Scouting Around Palm Beach And Martin County

Pompano, snook bite beginning to turn on in Jupiter

 Inshore

Along the bridges and docks in the St. Lucie River, the snook bite continues to get better with plenty of slot and overslot fish being caught. In this area, live pilchards and croakers are producing the best bite. Stuart Live Bait has pilchards right now and the Snook Nook expects to have live croakers by the weekend.

Up at middle cove, there's been excellent action for trout with even a "gator" or two being caught. Live shrimp on a jig or popping cork or a Monster 3X Shrimp lure will get it done.

Along the St. Lucie and Martin County beaches, the pompano bite is holding steady with Electric Chicken Fishbites working best. Bring the big rods as the action is still happening 70 to 90 yards out.

Also in that area there are still good numbers of whiting and croaker being caught in the first trough. Pink Shrimp Fishbites in combination with pieces of shrimp are producing results.

Along the beaches in Jupiter, at the Jupiter Inlet and at the Juno Pier, the time is right for pompano fishing. 

From now through the end of April, schools of the delicious pan fish will be migrating from south to north and moving through the area. The key? Be there when it's happening. Pompano jigs and Fishbites will work and, though they been relatively rare in the area lately, sand fleas work very well.

Around the docks and bridges along the Loxahatchee River and Intracoastal Waterway, the bite for snook is getting really good. Pete Schulz at Fishing Headquarters in Jupiter said this time of year they love to hang out in those areas and wait for the migrating mullet and other baitfish that are moving through. A one-and-a-half- to two-ounce Gulfstream Red Tail Hawk, slowly bounced on the bottom, is pure gold right now and will be for several weeks.

Putting in at Lantana and working his way north through Lake Worth and West Palm Beach, Capt. Pat Smith said the water was very dirty on Monday and Tuesday. 

Working the docks, they did manage to catch a few snook using D.O.A. TerrorEyez and a couple of big jack crevalle, including a reel-screaming 25 pounder, on live mullet

Lake Okeechobee

The cool front that passed through the area late Sunday has slowed the bass bite down some. That said, working the inside edge of the grassline, in the early mornings or late evenings, has been productive. Flippin' and pitchin' black and blue creature-style baits or either Senkos or Speed worms, also in blacks and blues, has been effective. The crappie bite has backed off a bit. Anglers working the deeper areas of the Kissimmee River with minnows are still having some good luck.

Lake Osborne/Ida

On Tuesday, Capt. Pat Smith had his clients into excellent numbers of peacock and largemouth bass. Working the docks and other structure along the Lake Osborne and Lake Ida chain, they were getting hits using live shad as well as throwing flies. Capt. Pat added that they are beginning to congregate around structure ahead of the spawn.