Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

 Here’s a quick post and report from the beach . The best part of the Information is I do not have to mention slime weed. We had a slight wind shift yesterday and most of it was gone this morning. The whiting and croaker bite was not super duper but there were enough to keep you fishing . I probably have about 20 in the cooler and it’s 75 percent nice whiting. You guessed it , Bloodworm Fishbites was once again the bait of choice . The water was a little funky early this morning but as I’m leaving right now the color is getting better by the minute . Most of the bites came from 15 to 20 yards out which is a little further than usual . Hopefully this weed stays away and the fishing gets better . Good luck this weekend and catch em up .

Sebastian Inlet Report

“Good morning, all my fishing fanatics. First, I would like to thank all the law enforcement dive teams for what cleaning up the "underwater" area of the north jetty last Wednesday. Job well done! Also, I would like to thank our SISP (Sebastian Inlet State Park) team, including our park managers. I was a part their team who cleaned up the ‘topside’ of the jetty and rock area over the wall (from the catwalk to the tip of the jetty). We picked up three five-gallon buckets of junk and litter in that area, most of it was from the rock shoreline over the wall, and the last 20 feet or so of the jetty. Job well done, Ken, Alex, Tess, Terese, D, and a couple of our other volunteers on site. THANK YOU! 

Now, for what you all are waiting for: Last week, the fishing picked up quite a bit, mostly due to the calmer weather and cleaner water and the water temperatures being pretty much where they should be for this time of year, finally. 

North jetty: Early last week there was a fairly good snook bite in the early morning at the end of high tide and first part of the outgoing tide on live shrimp and mojarras. As always, most were too big to keep but several keepers were taken. I saw were some small mangrove snappers being caught on live shrimp and cut bait, but most were under the minimum 10 inches. Some were keepers. Lookdowns were being caught on small crappie jigs around the tip on the incoming tides, along with just a few Spanish mackerel on gotcha lures. While the jetty was closed for the two days and I was out there, I saw a lot of promising action around the jetty. In the clear water, I saw a lot of baitfish, pilchards and greenies, along with the small needlefish that usually show up this time of year when the water warms up. Plenty of big barracuda were  cruising around, huge jack crevalles were chasing the mullet schools, large cubera snappers were swimming around the rocks at the base of the jetty, as well as sheepshead. I also saw quite a few schools of baitfish outside of the jetty moving around, and some large tarpon rolling around headed north up the beach. They looked to be in the 80 to 100-pound range, and there were quite a few of them in the schools. 

South jetty:  With the water calmed and cleaned up last week, the bite over here has picked up quite a bit too! When I was down all last week, I saw quite a few nice snook caught in the slot and over slot from the rock wall on the incoming tide. The bait of choice was the mojarra, but a few were caught on live shrimp as well. On the tip of the jetty on both tides there were black margates, blue runners and whiting being caught, along with the ever-pesky catfish. Later in the week, the pompano bite went off fairly good on the southeast corner surf area. Thursday when I was over there, I saw fish flying over the rail almost on every cast! Most of the pompanos were about 13 to 14 inches to the fork - nice fish! They were caught on the small "goofy" jigs, (pink/white, chartreuse/white). 

T-Dock area: Back here, the bite has gotten better, with mostly the snapper family being caught. I saw plenty of mangroves taken; most were too small, but a few fell onto the 10-inch minimum keeper range. Also, I saw a few schoolmaster snapper and lane snappers being caught in the mix. Schoolmasters must be 10 inches, lane snapper,  8 inches. I also saw a couple small goliath grouper caught fishing for snook. Speaking of snook, the bite back here has been a hit-or-miss deal on live mojarras. 

 Surf area (both sides): Due to the winds picking back up this past weekend and thru the rest of the week, if you find clean water you can usually find a lot of whiting and some pompano. Cut shrimp and fish bites and sand fleas will be your best bait. But look for clean water. 

From Todd & Eddy @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

 Snook fishing remains god inshore right now.  Last weekend to invite one home for dinner before the season closes.  The Loxahatchee River has been holding a few snook.  Bridges closer to the inlet are also producing well.  Outgoing tide tends to be the best bet for the snook; but if the water is moving you have a chance at them.  Live mullet is the best bait in the river.  Flair Hawk bite has been good at night.  Mangrove snapper bite has been improving inshore.  Small live pilchards and live shrimp are top bait choice for the mangroves.  A few big jacks and a stray tarpon or two cruising around inshore as well.  

SURF/PIER- Snook fishing has really been heating up at the Juno Beach Pier and in Jupiter and Palm Beach Inlet.  Live baits (Croakers, pilchards, grunts, etc...) will be the best bait choice for the snook.  Look for outgoing tide to be the best bet in the inlets.  At the Pier the snook will bite best early in the morning and late in the afternoon.  The Juno Beach Pier continues to have some big jacks cruising through.  A diamond jig or swimming plug (Yo-Zuri Longcast Minnow or Rapala X-Rap) is a great way to go for the jacks.  The same lures will work if a stray kingfish should come cruising by.  Been a fair number of moonfish around the Pier and Jupiter Inlet.  Small crappie jigs or large sabiki rigs tend to be the best bet for them.  A few mangrove snapper around this week.  Croakers have been biting very good in the surf.  Live shrimp remains the bait of choice for the croaker. 

Top 3 LIVE BAIT RIGGING MISTAKES (Underwater Evidence)

How Snook and Tarpon get into Lake Okeechobee! ft the best tackle shop o...

Scouting Around Palm Beach And Martin County

 Inshore 

The snook fishing in the St. Lucie River is still fantastic with plenty of slot and over slots being caught.

Working the sea walls, especially with live croakers, has been working extremely well. Thought the snook seem partial to croakers they were also hitting pilchards. In the early mornings a top water lure will get some hits.

If you're looking for a fight, those same sea walls have had some big schools of jack crevalle cruising them.

Up near the power plant the waders are reporting a decent sea trout bite again. Shrimp on a jig or popping cork will work as will artificial shrimp.

There have been a few big redfish up to 36 inches caught in the area. Sworn to secrecy concerning the exact location, one shop worker would only say "somewhere in the Indian River."

If you need a workout, there have been large schools of jack crevalle cruising the beaches as well as some tarpon.

As summer approaches and the water continues to warm, more and more snook are making their way out of the inlet and have been cruising the beaches as well.

At the Boynton Inlet, anglers have been catching both snook and permit off of the north jetty this past week.

Live croaker or pinfish, fished on the bottom during the last two hours of incoming tide and the first three hours of outgoing, has been good for snook.

Permit are mostly being caught during the first few hours of the outgoing tide at night using either whole or half crabs.

Lake Okeechobee 

Fishing without clients and doing a bit of scouting for clear water out on the lake on Tuesday, Capt. Larry Wright said the fishing was a little tough.

Working solely with artificial baits, he said they did get into a few fish including one five pounder. He said that Poppin' frogs and Skinny Dippers worked over the thick stuff seemed to providing the best results.

The Horse Island area as well as the canal at Buckhead Ridge and the Indian Prairie Canal have been excellent for bluegill the past few days.

The shellcracker bite should turn on as Monday's full moon approaches. Three days before and after should be best using live worms.

There is still a spec bite hanging on for anglers working the waters under the Kissimmee River bridge and using grass shrimp.

Along the bea

ches in Jupiter, when it's not too windy or a massive north swell isn't pounding the shore, there has been good fishing.

From Todd & Eddy @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

 INSHORE-  Snook fishing remains strong inshore.  The Loxahatchee River has been holding a good number of fish this past week.  The topwater bite has been good early in the morning and late in the afternoon.  Look for the snook to be laid up under boat docks and along seawalls with good current flow.  A live mullet fished along a seawall with current is a great way to get a snook bite when the sun gets up a little higher.  Small tarpon and jacks have been mixed in with the snook in fair numbers.  Mangrove snapper continue to fill into their summertime inshore hangouts.  

SURF/PIER-  Rough surf shut the fishing down for the most part this week.  Pompano fishing has largely dried up.  We could still see a few fish push through; but for the most part they have pushed north of us. 

 Lots of big jacks cruising the beach the past few weeks.  Despite rough surf; the Juno Beach Pier saw a fair number of jacks push through this week.  A few snook at the Juno Beach Pier as well.  Look for snook fishing to improve as the ocean continues to calm down.  A handful of mangrove snapper beginning to hang out around the Pier as well. 

Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

It’s nice to start todays post with Ed Killers quote , “ the whiting are biting “ . Definitely a beautiful couple of hours on the beach this morning . Calm and clean conditions, a little warm , but all in all a great bite . Today was a typical early summer bite as the croaker were the predominant participants for the first hour . Right after the tide changed it was all whiting . This is a summer pattern and it’s nice to see the overall size of the croaker and whiting are pretty nice for this time of year . The catch list also included a couple of sand perch and one small pompano . Most of the croaker today were in the 10 to 15 yard area from the edge of the surf but 90 percent of the whiting were right at my feet , just on the inside edge of the trough . Plain Bloodworm Fishbites was the bait today as a tiny piece of shrimp just wasn’t needed . A lot of the bites occur right after your sinker hits the sand so if you don’t get any taps for a couple of minutes lift the tip of your rod and bounce the sinker off of the bottom. The puff of sand will certainly attract any fish in the trough . Conditions like today , calm and very little surf , will let you fish a 1/2 ounce or 1 ounce pyramid with no problem .ps. I’m holding a bag of yellow crab Fishbites in the picture . I grabbed the wrong bag ! Bloodworm is the hot bait .

Does The Moon Really Affect Saltwater Fishing? - Flats Class YouTube

Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

 Finally found a beach this morning where the weeds were not interfering with the fishing . I went to three spots yesterday and Coconut was the only one that did not have weeds . Unfortunately it didn’t have any fish either . I stayed local and only put in a couple of hours and it’s amazing what can happen when you can allow a bait to sit in the first trough at this time of year and not get covered up by slime or sargassum. After the tide turned around 8 this morning the whiting and croaker started to bite and I was able to fill a cooler . The fish are nice sized ones and put up a good showing for themselves on light spinning rods . There’s a few fish dinners in the future at my house in the upcoming week . Bloodworm Fishbites tipped with a tiny piece of shrimp was the ticket again today . I do want to mention the beaches along our local area in the Jensen Beach sector have definitely changed . Stuart and Tiger Shores have filled in and they maybe holding some fish but you are probably going to have to pitch your baits a bit further to reach the trough . The couple beaches I looked at like Glasscock, Normandy, and Herman’s Bay still have a pretty well defined drop off . Some of the change is due to the blow we had last week and I am sure some of it is due to the beach replenishment process . It is definitely a positive sign to have a steady bite for awhile today and I also had a mystery hit that took about 50 yards of line off of my Spinfisher 3500 before it broke off . I’m sure a jack or a snook was responsible for that run . Good luck this week and catch em up .

NLBN how to rig 8" baits

NLBN how to rig 5" baits

NLBN how to rig LiL Mullets

Landbased Tarpon Fishing The Minnow Run With Hogy Lures

Halco Roosta Popper Master Class

Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

The forecast looks pretty darn nice until Sunday night when it is supposed to shift to the northeast . 2 foot seas are predicted all weekend and I spoke to a couple of anglers who stopped in the Snook Nook today and they reported the ever present slime weed was not a problem today . The folks I spoke with were targeting whiting and croaker in the near shore trough and had a pretty good morning. Bloodworm Fishbites caught some nice fish this morning and it’s time for everyone to start putting a couple of bags in their bait supply as we enter the late spring. I have been spending the last few trips on the local bridges due to the abundance of slime weed on the beach and have had a catch list that has included pompano, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, jacks, blue runners, look downs, and some big river croakers . 1/8 ounce crappie jigs and 1/2 ounce pompano jigs have produced all of my fish . If the weeds remain a non issue this weekend I am sure there is a chance to put some late season pompano in your cooler if you head to the beach . I plan on bringing a couple of pompano rods to the beach this weekend along with some Electric Chicken Fishbites and some light spinning rods to target whiting and croaker . If the weeds stay away it will be nice to get back on the sand . Remember just pitch your Bloodworm Fishbites tipped with shrimp into the first trough, don’t overcast them if you are targeting the whiting . It’s nice to have a few different species to target and don’t be afraid to pitch a live croaker in the surf if you want a shot at a snook . Hopefully the biggest problem you will have is deciding on which species you want to target !!

Sebastian Inlet Report

 When winds are down, look for snook, jacks, blues, and a few Spanish mackerel 

Our trusty fishing guide, “Snookman” Wayne Landry tells us what’s been biting at Sebastian Inlet and offers insight on the illegality of “snagging” certain species. Let’s get right into it:

“Well, here we go with another week of winds to dictate our fishing! The good thing is that the water has warmed up to 76 degrees — closer to where it should be — but the water is dirtied with seaweed to make it interesting. 

Something has been brought to my attention about some of the folks fishing for snook at the tip of the north jetty on the outgoing tides. Snook gather in large schools on that tide, and for whatever reason they do NOT want to bite at all. It’s been like this for a while now. A few guys told me that they have witnessed angler purposely ‘snagging’ snook out of the schools with small sharp ‘goofy jigs’, or flutter jigs, just so they can catch one. That is illegal and is in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rules on allowable gear to catch them: snagging is prohibited.  I personally have alerted the FWC of this of this situation, so please, folks, respect our fisheries and the rules set in harvesting them. 

Among species that cannot be snagged are black drum, flournder, redfish, sheephead, snook, tarpon, triple tail, and protected species where harvesting is prohibited outright, including spotted eagle rays, goliath grouper and Nassau grouper.

North jetty: Over here early last week there was a good snook bite before the winds picked up. There were nice slot fish, and most too big were being caught on the outgoing tide at the tip on live mojarras, and also some were being caught ‘walking the dog’ as well.  Other species I saw over the weekend as the winds laid down a bit, were bluefish, jack crevalles and a few Spanish mackerel on cut baits and silver spoons all on the outgoing tide as well. Small mangrove snapper are starting to show up, but most are too small to keep — but I did see two keepers. Also, on Sunday the water on the North side / ocean side of the jetty was pretty clean and I witnessed a couple nice pompano taken on small jigs. Also, there are large jack crevalles in the 20 to 30-pound range chasing schools of mullet running along the inlet. They will hit just about anything you toss at them, as they aren't picky when they are in feed mode. I also saw some nice sized bonitos caught Sunday on gotcha lures. 

South jetty: Over here, the water has been very dirty and weeded up for the most part, but fish are still there with most species being caught at the tip on outgoing tide: small jacks, blue runners, margates, sea bream and spot tail pinfish. Some snook are being caught on the incoming tide on live mojarras along the shoreline on both tides. You just have to find where they are staging and work through the weeds to get them. Also, I talked with a couple of my contacts and they have seen a few nice sea trout caught in the surf ‘pocket’ area on the south side of the jetty on small jigs and mojarras, when the water has calmed and cleaned a bit. 

T-Dock area: Dirtied water, seaweed and the lack of baitfish has slowed fishing here. Pesky puffers and small mangroves are possible on cut baits. Bluefish and Spanish mackerel might be possible by tossing silver spoons to the channel area. There are also large jack crevalles running the mullet schools into the inlet. 

Surf and offshore have still been a blowout all last week, with small craft advisories keeping most boaters off the water — and the surf was only good for surfing. 

Get your gear, pack a lunch and get out and enjoy the nice weather, and make sure to take the sunscreen.

Scouting Around Palm Beach And Martin County

Inshore

At the St. Lucie Inlet, the docks and seawalls along the St. Lucie River and the causeways spanning the river, the name of the game is snook.

The bite is getting better and better with the causeways being especially good the past few days.

There have been plenty of slot and overslot fish caught.

Live baits, especially croakers are working better than anything else.

On Wednesday, a kayak angler, armed with six croakers, fished in the morning. Using only three of the six croakers he'd brought with him, he caught and released a 41" and 43" snook. He decided that was a great morning of fishing and all called it a day.

In addition to having a good snook bite, the Jensen Causeway has had some decent action on Spanish mackerel and even a few pompano. Doc's Goofy Jigs and Gulfstream Flash Minnow jigs have been working well.

Along the beaches in Martin and St. Lucie counties the bite for whiting and croaker has been good in the first trough. Pieces of shrimp tipped with pink shrimp Fishbites have been working well. 

With the snook starting  to make their way towards the Lake Worth and Boynton Inlets, Capt. Pat Smith had his clients working the some of the nearby docks.

Using threadfin herring and sand perch, he had his clients into 30 snook on Monday with 15 of them being big, overslots. The fish were all caught and quickly released.

Capt. Pat said there were also some tarpon around, but for whatever reason they were just not wanting to hit on anything.

Croaker and sand perch have been hitting peeled shrimp around the Lantana Bridge.

Using threadfin herring and sand perch, he had his clients into 30 snook on Monday with 15 of them being big, overslots. The fish were all caught and quickly released.

Lake Okeechobee

Fishing the area just south of Indian Prairie towards Horse Island, Capt. Larry Wright had his clients into 45 largemouth bass Monday morning. Using live shiners and working the outside grassline, he said that, though there were no giants in the mix, they managed 15 that were at least five pounds or better.

If using an artificial bait, flippin' a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper in white trash color along the outside grassline has been producing some good results.

In the Harney Pond Canal, the bluegill bite is still solid. Anglers working the banks and using live crickets are faring best.

Though the shellcracker bite has not been quite has hot, that should change next week as the May 16 full moon approaches.

Anglers are still catching a few specs in the Kissimmee River. Working the area under the bridge from 9 a.m. to around 1 p.m. has been the best location and time. Grass shrimp, minnows and jigs are all working.

       Hai Truong with a butterfly peacock bass.
Lake Osbourne

Fishing for peacock bass has been picking up in the lake for anglers using live shad or shiners on eighth- to quarter-ounce jig heads around the bridges, docks, deep weed edges and canal junctions. Early mornings and late afternoons have been best.

From Todd & Eddy @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

 INSHORE-  Snook fishing was very good inshore again this week.  A good number of snook in the Loxahatchee River during the day and around the bridges at night.  Look for the snook to be tight to seawalls and under boat docks during the day.  At night they will get in the shadow lines nosing into the current.  Warmer temps have the snook more active; and they are more than willing to chase down a bigger bait right now.  Palm Beach Inlet has been holding some good jacks, along with a few tarpon.  Starting to see a few more mangrove snapper being caught these days.  A live shrimp or small live pilchard is a solid choice for the snapper. 

SURF/PIER-  Pompano fishing slowed way down this week; but still a few around.  Looks like we should get a some north wind late in the weekend, which in theory should help fire up another little push of fish.  Bluefish seemed to have finally gotten out of town, but you may see a straggler or two around still.  Snook are showing up in a little better numbers along the beach.  The Juno Beach Pier saw a few more cobia, jacks this week, along with a handful of kingfish.  Croakers and whiting have been biting fresh shrimp well in the surf.  Seaweed seems to have thinned out a bit over the past day or two.