To the angler who loves to fish the beaches, shores, jetties, bridges and piers of Florida.
Saturday, January 29, 2022
Saturday, January 22, 2022
Scouting Around Palm Beach And Martin County
Around the Stuart and Jensen Causeways, and most structure in the area, there is still a solid sheepshead bite. They are hitting shrimp and fiddler crabs.
Black drum are being caught at the Roosevelt Bridge and tripletail and croaker are being caught along the channel markers using shrimp on a jig head.
If you're looking for snook, they are being found deeper in to the St. Lucie River right now and even up into the north fork.
The surf fishing along the Martin and St. Lucie County beaches has been hit or miss the past week. Though it's actually been a little more on the miss side, anglers are reporting catching the occassional pompano and some nice-sized whiting.
There are also Spanish mackerel still being caught around Peck's Lake.
Along the beaches in Jupiter, anglers are getting some pompano, Spanish mackerel and a few bluefish.
If you're going to walk the beach, throwing a spoon will work well.
Up into the Loxahatchee River, anglers are getting a mixed bag including some hard-fighting jack crevalle, ladyfish and a few pompano.
Like last week, the fishing at the Boynton Inlet has been extremely slow.
Action in the Intracoastal Waterway, inside the inlet has been relatively quiet as well. Capt. Bruce did report seeing small aggregations of manatees moving south.
Lake Okeechobee
The bass bite has been pretty hit or miss the past week. One day it's on fire, the next day it's slow. That said, they are mostly being caught on live shiners. After that, throwing a Senko or flippin' and pitchin' creature-style baits has been working. Working the holes in the hydrilla patches has been good, especially around the Tin House Cove area.
Before this last cool snap, the speck bite had been fantastic. Using jigs or minnows, and fishing the early morning and late evenings, guys were getting their limits. It's still decent and as things warm back up it should improve. Working the edge of the grass patches has been effective, with the pier along with Indian Prairie and King's Bar being hot spots.
More freshwater
Fishing in the conservation area in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, the bass fishing was fantastic Tuesday morning.
Capt. Bruce caught and released 35 bass, with some up to six pounds, using a mix of Chug Bugs, black/blue football jigs and Whack'n Worms in pumpkin.
Sebastian Inlet Report
Snookman says he saw plenty of black drum being caught on cut clams as well as dead and live shrimp at the North jetty.
“Most of the fish were between two and five pounds, and a lot of those caught ranged between 20 and 50 pounds,” he says. “Most of these large fish were being caught on the evening tides on the tip of the jetty, a few during the daytime. Also being caught were the large ‘bull’ redfish, most 20 to 30 pounds on cut baits, jigs and spoons, on the outgoing tide.”
Sheepshead are also back, most ranging between one and three pounds and caught on live fiddler crabs and cut shrimp, Wayne notes. He adds that bluefish are being caught on the tip of the jetty during the outgoing tide, while Spanish mackerel are biting small jigs and spoons on the ocean side of the jetty.
Winds have churned the water at the South jetty and fishing is slow, but anglers are catching small flounder along the rock wall and in the surf pocket area. You might also land catfish, sand perch and whiting using cut shrimp.
Fishing is slow at the T-dock area, but bluefish are possible for those throwing large silver spoons on both tides.
Sheepshead are also back, most ranging between one and three pounds and caught on live fiddler crabs and cut shrimp, Wayne notes. He adds that bluefish are being caught on the tip of the jetty during the outgoing tide, while Spanish mackerel are biting small jigs and spoons on the ocean side of the jetty.
Winds have churned the water at the South jetty and fishing is slow, but anglers are catching small flounder along the rock wall and in the surf pocket area. You might also land catfish, sand perch and whiting using cut shrimp.
Fishing is slow at the T-dock area, but bluefish are possible for those throwing large silver spoons on both tides.
Winds have clouded the surf on both sides of the jetties, so action is scant, Wayne says.
“Winds will be mostly offshore this week, so expect it to clean up some,” Wayne says. “Since it is cool enough — 67 degrees — the pompano might show up again. Also, I’m hearing reports of sharks being caught in the surf for those throwing large live baits or big chunk baits.”
“Light winds and cool temperature this week are reasons enough to pack a lunch, hit the bait shop and go to your favorite fishing or ‘chillin’ spot to enjoy crisp air and Florida sun,” Wayne says. “Tight lines, everyone.”
Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area
From Todd & Eddy @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach
INSHORE- Inshore fishing improved a bit this week. Cooler temps seemed to get the fish biting a bit better. Sheepshead and black drum action really improved in the Loxahatchee River and ICW. Live shrimp will be the best bait option for both of them. Mixed in with the drum and sheepshead will be some ladyfish, jacks, and occasional pompano. The Hobe Sound ICW flats continue to improve with an assortment of life. A few trout, pompano, snook, ladyfish, and other assorted life are swimming around on the Hobe Sound Flats right now. Live shrimp, Gulp Shrimp, and gold spoons are all good bait/lure options on the flats right now. Look for the stretch from Mile Marker 40-44 to be your best bet. If the west side of the ICW gets blown out, give the boat docks on the east side of the ICW a try.
SURF/PIER- Surf fishing once again left a bit to be desired this week. Surf and water conditions did improve towards the end of the week; but unfortunately fishing reports did not drastically improve with the better conditions. A small handful of pompano were caught from Juno Beach up to Hobe Sound. No rhyme or reason to the pompano, just a few around for those spending time on the beach. Sandfleas (if you can find them!), clams, and FIshBites all remain good bait choices for the pompano. The Juno Beach Pier has had a handful of Spanish Mackerel this week. Crappie jigs or small Rapala X-Raps remain good bait choices for the Spanish Macs on the pier. Best action for them will be first thing in the morning and then late in the afternoon. A few kingfish bites on the pier this week as well. Seems to be best first thing in the morning for the kings. A size 14 Rapala X-Rap or Yo-Zuri Longcast Minnow will be top lure choices for the kings. The Blacktip Sharks are starting to show in better numbers along the beach. Still a few weeks away from full on migration status; but better numbers for sure around this week.
Friday, January 21, 2022
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Sorry For Late Notice
Sunday, January 16, 2022
Will Be Missed But Never Forgotten
Snook Nook owner Henry Caimotto, nicknamed Mayor of Jensen Beach, dies at 76
Henry Caimotto moved to Jensen Beach in 1983, leaving behind the cold winters of Michigan for the warmth, sunshine and sparkling waters of the Treasure Coast. By 1984, he had become owner of Snook Nook Bait and Tackle, and few who knew him ever saw him wear long pants again.
Caimotto, known as "The Mayor of Jensen Beach," died Jan. 12. He was 76.
Caimotto's loss was commemorated by scores on Facebook pages. Some knew him as a vocal, feisty champion for clean water. Others knew him as the guy who sold them a couple dozen hand-picked shrimp when they went fishing in the morning.
One thing about Caimotto was certain: Those who met him will never forget him.
"When I moved to Stuart in 1999, I was assigned to write environmental stories for Florida Sportsman magazine," said Indian RiverKeeper Mike Conner. "I was sent to Rivers Coalition meetings, where Henry Caimotto basically was the engine that pulled the train.
"He set the bar for activism, and those office-holders who lacked Henry's fire for the River hated to see him coming. He stoked a little fear, and that was what I admired about him most."
Caimotto had a favorite saying about why Florida is a very special place.
"If it were not for the water and the sunshine, everybody would go to Arizona. Because if you just want sunshine, what a great place to find it. At the rate they're treating our water, it may not be long that we may all be going to Arizona," he told TCPalm's Tyler Treadway and Eve Samples in 2013.
Unapologetic
Caimotto had been a hairdresser during his days in Michigan. But he found his calling as a small business owner who understood the Treasure Coast's inextricable link between its waterways and its economy. He was passionate about making sure the powers that be learned how their decisions — influenced by special interests — could kill off an entire segment of a community's economy.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Caimotto hosted a weekly fishing show on a cable access channel that aired Saturday evenings in Martin and St. Lucie counties. He spent the first 15-20 minutes of the two-hour program reading headlines from local newspapers about how polluted the St. Lucie River, Indian River Lagoon and Lake Okeechobee were.
Caimotto also could be heard delivering a daily fishing report on WSTU 1450 AM and hosted a weekly radio show Friday afternoons on the same station.
His commentary on how waterways were being managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, South Florida Water Management District and other state and county officials often was scathing. In spring 1998, a massive Lake Okeechobee discharge event really drew Caimotto's ire. That's when scores of species of fish in Martin County waters began showing open, bleeding lesions on their heads, fins and skins.
Caimotto allowed the Department of Environmental Protection to stage a sick fish collection station in his shop's parking lot. Former TCPalm reporter Tyler Treadway described the 1998 moment in a 2016 analysis of a discharge event that year.
"While the DEP was collecting fish at the Snook Nook, the shop's owner, Henry Caimotto, was collecting more than 30,000 signatures from local residents pleading for a solution," Treadway wrote.
"The discharges fired up a lot of people," Caimotto told Treadway. "It got some play in the media. Some meetings were held, and then some more meetings. People said they'd study this and that. I heard the word 'study' so much it chokes me. But in the end, nothing ever happened."
Caimotto blamed Big Sugar and was frustrated with elected officials who didn't do anything about the problem.
“We have to buy the land south of the lake. There are areas where we can buy the land and treat the water," he said in a 2018 interview in Indian River Magazine. "Agriculture could care less because it is not to their financial advantage. The money is too big on their side. I blame the politicians. They know where they get their money from."
Today, Everglades restoration projects have begun to reach completion, people with knowledge of the river are in positions of power and the Army Corps works closely with Treasure Coast officials. Caimotto's passion helped in achieving that.
A helping hand
Caimotto also will be remembered as someone who was always willing to help. He gave fishing instruction for free to anyone who asked. He donated products from his store for charity auctions and fishing tournaments. He educated people who simply stopped in to buy shrimp how to become better stewards of their environment.
He is survived by a son, Freddie, 36, and daughter, Ally, 32, both of Jensen Beach.
Sebastian Inlet Report
Our charismatic fishing guide, “Snookman” Wayne Landry says high winds and churned water blew out the fishing over the weekend, but he expects the weather will calm down once again and fishing will pick up.
At the North jetty last week, Wayne says, anglers were catching black drum, sheepshead, whiting, snook, large redfish, small palmettos and even pompano on high tide, all being caught on either live or cut shrimp.
“The outgoing tide was producing plenty of bluefish, jack crevalles and also large redfish on silver spoons, cut and live baits fished in the channel on the tip of the jetty,” Wayne reports. “Also, there are still plenty of the large roe mullet in the entire inlet for the cast netters to catch. Flounder over here have been slow, with a few still being caught on live finger mullet and mud minnows along the rock shorelines.”
There was also action at the South jetty last week, with small snook, redfish and flounder being caught on live baits along the jetty and shoreline, Wayne says.
“I did see one flounder caught that was about three pounds or so, nice fish,” he says. “Also, on the high tide, I saw another species being caught that usually shows up this time of year: Weakfish were being caught on live baits, shrimp and small finger mullet. Most are about 10 to 12 inches, which is about average for these fish.”
Waynes says there are limits on spotted weakfish (15-19 inches), with a bag limit of two per person per day.. Anglers were also catching sand perch, whiting and bluefish.
At the T-dock, it’s still the same: bluefish, jacks and Spanish mackerel on spoons and small jigs on both tides. Floundering is still slow as well.
Prior to the rough and turbid water arriving, the pompano bite was decent along the surf, Wayne says.
“Along with whiting, anglers were catching small palmettos on sand fleas and cut shrimp,” Wayne says. “Bluefish, Spanish mackerel and jacks were being caught on spoons and jigs on the high tide for folks targeting them.”
“The weather for the week calls for some cooling down again, along with north-northeasterly winds, so I'm hoping it will clean the water back up like it was,” Wayne says. “If it does, expect the fishing to ramp back up like it was. Get out there, wet a line and you just might catch the fish of a lifetime. Tight lines everyone!”
From Todd & Eddy @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach
SURF/PIER- Another slow week on the beach. Rough conditions and dirty water brought fishing reports pretty much to a grinding halt. Conditions over the weekend unfortunately aren't looking a whole lot better. Saturday looks like it may end up being ok; but hard to say how the water will look. If it clears up a few fish may show up. The Juno Beach Pier has had a few fish in the rough stuff this wee; including the stray winter snook or two. If the water stays on the cleaner side we could see a little push of pompano this weekend, but I'm not holding my breath on that one! A handful of bluefish around. A loud noisy topwater popper, silver spoon, or cut mullet is a good bait choice for the blues. About time for the better numbers of Blacktip Sharks to start showing up.
Scouting Around Palm Beach And Martin County
Inshore
The pompano bite has slowly been picking up at the Jensen Causeway and could be a sign that more fish are beginning to move into the river.
At the Roosevelt and 10-cent bridges, there have been good numbers of black drum caught the past week and anglers working the channel markers in the area are reporting some nice triple tail catches.
If you're looking for snook, the top spots have been deeper into the St. Lucie River and up around the powerplant using live shrimp and artificial baits resembling shrimp.
Anglers working the beaches or along the beaches by boat are reporting a good Spanish mackerel bite. Though, with the wild weather it's been tough, they are hitting spoons and Gulfstream Flash Minnows. If they're there, but not wanting play, chumming with block of glass minnows will usually get them fired up.
Anglers working the beaches at the north end of Jupiter Island have done extremely well the past few days fishing for Spanish mackerel.
As a bonus there have been sheepshead traveling under those schools.
In a departure from recent weeks, there has been little to no bait around the Boynton Inlet the past week.
In addtion, there have been few anglers trying and no real action to report.
Inside the inlet, in the Intracoastal Waterway, there have been scattered schools of mullet as well as threadfin herring and pilchards found around the bridges.
At the Lantana Bridge, anglers are reporting catching small bluefish, mangrove snapper and sheepshead on live shrimp and clams.
Lake Okeechobee
Capt. Larry Wright said the bass bite has been very good the past few days. Not only have the numbers been good, but there have been some bigger fish. He said they've been averaging four to seven pounds with a couple a nine pounders in the mix. Though shiners have been by far the most effective bait, Capt. Larry did say that if you're going with a artificial, flukes, Senkos and Speed worms have all been working. Darker colors including blacks and blues are working best for the worms, however, one angler claimed that pink was the top color. Capt. Larry then joked that "if you throw anything at them long enough they'll probably take it." Working the middle ground, over the top of the eel grass and dollar pads, from Buckhead Ridge to Horse Island has been the best area.
For the speck fishermen, the bite is still good with guys getting 20 fish all the way up to their limit most nights using jigs.
Report courtesy of Palm Beach Post
Friday, January 7, 2022
Todd & Eddy @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach
INSHORE- Sheepshead fishing has been good inshore. A small jighead with a live shrimp is a solid way to go for the sheepshead. Lake Worth/Palm Beach Inlet is a good spot to look for the sheepshead. As are local bridges and boat docks; especially ones that have access to deep water and barnacles growing on them. Catch and release snook fishing has been fair inshore. Some big snook layer up under boat docks in the Loxahatchee River. A live mullet is hard to beat for the snook. The shrimp jig bite has been fair at night around the bridges for the snook. Outgoing tide will be the best, but don't overlook incoming tide if the water is a little dirty.
SURF/PIER- A big swell and dirty water has kept reports to the minimum this week. Pompano reports remain very slim. Those putting in the time on the beach are finding a stray pomp or two. Sandfleas, clams, shrimp, and FishBites are all good baits to try for the pompano. Bluefish numbers have increased slightly. A loud noisy topwater popper is a great lure choice for the blues. Spanish Mackerel action has been good up towards Peck's Lake. Clark Spoons, Gotcha Lures, and crappie jigs are all good lure choices for the Macs. A couple box of glass minnows will go a long way in getting the Macs fired up. About time to start seeing bigger numbers of Blacktip Sharks showing up.
Snook-Nook Fishing Report
We got to experience some really calm beach days during the month of December, however those are not the greatest conditions for Pompano fishing on the beaches. Pompano tend to feed more when there is a little bit of surf that will uncover the little crabs, shrimp and other bait that they feed on that is hiding underneath the sand. Also, as mentioned with the Pompano fishing inshore, the inconsistent temperatures have not allowed the water to stay steadily in the range where the schools really start moving into our area. There still have been Pompano hitting the beaches by those who are putting in the time.
Anglers have been able to find several other species on the beach other than Pompano. There have been some steady Whiting and Croaker reports by those fishing pieces of shrimp. There have also been Bluefish, Mackerel and Jacks cruising the beaches in the mornings and evenings. Fishing artificials like spoons will get the bite when they are around!
Inshore Fishing Report
There are a number of different species you can target in January. Sheepshead, Black Drum, Croakers, Pompano, Triple Tail and Snook all make the catch list. Fishing the bridges, channel markers, docks, underwater mangroves or any type of structure is a great way to look for Sheepshead, Black Drum and Croakers. Live shrimp on a jig head is the most popular way to target those species. Fiddler Crabs are also an excellent choice for Sheepshead and Black Drum. If you are hunting for Triple Tail, channel markers and crab trap floats north of the Stuart Causeway up to north of the power plant are a great area to look for them.
It has been a slower year for those looking for Pompano inshore so far. We have heard about a lot of Bonefish caught as by-catch by those targeting Pompano. There have been some Pompano caught on the Sailfish Flats as well as by those jigging on the causeways. The weather was a bit inconsistent during the month of December with a cold day followed by a hot day followed by another cold day and so on, which has not allowed the water temperatures to stay at a consistent cool temperature that the Pompano are really looking for. Once we get some consistency and a few cold fronts to cool the water down, we should be greeted with some steady Pompano action inshore. However, by stocking and ordering Pompano jigs in the shop, it seems that Pink jigs with a chartreuse teaser have been the top seller.
For those targeting Snook, as a reminder, the season is closed and will reopen on February 1st. The majority of fish have moved up into the river and can be found in the St. Lucie river, and up around the power plant. Fishing shrimp presentations is a great way to target them this time of year as they tend to key into slower moving baits. Live shrimp or artificials such as DOA, Monster 3x and Vudu Shrimp are great choices to get the bite. It is still pretty tough for them to pass up a nice Pilchard or Croaker! Also, some quality sized Snook have been caught around the local causeways at night fishing Flair Hawks and slow rolling bigger swimbaits on the bottom.
Nearshore Fishing Report
Our nearshore fishing action this time of year is pretty tough to beat. The best part of it is that it is not too difficult either! Spanish Mackerel fishing at Pecks Lake is one of our most popular fisheries. Thousands of Mackerel have been schooled up just south of the inlet here lately and should remain there going into January. Popular lures to target them include; the Gulfstream Flash Minnow, tube lures, Gotcha Plugs and Spoons. Rig them with some wire or heavier mono leader and enjoy the action! It does not hurt to grab a 5lb box of Glass Minnows to chum them up behind the boat as well in case they are reluctant to bite. Throwing handfuls of Glass Minnows will typically fire them up and get them to bite.
An underrated fishery we have is our local patch reef fishing. We have patch reefs scattered up and down our beaches in 10-30ft of water that can provide some great action this time of year. You can fish pieces of shrimp or live shrimp on a jig head and load the cooler with Sheepshead, Lane Snappers and other species.
From Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce -Vero Beach/ Stuart / Jupiter
Fishing the Indian River will hopefully get a boost from the slightly cooler temps this week, and hopefully clear a bit more. Sea trout catches have improved along the spoil islands, mostly in the AM, on soft plastics and live shrimp. Redfish numbers seem sporadic, with anglers finding opportunities where there’s cleaner water closer to the inlets. Snook numbers have been good along the mangroves, along with some larger fish on the flats, particularly closer to the inlets. Surf fishing for Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel has been steady on spoons and jigs, with plenty of Jack Crevalle as well. Pompano fishing has been so-so, but hopefully the cooler temps will push more fish into the area. Not many sand fleas around, so most have relied on clams and Fish Bites. There’s been Tarpon in the inlets at night, along with Bluefish and Spanish. Hogy paddle tails have worked best on the Tarpon, and spoons and jigs on the Bluefish and Spanish.
Sebastian Inlet Report
“With the water warmed back up to 73 degrees from the 68 it was last month when the fishing was good for the ‘cooler water’ species, the water quality has diminished due to the green algae that give the water a green tint,” Wayne says. “Winds have created cloudy, turbid water, which the fish avoid. On a good note, the inlet is still full of the large black/roe mullet for the cast netters, and finger mullet are still around for bait. you just have to find them. “
Wayne says to look for bluefish, jacks and blue runners on the outgoing tides at the tip of the North jetty. Use spoons, jigs and cut bait. He has also seen large redfish caught in the channel with anglers using cut and live baits on the outgoing tide. The black drum and sheepshead bite has dropped off, with only a few being caught on the ocean side on cut clams and shrimp. Also, a couple of large redfish were caught here as well (on the high tide is best), he says. “Flounder fishing on this side has also dropped off, with most of the fish still small and being caught in the back of the inlet west of the catwalk.”
It’s a similar scene at the South jetty, where anglers are catching bluefish, jacks and blue runners on the outgoing tide at the tip, along with a few sand perch on cut shrimp. “Flounder fishing over here, too, has slowed quite a bit with most fish being on the small side. Fish the incoming tide along the wall and jetty, also the pocket area on the beach,” he says.
There isn’t much to report at the T-dock area, except for small bluefish and an occasional Spanish mackerel on small spoons and jigs. Also, small grunts and pinfish are being caught on cut baits around the dock pilings, Wayne says.
It’s slow along the surf area on both sides. Wayne says anglers were catching pompano on the south side before the south winds clouded the water and warmed it up as well. Small whiting, pesky catfish and stingrays are present, as well along with a few blues and jacks.
“Well, folks, it’s shaping up to be a nice and mild week, so grab your fishing poles and get out and enjoy the outdoors,” Wayne says. “Who knows? You may catch that ‘catch of a lifetime’ fish.”
And a reminder: “Keep the jetty safe for everyone — anglers and sightseers as well — please do your best to obey all park rules, especially on the jetty as it becomes crowded at times. If we all do our part, we will enjoy a safe and relaxing outing. Thanks everyone, and tight lines.”
Safety message for the new year: The freshly-painted yellow lines on the North jetty designate a safe walkway on the jetty. Only anglers and poles should be in the area between the line and the railing. Place carts, coolers, chairs and fishing accessories only in the center of the jetty/yellow lines. The park service painted the lines to create a clear pathway in the case of a medical emergency. A stretcher will not roll on the grates.