, LADYFISH, C/R SNOOK, REDS, TARPON AND TROUT 

Conditions have calmed down significantly. Winds are blowing out of the North at 1 mph, gusting to 2 and there is a light chop on the water. There are no NOAA advisories but we have a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1:00 p.m.

The bite is getting better by the day. The Snapper bite has improved and a few real nice Cubera's were landed this week. Jacks and Ladyfish have been active, along with C/R Snook. Snook season opens on Friday, September 1st. Be sure you have an up to date fishing license with a Snook stamp if you are lucky enough to land one in the slot and plan to keep it. 

Florida Today sportswriter Ed Killer's sources tell him that the bite in the Indian River Lagoon is steadily picking up. Larger schools of mullet are being pursued by Jacks, Snook, Tarpon and Trout near the spoil islands. Reds are active along the mangroves. 

From The Crew @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

The beach fishing has been good with a few tarpon and snook mixed in the bait find the bait and you will find the fish. Inshore the trout fishing has been good with a few reds mixed in. Snook season opens soon so stock on up on jigs, hooks, grubs and leader we have everything you need to get ready and for those who are looking for a jig rod we have Phenix Blanks in s 8ft 8.6ft and 9ft in stock. 

Sebastian Inlet Report

08-28-17 MONDAY: JACKS, MANGROVE SNAPPER, C/R SNOOK AND BLUE RUNNERS 

Winds are blowing out of the South-Southwest at 17 mph, gusting to 23 and there is a moderate chop on the water. We have clouds over the inlet, showers are likely and thunderstorms are possible today. NOAA is calling for small craft to exercise caution.

Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reported that over the weekend the bite picked up. Quite a few Mangrove Snapper came over the rails, C/R Snook, Jacks and Blue Runners were present. One lucky angler landed a 40 lb. Permit on a small crab. Baitfish are beginning to show, some finger mullet, mojarra and small crabs are in the mix. Thanks Tommy!

Mike Ricciardi of Vero Beach sent in our photo of the day. Mike took the photo of "Big Dave" Hartwell with a beautiful 15 lb. Cubera Snapper he landed around 2:00 a.m. in the morning. A couple of inlet regulars helped net a big Flounder in the 8 - 10 lb. range that was landed on a small, live mojarra. Things are starting to look up, thanks Mike. Beautiful catch Dave!

Lunkercon 2017 Aug. 25

Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

                             

The fishing along our local beaches remains excellent for whiting, croaker, and snook. The huge schools of mullet that made their way into local waters during the mid-week period have moved on but pilchards and glass minnows were evident the past two days. I took Craig Scarborough, General Manager of Bass Pro Shops here in Port St Lucie, along with his son Bryce to Tiger Shores yesterday afternoon as Bryce wanted to celebrate his birthday with a fishing trip to the beach. He brought along a buddy of his, Mason Montoleone. They caught whiting, croaker, and palometa, and if you don't think this fishing is made for kids just take a look at the attached pictures!!! Orange Clam fishbites, cut shrimp, and some sand fleas that the kids dig up all produced fish. This action has been steady on the southern end of Hutchinson Island for the past two weeks and I don't see any reason why it should back off. The two hours after high tide has been the most productive hours for the whiting and croaker. Remember to just pitch your fishbites and shrimp into the first trough because all of the bites are happening between 5 and 10 yards off of the beach. Small live croaker fished in the first trough have produced the best snook activity all week. As the bait continues their movement into our area look for the tarpon, jacks, ladyfish, and snook, to provide some rod bending action as they attack these schools. The Fall Mullet Run gets closer day by day and I will be doing a seminar on Surf Fishing The Fall Mullet Run on September 16th at 3:30 pm in front of the aquarium at Bass Pro Shops, Port St Lucie. Tackle, baits, locations, techniques, and even recipes for cooking your catch will all be covered. Admission is free but plan to get there early as this seminar is one of the most popular we do all year. As far as the fishing outlook for the upcoming week, it appears as we will get some rain from the tropical system that is forecast to head our way on Wednesday and Thursday but this great surf bite should continue.

Scouting Around Palm Beach/Martin County Area

INSHORE:
 Along the beaches in the Jensen area there are large schools of mullet and minnows and could be a signal that the fall bait run is getting close.Fishing in the St. Lucie River and Intracoastal has picked up as some of that bait has made its way inside.Anglers have reported that snook, trout and redfish are biting near Vitola Point. While it’s picked up some, it’s still an early-morning-only affair.Around the Jupiter Inlet the snook fishing is still good, but as spawning is coming to an end some of the fish are beginning to move up into the river. Snook season opens Sept. 1

LAKE OKEECHOBEE:
The fishing has been a bit slow recently with artificial bait working better than live shiners.The first 2 to 3 hours of daylight has been the time to go with spinner baits and zoom super flukes the best artificial baits right now.One reason for the slowdown has been the large amount of bait around.

Mullet Run 2017

Mullet Run 2017 First Sighting Vero Beach Fl

Sebastian Inlet Report

08-23-17 WEDNESDAY: FISHING REMAINS ON THE SLOW SIDE 

Winds are blowing out of the North at 8 mph, gusting to 9 and there is a moderate chop on the water. Winds will shift to the Northeast this afternoon. There are no NOAA advisories but we have a chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms after 2:00 p.m. today. 

We are not seeing a lot of action from the jetties. The bite is still slow but we expect that to change soon. With some places seeing hoards of finger mullet in the surf, the predators can't be far behind. Jason Thatcher sent us a link to a YouTube video of the beginning of the fall mullet run, we're excited now! It's been a long, slow summer. To view the video, type 2017 Fall Mullet Run First Sighting Vero Beach into YouTube.

LOCKED FG KNOT | HOW TO TIE THE STRONGEST BRAID TO FLUOROCARBON LEADER KNOT

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WHY and HOW to Tie the FG Knot! (Tackle Tuesday #1 )

From Henry & Fred and the Snook-Nook Crew-Jensen Beach

Whether you’re a Snook angler waiting for the season to open or just looking for a few whiting for dinner, there have been plenty of fish out there. The beach fishing has come around nicely after some touch and go cold water and days that were nearly impossible to fish due to large amounts of grass. Mullet have started to make an appearance and will continue to do so through the coming months. Tarpon, Snook, Jacks and a few Spanish Mackerel can all be found in hot pursuit. Live baits like Pilchards, Mullet, Threadfins and Pinfish will most certainly make for a day of catching. If you’re a fan of plastic baits it’s pretty simple, if it looks like a mullet throw it. DOA Bait Busters, Spooltek and the ever popular Live Target lures are all great choices. This is not the time of year to get complacent on the beach, move around and don’t stop until you see a reason to fish. The Whiting and Croaker bite has been phenomenal, beaches to the south of Jensen public have been most productive. The synthetic bait Fish bites in the orange clam has been the ticket. Small hooks and a short cast are key to putting fish in the cooler. We are fortunate here to have great public beach access, in order to keep it that way we must clean up after not only ourselves but others too. As Happy Henry always taught us, leave the place better than you found it.

Inshore Snook fishing has been incredible, keep in mind they are strictly catch and release until September 1st. Most anglers are focusing on the inlets at this point; if you choose to run up the river make sure you do it early. The docks on the west side have had some life to them as the bait begins to slowly move in but if you’re late it has been tough as the water temps rise very quickly. The docks and bridges have yielded some nice Mangrove Snapper as well as a few Drum and Sheepshead, all being caught on shrimp and crabs. The live shrimp stock is starting to get sizable again, hoping to get back to normal with our supply here at the Snook Nook. We want to thank everyone for your patience, if the shrimp are not big enough to fit on a hook, we will not sell them. Typically the summer months are the toughest so we should be getting nice baits from now on.

Scouting Around Palm Beach/Martin County Area

INSHORE

The beaches around Jensen Beach are absolute alive right now with baitfish.               There are minnows, pilchards and some good-sized schools of mullet moving through.

As a result, the fishing for snook, jack crevalle, tarpon, croaker and whiting has been outstanding.

Best bets are using live bait, but DOA lures and, especially, LIVETARGET lures have been fantastic during this run.

With the calm winds and seas, the fly fishing guys are getting in on the action on the beaches as well.

In the Jupiter area, snook are still biting around the inlet and up into the Loxahatchee River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Remember it’s catch and release only.

There's large snook moving around the north jetty of the Boynton Inlet and tarpon over the sandbar. There has been plenty of bait around the inlet such as cigar minnows, pilchards, goggle eyes and sardines.

Small threadfin herring have been schooling up around the Lantana Bridge. Anglers have caught jacks, snook, barracuda, and mangrove snapper using the live herring.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

The bass bite on the lake is very similar to last week.

Best are still early mornings before 10 a.m. and late afternoons from 6 p.m. to dark.

Shiners are working very well.

If using artificial it’s still time dependent with spinnerbaits and swim jigs have been working best in the mornings and flipping jigs and beaver in the late afternoons.

The bluegilll bite is holding steady with crickets and worms the way to go.

The river has cleaned up quite a bit so there are more fish being caught up that way recently.

From Capt. Charlie @ Fishing Center - Ft Pierce

The heat of August continues along the Treasure Coast. Expect hot, humid days throughout the rest of the month. We have had a light breeze most days to take the edge off the hot weather for us. Rains continue each afternoon. What can you expect.....it's the rainy season.

The glass minnows have been flooding into the river, which is normal for this month. They are a favorite food for fish and fowl. Look for jacks, ladyfish, mackerel and bonito to be feeding on them around the inlet. It's a fun month for fishing the inlet areas. We have had some nice size mackerel lately. Small, shiny lures the size of the bait will help you have some fun! It won't be long before the fall mullet run begins and that will be another active time on the Treasure Coast. Snook season opens on September 1st so check your licenses and permits now to be ready for the opening. It's good idea to check you tackle, rods and reels this month and make sure everything is in good working order.

Early mornings has been the best trout bite with top water or DOA shrimp. Fish grass flats two to five feet deep for best results. We have been catching a number of snook along the mangroves. All have been under slot, but a good fight since they are out of season anyway. Top water, CAL paddle tails or DOA shrimp will all work on snook around the mangroves. Redfish have also been under the mangroves staying out of the sun. Skipping your lure or bait under the mangroves is essential to getting a bite. I like to use the CAL paddle tail to skip under the mangroves. They are under the shadow lines and you have to get back in there if you want a bite. Snapper have been all over the river and many have been keepers lately. Docks, bridges and channel edges have all held good numbers of snapper. It has been a good year for snapper in the river.  The inlet has been invaded by ladyfish, jacks, blue runners and other hungry species looking for an easy meal. Look for the glass minnow schools and you will find plenty of action, especially for the kids!

August is always a hot month. Keep hydrated and use plenty of sunscreen this time of year. Snook season opens soon on September 1st. Now is a great time to check your license and snook permit along with all your tackle and gear in anticipation for opening night. There are always lots of first night anglers so it pays to be prepared. Have fun and be safe out there!

Sebastian Inlet Report

                 

Winds are blowing out of the Southwest at 4 mph, gusting to 7 and there is a light to moderate chop on the water. There are no NOAA advisories this morning but we have a chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. 

It's been hot, muggy and at times buggy on the jetties. Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reports a few keeper Mangrove Snapper, Jacks and Blue Runners have been coming over the rails of the jetties and a surprise of a few good sized Margate in the 3 - 4 lb. range. The bait situation is sketchy, a few mojarra, greenies and finger mullet but he schools are wide spread. 

Our anglers today are the Noel family of Melbourne. Dad, Allan fished the south jetty early morning when he landed the huge C/R Snook in our first photo while free lining mojarra at the onset of outgoing tide. The big Snook was released unharmed right after the photo. Allan landed a smaller Snook and a Jack before this big guy and reported some Mangrove Snapper being landed from the south catwalk on the incoming. Allan returned in the evening with is twin sons, Nick and Chris. They fished the south side on the evening tide change and landed Jacks and Ladyfish. Photo two is of Chris with a large Ladyfish he landed from the south jetty. Photo three is of Nick with a large Ladyfish he landed as well. 

From The Crew @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

The inshore Snook bite has been great with many big fish being caught off the beach from Stuart to Vero.

The bridge bite at night has been fantastic in Stuart throwing into the shadow lines. There have still been a few tarpon around the crossroads that will be wiling to eat a mullet on an incoming tide.

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From Todd /Trey/ Paul @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

INSHORE: Catch and release snook fishing remains the best bet inshore right now.  The snook are fired up around the bridges at night, and some big females can be sightcasted off seawalls early each morning in the river right now.  The outgoing tide will produce best around the bridges, while low light periods are key for having any luck with the snook in the river.  Large flair hawk style jigs, swim baits, and bigger live baits are all great choices for the snook right now.  The mangrove snapper are biting around area bridges at night on small live pilchards and shrimp.  Resident tarpon are popping live shrimp around dock lights at night in the ICW.  

SURF/PIER:  Catch and release snook fishing remains the main game in town right now, and it has been good.  Lowlight periods remain the best, but the snook will bite on an incoming tide as well.  Small jigs, swimming plugs, and Vudu mullet are all good choices for the snook right now.  The Juno Beach Pier has been good with lots of snook, a few kingfish, scattered cero mackerel, and a few tarpon all in the mix.  The Shimano "Colt Sniper" Pug has been a hot lure choice o the pier over the past week or two. 

​

Sebastian Inlet Report

                   
08-11-17 FRIDAY: TGIF! 
This morning winds are blowing out of the North at 9 mph, gusting to 12 and there is a moderate chop on the water. Jetty anglers are in luck this morning with plenty of cloud cover, keeping the sun from beating them up too badly. The weekend forecast looks like seas will cooperate for our boaters but chances of summer showers and thunderstorms exist. 
The dog days of summer are upon us and the heat and humidity are intense. Be sure to take plenty of water and sunscreen if you head to the inlet! Summertime is always a slow time for fishing at the inlet. Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reports small numbers of Mangrove Snapper, Jacks, Blue Runners have been coming over the rails for the more patient anglers. The bait schools are thinning out but some greenies are coming and going and some larger silver mullet have shown up as well. 

Our angler of the day is Jean Paul Acevedo of St. Cloud. Jean Paul came over to fish the north jetty on and landed his very first Snook using a white bucktail on the outgoing tide. He released the Snook unharmed right after the photo. 

Our other angler of the day is 9 year old Brody Murray of Cooper City. Brody, his dad Richie and mom, Stephanie fished the inlet and look what they caught! This Gafftopsail Catfish or Sailcat as many of us call them is the biggest one we've ever seen. This big, bad fish took 30 minutes to reel to the boat; it was 35" and around 16 lbs.! Brody was using a medium sized shrimp on 8 lb. test. What a catch! The Florida record is 8 lbs. 14 oz. and the IGFA record is 10 lbs. The Murray's had the catch of a lifetime and made some great family memories in the process. They are strictly a catch and release family so that big guy is still out there somewhere. Congratulations on your amazing catch Brody!

Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

The croaker have joined the party!! Surf fishing on the south end of Hutchinson Island got a lot better these past two days as large schools of nice sized croakers have joined forces with the big whiting that have been swimming in the first trough. To make things even better, the catch-and-release snook bite during the day has also been excellent as these guys are chasing down the croakers. I fished today and Wednesday and the action is great. Wednesday was a group effort with my son Randy, granddaughters Ashley and Kaitlyn, and Randy's in laws, Barry and Bonnie Rashkin. Everyone contributed to our catch and what a fish fry we are going to have this weekend!! Randy and I fished today and the action was non-stop with the big whiting and croaker from 7 - 11 am. The best bite has been centered around the high tide mark so target your fishing around those hours. Randy caught and released a nice slot sized snook on Wednesday and had three other run offs on live croaker. The snook bit again today and Randy released an over-the-slot-sized fish after a great fight. The whiting and croaker continue to bite on the Orange Clam fish bites and now that the Snook Nook is starting to see some increased numbers of shrimp, try a piece on one hook and a fishbite on the other, as the croaker favored the shrimp today. We also caught a mangrove snapper and some palometa in the mix on Wednesday. The weeds that have been so prevalent on a lot of our local beaches have not been a factor on Stuart Beach and Santa Lucea, and those are the two areas I have been fishing. This action should continue as we approach the middle of August so get out and enjoy it!

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Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

Snook, whiting, and croaker are the species that made a showing this weekend along our area beaches. The weeds that shut the activity down in our area last week dissipated somewhat and there were a number of locations that produced some good action. Friend and local snook sharpie, Nick Nicholson, had excellent catch-and-release snook fishing on Friday evening at Bathtub Beach. There was plenty of bait both on the Inlet side and at the Bathtub area with numerous anglers seen hooking up right up until dark. My son Randy found some great fishing for croaker and whiting at Stuart Beach on Saturday evening from 5 to 7 pm. The weed cover had lightened up and the fish were all taken on Orange Clam Fishbites. Normandy Beach also produced some nice whiting and croaker for fellow surf fisherman Dave Capanas on Sunday morning. Dave reported the fish bit best on the rising tide as some weeds showed up after the tide peaked and conditions became a little more difficult. Randy and I fished at Stuart Beach yesterday morning but the bite had slowed from Saturday evening. We managed a few whiting at high tide but the activity fell off shortly after that. August 7, was the August full moon, and as we come off of this phase, I expect fishing to really start picking up. Bait schools should be making their way down the beaches and look for snook, tarpon, and jack crevalle tearing those schools up. August is usually a great month for the whiting and croaker fishing in the first trough and all of the activity we have been experiencing should only get better. 

Scouting Around Palm Beach/Martin County Area

INSHORE:

Along the beaches around Jensen Beach there has been a lot of cool water and weeds recently.

That has put a real damper on fishing.

When it clears, however, the whiting bite has been excellent.

One angler had been catching over 50 a day, before the recent cool water and weeds slowed things down.

The snook bite is still good with the inlets being the spot. Best bets are early mornings until about an hour or two after sunrise. After that the heat pretty much shuts the bite down.

Though the wind is forecast to back off, several anglers have reported finding great protection from the recent strong gusts as well as decent action on jack crevalle and small tarpon in the north and south fork of the St. Lucie River.

Along the beaches in Jupiter the snook bite is still holding steady.

Jack crevalle are also biting as well as a few tarpon.

At the Boynton Inlet the snook bite is still good with the popular game fish hitting live bait.

There is still some tarpon action with best bets being to fish the outgoing tide using live bait.

Along the beach in the area there have been a few palometa caught.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

The bass bite is still fantastic.

Best bets are early morning and late afternoons with different baits for both times.

In the mornings, spinnerbaits and swim jigs have been working best while in the afternoons flipping jigs and beavers are the way to go.

The bluegill bite is still good as well. Crickets and worms are still best.

Courtesy of The Palm Beach Post

Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

Weeds, weeds, and more weeds . This isn't exactly the way I wanted to start out this latest fishing report from our local beaches but unfortunately this is the biggest factor to report. I tried fishing Stuart beach yesterday and only lasted thirty minutes until the beach became unfishable .I received another phone call today from my son who tried Stuart beach again and the conditions were the same. I spoke with another surf fisherman who looked at Dollmans, Hermans Bay, and Middle Cove and he reported mats of weeds in the first trough. Looking at the wind forecast for the immediate future , the persistent southeast winds are supposed to be with us through the beginning of next week. The weed patches are holding tight to the shore which is eliminating the chance of hooking some whiting and croaker along the near shore edge. On a better note schools of bait have made their way to the Fort Pierce Inlet area and if this movement continues tarpon, jacks, and spanish mackerel could provide some action on artificials early in the morning and late in the day. Some of this bait is holding 20 to 30 yards off the beach where the weeds are less evident. I am going searching on Sunday for any beaches that may be clear enough to fish and will post a report on Sunday night. I am definitely going to give Walton Rocks a look because the outer reef there can sometimes keep the big mats of weeds away from the beach. Take a look at more than one beach and you may be lucky enough to find one that is fishable.

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                                         

08-07-17 MONDAY: SLOW BITE 

We have a little wind that is helping with the heat out on the jetties. Winds are blowing out of the Southeast at 8 mph, gusting to six and there is a moderate chop on the water. There are no NOAA advisories this morning but there is a slight possibility of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours. 

There just isn't a lot to report at this time, the bite remains slow which is not unusual for summer. Tommy Turwoski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reported that a few Mangrove Snapper and Jacks were biting this morning, the emphasis being on few. Over the weekend some Blue Runners and Mackerel joined the mix but again, in very small numbers. C/R Snook are active but we implore you to use extra caution when handling the species. If you need a net to pull it up onto the north jetty, use a net to lower it back into the water to avoid harm. The bait situation is sketchy, greenies are wide spread but there are a few finger mullet in the water.

Our photo today is courtesy of Dan Cummings. Dan's friend Carmine landed this monster C/R Snook off the north jetty. The Snook was released unharmed right after the photo. 

From The Crew @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

 Inshore there has been a few reds around to the north by queens cove with a few trout around first light top water has produced the best. The beach fishing has been good with some nice tarpon and snook in the glass minnows just find the bait you will find the fish. 

From Todd /Trey/ Paul @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

INSHORE:  Snook fishing remains the main game in town on the inshore side of things.  The bridges have been pretty good as of late, especially at night on the outgoing tide.  Flair hawk jigs and big swim baits remain the top lure choices for the snook.  The spillways are also producing a good number of snook and a few tarpon.  A few mangrove snapper are being caught around the bridges as well.  Best snapper bite seems to be on live shrimp and pilchards; mainly at night as well.

                

SURF/PIER: Catch and release snook fishing remains very good at the Juno Beach Pier, along the beach, and in Palm Beach and Jupiter Inlets.  Live sandperch and croakers will be the best live bait choices; especially for those looking for a big end of summer snook.  Looks like the wind is going to blow just a little; if the forecast is right it could lead to some really good lure fishing for the snook.  A little chop and some color in the water will have the snook ready to bite flair hawk style jigs, swimsuits, and swimming plugs.  Lowlight conditions will be best for fooling the snook on the lures.  The upcoming full moon could really fire them up at night as well.  The Juno Beach Pier has had some bonita cruising around as well as a handful of kingfish.  A Rapala X-Rap is a good lure choice for the kings and bonitas.  Like the snook; best action on the kings will be early morning and late afternoon.  Other surf action remains a bit spotty.  Scattered schools of spanish mackerel around.

Scouting Around Palm Beach/Martin County Area

 INSHORE:

 Along the beaches in Jupiter the snook bite is still good.

The inlet, however, has been the place for anglers looking to catch these amazing fish.

Remember though they are out of season and it’s catch and release only.

Besides wahoo, another fish definitely worth targeting during the full moon are mangrove snapper.

They will be spawning during the full moon and will be plentiful.

Best bets are to locate structure and to use either live shrimp or small sardines, greenies or pilchards.

Minimum size is 10 inches. Bag limit is five per person.

There have been massive bait balls around the Boynton Inlet recently.

Goggle eyes, cigar minnows, pilchards and sardines have been congregating in large numbers.

Anglers trying to catch bait in the inlet by boat during incoming tides are creating a navigational hazard for other boaters attempting enter or exit the inlet.

Inlet anglers have been catching snook, tarpon, jacks, snapper and permit from the north jetty using a variety of dead and live baits.

Anglers fishing the back walls of the inlet at night are catching moonfish on yellow jigs and sand perch on cut shrimp.

Tara Lopez of West Boynton Beach caught three permit up to 15 pounds and five palometta while fishing the surf with live shrimp off Lantana Beach on Monday with her husband Rafael Lopez.

Anglers in the Intracoastal Waterway are catching mangrove snapper around the seawalls along Ocean Ridge using free lined live shrimp.

Night fishing along the lighted docks have been producing snook, tarpon, moonfish and snapper by anglers using live bait such as small herring or shrimp and by fly anglers using epoxy silversides or small translucent shrimp patterns.

Lantana Bridge anglers have been crushing the snook at night. Moonfish and sand perch have also been hitting at night. Daytime anglers are catching small mangrove snapper, barracuda, jack crevalle and an occasional sheepshead.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

The early morning bass fishing has been excellent on the lake.

Best bet is before sunrise using swim jigs or spinnerbaits that are either white or chartreuse in color.

The bluegill and shellcracker fishing is also good right now along the grass beds.

courtesy of The Palm Beach Post

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                                             
08-03-17 THURSDAY: SPANISH MACKEREL, JACKS, MANGROVE SNAPPER, LOOKDOWNS, BLUE RUNNERS AND C/R SNOOK 

It's another beautiful morning at the Sebastian Inlet. Winds are blowing out of the East-Southeast at 7 mph, gusting to 10 and there is a light to moderate chop on the water. We have a chance of potential scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon which is typical for summer, plan accordingly. Pack plenty of water, insect repellent and sunscreen if you head to the inlet.

We are not seeing a lot of action from the jetties, fish are hitting sporadically although there is still plenty of bait in the water. Outgoing tides have been murky but those boating anglers who have been drifting the outgoing tides have been landing some nice Redfish. Catch and release Snook are active but we ask you to please handle with the utmost care, we need those Snook to get out and make more Snook. Snook season reopens September 1st, so we don't have long to wait. Spanish Mackerel are still here but they shouldn't be around too much longer, they will begin their northerly migration soon. The Mangrove Snapper bite isn't as hot as usual this summer, no real explanation for it. It could be that the water temperature stayed cool longer, which may be why the Mackerel are still hanging around. Fall fishing is just around the corner!

Our angler of the day is Nelson Osario of Kissimmee. Nelson landed this pretty C/R Snook from the north jetty. He used a red and white snook jig to get this big boy's attention.

I GOT MY SUMMER PB SNOOK! Insane Juno Pier Snook Fishing!

EXTREME Snook Bite: Artificial Sand EEL Lure!

Sebastian Inlet Report

We are into the summer doldrums, fishing is very slow unless you are fortunate enough to get offshore. Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reports a few Mangrove Snapper, Spanish Mackerel, Jacks and Blue Runners are hitting sporadically. This morning we had a nice surprise; one of the north jetty anglers landed a good sized Permit! 

Missed your chance to get out for lobster mini-season? No problem, the regular season begins August 6th and runs through March 31, 2018. Please familiarize yourself with the FWC regulations for the tasty crustaceans. Size limits, bag limits, license and permit requirements and more information is available on www.MyFWC.com.