Grouper season is open and the bottom bite has been very good.  Lots of nice gags from 6 mile to the 8 mile reef eating live pinfish, sardines and cut baits.  Current was not too bad over the last few weeks so 8 ounces seemed to be enough lead.  With the full moon just recently the mangroves and muttons have started chewing on the sand pile and the loran tower.  Chumming to the south will usually bring in the yellowtail as well.  Chunks of sardines will catch you the mangroves while personally; I like a grunt plug or a live sardine (minus the tail) for the muttons.  Keep in mind the mutton snapper can be very leader shy, sometimes a 20 – 50ft length of 60lb leader is needed to get the bites.  Be sure to watch your water temps with this westerly wind, we generally start seeing the cold water upwelling’s this time of year, which is sure to quiet the bottom bite. 

                The cobias have taken a pounding over the last 2 months, but have not left yet.  Still plenty of sharks and plenty of fish.  Capt. Justin Rieger has weighed a few cobias in the shop this past week, most topping the 45lb mark, so a lot of big fish still out there.  Live baits, jigs, and crabs still the baits of choice.  Dolphin action continues to improve with the bite in the 200’ zone.  Good numbers of 15 – 25lb fish, with the occasional 40 pounder in the mix.  Trolled ballyhoo has been the bait of choice to cover ground, but it never hurts to have some livies in the well in case the fish come to the boat. Look for plenty of kingfish to the south taking drone spoons and live baits.

                The river has been producing a good number of trout from County line road to Walton road, with a lot of big Snook hanging around the docks.  It’s that time of year, good showing of live bait in the river from mullet to pilchards to small sardines inside the inlet. Its summer time, yes you may have to be on the water a little earlier, but there’s nothing like the first hour of top water action on the flats.  A Rapala Skitterwalk in the black back or the ST color will produce explosive bites from Snook, trout, tarpon and redfish.  Once the sun gets up, I recommend suspension baits like the Mirrodine or the Catch Jr in the mirrolure, or a DOA avocado red glitter jerk shad. 

                Look for some tarpon and big jacks to show up on the beach here soon……There’s nothing like South Florida fishing!

Fishing 5/3/11

            Surf has settled as we speak and the catch list is a mix.  Good Blue fish bite and this may be the last, when they are not there the Whiting move in (great table fare) and throw in some Pompano for some excellent surf fishing.  Pompano have been south of the House of Refuge and on the Hobe

Sound beach sort of in and out but there, you just need to be there.  Casting Spoons in the morning for the Blues, fish are up close so bring the seven foot rod and cast a little north or south, take the barbs off the hooks.  Snook season is closed so please do not drag these fish in the sand, get your feet wet for a quick release.

            River anglers the Tarpon are in, North Fork, bridges, Cross roads, Power Plant all are chewing small baits.  That little Jigging Spoon that you used for the Pompano, Tarpon like them also.  DOA TerrorEyz in the medium size, root beer with the 3/8 head casted in front of them and let it fall is a sure bet or throw a crab and hang on these fish are about to let you know how old you are getting.  Reds are an early bite, if you can see them they have all ready seen you, be prepared for the long cast.  The cove south of Indian River Plantation, flat behind the Dolphin Grill, North of the boat ramp from the Jensen  Causeway and of course the Power Plant just a few locations. Plenty of Trout  and yes it about that time a Triple Tail from the channel marker north of the Stuart Causeway, yes summer is here.  From the bridges it is a mix of Black Drum, Sheephead and Snapper all on shrimp and the good thing is they have been there all day.  Snook season is closed and that means they will take what ever, just about when ever,I guess they know when September will arrive.

           Have a good week……………………………………………………………………HENRY