Catch 365

                              "Corn of the Sea"

Few things can match the overall effectiveness of live shrimp as a saltwater bait choice. Wether fishing inshore or offshore not too many species of fish refuse a properly presented shrimp.

When fishing gets tough...try feeding them a shrimp!

Capt.Eric - Freight Train Fishing Juno Beach

                          "Where is the spillway..."

Spillways (wether the water flow is fresh to fresh, fresh to salt, or salt to salt) are gamefish attracting magnets. The constant flow of water means gamefish can sit and wait for food to be washed right to them. Snook, tarpon, largemouth bass, and a host of other gamefish line up when spillway gates open. Keep an eye on the spillways; when the water is flowing the fish won't be far behind.

08-04-14 MONDAY: MANGROVE SNAPPER, JACKS AND REDS 

We have a mix of sun and clouds over the inlet this morning, which is helping with the heat. That, plus a nice breeze is making the morning a little more tolerable. Winds are blowing out of the South at 9 mph, gusting to 13 and there is a moderate chop on the water. The NOAA forecast is calling for 3 - 4' seas today and a good chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms. Tropical Storm Bertha has picked up strength but is not expected to make landfall. She should kick up the waves as she passes by offshore today. Yesterday the waves were pretty big, as a photo sent in by Shaun Vasey verifies. It looked more like a winter day that a sweltering summer day like it was yesterday. Thanks for the photo Shaun.

Tommy Turowski of the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop reported Mangrove Snapper, Jacks and Reds were biting over the weekend. There are greenies and mojarra in the water.

Palm Beach Report

INSHORE

     Cobia have been caught from the beach this week, although they are easier to hook from a boat. 

Good numbers of whiting and snook are on the beach as well, with the best action coming close to the St. Lucie Inlet. Snook, tarpon and big jacks are all chewing in the inlet.

     In the Indian River, there is a good bite on the west side, but only very early in the morning. Trout, redfish and big snook are all being caught.

     Black drum, sheepshead and snapper are all biting around the bridges, as are snook at night.

     Snook are chasing small bait fish along the beaches of Jupiter. There are also some croaker in the mix, but the best bite is around Hobe Sound.

     In the Intracoastal Waterway in northern and central Palm Beach County, snook are being caught at night around bridges and docks. Mangrove snapper are also biting near bridges.

     There are plenty of bait fish around the Boynton Beach Inlet, which has attracted several fish to the area. Mangrove snapper are being caught in the inlet, and snook remain active.

     Some large tarpon have been spotted rolling in the Intracoastal in Boynton Beach as well.

FRESHWATER

     If you’re going bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee, you better be on the water well before the sun comes up. Good numbers of bass are being caught before sunrise, but by 9:30-10 a.m., the bite turns off.

     Most of the bass are being caught back in the grass, and artificial lures seem to be working better than live shiners at this time.

report courtesy of Palm Beach Post

From Capt. Charlie @ Fishing Center - Ft Pierce

As summer continues to bring the daily chance of afternoon rains and thunderstorms, fishing will take the usual second seat to the opening of lobster season. It could be a challenge this year with all the fresh water run off flooding into the area. Visibility might be minimal in lots of areas. Expect lots of boats on the water each day as they head out in search of the spiny critters. Practice safe boating tactics and don’t be in a hurry to get out there. Those dog days of August will continue with hot weather, so take the normal precautions while on the water. Have a great August this year!
Trout and snapper will continue to be the best bite around the river. Top water lures, like the DOA Airhead, fished early, followed by a DOA shrimp or CAL jerk bait will be productive on the grass flats. Water quality will be the key this year on where to fish. Queen’s Cove, Bear Point and Harbor Branch are usually active with trout. South of Fort Pierce has held up well with all the rains we have had lately. Fish shallow early and move to the edges of the flats as the sun warms thing up each day. Look for sand holes on the grass flats. Trout love to sit in them and wait for the tide to bring their food to them. We have enjoyed lots of big trout this year on the flats. This month will provide great weather in the mornings for fishing the river.

Head out to the docks along the river for snook, snapper, sheephead and redfish. Some big fish will be hanging under the shady areas around many of the docks along the river from Vero to Stuart. Fish your lures slowly. If you use the tide in your favor, the lure will remain under the dock longer and give you a better chance at hooking up. Snook will be active around the jetties, bridges and docks of the river. Live baits, Terror Eyz and Bait Busters will all work well for you. As the rainy season continues, try some of the spillways when the water is actively running over them. A root beer Terror Eyz is a great lure around those areas.

Bridges will hold some nice snapper during the month along with some sheephead and black drum. The turning basin should become alive with glass minnows and a variety of predators to feed on them. Again the fresh water runoff will play a part in determining where to fish this month. Everything on the water loves to eat those glass minnows. Fish the edges of the bait pods and you should find some predators hanging out there waiting to feed. The edges of the channel will also be holding lots of snapper around any of the structure or rocks. It’s a great time of year!

Make it a point to keep hydrated and lathered up with sunscreen. Take those precautions early so that the end of your day will be as enjoyable as the beginning. Sunburn or sun poisoning isn’t any fun and can become dangerous to your health. Drink plenty of water or Gatorade. Have fun in August and good fishing!

Sebastian Inlet Report

08-01-14 FRIDAY: FISHING IS SLOW....... 

We have another toasty morning at the inlet. Winds are blowing out of the South-Southwest at 8 mph, gusting to 13 and there is a light chop on the water. Over the next few days, we'll be keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Bertha that is predicted to be headed our way; hopefully she will stay offshore and just crank up some waves for our surfers and stir up the fish a little bit.

The fishing remains on the slow side off the beaches and jetties. A few more fish were landed yesterday than Wednesday, but it was still very slow. The morning hours brought us about 5 Snapper and an inlet regular landed a 24" Flounder, but that was it for the morning. Tommy Turowski of the Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop said the big Reds were still hitting on the outgoing tide, but they seemed to have caught onto the poppers many were throwing and have been refusing them. Better try something else like live or dead baits as they tend to be scent feeders. Cut bait works well as it is usually pretty stinky, along with dead or live shrimp. Reds can be found on the flats as well, particularly with the heat, you can find them under mangrove shade, docks or pilings.

Our photo today is of a huge 45" C/R Snook caught by Alex Torres. He landed it off the north jetty using a baby blue crab to land this huge Snook. After a quick photo, Alex released the fish unharmed. 

From Todd / Eric @ Juno Bait -Juno Beach

INSHORE- Mangrove snapper fishing around area bridges has remained fair.  Small live pilchards, live shrimp, or small chunks of sardines are a good choice for the mangroves.  Keep leaders light and terminal tackle to a minimum to avoid spooking the snapper.  Catch and release snook fishing has remained good, and a few more tarpon are showing up inshore to keep things interesting.  It' still a little early; but a few trickles of finger mullet are showing up.  Won't be too terribly long before the big schools of mullet will be showing up inshore.  Some ladyfish have been showing up at night around the bridges to feed on the small pilchards as well.

SURF/PIER- Lots of bait along the beach, and predators are not far behind.  Lots of snook cruising the trough right now.  Get out early and late for best action on the snook.  Work parrallel to the shore, and don't be surprised to find snook in just a foot or two of water.  Lots of snook in Jupiter and Palm Beach Inlets right now.  Mangrove snapper have been being caught at Jupiter Inlet, with the best luck coming at night.