Friday, April 29, 2016

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                                     
04-29-16 TGIF! SNOOK, SNAPPER AND SHEEPSHEAD 

Today' s forecast calls for sunny skies with a high near 84. The winds will be out of the south-southwest around 5 to 10 mph becoming easterly in the afternoon. Throughout the weekend, daytime temperatures remain in the mid-80s with east-southeasterly winds at 10-15 mph. The marine forecast calls for 2 to 3 foot seas and a light chop on the intracoastal.

Sarah from the Sebastian Inlet Bait & Tackle shop reports some sheepshead, snapper, and an occasional flounder coming over the rails. A few snook are still getting hooked up on the outgoing tide. According to Sarah the luckiest anglers are using shrimp, Bombers and Buckheads at the start of the outgoing tide and at night.

Our featured angler today is jetty-veteran, Rangelo Soriano. Rangelo hooked his C/R snook on a late, incoming tide this week. He reported catching a mixed bag of both C/R and slot snook, blues, jacks, reds, and even a few pompanos. 

From Todd / Eric @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

                                                 

Scouting Around Palm Beach/Martin County



INSHORE
     There are a lot of whiting and big croaker in the surf along Jensen Beach, along with some pompano. The Spanish mackerel bite has picked up, and bigger numbers of snook are being spotted along the beach and in the St. Lucie Inlet.
     The redfish and snook action is red hot in the Indian River! Most of the reds are being caught on the west side of the river and the majority are slot-size. Snook can almost always be found at bridges and docks, but they are definitely starting to move around and are now showing up in the flats as well.
     Anglers fishing the beaches of Jupiter are reporting pompano and snook, as well as a few bluefish. Good numbers of snook are also holding in the Jupiter Inlet.
     Snook and small snapper are being caught around the bridges of the Intracoastal Waterway in the Jupiter area, and much like in the Treasure coast, the snook are beginning to move and can be found throughout the ICW.
     Other than snook and small snapper, jacks and tarpon are also being caught in the Intracoastal throughout central and southern Palm Beach County at night.
     Fishing in the surf along Boynton Beach has produced permit, snook, snapper and a few tarpon. The best action seems to be off the north jetty of the Boynton Beach Inlet.    

LAKE OKEECHOBEE
     The weather has been great at Lake Okeechobee this week and so has the fishing. Big numbers of bass were reeled in, including a couple reports of 7-pounders. The bite is decent throughout the day, but the best action is still at first light and in the early-morning hours.
     The bass are moving around quite a bit, but your best bet remains along the outside edges and back in the grass. Artificial lures have been effective, but live shiners are the preferred bait at this point.
report courtesy of Palm Beach Post

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                                
04-28-16 THURSDAY: A FEW SNOOK AND REDS, JACKS, LOOKDOWNS AND TROUT 

It's a beautiful day at the Sebastian Inlet. Winds are blowing out of the Southeast at 8 mph, gusting to 12 and there is a moderate chop on the water. There are no NOAA advisories this morning.

The bite from the jetties remains on the slow side. A few decent fish have come over the rails for patient anglers during the daylight hours. Fishing in the evenings and low light periods has been more productive. Redfish and Snook have been hitting live baits and lures at night and even a Black Drum or two have been landed in the evening hours according to Tommy Turowski at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop. Welcome back Tommy!

Our angler of the day is Andrew Sampson of Melbourne. Andrew pulled an all nighter Friday night and he reported a slow bite until the tide change then a bunch of good sized Jacks started hitting along with a few Snook but that was it until the morning hours. In the early morning hours Andrew landed an oversized C/R Snook and the 32" C/R Red in our photo. Way to go Andrew!

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Redfish, Trout and Snook caught Wade Fishing in the Indian River

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                                   
04-27-16 WEDNESDAY: FLOUNDER, SNOOK, REDS, JACKS 

We have a beautiful day at the inlet. Winds are blowing out of the South-Southwest at 3 mph, gusting to 5 and there is a moderate chop on the water. Winds are predicted to pick up a little late this afternoon. There are no NOAA advisories this morning. 

This time of year is usually pretty good for Southern Flounder and we've seen a few but not in large numbers. As the water temperature rises we will see the cold water species numbers start to dwindle like Black Drum, Sheepshead and Blues. April and May are peak months for Whiting and anglers fishing the troughs along the beaches usually have good luck when conditions permit. There could be some Pompano hanging around the troughs as well. Get out and wet line!
  Our angler of the day is Jerry Connors of Melbourne. Jerry and his daughter Heather, a UCF student fish the inlet as often as possible. Jerry landed the gorgeous C/R Red in our photo using live shrimp. 

Sebastian Inlet Report


                                 
04-26-16 TUESDAY: THE BITE IS PICKING UP 

We have a gorgeous morning at the Sebastian Inlet. Winds are blowing out of the South-Southeast at 4 mph, gusting to 6 and there is a light chop on the water. There are no NOAA advisories this morning. It looks like a great day to get out and do a little fishing.

The bite has picked up a little from the jetties but the river and canals are holding some nice fish right now. Speckled Trout are plentiful near the shoreline for anglers using lures on light tackle. Fishing near the channel markers can be productive for Mangrove Snapper; they are starting to show up. Do not anchor your vessel in the channel, always anchor outside the channel.
 The five Rathburn brothers came from Athol, MA to fish the inlet again (and visit their mother). The guys had a great time catching lots of big Jacks and Blues and an occasional Snook or Red and soaking up the sunshine! Photo one features Dave Rathburn with a Bluefish and photo two features Wayne Rathburn with a big C/R Snook. 

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

From Capt. Charlie @ Fishing Center - Ft Pierce

Summer is almost here already. Lots of sunny days and warm temperatures have awaited us this week on the Treasure Coast. The winds finally let up a bit on several days to even allow the offshore anglers to get out for dolphin, cobia and other species this past week. Nights have still been cooler, but it warms up quick when the sun rises. We have enjoyed a good mixed bag of fish to make for some fun, exciting adventures. Plan your fishing trip soon!

We have caught some nice trout lately. As the big trout arrive for the breeding season, you can find specimens up to the 30" range around the river.
 Harbor Branch, Queen's Cove and Middle Cove have been good for trout this week. Use the DOA Deadly Combo to locate trout. Try mangroves and docks for redfish and snook. Monster 3X and DOA shrimp or top water lures at first light can help you hook up with a nice fish. Live bait will work also this time of year. Sheepshead and snapper will be along channel edges, docks and bridges. Jacks, ladyfish and mackerel have been around the inlets. It's a great time of year to enjoy fishing on the Treasure Coast!

Sebastian Inlet Report


                                 

04-25-16 MONDAY: SHEEPSHEAD, JACKS, LADYFISH, BLACK DRUM, SNOOK AND REDS 

It's a little windy at the inlet this morning. Winds are blowing out of the East at 12 mph, gusting to 16 and there is a moderate chop on the water. There are no NOAA advisories this morning.

Over the weekend anglers landed a few Black Drum, some real nice Sheepshead, Lookdowns, Snook and a couple of Flounder according to Sarah at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop. We understand the night bite was on the slow side but a few Snook and Reds were landed but Jacks were plentiful.

Our angler of the day is UCF student Heather Connors. Heather was visiting her father Jerry and the two fished the inlet two weeks ago. They were using live jumbo shrimp they dipped the night before. They started on the seawall near the bridge around 6:00 p.m. Heather landed over twenty Reds, all oversized and released. She also landed Jacks and Ladyfish that evening. When the rains came, they packed it in for the night. Photo one is of one of Heather's C/R Reds.
Photo two is of Heather with a Red on the line earlier in the evening. 

Friday, April 22, 2016

From Todd / Eric @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

Sebastian Inlet Report

04-22-16 FRIDAY: THE BITE REMAINS SLOW 

We have a real pretty morning at the inlet but it's predicted to be short lived. Winds are blowing out of the South at 9 mph, gusting to 15 and there is a moderate chop on the water. NOAA is calling for a chance of showers this morning then numerous showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Pack accordingly if you head to the inlet today.

The bite from the jetties has been very slow this week. Anglers fishing the river have had better luck in the rough, windy conditions. The flats are holding a lot of Trout, some Blues and Mackerel, Reds and Jacks. 

From James Cronk @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

Inshore the snook fishing has been good around the bridges and in the inlet still live bait has produced the best.The reds have been to the north around round island with a few nice trout mixed in.The south jetty in Ft.Pierce has had a few snook and some flounder reported on the incoming tide live shrimp has produced well. 

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Scouting Around Palm Beach/Martin County Area

INSHORE
     Rough seas made the surf fishing difficult earlier in the week as well but that, too, has changed.
     Bluefish, jacks, croaker, whiting and snook are all holding in the surf along Jensen Beach.
     Those fishing in the Indian River are finding that the east side is the place to be. Bluefish, snook and trout are all biting.
     As always, snook are chewing around bridges and docks in the Indian River, especially at night. This also holds true for the Intracoastal Waterway from Jupiter down through the southern tip of Palm Beach County.
     The pompano fishing has been pretty good from the beaches of Jupiter, but the water is pretty dirty. Your best bet is fishing from the Juno Beach Pier – the action has been excellent there, as it allows you to get out to cleaner water.
     It has been pretty quiet inside, as you’d expect when the wind is blowing like it has. But, again, the snook bite has still been good around the bridges and dock lights at night.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE
     It has been a little windy on Lake Okeechobee this week, which had made it a challenge to fish the outside edges and get back in the grass. However, if you are able to do so, or if you find time when the winds subside, the bass bite is very good.
     Big numbers of fish are being caught, especially in the morning, and some big bass have been reported, including a few over 6 pounds. The bite does last throughout the day, but the morning and evening hours are best.
     Live shiners are still the preferred bait, although artificial lures are also effective.
report courtesy of Palm Beach Post
    

Scouting Around Sebastian Area


                                   

It's going to be a beautiful day at the Sebastian Inlet. Winds are blowing out of the East-Northeast at 8 mph, gusting to 10 and there is a moderate chop on the water. Skies are blue with white fluffy clouds and the water is clean, what a great day to get out and do a little fishing.

We're hoping the full moon tomorrow night will bring in the baitfish which should stir up the bite. We received an update from Charlie Achinelli who fished the river shoreline yesterday. Charlie reported a real nice Trout bite. He was using a topwater plug to land the beautiful Trout in our first photo today. Photo two is of a Trout that couldn't escape the razor-sharp teeth of a Bluefish which were hitting as well. 

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Sebastian Inlet Report


                                               
04-19-16 TUESDAY: THE BITE REMAINS SLOW FROM THE JETTIES 

We have scattered clouds over the inlet this morning. Winds are blowing out of the East-Northeast at 8 mph, gusting to 12 and there is a moderate chop on the water. NOAA has issued a small craft advisory for hazardous seas that is in effect through this afternoon. Always check the NOAA forecast prior to boating.

We received an update from a long-time local who has been fishing the flats over the past few weeks. He reported landing at least 250 fish of different species including Jacks, Ladyfish, Trout, Pompano, Whiting, Reds, Mackerel, Perch and Croakers. When conditions get blown out like they've been the past few days, the rivers and canals are the place to be. Get out and wet a line!

Sally Baughman of Jackson Hole, WY is our angler of the day. Sally landed her beautiful slot Snook . She reported a slow day with some Blues, Look downs, her slot Snook and two others. 

From James Cronk @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

Inshore the snook fishing has been steady around the bridges and in the inlet live bait has produced the best on the outgoing tide.The fishing to the north of Ft. Pierce has been good with some nice trout around first light with some big snook starting to show up on the flats to topwater and live bait have produced the best. 
                               
The trout and reds have been in the 3 to 5ft of water around Bear point soft baits such as D.O.A CAls have produced well.There have been a few reports of some nice snapper along the channel edges with live shrimp.

Monday, April 18, 2016

A Look at the New Widow Maker Weedless Keeper Jig

Why You Should Be Fishing a Spooltek- Lure Review!

HOW TO FIND AWESOME REDFISH SPOTS



How to find redfish spots is a critical skill for gaining success in the marsh. It’s important when specifically targeting them but also when you are not. Remember, it is Plan Redfish that may save your fishing trip when the specks are not biting.

REDFISH BEHAVIOR
Redfish behave differently from their neighbors in the marsh. Speckled trout are normally caught around tidelines where baitfish stack up. Typically this water is deeper and, while redfish can be found there as well, they tend to congregate in shallower water.
Before we dive into those spots lets take a closer look at the different kinds of redfish and their behavior so we better understand where to find them.
There are three types of redfish: rat reds, slot reds and bull reds.
RAT REDFISH
Rat reds here in Louisiana are under sixteen inches in length. That may seem small to outsiders of our great state, but keep in mind that our wetlands are an excellent nursery due to their enormous size.  Rat reds are juveniles and spend their youth on the “inside”, or interior area of the marsh.
SLOT REDFISH
Slot redfish are those reds between 16 and 27 inches. Slots vary from state to state on the Gulf Coast, so that is important to pay attention to where ever you are fishing. Slot redfish are also juveniles, so they are mainly found within the interior marsh as well.
When people are fishing in redfish tournaments they are looking for the heaviest slot redfish they can find, as that is generally the rule. Some tournaments are two redfish, others are three. Going after slot reds guarantees that everyone has a fair chance of reaching the target fish and changes the dynamics of the game; you have to be as skilled as possible to land the heaviest redfish without going over the slot size. 
BULL REDFISH
Bull reds can be found on the inside but are mostly caught swimming on the outside. They tend to cling to deeper water with moving current and are often found feasting on trout. There are many great baits for bull reds, but one of them is white trout. When I want to target bull reds, I head to “outside” water and look for them there.
Bull redfish are sexually mature and they travel in enormous schools during the summer and fall. They are schooled up because they have been spawning en masse, in a manner similar to speckled trout. In fact, this popular video routinely makes its way around social media, as it aptly demonstrates what this phenomena looks like.
WHERE ARE THE REDFISH?
This article focuses on slot redfish. You can keep more of them, they are good for tournaments and taste better and tend to not stink. Bull reds can be very stinky!
Redfish love shallow water, especially shallow water with cover like aquatic grass. Redfish will generally go as shallow as they can. In some cases it is not uncommon to see them swimming in water so shallow their backs and tails are sticking out.
However, it’s not just any shallow water redfish are attracted to, but shallow water with very specific characteristics. Not all of them are necessary, but here are some we are looking for:
SHALLOW
It’s obvious but cannot be overstated. Find. Shallow. Water. This is water from anywhere less than a foot to three feet deep. Otherwise the likelihood of you stumbling across a pile of redfish in water deeper than that is slim to none. Plus, you want to be able to see them and shallow water makes this easy.
CLEAN
You want water that is clean. This does not necessarily mean “stained.” Stained water includes blackwater, or water that looks like tea or root beer. It is still transparent and free of suspended particles and silt. A lot of redfish ponds you encounter will have this kind of water and they thrive in it.
What you don’t want is water that is muddy looking or has a lot of suspended particles. While redfish have thicker gill plates that allow them to endure these conditions much better than trout, they will still seek cleaner water that is easier for them to breathe and feed in. Trout and redfish are looking for the same kind of food to eat and they are both looking ahead and down as they cruise through the water.
Though presence of bait fish is good, if I see a ton of mullet playing tag with each other I generally do not see redfish in great numbers, though I am sure they would love to know the mullet are there.
BROKEN MARSH
This is not a prerequisite but certainly something to pay attention to. Generally, if an area in the marsh is broken up then chances are it is shallow and redfish can be caught there. This is usually due to erosion, so if you look at satellite images over a period of time then you can see this phenomena take place.
PRESENCE OF TIDE
I don’t think tide is super important to redfish, but in some areas it can be key. Some ponds have tidelines moving through them. If you don’t understand tidelines or why they are important, then check out Scouting: Locating Tidelines that Hold Fish and Mastering the Tide. Baitfish like shrimp and blue crabs can blow in along those tidelines and compel redfish to stay in the vicinity.
TOOLS FOR LOCATING REDFISH
Our favorite tool for finding good redfish spots is Google Earth. If you have been following the Blog for awhile you know it is our absolute favorite. If you do not have experience using it then it is suggested you download Google Earth to your device (it is free) and begin playing with it. We have an awesome article about creating custom routes and waypoints for your GPS to aid you in your education.
With Google Earth you can peruse the area you want to fish and find bodies of water that are optimal for locating redfish. In fact, some of the characteristics we look for in a great redfish spot can be detected using satellite imagery on Google Earth. Let’s take a look at some of these great, and not so great, redfish spots.
Remember that redfish will go as shallow as they can. Does that mean they will be in ponds located at the extreme edges of navigable water? Example 1 looks like it would be a great area for redfish. In fact, I bet there are some swimming there right now, but only some and by “some” I don’t mean a lot. Aren’t we looking for a lot of redfish?
Redfish won’t be congregating in numbers in a spot like this because water does not readily exchange there. This means that during the summer time water will get so hot it cannot keep dissolved oxygen in it. If these ponds were located closer to a larger body of water like a big channel or lake I would give them the time of day, but since they are not I would not bother with them unless I just had free time and was bored.
I have fished many spots like Example 1 and I may see a redfish or two, but rarely do I see a lot of them.
Redfish love aquatic grass and in this photo we can see a little of it. As the grass grows it will grow so thick it will mat on the surface making it visible on satellite imagery. This is an indicator that redfish may congregate here and this spot is worth checking out.
Aquatic grass will “scrub” water, removing suspended particles and making it clean. On one side of a thick grass mat the water will be clean and on the other side the water will be muddy.
Keep in mind that aquatic grass dies when it gets cold or too salty. Areas influenced by high water from the Mississippi can have lots of aquatic grass and then virtually none later in the year. Factor this in while you are scouting.
This is a great example of land that has eroded away to reveal a shallow pond. This area is great for redfish. It has eroded so much it is hardly recognizable, but you can pair up a trenasse or two to see it is in fact the same area. I like targeting these areas for reds but be warned: they are often ultra shallow.
Remember that redfish love clean water!
Google Earth has a historical time slider that lets you view satellite images from different points in time. Some of these satellite images were taken a few days after a strong cold front blew through, such as October 29th, 2012 in the Biloxi marsh. This is great because we can see where dirty was and where dirty water was not. The darker colored water is clean and good for redfish whereas the lighter color water is actually dirty and bad for redfish. That doesn’t mean redfish won’t be there, I have caught lots of redfish in dirty water. It just means that you have a tool for locating clean water.
It’s probably obvious to you these satellite images are time sensitive, they were taken during conditions that no longer exist. However, they are still useful for the next time those conditions occur and you need to find clean water in that area.
While we can’t see tidelines flowing across this pond (probably because it is not deep enough) I promise the tide moves through here and this is an excellent location to begin looking for reds. I am confident I could go to this spot and catch them here.
This spot is great because it has a deep bayou going into a shallow pond. Even if the water is so low I can’t get into the pond itself, I can still get the boat into the portion where the bayou is and cast into the shallow water.
This area also has broken marsh and lots of shoreline for redfish to patrol along, looking for something to eat.
THERE IS MORE TO HOW TO FIND REDFISH SPOTS
Keep in mind that at the end of the day you “have to go to know.” Many spots I thought would hold huge gangs of redfish turned out to be complete garbage. Other spots that I thought for sure would be dirty and devoid of reds turned out to be great. Things can be weird at times and not make any sense. Just know the marsh is going to give you what she gives you and it is up to you to try.
story courtesy of Capt. Devin /lafishblog.com

Sebastian Inlet Report

04-18-16 MONDAY: SLOW BITE 

Winds are blowing out of the Northeast at 18 mph, gusting to 22 this morning and the water is rough. NOAA has issued a small craft advisory through late tonight. Winds are forecasted to diminish some starting tomorrow but seas will remain high. Always check the NOAA forecast prior to boating as conditions can change very quickly.

Conditions over the weekend were poor for jetty and ocean fishing; it was pretty blown out by the high winds. Sarah at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reported Blues and Jacks dominated the slow bite. A couple of Snook and Reds came over the rails but the best news is that Snapper have begun to arrive! 

Friday, April 15, 2016

From Todd / Eric @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach



From James Cronk @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

The inshore Snook bite has been great almost everywhere in the IRL, Live bait, Twitch baits, and top waters have been producing over slot fish. The Trout bite has still been great around Round Island, and there has been some Redfish around Blink creek. Bigger Snook have started showing up on the dock lights at night and you can still pick up a few slots and over slots on flair hawks at the inlets.
                                          photo courtesy of Jayson Arman 

Sebastian Inlet Report


                                             
We have another stunning morning at the Sebastian Inlet. Winds are blowing out of the North-Northwest at 4 mph, gusting to 5 and there is a light chop on the water. Temperatures are in the low 70's this morning and it just doesn't get much better than this! We have a chance of potential showers and thunderstorms this afternoon.

The bite remains slow. A few nice fish are showing up but they are few and far between. Some of the inlet regulars speculate that the lack of bait in the water is the reason for the sluggish activity. A few Blues, Spanish Mackerel, Lookdowns, Jacks, Reds or Snook will appear for a fortunate angler. Sarah from the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reported a couple of Sheepshead, Jacks and oversized Reds were in play this morning. The weather is great and conditions are perfect, get out and wet a line!

Our photos today feature Jerry Connors. Jerry recently moved to Brevard and has discovered paradise at the Sebastian Inlet. He has been getting to the inlet as often as possible and having some success with oversized Reds, one oversized Snook and a slot Snook. Photo one is of Jerry with a 41" Red he landed using mojarra on 20 lb. test. He threw mojarra for three hours before landing the big bull. Jerry switched to shrimp and landed the 34" C/R Snook in photo two. Both fish were released unharmed right after the photos.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Knots for Braided Line - How to tie Knots for Braided Line to Mono Leader

From Capt. Charlie @ Fishing Center - Ft Pierce

                                                         
   We have been enjoying some fantastic weather this week on the Treasure Coast.  Days have been warm, but windy as is the norm for April.  You usually get a couple days each week that the wind dies down and gives you a chance get out fishing.  Rain is always in the forecast this time of year, so watch the weather and plan your trips accordingly.  Water temperatures have been in the mid to high 70's.  The incoming tides have provided us with our best fishing opportunities lately.  It's a great time of year to get out fishing!
April is a good time to fish the grass flats for trout and other species.  Try a DOA Deadly Combo or Monster 3X Paddle X on the flats anytime during the day.  Monster 3X or DOA shrimp are great around mangroves, docks and grass flats for a number of species including redfish, snook and trout.  The bite has been good when you can get to areas like Bear Point, Harbor Branch and Round Island.  On the windy days, work with the winds and tides to you advantage as best you can.  Islands can be productive and help get you out of the winds. 

Scouting Around Palm Beach/Martin County Area

 INSHORE
     There are plenty of bluefish and whiting in the surf along Jensen Beach, and some pompano and Spanish mackerel have also been hooked.
     In the Indian River, big jacks and pompano are chewing around the powerplant and near the Stuart Causeway. Snook and snapper are biting at the bridges as well.
     Those targeting redfish are catching them on the west side of the river from County Line Road and to the north. Trout are on the east side from Nettles Island and north.
     Schools of big jacks (up to 30 pounds) are running the beaches of Jupiter. There are also pompano around, and the bite is best on the higher tide. Smaller snook are also starting to show up along the beach and around the jetty at the Jupiter Inlet.
     Kingfish and small snapper are biting in the Intracoastal Waterway from Marker 50 to Marker 42, and snook can always be found around the beaches and docks, especially at night.
     Jacks, ladyfish, snook and snapper have all been reported in the Intracoastal in the Palm Beach area and throughout the central and southern parts of the county.
     Jacks, mangrove snapper and snook are all being reeled in near the north jetty at the Boynton Beach Inlet. Permit fishing has also picked up at night. Throw live crab or whole squid.
     Big jacks, sheepshead and, of course, snook are all being caught around the bridges of the Intracoastal in and around Boynton Beach.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE
     It has been another solid week of bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee. The numbers are down a bit from recent weeks and months, but plenty of fish are being caught. The outside edges and back in the grass is still the place to be, and East Wall and West Wall have been some hot spots for those fishing the southern area of the lake.
     Live shiners are still outperforming artificial lures, and the best time of day to be on the water is early morning…think first light.
report courtesy of Palm Beach Post

Sebastian Inlet Report

                                           
04-13-16 WEDNESDAY: REDS, SNOOK, LOOKDOWNS, BLUES, JACKS AND A FLOUNDER OR TWO. 

We have another gorgeous morning at the inlet. Winds are blowing out of the West-Southwest at 2 mph, gusting to 4 and there is a light chop on the water. Winds are forecasted to increase a little this afternoon but there are no NOAA advisories other than a slight chance of rain. 

We have a beautiful day for fishing ahead of us but the bite is still on the slow side. The river is the place for Trout, they have been hitting lures. We're seeing a few oversized Reds, Snook, Lookdowns, Blues and a few Spanish Mackerel come over the rails of the north jetty. The Black Drum bite is falling off. Spring Flounder are starting to show up but not in large numbers yet, we hope that changes soon!

Our photo of the day features a real nice Flounder landed by Donald Gomez.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

“Flair Hawk 101″

                        “Flair Hawk" 
                                                         By: Eric Gate
Nylon jigs, there are as many ways to fish them as there are different styles and colors.  No matter how you like to fish them, the fact remains they catch BIG fish.  Let’s focus on flair hawks for BIG snook.  For something as simple as a lead head with some nylon tied to it there is a lot to consider when choosing the right jig for the right situation.

Color
We’re going to keep this very simple, if you’re fishing in a river around a bridge or an outgoing tide at an inlet use a chartreuse jig.  If you are fishing on the beach or in clear water conditions use a jig with white nylon, preferably with a little sheen.  Snook will hit a jig based on profile and action more than color, but for those who want to complicate things, your jig should blend into its surroundings and stand out all at the same time.
Jig Styles
The two most common flair hawk jig styles are the skimmer jig and the bullet style jig head.  Both work well in most situations, however snook hit based on profile and action so there are some things to consider.  Are the snook feeding on finger mullet or some type of bait with a narrow profile?  If they are, a jig with a narrow profile is what you want to use.  If they are feeding on croaker or something with a larger profile, a jig with more flair and a larger profile is the way to go.  When the snook are feeding on crabs you want to bang the bottom with a skimmer style jig head.
Weight
Perhaps the most important factor in choosing which jig to pull out of the box.  Snook hit based on profile and action, but a snook won’t hit what it can’t see.  Put the jig in the strike zone and your odds of catching a snook goes up three fold.  There is a definite learning curve here and you will lose jigs in the process, but getting the jig at the right depth and location at the right time is the big secret to jig fishing. There is an up side to hanging up on the bottom…when you find the hang-ups there is a good chance you have found where the snook are hanging out.  Present the jig properly around these hang-ups and the snags turn into big snook!


Sebastian Inlet Report


                               
04-12-16 TUESDAY: BEAUTIFUL DAY AT THE INLET! 
It's a lovely morning at the Sebastian Inlet. Winds have calmed down significantly and it looks like a great day to get out and do a little fishing. Although the bite has been on the slow side, conditions like these are perfect for getting out and enjoying Mother Nature at her finest. Winds are blowing out of the South at 2 mph, gusting to 4 and there is a light chop on the water. There are no NOAA advisories this morning. 

We're seeing a few Snook, Spanish Mackerel, Blues, Pompano, Whiting and spring Flounder at the inlet. The flats are holding Speckled Trout. The Black Drum Bite has fallen off but last week there were a couple of monster sized fish that were returned to the water and few good sized fish landed by inlet regulars.

Our first photo today features Mustapha Oufaaiz with an enormous Black Drum he landed on a small shrimp! The big fish was released healthy to the water. Even though the regulations say you may keep one Black Drum of five over 24", it's best to let the huge breeders go; they are tough and often wormy. 
  Photo two features Chuck Fischer of Satellite Beach with a 27" Black Drum he landed off the north jetty. 

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

From James Cronk @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

Inshore the snook fishing has been good around the bridges and is starting to pick up on the flats with live bait.The trout fishing has started to pick up a little with a few nice fish on live bait with a bunch of little fish on soft baits around Bear point with a few reds mixed in.
Some nice sea trout were caught to the north of Ft. Pierce on live pilchards. Snook fishing has been steady in Ft. Pierce and Sebastian on live bait. Guys fishing the dock lights at night with flys are producing good catches of snook and trout.

Friday, April 8, 2016

Sebastian Inlet Report


                                
04-08-16 FRIDAY; SNOOK, REDS, BLUES AND JACKS 

It's a beautiful morning at the Sebastian Inlet. Winds are blowing out of the West-Southwest at 7 mph, gusting to 12 and there is a light chop on the water. Winds will increase this afternoon, becoming Northwest and NOAA has issued a small craft advisory tonight through Saturday afternoon. Always check the NOAA forecast prior to boating.

The bite has been very slow at the inlet this week but things picked up a little this morning according to Sarah at the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop. A few Snook and Reds were hitting live shrimp. Blues have been taking spoons on the outgoing tide. An inlet regular told her that large Jacks were hitting under the bridge last night. 
  Jerry Connors is featured in our first photo today. Jerry is a Florida native who recently moved to Brevard County and loves fishing the inlet. Jerry has had good luck with several Reds over the past two weeks. He landed one on his second cast and the other on his sixth cast. Although all have been over the slot and returned to the water, he's had a great time reeling them in. Jerry was using live mojarra on 20 lb. test when he brought in the multi-spotted C/R Red in photo one. 
  Photo two features Sally Baughman of Jackson Hole, WY with a beautiful 30" slot Snook she landed.

From Todd / Eric @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

               

Scouting Around - Palm Beach / Martin County Area

                                
INSHORE
     Snook are starting to bite in the surf along Jensen Beach. Live baits and topwater plugs are working well. The pompano action is excellent as well if you can cast to the other side of the color change.
     Snook are being caught around docks and bridges in the Indian River, and small ones are showing up in the flats. Redfish are still biting on the west side of the river, usually around docks, while nice-sized trout are being hooked around grass beds in 3-5 feet.
     Pompano, bluefish and Spanish mackerel are all being caught from the beaches of Jupiter. The fish seem to be there throughout the day, but higher tides is best. Snook are showing up in the Jupiter Inlet and should make their way into the surf very soon.
     In addition to the inlet, snook are biting at the bridges and docks in the Intracoastal Waterway in and around Jupiter. The best action is at night, as usual.
     Jacks and bluefish have been reported in the surf along Palm Beach, and a couple snook were caught. Snook have also been spotted in the Lake Worth Inlet and there should be bigger numbers along the beach in the coming weeks.
     Snook and jacks are biting around bridges and docks throughout central and southern Palm Beach County.
     Permit and mangrove snapper have also been caught at night near the north jetty of the Boynton Beach Inlet, while sheepshead, tarpon, small snapper and sand perch have been snagged around the Intracoastal bridges toward the southern end of the county.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE
     The action has slowed a bit on the “Big O,” but there are still plenty of bass being caught. The outside edges are working best, and be sure to fish back in the grass – if the wind will allow it.
     Live shiners are still working better than artificial lures, but skilled anglers can have success either way.
     Several nice fish were reported this week, including a few weighing more than 5 pounds.
courtesy of Palm Beach Post

From James Cronk @ Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart

The inshore bite has been good around the docks on the west side of the river from Jensen to south bridge, Many over slot Snook, Reds, Gator trout and even a few juvenile Goliath Grouper have been caught. The Dock light bite has still been great in Jensen using Small white flies or DOA Shrimp in Glow. Jig fishing around Jensen causeway and the Roosevelt bridge has been steady with many slot Snook and Juvenile Goliath grouper being caught.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Scouting Around Juno Pier

4/5/16 Can a day get any prettier? Beautiful day out on the pier today… Last week Tony caught this big cobia. There has been a few snook like the one Chauncey and Michael caught last week too. Pompano bit pretty good last week as well… Croakers are here, but have been pretty picky at times. Bluefish come in and out and if you are ready when the school shows up with a jig you might catch a few. Anglers have been trying for permit and only one small has been caught so far. Calico crabs have been biting if you need a good permit bait! photo credit: Michael Brown

                   

From Capt. Charlie @ Fishing Center - Ft Pierce

As March blows out of the area, you can still plan on some windy days ahead in April.  The transition into the summer pattern is well under way and soon the winds will die down and you can enjoy those calm days of summer once again.  Expect the fishing to be especially good this April as water temperatures warm up and spring takes over the area.  March was a little cooler, but the water is warming back up to suit the fish.  As the river fills with bait schools, you can bet the fish are hungry and will be feeding heavily.  Have fun!
 
Redfish and trout will become more active around the flats.  They will be shallow early and gradually move to the edges of the flats as the sun get higher in the sky.  Look to areas like Bear Point, Harbor Branch and Round Island for trout to be feeding on the flats.  On a calm morning, break out the top water lures and switch to jerk baits, like a DOA CAL 4” Arkansas Glow or Watermelon.  Shallow running Mirrolures will also entice the trout into biting.  Don’t forget to use the Deadly Combo or CAL Airhead for more exciting trout action on the grass flats.  There has been a lot of redfish activity throughout March and it should make April a fantastic month.  Redfish can be found on sandy flats around the docks or try the Moorings and Bear Point for a chance at a nice size red.  DOA, Monster 3X shrimp or grub tails in root beer or glow colors are great ways to find a redfish along with a trusty gold spoon.  
 
The snook season has many anglers out seeking that slot fish this year.  The bite has been good around the inlets and will improve on the flats as well.  Snook season will close June 1stMay 31st so you still have time to find that slot fish.  Docks will hold sheephead, jacks, redfish and many other species.  I like either a DOA shrimp or TerrorEyz around docks.  Fish them slowly to keep them under the dock as long as possible.  Drop a live shrimp or pinfish under a dock as well for a great chance at hooking up.  There are many great areas to fish so plan on getting some fishing in this month.
 
Bridges will continue to hold sheephead, jacks, bluefish and some black drum.  The big jacks will be invading the river this month.  They are not great to eat, but provide a tough battle on light tackle.  Ladyfish will be all over the river and keep the kids smiling.  The inlet will continue to hold bluefish, jacks and mackerel.  While April might be a little windy, it is still a great month to fish the Indian River. 
 
April is the first month that fish can enjoy all the many baitfish schools and they will be feeding heavily on the schools around the flats.  The water has already been warming up and you can see the changes in the bite already.  Early morning can bring lots of good results this time of year.  It was a cool winter this year and the fish are anxious to enjoy some warmer water…..and so are we!