St. Johns River and St. Augustine.
Few flounder still agreeable to take live baits.
While some regions have had limited access due to weather, Danny Patrick located a half-dozen flounder to 5 pounds on Sunday, fishing small isolated rock piles in the lower St. Johns River. Fish were caught in 8 to 12 feet of water, using Carolina style rigs with live mullet and mud minnows.
High tides along the coast are making for excellent sight casting for red drum throughout much of Nassau County to Fort George Inlet, and throughout most of the Sisters Creek region north of the St. Johns River.
Redfish action also is good for marsh anglers along the Intracoastal Waterway north and south of St. Augustine.
WABASSO BEACH TO STUART
Devastating beach erosion has once again closed Bathtub Beach or what’s left of it. The escarpment at Fort Pierce Inlet is reviving plans for some sort of sand trap just inside the channel. Either way, what it means for right now is dirty water and difficult access to the fish. Pompano have been a main quarry but it’s bluefish which dominate the action. I actually ate one for the first time last week and found it extremely similar to pompano and Spanish mackerel. To find the mackerel, try trolling spoons or jigs in less than 15 feet of water, Snook action has fallen off y Live shrimp and finger mullet will be the best options for them. Seatrout season is closed in this region.
Devastating beach erosion has once again closed Bathtub Beach or what’s left of it. The escarpment at Fort Pierce Inlet is reviving plans for some sort of sand trap just inside the channel. Either way, what it means for right now is dirty water and difficult access to the fish. Pompano have been a main quarry but it’s bluefish which dominate the action. I actually ate one for the first time last week and found it extremely similar to pompano and Spanish mackerel. To find the mackerel, try trolling spoons or jigs in less than 15 feet of water, Snook action has fallen off y Live shrimp and finger mullet will be the best options for them. Seatrout season is closed in this region.
Offshore, obviously there hasn’t been getting much attention but one bright side is that when the seas finally calm, the fish will about be ready to jump into the boat. Dolphin and blackfin tuna will be virtual sure-things and a few of those huge summertime-size bonito will probably show from time to time as well. Black sea bass season is closed until 2012. Cobia will be moving south and are already being caught occasionally by those working the reefs hard. Sailfish activity will increase by the day for trollers dragging dink ballyhoo behind dredges. One hundred and twenty feet is a good all-around depth to start and work offshore from there.
JUPITER TO LAKE WORTH
A 28-pound cow dolphin was caught at Lake Worth Pier recently amid the seaweed which tells how rough it has been. It’s not uncommon to hear of schoolies, but a fish of that magnitude is amazing. They didn’t even try to gaff it, instead electing to walk the fish down to the beach and then having someone go into the water after it. Ribbonfish have also been showing at the pier with half a dozen at least caught there Wednesday morning. Plenty of bluefish are also being caught, but the Spanish mackerel have been hit and miss, contingent on the clarity of the water. Even commercial fishermen have been fishing from the pier and landing massive catches of them. Big ladyfish and tons of small jacks are mixed in with them.
Finding a well defined color change should be no problem this weekend and the dolphin should be biting. Lots of small blackfin and skipjack tunas will be in the same areas. I like to troll a mixture of ballyhoo and strip baits but I never overlook a mackerel jig or small swimming plug while I am at it. Bottom fishing may be a bit more challenging but a dead sardine or piece of one will catch a few yellowtail and mutton snappers. Kingfish action has been spotty but some large fish are eating live bluefish slow-trolled out from the beach. Sailfish activity is sure to improve thanks to strong northerly winds.
BOYNTON TO BOCA
The bluefish blitz is on at Boynton Inlet and it will continue for several weeks. Hordes of finger mullet are still moving south and just about every type of predator you can imagine is in there feeding on them. Big jacks, kings, Spanish mackerel and every now and then a snook or cobia are good options. Black drum will be eating live shrimp around the bridges, along with ladyfish and lots of lookdowns. Small tarpon and large ladyfish will be eating live baits just inside Beer Can Island.
Sailfish, blackfin tunas, kingfish, dolphin—they’re all here, the hard part will be getting in and out the inlets. Catch blue runners along the beach or net some mullet inside and fish them right on the color change. Bring along chum to work over the patch reefs for yellowtails and any wayward cobia or big jacks. Small feathers trolled offshore on light tackle are perfect for those little blackfins and skipjacks.
The bluefish blitz is on at Boynton Inlet and it will continue for several weeks. Hordes of finger mullet are still moving south and just about every type of predator you can imagine is in there feeding on them. Big jacks, kings, Spanish mackerel and every now and then a snook or cobia are good options. Black drum will be eating live shrimp around the bridges, along with ladyfish and lots of lookdowns. Small tarpon and large ladyfish will be eating live baits just inside Beer Can Island.
Sailfish, blackfin tunas, kingfish, dolphin—they’re all here, the hard part will be getting in and out the inlets. Catch blue runners along the beach or net some mullet inside and fish them right on the color change. Bring along chum to work over the patch reefs for yellowtails and any wayward cobia or big jacks. Small feathers trolled offshore on light tackle are perfect for those little blackfins and skipjacks.
Bud Karas walterkaras44@gmail.com
My list of Florida fish related terms for the search engines!
Amberjack, Ballyhoo, Banded Rudderfish, Bluefish, Bonefish, Bonita, Chumming, Cobia, Florida, Flounder, Flying Fish, Gag Grouper, Greater Amberjack, How to Make pilchard rings, Ladyfish, Lesser Amberjack, Mahi Mahi, Mangrove Snapper, Menhaden, Mud Minnow, Mullet, Permit, Pinfish, Red Snapper, Redfish, Sailfish, Salt Water, Shrimp, Snook, Spanish Mackerel, Spotted Seatrout, Squid, Tarpon, Tides, Tilefish, Triggerfish, Triple Tail, Vermillion Snapper, Wahoo, West Palm Beach Florida,