Scouting Around Palm Beach And Martin County

Inshore fishing:

Looking to avoid the heavy seas off of the Palm Beach area? Targeting jack crevalle just inside the Lake Worth Inlet could be a fun alternative.

Surf anglers working the beaches from Lake Worth Beach to Lantana and from the south side of the Boynton Inlet to Ocean Ridge Hammock Park are catching whiting, pompano and a few permit. They are all being caught using cut shrimp on pompano jigs, poached sandfleas and crabs cut into quarters.

Anglers at the Boynton Inlet have been getting sheepshead on the incoming tide using clams and small live crabs.

Lake Okeechobee:

Though it’s been a bit cold and windy the past few days, the bass fishing has been good. Using wild shiners has been good pretty much anywhere on the lake the past week. Guide Ryan Eckman helped one of his clients land an 11-pound, four-ounce monster just before the cold snap. They were using wild shiners and fishing just past Indian Prairie. Though not as consistent there is a bite using artificial baits. Anglers using soft plastic swim baits, especially in copperfield and houdini color patterns, are having some good luck around Tin House Cove and Fourth Point and on the east side near the J&S Canal and Henry Creek.

The crappie fishing has been excellent from the mouth of the Kissimmee River to the Kissimmee Bridge. Anglers using minnows and working depths from eight to 12 feet are having a blast. There has also been a bite using jigs around Kings Bar and Buckhead Ridge.