Saturday, January 23, 2021

From Todd, Trey & Nick @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

 INSHORE-  Getting closer to snook season...time to go do some scout work. Snook fishing should improve with warming temps.  The shrimp jig bite has been very good at night around the bridges.  During the day the snook are laid up along seawalls with dark mud bottoms.  Wintertime inshore action remains pretty solid right now overall.  A good number of sheepshead around, along with some black drum.  The Munyon Island and Hobe Sound Flats have both had a few spotted seatrout and the occasional redfish.  A gold spoon or some live shrimp is a solid choice for them.  A few pompano reports inshore, but no good numbers really to speak of.  

SURF/PIER-  This week saw some good pompano catches along the beach in Juno/Jupiter.  The trick has been finding the right water, and try to fish the last of the incoming/first of the outgoing tide for best luck.  Sandfleas, clams, and FishBites will all be good bait choices for the pompano.  Spanish Mackerel action has also been very good this week.  A small flashy jig (with some weight to it is a great choice from the beach)  and a crappie jig is the best bet when fishing from the Pier.  A scattering of bluefish around, but best action on them remains up to the north.  Looks like it should be a great weekend to me surf fishing...go give them a shot! 

Thursday, January 21, 2021

Scouting Around Palm Beach And Martin County

 

Inshore:

Though there are black drum and sheepshead still being caught in the St. Lucie and Indian Rivers the bite has been much slower with the prolonged cool weather.

At the Roosevelt and 10-cent brigde, however, the croaker bite has been fantastic. There are plenty of keepers and some big ones making anglers think they've got a redfish on the line.

Working just outside the St. Lucie Inlet, on the hard bottom in 10 to 20 feet of water, there has been good action for Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle and some big sheepshead. Shrimp on a jig head will work for all three.

In Jupiter, many anglers are cruising the beaches from the inlet up through the Hobe Sound area in around 25 feet of water and targeting Spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish and jack crevalle. Spoons and Gulfstream Flash Minnows are working well for the Spanish mackerel and for the bluefish and jack crevalle a top water plug will do nicely.

Anglers in the Loxahatchee River are catching a few ladyfish and jack crevalle.

The sheepshead bite at the Boynton Inlet has been excellent around the seawalls and on the north jetty. Fish up to 10 pounds are being caught on clams, blanched sandfleas and Chasebait fiddler crabs.

The action in the Intracoastal Waterway around Boynton has been slow with a few redfish, jack crevalle and snook hitting gold flake Grub Tails jigged around the docks and Snook Island area.

At the Lantana Bridge there has been some action on sheepshead and black drum. Live shrimp fished on the bottom around the northwest fender has been working.

Lake Okeechobee:

The bass fishing has been extremely slow the past week. Live shiners are barely working and you can pretty much forget about going with anything artificial.

The spec bite has been decent. If you're heading out on the lake jigs, especially ones that are white with a whtie tail or green with white tail, are working best. If you're fishing in the river minnows are the way to go. 

Though there are a few anglers getting their limits, it's not happening every minute of every day.

More freshwater:

In Lake Osbourne and the area canals, the bite for both largemouth and sunshine bass has been good. Live shiners and topwater poppers in the early morning have been producing largemouth bass up to five pounds. Live shad, minnows and grass shrimp fished on a 1/8-ounce jig head under a bobber has been effective in catching sunshine bass up to four pounds.

Friday, January 15, 2021

Scouting Around Palm Beach And Martin County

 Inshore:

The bridges spanning the St. Lucie and Indian Rivers are still good spots for black drum, sheepshead and Spanish mackerel. Look for bridges that provide the most wind protection and use shrimp on a jighead.

The pompano bite is still excellent in the rivers. Sailfish flats and a few areas up around powerplant have been especially good the past week.

Working the deeper water bridges spanning the St. Lucie and Indian Rivers at night has been producing a nice snook bite using large Storm swimbaits.

Early morning surf anglers are catching jack crevalle on two-ounce spoons and topwater plugs at Gulfstream Park in Delray Beach.

Further south in Boca Raton at South Inlet Park there has been good action on snook and jack crevalle for anglers throwing white/red Flarehawk jigs and Yozuri Hydro Pencil topwater lures.

Sheepshead continue hitting clam strips, oysters, live shrimp and sand fleas around Boynton Inlet north jetty as well as around the docks and pilings in the Intracoastal Waterway.

Lake Okeechobee:

Like last week, the spec bite is still fantastic. Anglers using jigs in white or chartreuse colors are having a blast working the outside reed lines around King's Bar, Little Grassy and Buckhead Ridge. Though jigs are working best on the lake, minnows are working well in the Kissimmee River in depths of 12 to 15 feet. Whether using jigs or minnows, anglers are still getting their limits on these tasty panfish. Though the cool weather can take slow the largemouth bass bite down some it's still decent. Live shiners are working much better right now than any artificial. Hot spots have been Tin House Cove and Buckhead Ridge with both areas being worked deeper into the grass.

More freshwater:

Anglers using live grass shrimp, shad, small shiners and minnows are reporting good action on sunshine bass around the bridges and deeper holes in the Lake Osbourne area.

Fishing for largemouth bass in the western canals, convervations areas and Caloosa Park in Boynton Beach has been good in the early mornings for anglers throwing Rapala Chug Bugs and Heddon Zara Puppy lures with black/yellow or red/white colors.

Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

 As far as fishing is concerned I am “cautiously optimistic “ the pompano bite is showing some signs of becoming more consistent as Randy and I put some nice fish in the cooler today .EZ Flea Fishbites and natural sand fleas both caught the pompano today . The fish were decent sized too as our largest was around two and a half pounds . They bit after the tide change this morning from around 9 to 11 . The water is really clean on the mid and south end beaches on Hutchinson Island . I started up by Blue Heron this morning and the water up by Fort Pierce had some nice color but it got super clean as you headed south . This can change on a tide change so if you aren’t setting up in the dark , take a look at the color before you unload your gear . There were also some nice bluefish and whiting that bent our rods today also .

From Todd, Trey & Nick @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

INSHORE
Above average temperatures have inshore fishing in a confused state.  Snook don't know if its summer, fall, or winter; and getting the pattern on them remains tough.  Around the local bridges a few sheepshead, black drum, and snapper have been biting.  The Hobe Sound Flats are holding fair numbers of jacks, ladyfish, and a stray pompano or two.  Reports have trickled in that Burnt Bridge and Munyon Island may have a few spotted  seatrout hanging around.

Surf/Pier

This weeks one day cold front did help push some fish down towards the Juno Pier.  Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, Jacks, Ladyfish, and a few sharks were reported this week.  Throwing heavy spoons and diamond jigs are producing the best results.  Pompano action remains scattered at best. 

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

 I keep saying that my work and outside interest schedule is finally going to back off so I can get back to spending some time on the beach but unfortunately this past weekend that theory did not happen . I hope some of you got in on some pretty decent pompano action Saturday and Sunday . It seems the Jensen Beach beach accesses are producing the best catch rates and I also received a call from a friend who caught some nice pompano up by Fort Pierce yesterday afternoon. I managed to fish for a few hours this morning and was able to put some nice pompano in the cooler . I fished from daybreak until about 10 am and the best activity was from 7 to 9 am. EZ Flea and Pink Shrimp Fishbites were the producers this morning. Bluefish, ladyfish, blue runners, and a jack were on the catch and release list today. The key today was being able to reach them as the pompano were all holding 80 to 100 yards off. Set yourself with the right equipment if you want to target our winter pompano. I will be going over tackle, rigs, locations, baits, and best times to fish at The Surf Fishing for Pompano Seminar at the Snook Nook this Thursday at 530 pm. Seating is limited so call the Snook Nook at 772 334 2145 to reserve a seat. It has been a late start to our Pompano Surf Season so there is going to be plenty of time this season to sharpen your pompano skills.

Monday, January 4, 2021

From Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce / Stuart / Vero Beach

 Fishing in the Indian River has been good, with crystal clear water providing plenty of sight fishing opportunities. Fish have been tricky to feed due to the clear water, requiring lighter leaders. longer casts, and a stealthier approach. Redfish have been showing up more and more, and quality Seatrout have also been more prevalent. Snook have been on the flats and shorelines taking soft plastics and well placed flies when it’s warmer, and damn little when the temps drop. Sheepshead continue to populate the flats, taking shrimp, jigs, and occasionally smaller crab and shrimp flies. Surf fishing has remained slow, with a few Pompano here and there, though the east winds are likely to slow everything down on the beach. Fort Pierce Inlet has produced some Snook ( season is closed ), and a few Pompano and Flounder to vary things up. 



Friday, January 1, 2021

From Todd, Trey & Nick @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

 INSHORE:  Sheepshead and Black drum action has been good inshore this week.   Live shrimp, or fiddler crabs if you can find them, are the bait of choice for them.  Look for them to be around bridges, or boat docks with good barnacle growth.  Snook fishing has been good over the past week in the river; but it may slow this weekend with the cold front.  This front could really help fire up the inshore pompano bite, and maybe move some tripletail in as well.  


SURF/PIER:  Good number of Spanish Mackerel around this week.  They have been scattered along the beach, and also hanging around the Juno Beach Pier.  Along the beach the "bobber rig" with a Clark Spoon is the best choice for the macs.  At the Pier a white crappie jig is the best bet for the macs.  Scattering of bluefish around still, but big numbers of them remain to be seen.  A few more pompano around this week, and with this better front we should see some more fish push down this way.

Scouting Around Palm Beach And Martin County

 

Inshore fishing

Though the season is closed until Feb. 1, the bite for snook in the St. Lucie River has been excellent recently. The key has been finding the warmer water. The north fork has been one of the top spots the past week. Use live pilchards, which can be found at Stuart Live Bait in the pocket, or croakers.

Around the bridges spanning the St. Lucie and Indian Rivers there has been good action for black drum, pompano and bluefish. Drifted shrimp on a jighead are working.

At the St. Lucie Inlet, there have been lots of sheepshead the past week. Shrimp on a jighead had been the go-to bait.

Along the beaches in Martin and St. Lucie counties, the pompano bite has been good. Frozen sandfleas or sandflea- and pink shrimp-flavored Fishbites are working.

The beaches are also holding good numbers of whiting and croaker.

In the Intracoastal Waterway in the channels a quarter mile north and south of the Boynton Inlet, there has been an excellent bite for jack crevalle, ladyfish, bluefish and some nice mangrove and mutton snapper. Drop a chum bag and then use any type of cut bait on the bottom.

Also in the ICW, on the east side from the Lantana Bridge up to the Snook Islands, there has been good action for sea trout and a few slot-size redfish. Live shrimp with popping bobbers have been working extremely well.

Lake Okeechobee

Fishing in the Kissimmee River as the lake warmed up on Tuesday, Capt. Larry Wright had his clients into 17 bass before moving out on to the lake. Working the hyacinth along the banks of the river with live shiners, they had an a nearly nine-pounder and three six-pounders in that mix.

Though the artificial bite has been tough, a Carolina rig with a strawberry color worm did produce a few fish.

The fishing on the lake should get better each day with the warmer weather.

Beach Fishing With Paul Sperco Palm Beach/Martin County Area

 Its December 29th and I hope everyone is having a great holiday season. I didnt have much time to fish the beach this past week but reports I received had some pompano being caught at a few different beaches. Blue Heron, Normandy, and Glasscock, and Beachwalk Pasley all had some pompano activity along with jacks, Blue runners, Bluefish, and a few whiting. This week as we head into New Years Weekend the current forecast does not look too promising with seas building to 7 feet tomorrow and not subsiding until the weekend. The current activity has alot of surf anglers converging on South Hutchinson Island so my advice is to pick a beach you want to fish and get set up early. I looked at Glasscock yesterday morning right after daybreak and it was really strung out. The cure for this situation is for more pompano schools to show up and spread out along the island. I know we have commercial fishermen from Vero, Hobe Sound, and West Palm fishing our local spots because of the lack of fish in their home areas. I also looked at Stuart Beach for a short while on Sunday and there was not a spot to fish from Stuart to the north end of Tiger Shores. There has been lots of pressure on the scattered schools and I strongly recommend practicing some beach etiquette to give everyone a chance. Spiking in 15 yards from someone usually does not lead to a friendly experience. EZ Flea , Yellow Crab, and Pink Shrimp Fishbites were the go to baits from some friends of mine that caught a few pompano this week . The water color has been pretty nice from the Jensen Traffic circle south to Stuart and I hope after the wind backs off some of that water will move north .