ICAST 2024

 

From Todd @ Juno Bait Crew-Juno Beach

 INSHORE-  Overall inshore action remains fairly slow.  Catch and release snook fishing remains fair to good depending on the day and conditions.  A bulk of the snook are in and around the inlets, but no doubt a decent number will also be scattered in the ICW and Loxahatchee River.  Coming off the full moon, the snook will break out of the inlet and do a little more traveling.  Early morning and late afternoon generally will provide the best bet at the snook: With dock-light fishing also popping off (generally those fish will be a little smaller, but the numbers can be pretty darn good).  No great mangrove snapper reports inshore; but a few scattered ones will no doubt be around.  Generally the mangroves will bite a little better at night.  Sandperch action in the ICW has been pretty good, with small pieces of shrimp being the bait of choice. 

SURF/PIER-  A little wind late in the week has the beach stirred up a bit.  While the chop and slightly off colored water can make sight fishing snook (One of the most common things to go on this time of year) along the beach tough, overall it generally doesn't slow the fishing down much.  The snook have continued to bite pretty good.  When the wind blows a bit and the water gets stirred up; it's time to go to a touch bigger lure or something that makes a bit of noise.  It doesn't look like the wind really lasts long, and it should be back to normal conditions before long.  The Juno Beach Pier snook bite is still good.  Live baits will generally get the most bites when the sun is up higher, but don't overlook a swimbait early and late in the day.  The croakers and sandperch have been biting good at the pier late in the afternoon, with small pieces of fresh shrimp and FishBites being the baits of choice.  A handful of kingfish showing off the end of the pier late in the afternoon, along with a few bonita throughout the day.  

Sebastian Inlet Report with The SnookmanSebastian Inlet Report with The Snookman

 

 Catch-and-release snook and redfish top the list as the action picks back up 

“Good morning, Sebastian Inlet anglers and sightseers; I hope everyone had a great weekend. The weather was awesome, and so was the fishing! The action was all over the inlet, but the north side was the better spot due to the cleaner water. There were baitfish in and around the inlet over the weekend: finger mullet, greenies and pilchards, mojarras in the back, but still NO glass minnows in the surf that are usually present this time of year. They have been largely a no-show all along the beaches. The action at the inlet has been the catch-and-release snook, redfish, good catches of mangrove snappers, Spanish mackerel,  and a few hooked-but-not-landed cubera snappers. Here are your action spots: 

North jetty: Here, most of the action has occurred during early morning and late evening high tide cycles, and on the FIRST of the outgoing tide at the tip. Live mullet and croakers have been the baits of choice for catch-and-release snook and redfish. Most of the snook have been in the 34 to 40-inch range, which are the big breeder females; if you catch any of these big girls, PLEASE return them to the water as quickly as possible! They, just like us when they are worked too hard fighting to land them, have lactic acid build up in their muscles. They cramp and can't swim, and become goliath or shark food. Again, please return them as  quickly as possible. Also, the redfish being caught are nice, too, being in the 27 to 34-inch range, with some being bigger. Like the snook, return them to the water as quickly as possible.

Boaters fishing the tip of the jetty are doing very well with the snook and reds. If you can get good-sized live shrimp — which is kind of tough during the summer when they are small — they will work on the incoming tide for the snook and reds. During early high tide, anglers are catching Spanish mackerel on live greenies on the ocean side of the jetty. Around the pilings and rocks of the jetty on either tide, high being the better tide, mangrove snapper are around and being caught. Live shrimp, greenies either live or dead are the bait for them. Some sheepshead are possible as well on live fiddler crabs and cut shrimp. If you see any schools of finger mullet around, keep an eye out for schools of the big jack crevalles that will be following them. Big spoons, jigs and poppers will attract a bite from them. Moving inward toward the area between the jetty gates and bridge, the incoming tide has been producing mangrove snapper on greenies, live or dead, or cut. Small live croakers or mojarras have been producing catch-and-release redfish as well. 

South jetty: On this side, same thing. Most of the action occurs during the early morning, and late evening high tide cycles. Catch-and-release snook and reds are biting all live baits. The snook on this side are smaller than the north side, but still fun to catch! Mangrove snapper can be caught all along the rocky jetty/shoreline on live shrimp, greenies either live or dead/cut. Most of the snappers are still small, 10 or 11 inches, but larger examples are being caught. At the tip on the outgoing tide, same cast of characters as always, black margates, blue runners, jack crevalles, and a few mangrove snappers mixed in to keep it interesting. Not to mention the annoying catfish and puffers that are ever present with the dirtier water on this side. 

T-dock Area: Back here the action is still a little slow, but fish have been caught. Around the dock pilings and shoreline on either tide, angler are catching  small mangrove snapper and mutton snapper on live and dead greenies. Also, look for Spanish mackerel, using live greenies and small white or green jigs. Mullet schools are coming into the inlet again and attracting big jack crevalles which can be caught on big silver spoons and jigs tossed to the channel area. The snook fishing back here has been a little slow due to the dirtier water, but they are catching some on the incoming tide on live mojarras and croakers. And again, back here too, the pesky puffers are ever present! 

Surf Area, both sides: Again, same as last week: not too many people fishing at the beaches. Those fishing at the beach just north of the jetty where the water was cleaner told me they caught a few whiting and croakers, and an occasional catfish or two. South side, just a bit worse as the water was pretty dirty. Catfish, puffers and some small bonnethead sharks were caught. There has been a dearth of baitfish schools in the surf to attract much of what would be here along the coast for this time of the year. 

Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

 

It’s Saturday evening and I just finished filleting my catch from today . It won’t go down in my log as a “filled the cooler up” day but the catch was definitely a bit different . I only had a short window to fish this morning and fished from about 730 to about 930 . All in all I managed to catch around 15 fish , keeping 10 , but the 10 I kept will make for a great dinner . The first bite was an 11 inch mangrove snapper that I released to fatten up a bit but the second fish that nearly tore my little 7 foot rod out of my hand turned out to be a 13 1/2 inch mangrove . I caught a third mangrove that was barely 10 inches and released him to get a bit bigger .The Threadfins, aka “Clearnoses then made an appearance and put 5 of them in the cooler . Some croaker rounded out the cooler fish and I released a few sand perch and a small whiting . The Chartreuse/ Flesh/ Shine Shrimp Fishbites was the ticket today tipped with a small piece of shrimp . All of my bites came within 5 yards of the shore break and the key is finding a beach with a defined drop off in that first trough . A couple of my friends caught and released some snook this morning that they caught on live croakers .Off colored water with some slime weed has been the norm this week in the Jensen Beach area but these fish today didn’t seem to mind . If you have never eaten these threadfins you are definitely missing out . They are delicious.I use the pompano 11 inch rule on them even though they are unregulated as that size will produce two nice fillets . High tide tomorrow is around 8 am so prime time will be from 7 to 10 am . Hope everyone has a great Sunday, Good luck and catch em up .

Sebastian Inlet Report with The Snookman

 

 Lukewarm action, but snapper, snook, jacks and others possible

 The weather was good, but the fishing at the inlet has slowed down, largely due to stormwater clouding the ocean water combined with cooler water temperatures (dropping from 85 to 81 degrees along the coast). This is time of year; a thermocline usually arrives and cools the coastal waters. To that end, the fishing wasn't too bad, just slow. If you could find some pockets of warmer and cleaner water, you might just find some fish willing to play. Now for an update on the action spots:  

North Jetty: Most of the action I saw over the weekend, and last Friday when I fished it, was on the outgoing tide at the tip. There were quite a few big catch-and-release snook caught up on top on live baits, mullet and croakers, and some on the artificial shrimp jigs. Boaters were doing well on the live croakers. Most, if not all the fish caught were in the 34 to 40-inch range. Another species I heard about but didn't see, were the cubera snappers on live mullet at the tip. I heard of a few being hooked, but none caught that I'm aware of. I also saw anglers catching Spanish mackerel on the beach side — both tides on live greenies being freelined under a cork. The Spanish I saw were all in the 14 to 15-inch range. Mangrove snapper remain  slow and small, but they are around the rocks and pilings. Cut bait and live greenies are doing the trick for them. Schools of mullet that were there a week ago, have vanished again, so the big jacks and reds that were around chasing them have gone too. Along the rocks between the jetty and catwalk, the mangrove snappers are starting to show again. Cut bait and small live baits such as greenies and mojarras will entice a bite. Sheepshead are also a possibility in the area on fiddler crabs. 

South Jetty: There has been action at the tip on the outgoing tide. Cut baits such as mojarras and shrimp are accounting for black margates, small mangroves, blue runners, and an occasional jack crevalle. On the incoming tide along the rock shoreline between the bridge and the jetty, I saw mangroves caught Saturday. One angler I chatted with had just arrived, tossed a mojarra out and caught one about 12 inches long! Hadn't seen one of that size for a couple of weeks. I think he ended up with three like that. They are there, you just need to find them.  The south side has been dirtier than the north because of the SE winds and the surf picking up, but if you find clean water,  snook and redfish action are possible. Live croakers and mojarras are the baits of choice. 

T-dock area: Small baitfish around the dock have increased the fishing action here. Small, and some keeper-sized mangroves are being caught around the pilings, along the rock shoreline east of the dock, and around the cleaning table. Live and cut baits, shrimp and greenies are the baits of choice for this action. Spanish mackerel anglers should use live greenies either freelined, or on a cork float line. You should do well since there are some around the north jetty. Catch-and-release snook action is hit-or-miss due to the dirtier water, but they are around. Live baits, either mojarras or croakers will get a bite, incoming tide would be the better time to fish when the water quality is better. 

Surf area, both sides: Again, as in last week’s report, not much is going on as few are surf fishing  around the inlet. About the only thing I can suggest is to look for schools of baitfish in the surf. If you find mullet, cast net and fish them  or fish using a three to five-inch artificial swim bait;  that should get bit as well, around the mullet, and even the glass minnows that usually show up this time of year, but I haven't seen any yet in our area.

Well guys and gals, that's all I have for this week! Expect SSE breezes all week, which may churn things up a bit in the water clarity, but it should warm the water back up some. Grab your gear, bait, plenty of water, hit your favorite spots and see what you produce. You never know from day to day what might be biting at the inlet. Have a wonderful week.” — Snookman.

From Todd @ Juno Bait Crew-Juno Beach

 INSHORE-  Overall fishing is a bit slow inshore (as is normally the case in the middle of summer).  Catch and release snook fishing remains the best bet now on the inshore side of things.  Best snook action will be early morning and late afternoon, with approaching storms and key tide changes also firing the snook up.  A bulk of the snook will be in and around the inlets right now.  Look for the snook to bite in the inlets best on the last of the incoming tide and first of the outgoing tide.  Live baits will be best during the day.  Lowlight periods and at night the snook will bite jigs and swimbaits.  The snook have also been biting around the bridges at night.  Top of the outgoing tide will be the best bet for the snook.  A handful of mangrove snapper inshore right now.  Best bet on the snapper is to fish the tide changes at night.  Sandperch have been biting pieces of shrimp in the ICW.      

SURF/PIER-  Catch and release snook fishing along the beach and at the Juno Beach Pier has been good this week.  The snook seem to be getting out and cruising the trough in better numbers this week.  Early morning and late afternoon is a great time to target the snook along the beach.  Small swimbaits and bucktail jigs in natural colors (whiter and baitfish patterns) are great choices for the snook, especially in calmer conditions.  When the wind is blowing a bit and the water has some color to it a small swimming plug or twitch bait is a great way to go for the snook.  When the sun is up and slight fishing opportunities present themselves a small light swimbait or jig (or fly if that's your thing) is the best way to go.  At night a bigger swimbait of flair hawk will come into play for the snook.  The Juno Beach Pier has had a few bonita cruising through, and possibly a kingfish at sunrise or sunset.  A few scattered tarpon or jacks cruising through, but not in any real numbers to speak of.  A fair number of sand perch and croakers around in the first trough.  Small pieces of shrimp are the bait of choice for the croaker and sand perch.        

From Todd @ Juno Bait Crew-Juno Beach

 

INSHORE-  Catch and release snook fishing has been good inshore.  A bulk of the snook will be in and around the inlets; but still a decent number further inshore as well.  Best action on the snook in the inlets will be based on the tides.  For the fish further inshore the tide is super important, but also try to fish lowlight periods whenever possible.  The snook will also bite well at night around the bridges.  A handful of mangrove snapper reports inshore, but not huge numbers.  For best luck on the snapper try fishing at night.  Small live pilchards or shrimp will be the baits of choice for the snapper.  

SURF/PIER- Catch and release snook fishing fired off a bit this week, with the surf starting to come to life.  While the Juno Beach Pier has been producing good numbers of snook, it's nice to see the surf numbers pick up as well.  Best bet for the snook on the beach will be early morning and late afternoon.  A small twitchbait, swimming plug, or light bucktail will all be good lure choices for the snook cruising the beach.  Any type of small live baits (sardines, pilchards, etc) should all get lots of bites.  A bigger sand perch or croaker will be the way to go for getting bigger bites.  The Juno Beach Pier has been producing a few bonita and kingfish bites as well.  A few tarpon cruising the beach, though the numbers have fallen off pretty good on them.  Croaker are biting decent in the first trough.  Small pieces of shrimp will be the way to go for bait.