Sunday, May 4, 2025
Friday, May 2, 2025
Snook-Nook Fishing Report
Inshore Fishing Report
May is one of the most productive months for inshore fishing in Stuart, Florida. With warm water temperatures, usually calmer conditions and bait becoming more abundant, anglers can expect excellent action in both the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers.
Tarpon: The Tarpon have not yet been widespread inshore, but there have definitely been a few around. Anglers have found Tarpon around the Stuart Causeway as well as up by the power plant. Larger live mullet has been the ticket for those fishing live baits. Drifting crabs on a float around the bridges should find you a bite too when they are around. We have not really had a good flush of crabs this year so the crabs have been on the scarce side this year. For those fishing artificials, the DOA Bait Buster and DOA TerrorEyz are tried and true great lures for targeting Tarpon.
Pompano: The inshore Pompano fishing was definitely on the slower side compared to previous years in April. Our cooler winter this year may have delayed the action with reports of fish still to the south of us that will need to migrate north. For those that have been targeting them, anglers have been able to pick away at a few on the Jensen Causeway east side relief bridge. A lot of the Pompano have been caught directly at your feet up to 10ft away from the bridge so be sure to work your jig through that zone. You’ll definitely want some current flowing as it really slows down during slack tide. 3/8oz and 1/2oz Pompano jigs have been the most popular choices.
Trout: Those who are targeting Trout have still been able to pick away at a few. The better numbers of fish have been caught north of the power plant on both the east and west sides of the river. On the west side, you will have your better shot at finding a school of them at the end of the docks. There have been Trout caught as far south as Joe’s Point just south of the Jensen Causeway along with a few mixed in the dock lights. Targeting them with soft plastics such as DOA Cals, artificial shrimp, top waters or twitch baits will get the job done when you find yourself around them. For those looking to fish live baits, live shrimp on a popping cork is an effective strategy too.
Misc: There have been some Tripletail caught by those running the crab trap buoys north of the Jensen Causeway. When you do find one, pitching them a live shrimp will typically get you the bite. We will typically have one rod rigged with a jig head and one rod rigged with a small cork to offer two different presentations if they aren’t cooperating. Stone crab season closes in May so you will see a whole lot less buoys in the water which can be a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it. The Tripletail are still around, but will move to channel markers and other structures with the absence of the buoys. The Sheepshead and Black Drum bite has slowed down with the warmer water temperatures, but we should begin seeing some better Mangrove Snappers here inshore as we approach the summer. Plenty of big jacks have been around cruising the channels and sea walls too.
From Todd @ Juno Bait Crew-Juno Beach
INSHORE- So-so week inshore this week. Snook fishing has been fair. The Loxahatchee and ICW are producing a few snook, just not a red hot bite. Live mullet remains the top bait choice for the snook during the day. At night the flair hawk bite is trying to get going around the bridges. Outgoing tide will likely produce a few more snook bites. A few jacks and occasional tarpon mixed in with the snook. Other inshore action remains a bit slow; with a few mangrove snapper and sand perch being caught.
SURF/PIER- Not a red hot week on the beach; but those putting in the time have been finding a few fish. Pompano are still being caught, but still not in huge numbers. It feels like we should still have a good push of pompano coming; though we are starting to get a little late in the season. The usual bait assortment (sand fleas, clams, Fishbites) will do the trick on the pompano. A few pomps coming over the rail at the Juno Beach Pier on Doc's Goofy Jigs early in the week as well. Bright colored jigs (orange and pink) seemed to be the best color. Still some scattered bluefish around; though it has to be near the end of them soon. A few good schools of jacks cruised by the Juno Beach Pier this week. A well presented Rapala X-Rap or Yo-Zuri Mag Speed is the top lure choice for the jacks. A few scattered kingfish at the Juno Beach Pier as well. The same swimming plugs that work for the jacks will work well for the kings. Croaker and whiting have been biting good in the first trough. Small pieces of fresh shrimp is the way to go for the croaker and whiting.
Friday, April 25, 2025
From Todd @ Juno Bait Crew-Juno Beach
INSHORE- So-so week inshore this week. Snook fishing has been fair. The Loxahatchee and ICW are producing a few snook, just not a red hot bite. Live mullet remains the top bait choice for the snook during the day. At night the flair hawk bite is trying to get going around the bridges. Outgoing tide will likely produce a few more snook bites. A few jacks and occasional tarpon mixed in with the snook. Other inshore action remains a bit slow; with a few mangrove snapper and sand perch being caught.
SURF/PIER- Not a red hot week on the beach; but those putting in the time have been finding a few fish. Pompano are still being caught, but still not in huge numbers. It feels like we should still have a good push of pompano coming; though we are starting to get a little late in the season. The usual bait assortment (sand fleas, clams, Fishbites) will do the trick on the pompano. A few pomps coming over the rail at the Juno Beach Pier on Doc's Goofy Jigs early in the week as well. Bright colored jigs (orange and pink) seemed to be the best color. Still some scattered bluefish around; though it has to be near the end of them soon. A few good schools of jacks cruised by the Juno Beach Pier this week. A well presented Rapala X-Rap or Yo-Zuri Mag Speed is the top lure choice for the jacks. A few scattered kingfish at the Juno Beach Pier as well. The same swimming plugs that work for the jacks will work well for the kings. Croaker and whiting have been biting good in the first trough. Small pieces of fresh shrimp is the way to go for the croaker and whiting.