Look for jacks, blues, reds, tarpon, snappers and more as the water cleans up
Here we go with the report for the inlet. The good news: the sargassum weed is STILL gone. No weeds to contend with! The inlet is still pretty active with all the small bait fish arriving, and the predators that follow. Mullet are running the beaches. In the inlet, small schools of minnows and greenies are everywhere, especially in the back of the inlet and along the shorelines. The water has been mostly clean and is creeping up to seasonal temperatures, about 82 degrees. That's a good sign. The breakdown:
North Jetty: Here, the bite is best during the early morning high tide. Spanish mackerel were caught on live greenies, freeline, under a bobber of some sort, or without. Most of the fish were in the 15 to 16” inch range. Also, the lookdowns were still biting on small green or white jigs fished around the rocks at the tip. Some catch-and-release snook were also caught on live mojarras and the small croakers. Fishing with dead shrimp? Atlantic spadefish are still around. This is the time of year when they appear in large schools and can be seen swimming around the jetty. Anglers are also catching small mangrove snappers on live greenies or cut dead greenies along the pilings and at the tip in the rocks. Most are at the 10-inch mark or just under and have to be released. Just a few have made the cut to go home. Also there have been some lady fish around to keep it busy for some folks. Not a good eating fish, but fun to catch because they jump so much. Some people call them the "poor man’s tarpon". They will bite anything thrown out. Outgoing tide at the tip has been mostly catch and release snook and some redfish on live baits of all flavors. Jack crevalle, blue runners, catfish and stingrays make up the list of guests as well. Some small mangrove snappers are being caught as well fishing live and cut greenies in the rocks. As I mentioned in my last report, thieving barracudas are starting to arrive, cruising the jetty for a quick meal! Watch out if you hook a mackerel or snapper as they just might steal it from you.
South Jetty: Here, most of the action is during the incoming tide where the catch-and-release snook and redfish are playing well. Live baits of all sorts are getting the bite. Also, I saw small tarpon hooked and/or caught in the evenings on swim baits. These fish are protected. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife rules and regulations, fish over 40 inches should not be removed from the water for any reason. I hear about a couple more flounder caught on this side: the beach area is the spot when the water is clean. Small white feather jigs and rubber swim baits. Most were around the 14 to 15-inch range for the summer flounder. Outgoing tide at the tip has been all about the black margates, blue runners and jack crevalle. For those fishing live mojarras and croakers, the snook have been playing, too. Stingrays and catfish have been around, especially when the water dirties up.
T-Dock: Snappers are active around the dock pilings. Cut baits and small greenies are accounting for the catches, but shrimp will work as well. Most are mangroves, but they’ve been too small to keep - just at or under the 10 inch minimum. Small muttons have been caught, but they, too, have been under the 18-inch minimum to keep. On the incoming tide, there have been Spanish mackerel caught on the live greenies and small white jigs fished on ultralight tackle. Blue runners, jack crevalle and ladyfish are around to keep things interesting. For those that like snook fishing, incoming and the first of the outgoing have been good for catch-and-release. Live mojarra and croakers are the baits for them.
Surf area, both sides: The water has still been a little silted up, despite calmer conditions. If you can find some clean water and a good trough line, pompano and whiting are a possibility. Sand fleas and cut shrimp will work for them. In clean water, schools of glass minnows are visible as they start migrating down the beach. If you find them, fish small swim baits, live baits or small jigs and you just might have some action. Spanish mackerel, tarpon, snook and a host of other predators follow and feen on them.
That's it for this week. Unsettled weather is predicted this week. Be aware, as conditions can change quickly. Stay safe, be well and have a great week.” — Snookman
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