Snook season is open and it is cold and
raining. The rain is not a problem the fish are already wet but the cold
that is a problem for both the angler and the fish. The Snook do not
like changing temperatures and they will go deep in the water column
looking for water that maintains their comfort zone. Angler look for the
deeper water and present your bait as slow as you can, when these fish
get cold they slow down and feed the same. Slow presentation is the key.
Look at the deeper areas, channels, bridges, holes to list a few, pin
fish, shrimp on a jig head, flair hawks, sinking plugs will be your most
productive. The bag limit is one, slot is 28" to 32" a hard slot so do
not forget some sort of measuring devise. Trout wait for the water to
warm, let the sun work for you, late morning will be the most
productive. Plenty of Blue fish and Mac's, they like the cooler water
and then the Pompano. Good bite of Pompano both in the St. Lucie and
Indian Rivers, jig with a piece shrimp will find them.
Surf anglers report Blue fish
till your arms get tired. Blues, Mac's and Jacks like the cooler water
and yes so do the Pompano. Problem is do I get into the action of the
one cast, one fish or do I target that Pompano? Blue fish will eat any
thing that moves, Pompano it has been clam strips and sand fleas with a
long cast but the Blue's are every where and yes they like clam strips.
Target species is up to the angler but if you are fishing the surf be
ready for the Blue fish.
Off-shore it has been changing conditions,
the fish that I have talked with anglers about have been from the 100 to
140 line in 100' zone. Dolphin and Sails top the catch list. Trolled
baits have been preferred and it has been a mid morning bite.
I know we all complain about the weather,
cold, rain and wind but how lucky we are, we else can you use your boat
every month of the year.
Till next week, release
that big one for me.....Henry
Lets go catch a fish, the
weather has moderated, the wind slowed and the best part is the fish are
hungry.
Blue fish in the surf, rivers,
inlet, you might say they are every where. On the surf it was spoons and
mullet, from the bridge it was spoons and mullet, one might say spoons and
mullet for Blues and it does not matter the locations. If it has flash or
scent they are on it. In the inlet, one cast one fish, on the surf one cast
one fish and from the bridges it was minutes between bites, yes the Blues
like the cooler water. Also the surf saw other species and I am not sure why
some were there, big Sheephead, big Croakers even a few Flounder made the
show as the water warmed and the Blue fish moved out. Clams were the
favored bait this week for the Pompano, short runs with no pattern.
Off shore it was Sail fish and plenty
of them, trolling baits and live baiting the Sails were there. We had
reports from 80' out to 200' both north and south of our inlet that was the
zone. Not big Dolphin but every one came in with two or more, they were ten
pound class fish with a mix of King fish. Live bait from several locations
both north and south of our inlets. As the water warms keep a look out for
the Cobia, they will be hanging out on the bait schools.
Red fish made an excellent show, they
like the cooler water, Bear Point and Round island areas were the locations
using live or artificial. Trout were spread out, some here and there not
allot but every angler had some thing to say. Pompano are every where, from
the North Fork to the Cross Roads up into the Indian Rivers. Jigging
spoons, small jigs or a shrimp on a jig head moved slowly across the bottom
put plenty in the boat. Snook, stay in the deeper water and present your
baits across the bottom slowly, be ready to set the hook. These fish are
still slow from the cold, they will pick up the bait not attack, pay
attention.
Till next week, where is the
camera????????????.................................Henry
What
a great week end, no wind, beautiful flat water and fish, I love this
place.
Incoming tidal movement at the
causeway relief bridges, you may have needed a reservation. Pompano from
both causeways using those little jigging spoons, limits of Pompano. Yes,
the limits are the same no matter where you catch them, 11" to 20" is the
slot, 6 per day and you may have one over 20". Bridge anglers had three
days of action, not to say the Pompano have not been there the rest of the
week because hey have. It is all about the incoming tide, if you can catch
this you can catch pompano. Three more busy locations, Sail fish flats,
Hells Gate, and the North Fork again incoming tide. Trout were from Bear
Point south using a root beer jerk bait, two to three feet was the depth
and the bite was best from 9:AM, let the sun warm the water a few degrees.
Several big Trout were released off that flat from Indian river side park
south past the Dolphin Grill and south to the area south the Stuart
causeway, big Trout on the west shore, good numbers on the east side of
the river. Red fish were north of county line road to mid way road on the
west side of the river in the shallow water, slot size fish through mid
morning. So what happened to the Snook, have a few night time anglers with
these as a target species but what about day time? Fish the shaded water,
look under the docks, look for ambush points, big baits, big fish. Plenty
of Sand Perch, Snapper and Drum to keep most anglers busy.
>From the surf is has been plenty of
Blue fish through out the day, spoons for the early anglers but cut baits
have been on the menu all day. When the Blues slowed in came the Whiting
and Pompano and then the Blues were back, it really was a excellent week
end for surf anglers.
Off shore one day the baits were
every where and the next day a hard find. If you have a favored location
these fish are there just deep, let your rigs go deep. Dolphin were
scattered from eighty feet out, not big fish but of size to put in the
boat. Most Sails were seen jumping and not in your baits but the Kings
were there and Bonita, not sure where the Bonita came from but they were
there. Run a bait or two below the surface, that is where the other ninety
percent of the fish feed and pay attention.
How close are you to that "DIVE
FLAG"?????......................................HENRY
