From Whites Tackle - Ft Pierce

Inshore, trout fishing was reported from an unknown angler as good around Bear Point on soft plastics yesterday. Snook fishing from the south jetty has been good after sunset on live bait and flare hawks. Wade fisherman have had success on the west side of the lagoon south around the power lines south of Midway road.

                   Well I don't think you would 
                         LIP IT LIKE A BASS

Sebastian Inlet Report

It's another pretty morning at the inlet, even though it's a little windy. Winds are blowing out of the East-Southeast at 12 mph and gusting to 15. There is a moderate chop on the water and small craft should exercise caution. Always check the coastal forecast prior to venturing offshore.

Apparently there are some big Goliath Grouper hanging around the north jetty, according to Mike Ricciardi of Vero Beach. Late in the morning yesterday, several anglers hooked up with the giant "hook and line destroyers". Mike played one for 45 minutes before it broke off. Mike reported he was beat after that episode and left the jetty. Mike also reported a lot of seaweed blowing in from the East. That can give anglers false hope when they reel in a big hunk!

Tommy Turowski of the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reported a good amount of Blues being landed on spoons last night and early this morning. There are a variety of fish around the inlet, but in small numbers. Reds, Flounder, Jacks, Snook, Margate, Spanish Mackerel are all out there but aren't hitting that well.

We received an photo is of from James Holler of Melbourne. James fished the south jetty on Sunday when he landed this huge 35" C/R on the tide change, using a pinfish. James reported that toward the evening, he saw schools of large fish at the mouth of the inlet, chasing baitfish. He spotted a few Spanish Mackerel, there was a 15" Spot Porgy and a few decent Margate landed. Another angler who was casting from the south jetty hooked up with a Cobia, about 38" that broke off during the landing process, bummer!! 

Fishin For Shore #9

From Capt. Charley@ Fishing Center Ft.Pierce

Finally, the windy months of March and April are almost behind us and we can look forward to the great fishing weather that May has to offer us on the Treasure Coast. Other than the usual windy days, it has been a pretty mild winter and spring has arrived. Look for warmer temperatures and little less blustery days. As the water temperatures climb, the fishing will steadily improve on the river. It will provide fantastic mornings for top water and lazy afternoons to drift the flats. May is one of my favorite months on the water!

Redfish will be our main target throughout the month of May. The past several years have bought us schools of slot sized redfish along the Indian River. Most of the fish we have caught have been in the 18 to 30 inch range. They have been sunning on the flats and May gets their blood pumping and turns on the feeding. I always have three lures ready during May…DOA shrimp, CAL jerk baits and top water lures. Gold spoons will also be a great addition to the arsenal when fishing for redfish. As the fish school up, look for them around the edges of the flats. Most of the river here on the Treasure Coast has been holding redfish and you should be able to find some on your favorite flats. I tend to enjoy the east side of the river, but we have found many on the west side as well.

Snook fishing in the early mornings will bring some rod bending action as they head up on the flats for an early morning or late evening meal. Top water lures, Baitbusters and DOA shrimp are all great lures to tempt a snook into biting. Docks will also hold snook lurking around for an easy meal. Live shrimp is hard to beat around the docks. In the inlet areas, try around the seawalls and bridges with live bait, Terror Eyz, feather jigs or deep diving plugs. I love early morning for great snook fishing opportunities!

Trout will continue to feed on top water at first light and live shrimp on popping corks during the day. As the sun rises, they will head off the shallows to deeper water in the two to four foot range. We have had some nice gator trout of late and should see some still in the river in the early parts of May. I have had great success with CAL jerk baits and Deadly Combos this year in place of live shrimp. Both sides of the river have been productive in early mornings. Winter fishing for trout has been good this year and spring should continue to give you some great action.

Bridges will hold the usual Sheephead catch, while snapper will be moving into the river along with flounder. Jacks will be patrolling the areas and creating havoc all over the river. Beaches will produce whiting with still a few catches of Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Tarpon will begin their trek into the river and you can start looking for them in the St Lucie River, Big and Little Mud areas and into the channels of the river. May is a great month to fish the Treasure Coast….plan on a trip out on the river soon!

From Henery @ Snook-Nook Jensen Beach

To the surfs edge still plenty of fish, from Blues to  Snook and even a Flounder or two has made a lot of anglers happy.  Blue fish have been there early all though I guess they have been there all day we have had anglers report catch's through most of the day.  Cut baits have been the best baits, natural oils and scents top the list, a few on spoons but numbers on cut baits, short cast or long, 3 to 5 pounds perfect for table fare.  Plenty of Whiting, just a pitch to the first trough and I might add good size Whiting, a few Pompano but I would rather have the Whiting, long cast for the Pumps.  Snook are in the trough chasing Whiting, problem is the Whiting are of such good size I would hate to use them for bait.  Bomber lures, Krystal minnow, DOA Bait buster cast north or south, you want your bait in the trough and you will find them but a small Whiting is sure hard to beat.  Flounder were an incidental catch on a moving bait.

River anglers it was Trout on the east side and Reds on the west
with a mix of Flounder a good week. The grass edges offered a lot of Trout, shrimp, Mirolures, soft rubber baits were all productive Flounder were eating the shrimp and every one was happy.  Red were on the west side they seem to like the mud bottom and the docks offering ambush points for them.  Lots of short Snook in the flats favoring live baits, but the Blues and Jacks like everything so the rods were bent no mater witch side of the river you were fishing.  Plenty of Drum at the bridges, mix in the Blues, Macs and Snapper and you were busy catching not just fishing. Yes,after sun down it is Snook time from any and all bridges, wait till the tide starts moving and work that Flair Hawk slowly across the bottom, when your bait stops set the hook.

From Whites Tackle & Archery Ft. Pierce

Inshore, snook fishing overnight was good along the south side of the Ft. Pierce inlet and on the south jetty. Snook become active when windy weather prevails. They like the stirred up water and will take live baits and red tail hawk type jigs fished slow and close to the bottom. The ole timers rule of thumb for fishing a jig was, "if you are not losing one every now and then you are fishing them right". Trout fishing has been good south in the lagoon to the power lines, in out of the wind locales.