To the angler who loves to fish the beaches, shores, jetties, bridges and piers of Florida.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
From Todd &Trey @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach
INSHORE: Catch and release snook fishing will be the main game in town this weekend on the inshore side of things. The Spillways and bridges have both been producing a good number of snook. Hogy pro paddletails and SpoolTeks have been hot lure choices for the snook, as have flair hawk style jigs. The mangrove snapper action inshore continues to improve on a weekly basis. Sandperch action has been good in the ICW using fresh cut shrimp. Large amounts of freshwater have other inshore action on the slowside.
SURF/PIER: The Juno Beach Pier has been pretty hot as of late. Decent number of Kingfish have been around each morning and again late in the afternoon. Rapala X-Raps and Yo-Zuri Longcast Minnows have been good lure choices for the kingfish. Snook action continues to improve almost daily at the pier. Fair scattering of jacks and spanish mackerel around as well to keep things interesting. Still a handful of pompano reports trickling in. Sandfleas and clams remain the bait of choice for the late season pompano. Croaker, whiting, and sandperch are biting small pieces of cut shrimp good in the first trough.
From Capt. Charlie @ Fishing Center - Ft Pierce
Summer has arrived, and you can bet on hot afternoons and lots of great fishing action around the Treasure Coast during June. The mornings will be calm, and it is certainly to your benefit to get out early to beat the afternoon heat. Being on the water at first light is worth the effort to watch the sun rise. Expect a chance of afternoon thunderstorms each day…we can always use some rain around the area this time of year! Watch the weather each afternoon out there. It’s a fantastic month to fish.
Inshore will provide lots of redfish, snook and trout action on the flats. Get those top water lures cleaned up and plan an early morning to get some of that explosive action in the shallows. Try the DOA Airhead or Bait Buster for great top water action. Switch to DOA shrimp or a CAL jerk bait as the sun warms up to continue your success. Watch for bait schools on the flats and you can be assured there are fish nearby. You can expect the fish to be feeding shallow early and move to the edges of the flats as the sun rises. Look for sand holes on the flats! Fish are traditionally lazy and love to sit in a sand hole and wait for the tide to bring the food for them to ambush.
You should be able to find plenty of redfish around the shallows. The population this year has been outstanding, and they have been growing all spring. Redfish schools will be feeding on the flats, so be on the lookout for them. Most will be slot size to just over the slot. I love using a DOA shrimp or CAL paddle tails while fishing for reds. Try along the mangroves as well. Lots of fish will move under the mangroves as the sun heats up for the day. Trout will be on the grassy flats and feeding on the same food out there. Move out to three to five feet of water as the day heats up to continue your action. A Deadly Combo can provide inexperienced anglers with lots of fun learning to fish artificials. Don’t forget to fish the docks around the river. Lots of big fish will be hanging around many of the docks along the Indian River. Live bait, TerrorEyz and DOA shrimp can find some exciting action in June. Harbor Branch, Queens Cove and Bear Point will all be hot spots for action all summer.
Snook will provide plenty of action around the bridges and jetties this month. Snook season closed on May 31 and won’t open again until fall. Night anglers will be heading to the jetties for catch and release snook and maybe some tarpon action. Top water lures, feather jigs, TerrorEyz and Bait Busters can all get you in on some fantastic action. Handle the snook carefully and release them quickly and safely so that they will be there this fall. Jacks will also be hanging around the inlets and give you some rod bending activity.
Make sure you take plenty of water with you. It will be hot out there. Drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated and reduce the risk of heat stroke. Slather on lots of sunscreen! Sunburn isn’t a good feeling at the end of the good day of fishing. A little common sense and a few minutes can a big difference. Make that part of preparations for your adventures on the water. It will just make a great day even better!
Monday, May 28, 2018
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area
I hope some of my fellow surf anglers got out these past two days to take advantage of the whiting, croaker, and pompano bite that has been happening along our local beaches. Tomorrow, Friday, looks like that is going to be the last day to hit the surf until next week as this next weather system will be upon us on Saturday afternoon. The beaches along the south end of Hutchinson Island, Tiger Shores, Stuart, and Santa Lucea have been holding the best water, as the northern end spots like Middle Cove have been very off color. I fished at Stuart Beach on Wednesday afternoon and put together a decent catch of whiting, croaker, and a couple of keeper pompano. The most amazing part of Wednesday's fishing was the number of pompano that I released before catching two keepers. I probably released 20 to 25 before I caught my cooler fish, and a report from one of my commercial pompano friends was the same story today at Tiger Shores. He caught at least 20, but only four of those were of legal size. I want to remind everyone that targeting the hours around high tide is the key to putting together a nice catch of the whiting and croaker. Orange Clam and Pink Shrimp Fishbites were the best baits again along with some small pices of fresh shrimp. Hopefully this next storm gets out of here by early next week so we can get back to this great action.
From Todd &Trey @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach
INSHORE: Good snook fishing this week at the Spillways thanks to the relentless rain. DOA TerrorEyz and Hogy Paddletails have been hot lure choices at the Spillway. The snook are also moving around area bridges at night in pretty good numbers as well. Flair Hawks and bigger swimbaits remain the top lure choices for the snook right now. Look for outgoing tide to produce the best action on the snook. Still some big jacks cruising around in the ICW, along with a stray tarpon or two.
Mangrove snapper action has slowly started to improve inshore. Small live pilchards and live shrimp are top bait choices for the snapper right now.
SURF/PIER: Snook fishing remains pretty good around the Juno Beach Pier and both Jupiter and Palm Beach Inlets. Last weekend of the season to invite one home for dinner. The snook are biting best early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Still a few pompano hanging around for those putting the time in. Croaker and whiting are biting in the first trough. Some spanish mackerel have been hanging around Jupiter Inlet. The Juno Beach Pier has been seeing some big jacks, bonita, and a few kingfish.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Scouting Around Palm Beach / Martin County Area
Despite the “moist” conditions lately, the fishing for snook remains great in the St. Lucie and Indian Rivers. Still being caught on pilchards around the bridge and dock pilings, they are starting to make their way towards the inlets to spawn.
If looking for pilchards, they have mostly moved offshore and are no longer easy pickings in the rivers.
Tarpon have been lurking around the bridges and a few along the beaches lately. Late night fishing with crabs has been producing good results.
In the Lake Worth Inlet there have some tarpon around and they are being hooked using smaller baits.
Lantana Bridge anglers have reported catching croakers, sand perch, small snapper, jack crevalle and moonfish using fresh cut shrimp and small jigs. Mullet are also being caught around the bridge for bait.
There have been reports of good snook action around the Boynton and Lake Worth Spillways. Live Target and Red Tail Hawk lures are working best.
Using live shad around the various spillways in the canals, has been producing a good bite on clown knifefish, peacock bass and largemouth bass up to 8 pounds as well as a variety of catfish and gar up to 15 pounds. Look for flowing water from drain pipes or adjoining canals for productive freshwater fishing using jigs and top water lures.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE:
The bass bite was incredible for The Nik Kayler Benefit Tournament https://www.
With all the rain recently anglers working areas with moving water have been doing well using chrome blue Rat-L-Trap baits.
The bluegill bite is still good in the Kissimmee River, Taylor Creek and the J&S Canal areas. Using live crickets many anglers are reporting catching their limits.
report courtesy of Palm Beach Post
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
From Todd &Trey @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach
Snook fishing continues to go off pretty good inshore right now. The snook got the memo that it was almost summer spawning time and they are feeding pretty darn good right now. Boat docks and seawalls are good areas to fish during the day, while bridges close to the inlets continue to produce at night. Flair hawks and bigger swimbaits remain the lures of choice for the snook. Been some big jacks along the same seawalls that the snook are hanging around. Nothing quite like a monster jack destroying a noisy topwater walked along a seawall early in the morning. Mangrove snapper action continues to slowly improve inshore. Sandperch bite has been very good on small pieces of fresh cut shrimp right now.
SURF/PIER: Still a few pompano around and being caught. NO doubt we are nearing the end of the pompano season, but it's still worth putting them out at this point. Sandfleas and clams are still the top bait choice for the pomps. For all around action, including the pompano, try fishing some cut shrimp for very mixed bag action.
The Juno Beach Pier has been pretty hot lately. Some Macs and kingfish coming over the rail early in the morning and late in the afternoon on Rapala X-Raps. The big jacks have been cruising around. Snook action also continues to improve at the pier.
Monday, May 21, 2018
Friday, May 18, 2018
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Scouting Around Palm Beach / Martin County Area
Even though it sounds like a bit of a broken record, it’s a great song! The snook are still biting in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. They are still being caught on pilchards with the best spots being around the docks and bridge pilings.
There are still trout around as well, but they are mostly up around the power plant.
Tarpon are being spotted around the power plant as well.
Along the beaches in the Jensen area, there are still large mats of seaweed that are making it tough for surfcasting.
That said, there are still pompano around.
Along the beaches in Jupiter the jack crevalle bite has been great. Anglers are having a blast catching these incredible fighters. Not lightweights either, fish in the 15 to 30-pound range are being caught.
Snook have been moving out of the river and Intracoastal and are being caught at the Jupiter Inlet and along the beaches as well.
At the Juno Pier there have been pilchards around and anglers are catching snook and even cobia.
Anglers fishing the Lake Worth spillway are reporting catching slot-size snook using Red Tail Hawk lures.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE:
The bass bite has been good, but it’s mostly been a morning bite. Anglers fishing the first four hours of the day and using live shiners are having the best luck. In the Monkey Box area of the lake, plastic worms have been working as well.
The bluegill bite has continued to pick while, conversely, the crappie bite has continued to slow.
Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area
I made a quick trip back to Stuart Beach this morning to see if the whiting, croaker, pompano, and blue runners that provided some steady action yesterday were holding in that area. I am pleased to say that the fishing was better today as the croaker and whiting action was non-stop. They bit through the top of the tide and I left them biting as the tide started to fall. Another nice development was the appearance of pods of tarpon - they could be seen rolling and heading South about 100 yards off of the beach. This is definitely the start of some great summer surf action and with the big numbers of croaker that are available, a live lined croaker in the first trough should bring some great snook action. I didn't have a chance to try that today as I was fishing a couple of long rods for pompano. The only pompano I hooked on a long rod was intercepted by a shark after a brief hook-up. I did catch and release a couple of undersized pompano that were taken on the short rod I was fishing for the croaker and whiting. For anyone who has not targeted the whiting and croaker during the summer, the key is pitching the bait, not casting it. All of the bites will happen in the first trough, 10 - 20 yards from the edge of the surf. This is the biggest mistake anglers make during the warm months and you will be amazed at how close to the spot that you are standing that these fish will take a bait. Orange Clam and pink shrimp Fishbites have been the hot baits, along with small pieces of fresh shrimp. Do not put a whole (or even half of a shrimp) on your whiting and croaker rig as your chance of hooking up will be greater using just a small piece. This action should be good up and down Hutchinson Island and the hours around high tide will be the best. Find a beach with a deep first trough and you will continue to catch fish as the tide drops. The near shore trough at Stuart,Tiger Shores, and Santa Lucea have developed again and as I check more beaches I will let you know the best spots to fish. Walton Rocks and Normandy beach accesses have always been great whiting and croaker spots so put them on your list to try.These fish make great table fare and are fun to catch - so get out and bend a rod. My last recommendation is to make sure you have a cooler with ice so these great tasting fish are nice and cold at the end of your trip.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Scouting Around Palm Beach / Martin County Area
There is still a fantastic snook bite in the St. Lucie River. Though the docks are still great spots there have been some crowds around looking to take advantage of the action. Less crowded options, including the St. Lucie Inlet and Sewall’s Point, may lack some of the consistency, but are producing bigger fish. They are all still hitting on live pilchards.
There have also been some tarpon cruising around the inlet. If you can find them, live crabs are definitely working.
On the beaches the pompano, whiting and croaker are still biting, but thick mats of sargassum have been making many areas tough to fish.
There were large schools of mullet around the Boynton Inlet on Tuesday.
There has been some snook and small tarpon action at night off the jetties using live mullet or white chicken feathers 2 oz or heavier, Red Tail Hawks or Live Target pinfish lures.
There have been several bonefish catches by anglers working the flats north of the inlet in the Intracoastal Waterway using live shrimp on a 3/8 ounce jig head.
Small mangrove snapper, sand perch, sheepshead and jacks have been hitting live and cut shrimp around the Lantana bridge.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE:
On the lake the bass bite has been good in Eagle Bay and Tin House Cove areas as well as at the mouth of the Kissimmee River. Anglers using live shiners are fairing slightly better than those using artificial baits.
The bluegill bite has continued picking up and has been best in the Rim Canal and Indian Prairie Canal areas. These tough little fighters are hitting crickets and worms.
report courtesy of Palm Beach Post
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Monday, May 14, 2018
Sebastian Inlet Report
SPANISH MACKEREL, SNOOK AND SNAPPER
Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reports that there is a Spanish Mackerel bite off the north jetty this morning and Snook are out there as well. Mangrove Snapper were biting in the Indian River Lagoon yesterday. There are huge rafts of seaweed in the water right now, hampering efforts to fish from the beaches.
Friday, May 11, 2018
From Todd &Trey @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach
Inshore: Snook fishing continues to improve with warming weather. The snook are more active by the day and really beginning to push towards the inlet. Best snook action will be at night around bridges closer to the inlets, with outgoing tide being the best. Bigger swim baits, flair hawk jigs, and swimming plugs are all good choices for the snook. Live mullet are also great bait choice for the snook. Mangrove snapper are starting to filter into their normal inshore summertime hangouts. Mostly smaller mangroves right now, but some better ones should be close behind. Sandperch are biting very good inshore right now, with small pieces of fresh shrimp being the top bait choice.
Surf/Pier: Pompano action has started to slow, but is not totally done yet. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to target pompano right now. Sandfleas and clams remain the top bait choice for the pompano. Snook are starting to move along the beach in better numbers, have been around the Juno Beach Pier, and are filling into the inlets as well. Live croakers and sardines will be the top snook baits. The Juno Beach Pier has had good action this week with scattered Spanish and King Mackerel, big jacks, and snook all hanging around. The live baits are showing back up around the pier in better numbers...and the bigger stuff is not far behind. Lots of good stuff going on!
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Sebastian Inlet Report
SNOOK, POMPANO, SHEEPSHEAD AND JACKS
The Snook bite has picked up, particularly in low light periods. Dusk and dawn are favorite feeding times for the species. They will take a variety of live baits, shrimp, pinfish, pigfish or mullet work well and in the evenings bucktails seem to work just as well. Other species have been slow but here have been a few Pompano, Sheepshead, Spadefish and Lookdowns.Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area
Tried to fish this morning and the weeds have taken over our beaches. I looked at Santa Lucea, Stuart, Tiger Shores, County Line, Blue Heron, and Middle Cove and all of those locations were full of weeds. I fished with Bob Romero,a longtime friend from Tampa, and all we managed to catch was a whiting, croaker, and a jack. The lines loaded up within a minute or two with heavy weeds which made fishing impossible. It appears this 10 to 15 knot northeast wind is going to be
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
From Todd &Trey @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach
Snook fishing continues to improve inshore as the snook start the move towards the inlets. Bridges close to the inlets will start to produce more fish, as will the inlets themselves. The snook are hungry right now so don't be afraid to fish the big baits. This id the time of year they are going to eat them. Mangrove snapper action continues to improve inshore as the weather warms up. Jacks are still cruising the ICW in decent numbers, as are possibly a few tarpon.
SURF/PIER: Pompano fishing remains good along area beaches. Sandfleas, clams, and Fishbites remain the baits of choice for the pomps. Early morning and late afternoon remain the best time to target the pompano. Snook fishing continues to improve along the beach and at the Juno Beach Pier. Some schools of big jacks continue to push along the beach from the Juno Beach Pier to up past Jupiter Inlet. Scattered schools of Spanish mackerel, as well as a few kings, remain around. Croaker and whiting are biting fresh shrimp in the first trough.
Sebastian Inlet Report
Winds are blowing out of the Northeast at 11 mph, gusting to 13 and there is a moderate chop on the water.
The bite has been slow. A few nice fish come over the rails of the jetties periodically but overall, its been incredibly slow for this time of year. We’re not seeing a lot of bait fish in the water which normally brings in the larger predators. The month of May is the peak time of year for Pompano, Southern Flounder, Snook and Whiting. Conditions have been rough for surf fishing but a few nice Pompano have been landed from both jetties and the catwalks. Snook have been more active in the lower light periods, evenings and before dawn.
Our photo today is one features John Chang and John Hirowaza with a big, beautiful C/R Red that John H. landed from the north jetty
Monday, May 7, 2018
Thursday, May 3, 2018
Sebastian Inlet Report
THE BITE REMAINS SLOW
We have a windy morning at the inlet. Winds are blowing out of the East-Northeast at 11 mph, gusting to 18 and the water is choppy. NOAA is urging small craft operators to exercise caution. Winds are forecasted to gradually subside late week.
We received an update from inlet regular Mike Ricciardi of Vero Beach who fished the north jetty last Friday and Monday, arriving around 11:00 a.m. both days. Mike reported clean but milky waters due to turbulence. Mike heard from other anglers that a couple of slot Snook were landed in the early morning hours on Friday. Mike’s catches from Monday were 3 Catfish, 2 small Blue Runners, 2 Spadefish, one was small and one was decent sized and 1 short Pompano. Other than one tourist landing 2 Pompano, one short and one that was 14” and one Black Drum, that was the extent of the catches for Monday. Although that fishing report sounds bleak, it’s actually better than it has been, as far as activity.
Our angler of the day is Wayne Pollock who landed these good-sized Whiting during his stay.
From Capt. Charlie @ Fishing Center - Ft Pierce
Finally, the windy months of March and April are almost behind us and we can look forward to the great fishing weather that May has to offer us on the Treasure Coast. Other than the usual windy days, it has been a pretty mild winter and spring has arrived. Look for warmer temperatures and little less blustery days. As the water temperatures climb, the fishing will steadily improve on the river. The water is already in the mid 70’s and that means the fish will be hungry. It will provide fantastic mornings for top water and lazy afternoons to drift the flats. May is one of my favorite months on the water!
Redfish will be our main target throughout the month of May. The past several years have bought us schools of slot sized redfish along the Indian River. Most of the fish we have caught have been in the 18 to 30 inch range. The mangroves have produced lots of redfish action again this year. They have been sunning on the flats and May gets their blood pumping and turns on the feeding. I always have three lures ready during May…DOA shrimp, CAL jerk baits and top water lures. Gold spoons and the DOA 2 ¾” shrimp will also be great additions to the arsenal when fishing for redfish. As the fish school up, look for them around the edges of the flats. Most of the river here on the Treasure Coast has been holding redfish and you should be able to find some on your favorite flats. I tend to enjoy the east side of the river, but we have found many on the west side as well.
Snook fishing in the early mornings will bring some rod bending action as they head up on the flats for an early morning or late evening meal. Top water lures (like the DOA PT-7), Bait Busters and DOA shrimp are all great lures to tempt a snook into biting. We have been broken off numerous times by big snook under the mangroves. Docks will also hold snook lurking around for an easy meal. Live shrimp is hard to beat around the docks. In the inlet areas, try around the seawalls and bridges with live bait, Terror Eyz, feather jigs or deep diving plugs. I love early morning for great snook fishing opportunities! Snook season will close June 1st-12am
Trout will continue to feed on top water at first light and live shrimp on popping corks during the day. As the sun rises, they will head off the shallows to deeper water in the two to four foot range. We have had some nice gator trout of late and should see some still big trout throughout the month of May. I have had great success with CAL jerk baits and Deadly Combos this year in place of live shrimp. If you are using live baits, try big shrimp or pilchards on the flats. Both sides of the river have been productive in early mornings. Winter fishing for trout has been good this year and spring should continue to give you some great action.
Bridges will hold the usual sheepshead catch, while snapper will be moving into the river along with flounder. Jacks and ladyfish will be patrolling the areas and creating havoc all over the river. Beaches will produce whiting with still a few catches of Spanish mackerel and bluefish along with the usual whiting. Tarpon will begin their trek into the river and you can start looking for them in the St Lucie River, Big and Little Mud areas and the channels of the river. May is a great month to fish the Treasure Coast….plan on a trip out on the river soon!
Redfish will be our main target throughout the month of May. The past several years have bought us schools of slot sized redfish along the Indian River. Most of the fish we have caught have been in the 18 to 30 inch range. The mangroves have produced lots of redfish action again this year. They have been sunning on the flats and May gets their blood pumping and turns on the feeding. I always have three lures ready during May…DOA shrimp, CAL jerk baits and top water lures. Gold spoons and the DOA 2 ¾” shrimp will also be great additions to the arsenal when fishing for redfish. As the fish school up, look for them around the edges of the flats. Most of the river here on the Treasure Coast has been holding redfish and you should be able to find some on your favorite flats. I tend to enjoy the east side of the river, but we have found many on the west side as well.
Snook fishing in the early mornings will bring some rod bending action as they head up on the flats for an early morning or late evening meal. Top water lures (like the DOA PT-7), Bait Busters and DOA shrimp are all great lures to tempt a snook into biting. We have been broken off numerous times by big snook under the mangroves. Docks will also hold snook lurking around for an easy meal. Live shrimp is hard to beat around the docks. In the inlet areas, try around the seawalls and bridges with live bait, Terror Eyz, feather jigs or deep diving plugs. I love early morning for great snook fishing opportunities! Snook season will close June 1st-12am
Trout will continue to feed on top water at first light and live shrimp on popping corks during the day. As the sun rises, they will head off the shallows to deeper water in the two to four foot range. We have had some nice gator trout of late and should see some still big trout throughout the month of May. I have had great success with CAL jerk baits and Deadly Combos this year in place of live shrimp. If you are using live baits, try big shrimp or pilchards on the flats. Both sides of the river have been productive in early mornings. Winter fishing for trout has been good this year and spring should continue to give you some great action.
Bridges will hold the usual sheepshead catch, while snapper will be moving into the river along with flounder. Jacks and ladyfish will be patrolling the areas and creating havoc all over the river. Beaches will produce whiting with still a few catches of Spanish mackerel and bluefish along with the usual whiting. Tarpon will begin their trek into the river and you can start looking for them in the St Lucie River, Big and Little Mud areas and the channels of the river. May is a great month to fish the Treasure Coast….plan on a trip out on the river soon!
Scouting Around Palm Beach / Martin County Area
INSHORE FISHING:
Though it may seem like a broken record, the snook fishing is still smoking hot in the St. Lucie and Indian Rivers. The bait, which has been a surefire bet in recent weeks, is still live pilchards.
They are also catching a few redfish in the St. Lucie River.
Along the beaches in the Jensen area, the whiting and croaker bite has been excellent using sand flea Fish Bites.
Along the beaches in Jupiter the pompano fishing is fantastic. Anglers are catching their limits using sand fleas and Fish Bites.
The snook fishing has been good in the Loxahatchee River and at the inlet. They are hitting live baits and if fishing at night Red Tail Hawk lures are working well.
Fishing at the Lantana Bridge has been slow the last week with anglers catching a few croaker and sand perch on frozen shrimp.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE:
Out on the lake, the bass fishing is still good with hot spots being the Monkey Box, Harney Pond and Little Grassy areas. Swim jigs and poppin frogs are working well. Anglers should be cautious fishing these areas as the lake level has dropped and they are relatively shallow.
The crappie bite is still slowed down a bit, but again they are biting at the mouth of the Kissimmee River in 12 to 14 feet of water.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
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