Ed Killer / tcpalm South Fla. Report

 

Spring has sprung.

The week began with mild temperatures as what may be the last cold front of the season made its way along the peninsula. South winds have replaced the north breeze meaning the migrations have begun again.

Inshore, the snook fishing has been great at many of their back country hangouts. Live bait, live crabs and large jigs will get bites from the aggressive predators.

Indian River County

Inshore: It's all about snook at Sebastian Inlet. Fish the outgoing tides with live pinfish or live croakers to catch top end of the slot fish. Other catches there include redfish, black drum which can be sight-casted to in schools, Spanish mackerel and pompano from the beaches. Lewis Arnold of Vero Beach used a No Live Bait Needed jerk bait to haul a 41-inch snook out of the mangroves near Round Island.

Freshwater: Bass fishing is about as good as it can ever be at Headwaters Lake near Fellsmere. Work through the crowds to get bites from 3-6 pounders. Some are sitting on the beds. Spinnerbaits, wild shiners and crank baits are working well.

St. Lucie County

Inshore: Spotted seatrout can be caught along the ends of the docks at St. Lucie Village, along Indian River Drive and Hutchinson Island. Wade fishing is a good approach to find the trout. Use live shrimp or artifical shrimp or jerk baits. Tripletail can be caught using live shrimp near the channel edges.

Surf: Pompano finally showed up this week. The fish are probably moving north as part of their migration. Cast to 100 to 150 yards off the beach with Fishbites to get bites.

Martin County

Inshore: Snook fishing is the best option in the area right now. Fish can be caught from the Roosevelt Bridge down to Hell's Gate docks and around Rocky Point and Sailfish Point docks. They will take live bait, large jigs and swim baits fished around structure.

Lake Okeechobee

The lake finally has fallen below 15 feet above sea level. Tuesday, it measured 14 feet 8 inches which means there is still plenty of water in the western spots like Point of the Reef, Sportsman's Channel and Observation Shoal. As days get longer, look for bluegill fishing to be picking up along with shellcracker. Bass fishing is best around spawning beds. Toss lipless crank baits, topwater frogs and stick worms to get reaction bites.

• report courtesy of Ed Killer is florida today's outdoors writer. Friend Ed on Facebook at Ed Killer, follow him on Twitter @tcpalmekiller or email him at  ed.killer@tcpalm.com.