The Snook Nook FISHING REPORT Always Bring Your Camera!

February 2011

 FISHING 02/ 26/11



Beautiful weather, lots of sun, no wind and warm, I love this place. So if every thing is so perfect where are the fish? Water has warmed; nights are cool but not cold so start fishing like it is summer. Look early, look deeper you have gone to the summer mode in one week.

Surf fishing has been scattered, you need to look around, put your bait deep and work it in. As the water warms the fish move in their comfort zone, start with a long cast and work the bait back to the shallow. Early is for the Blues but the bite has been after noon, water temps, they are in their comfort zone. These fish could be there early but you are not casting long enough to get to that zone, then a little wind and it moves the cooler water up close and here come the fish. I would locate Blue fish with cut baits then if they are close enough switch to a spoon. Summer not quite but it is time to start fishing in the summer mode. Whiting in the trough, Pompano in and out but Jacks are every where.

River it has been three feet of water, the action zone. Lots of small trout shallow, slot and bigger in that deeper water and because the water is deeper you can fish about any time you like. River is clear so look to go lighter on your leaders, Shrimp on a cork, soft rubber or suspending baits are all catching, Trout fishing has been very good. Reds have been little harder, not seeing the larger schools and late afternoon seems to be the best bite time, again go lighter with your leaders. Pompano are just not biting like they have been warmer water. Look to fish the deeper water, the channels, if they are on the flats it will adjacent those canals and channels, high tide preferred. Nice to hear about the Triple Tail riding the tide at the Jensen Causway and a good Trout bite from the Pier, mix in the Blues, Macs and Jacks stealing rods and reels from the catwalks and that tells it all. Yes those are Bone Fish in the Sail Fish Flats, no I don’t know what they are doing here other than the water is warming.

Till next week, has every one gotten their licence?????????????????? Henry
 

FISHING 2/19/11



Two perfect days, temps, no wind and fish, does it get any better?? Plenty of bait for the off-shore anglers and some real nice Cobia, up close and you can see them. Pitch rods were the order for the day, slow up close is where they were, told you it could not get any better. These fish were in twenty feet of water with them were kings and sharks. So if you put one on the hook fight him lightly, let the fish run, you do not want the fish on the top of the water splashing and dashing. Wear the fish out then bring him to the boat and into the box, a lot of noise will bring the man in the gray suit. Favored bait was the Cobia Slayer; you pick the color they all work well. The Mac’s were thick down in the hole using that glass minnow jig and yes there was Cobia along with Kings and Pompano, but then there were plenty of big Jack’s to take your baits. Out to a hundred feet plus there were some Dolphin and Sails not a lot but I believe every one that was out there put some thing in the box, lots of bait everywhere. Have you tried fishing the bait schools, first in gets rigged and sent back down, you just don’t know who is under that school? Tarpon at the Boils jumping and playing, small little bait is the secret, small crabs, a piece of crab or small Flies will get their attention, just please do not take a knife to a gun fight.

If you were fishing the Virginia Forest, Tiger Shores beach in the morning I know you were in the Pompano, sand fleas and clam were the favored baits. This week the beach has been spotty, times varied as did the species with no pattern. Weeds started the week, not sure where they came from but there were plenty, then gone. Cool mornings would be perfect for Blues but they chose the afternoon hours and the Pomp’s were the early bite, I guess they didn’t read the chapter on preferred water temperatures. Look for the Blues early, cut bait will locate these fish, after the sun warms the edge for two hours you will notice the Whiting will move in if they have read the reference to water temperatures.

Trout and Red Fish for the river anglers, good catch’s reported from north of the power plant to the inlet using soft rubber baits and live shrimp. Most reported have been in the top of the slot with the red fish bite being better in the early afternoon. Docks along the west side of the river have been holding nice reds as well as trout too. Twitch baits and the Bomber Badonkadonk in the suspending and topwater versions have been a great choice. Lots of talk of skipping Pompano over the last week, and finally some talk of catching over the weekend. Good numbers in hells gate, sailfish flats and the crossroads. Jigs have put a hurting on them, 3/8 to a ½ ounce in chartreuse or pink will get bites. Bridge anglers have been reporting a nice mix of drum and sheepshead around the pilings, live shrimp or pieces of dead shrimp have been the bait of choice. Days like this remind me why I chose to live in Florida, sunshine and great fishing! Till next week…….



Henry
 

Fishing 2/12/11



Strong North winds and cool temperatures are here and have put a hold on most anglers fishing plans. It seems as if all the talk about great weather has come back to bite us.

It looks like most pompano have temporarily moved out of the area, which has been the case all season. A few days of brisk cold weather will push them out, then a week of warm to bring them back. Of course there is still a few hanging around, and anglers braving the wind and cold have been picking at them. Yellow and white, pink and white, and chartreuse and white jigs have all been working, but take a ½ oz jig in this wind. Look in deep cuts and channels, where water temperatures are more consistent, if there’s a pompano around that’s where he will be. Incoming tide would be best.

Still a good number of trout, but the north wind, strait down the river makes flats fishing somewhat difficult. Canals, mangrove cuts and spoil islands will be your best bet. Again, you’re looking for deeper water. When a cold front pushes in, temperatures in shallow water will fluctuate more than in deeper water; trout and redfish will look for the more consistent water temps. Soft plastic jerk baits in a 5’’ glow or white, and when used in that depth, a 3/8oz jig head. A ½ oz DOA shrimp worked slowly should bend a rod as well. If you’re a hard bait fan, the L52mr mirrorlure, when worked along docks and seawalls has produced bites.

Offshore has been pretty quiet. Then again with seas forecasted at 3-5ft pushing to 4-6ft, not too many reports. Still plenty of live baits around and the cobia bite should continue to be very good.

The beach has just not been friendly the last few days either. Strong current and winds have made holding bottom rather difficult. Look for a good showing of large schools of jacks and blues corralling bait on the beach when the wind does calm. Spoons and top water baits will entice bites from both. Those fishing the Ft. Pierce jetty have been catching good size flounder and a few redfish as well.

Hopefully this report finds everyone in shorts and sandals; I know I’m ready for it…..



Fred Caimotto



 

            Another week gone by and the fishing has continued to be great here in little Jensen Beach.  Anglers from all areas are catching good numbers of all species.  Whether it is the beach, the bridge, offshore, the flats or the inlet, you just need to get out and get a line wet.  I’ve never caught anything from my couch.

            Where should we start?  Let’s talk a little about Cobia offshore.  This is the time of year when they arrive, and stay through late March.  As far as table fare, these fish are excellent.  You will find them on the patch reefs on the beach, wrecks offshore, and under schools of big manta rays.  Jigs are the ticket with these fish.  1 ½ ounce to 2 ounces will do just fine.  Gulfstream Cobia Slayers, First Light Jigs, and believe it or not, big top water plugs will get their attention as well.  These fish range anywhere from 10lbs to 100lbs so do not bring your trout rod.  A 7ft rod in the 20lb class will do great.  There is no way to know whether your going to hook a 10 pound fish or a 50 pound fish, so as we say here, don’t bring a knife to a gunfight.  Do not wait till you get out there to tie a jig on, have that rod rigged.  Cobia are very curious fish, it is not uncommon for them to swim up to the boat, especially when you’re not ready.

            Live bait continues to make a strong push to our area.  Big greenies to the north and south of the inlet, and sardines on the Evans Crary rubble.  Again, have a rod ready while you catch your bait, and see if you don’t find a fish beneath those schools. 

            Beach anglers, I don’t think we have talked about pompano enough.  These fish are holding anywhere from bathtub beach, up through tiger shores, and all the way to Ft. Peirce.  Clams, sand fleas, shrimp and Fish Bites have all caught fish this week.  Although we have had anglers report poor fishing in certain areas, most of them never move!  If you find the beach that you’re at is not producing, pick up and head north or south.  These fish do have tails and there’s a lot of beach out there, they may not be out back of your condo today, but tomorrow is a different story.  Of course the tackle shredding bluefish have been wreaking havoc on pompano fisherman as well.  Nice whiting and croaker up to Normandy beach and Herman’s bay.  Typical double hook whiting rig with a few pieces of shrimp should get you a bucket full.

            The trout bite has been incredible.  Between the Jensen Causeway and the south bridge in Ft. Peirce, pick a grass flat.  Live shrimp fans it’s a no brainer.  3-5 feet is where you want to start.  Have had a lot of anglers putting in at little mud creek so you can use that as a reference point.  Soft plastics in a pearl or glow have claimed numerous fish, although the Mirrolure mirrodines worked slowly has been a hot plug as well. 

            St. Lucie River has shown some good action around Hells Gate, and the Roosevelt Bridge, but what about the North Fork?  Dare I say it, Pompano.  Yes Pompano.  Anywhere from Club Med to Kitchen Cove, all the way up to Prima Vista.  Most of these fish are good size and hanging in the deep holes and channels.  3/8 to a ½ ounce jig will get you on the bottom.  Goofy Jigs, nylures, and gulfstream jigs in yellow or pink will catch them.

Well football season is over, so its time to get off that couch and get back on the water……..the fish are waiting. 

Until next week, tight lines and safe fishing everyone! 

Fred Caimotto

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