FISHING 1/28/12

How about this nice weather, warmer than usual temperatures are great for me but it makes it hard for the fish. Fish move with the temp changes and if the water is warm they are just not sure what to do. Surf is prime, water is warm well warmer than usual and the Blue fish and Pompano are just not sure. Trout do not have problem but the Reds are not sure and me I love it. So that explains why we have no pattern to their movements, I think, now if the fish will read this they will really be confused.

Surf has been very polite both early and late, fish have no pattern there is no temps driving them, so it is in and out all day. Have had anglers catching Pompano at county line and not a one at Jensen, Blues at Virginia Forest and none at Stuart and yet at differing times they have showed at both locations. So it might pay to look before bringing your equipment down, stay on the dune walk and look for any thing that looks fishy. Color lines, birds, bait and reason for the fish to be there, bring two rods fish one with a cut bait and one a lure, start with that long cast and the second rod a medium cast, take your time, the fish will show. This week on the catch list Blues, Pompano and Whiting, a Cobia that took all the line and quite a few bite offs so you just have to be there.

River Anglers had plenty of slot Trout, then the wind and turbity picked up and we were back to looking for the flat water and the green water. Reds at County Line, Trout from Little Mud north to Bear Point all in the late morning. Plenty of rod pullers, big Lady fish, Jacks, Blues no one complained about action just hard to nail down a species. Fishing from a boat, Pompano a plenty,Inlet, Crossroads,Hells Gate and the wide North Fork all reported limits, it was the timing that made things a little difficult, and yes it was that Jigging Spoon that did the damage.

Off shore has been easy fishing, get on a bait school and stay there. We have had big bait schools from 30’ out, Sardines are on top of the Horn Bellies. Lower your sabiki slowly and at first hit bring it back, may take a while to fill a bait well but you will get the bait. Cobia still top the list but Sails a plenty, put a little heat on these Sails so when you release them they swim away. Cobia swimming up to the boat so have the pitch rods rigged and ready and then you can go out and look for a Dolphin, KIng or a Wahoo, all have been on the catch list.

So I still like it warm......................................................HENRY

FISHING 1/22/12

Surf anglers have had a spotty week, with fish moving in and out all day with no pattern. Blues early, well most of the time but this week, none one day and the next all day. Pompano early for the long cast, then the next it is up close or not at all, with Whiting to follow. it has been an unusual week with no pattern. Blue fish anglers have had luck with spoons and cut baits, Pompano sand fleas and clams but a pattern of times or locations none. A beautiful week with moderate temps and perfect conditions and some one forgot to tell the fish.

River anglers looking for some Pompano, well they are there but the water is flat and clear and you need to go down in your leader size. If you can see the fish but they won’t bite it is probably your leader size they are looking at, fifteen pound is plenty. Pompano from the bridges, the flats, just about every where and mix that with a good catch of Trout and I would say you have had a good day. Preferred early but the fish have been active all day, black Drum, Blues, Jacks and Reds have made for a good week for our river anglers with many locations. Live shrimp top the bait list but there has been plenty of artificial taken their toll. Yes, the wide St Lucie has been the location of many limit Pompano catch's.

What were all those boats doing up that close to the beach, Cobia. From 30’ to 130’ we had reports of Cobia, lot of Cobia. Fifty pounds was the average, taken on all sorts of baits, from squid on a chicken rig (reef) to trolled baits (live) to that jig (Cobia Slayer) these fish are hungry. Conditions have been perfect for all size boats and the anglers were not disappointed. Lots of bait schools, big bait schools and anglers that stayed with a school found their catch, Sails (pesky),

dolphin(scattered) but Cobia a plenty. A good King Fish bite and Wahoo were deep, but there, and the Spanish were south of the inlet, one cast one fish, it has been a fishy week. Perfect weather, perfect seas now if some one will tell the fish in the surf we can all be happy anglers................till next week................Henry

FISHING 1/15/12

One beautiful week of moderate temperatures sun shine and fish, then a forty degree weekend ? well the sun was shining but still to cold for a wimp like me.

we had plenty of fish till then, flat seas till then, tell the weather man he is fired......

Pompano in the surf and Blues at your toes, that is what the cool weather brings. Surf anglers were reporting limits of Pompano from the Bob Graham access south to

Bath Tub using clams and sand fleas, best part was these fish were in most of the day. Not the biggest fish but not small either, a few to the north but it seems that the school were south. Blues were early with spoons and cut baits, really to cool for me and by the week end the wind made it real uncomfortable for the anglers. For as many Mac’s as there is south of the inlet there has only been a few for the surf casters, maybe this cold will bring them in for all anglers. Big Whiting and a lot of Spots for this time of the year, maybe they like the cold and I did not know this?

River anglers Trout continue to top the list, easy to find, look to the deeper water and slow o retrieve down. Look in the channels, any deep hole that you ay know of and if your bait stops set the hook. Reds like this cooler water, did not hear a lot about them this week end but then did not see a lot of anglers, look on that west side of he Indian River from Midway Road to south of Walton Road, earl or late they are there. One problem is the Blue Fish, they also like that area and there is more of them so, you know what the problem is. Pompano at the bridges, Sail Fish Flats, Hells Gate on up to the wide North Fork, limits all the way on that jigging spoon, pink and white has been favored, light leader. Black Drum it seems will not stop, from the bridges it has been limits, not less 14” or more than 24”, 5 per angler and one can be over 24”, excellent table fare.Sheep head and usual bridge suspects, dress warm, a lot easier to take your jacket off than not have one.

Blue water we started with Cobia, from 30’ out then it was Sails from 60’ and the Dolphin and Wahoo with a mix of small Kings started in the 130’ mark. now I would think that it is about the same except we went from 1.6’ at 11 seconds to 4’ 4 seconds apart so the conditions changed has been strong. No anglers to report for this week end, so the fish are probably still there and when it all settles down I would “Probably” start with the Cobia. Jigs pitched to the Cobia, the rest trolled baits and don’t forget to run one down for the Wahoo....................................have a great week and watch out for the weather man..................HENRY

FISHING 1/12/12

Thank you weather man, what great weather you have brought us and the Pompano love it also. This week it has been limits of Pompano from the surf, from north of Ft Pierce to Hobe Sound it has been steady, cool part is it has been all day. Late morning using clams, sand fleas and yes those small jigs have been putting fish on the beach. Would like to say morning but just about that time in comes an angler to tell us about his catch after lunch, so if they are not at your location move a little north or south and you will find them or wait they will come to you. Steady Blue fish early on spoons and cut baits then as they move out in come the Pompano and big whiting, so don’t forget the bucket with the ice in it.

Off shore lake Atlantic has been busy, Cobia have made a strong appearance. Run the beach north form St Lucie Inlet in about 30’ and pay attention, have your pitch rods rigged with that Cobia Slayer and watch, they look like a school of sharks with smiling faces. These fish will follow a turtle, a ray or just about any thing looking for a meal you just have to ready and if you do hook one do not put that fish in the boat till you see he is spent and then to the fish box he goes in one motion. They are strong fish and can do a lot damage when loose in YOUR boat. Dolphin are in 130’ and Sails depending on the day you may find them while looking for the Cobia. Spanish Mac’s are thick eating the Glass Minnow jig, keep that jig moving as fast as you can, you feel them hit, just keep it moving to stop and they will stop, keep it moving. Bottom fishing has not let me down this week, plenty of Muttons and some nice Yellow Tails also, you pick a reef they will be there. Bottom anglers, where is your vent tool, you are required to have one on board.

To many Trout, from Bear Point to the Sail Fish Flats eating about any thing that moves, Reds are little picky. Most Reds have come from the west side of the river if you can get the Blue Fish not to eat your baits. Lots of Blues and Jacks to keep you busy and yes Pompano are here. Hermans Bay, Sail fish Flats, wide North Fork and the relief bridges from the causeways again that little jigs is a knock out for the Pomps, river fishing has been pretty good. Did I forget to mention the big Black Drum and Sheep head of major size from the piers?

Great weather makes for great fishing, come on down and get a bait wet, till next time ...............Henry

FISHING 1/8/12