Fishing 11/30/08
We
had perfect weather over the Thanksgiving week, cool, no wind and no turbity
in the water. The catch list was long with
reports from inside, surf and off shore,plenty
of fish. Lets start in the river, no turbity that is what made it so nice.
The Red fish schools could be seen around the power lines north, they are
always there but now you can see them. If you can see them they can see
you, long cast that gold spoon or your favored soft rubber bait and do not
forget to watch the way the school moves when one is on. Trout bite has been
excellent in three feet of water, how do they know the season is closed. The
pompano continue to skip, jump and make anglers crazy, what ever they were
eating yesterday is not what they want to day. Bring it all, from jigging
spoons to clam strips and sand fleas? Triple Tail mad a strong showing, had
several anglers in asking if it were possible, we weighted a sixteen pound
fish taken on a small Yozuri plug, these fish like the sun and the warmer
water, well they got it half right. Plenty of Blues and Mac's to keep
anglers busy tying on more rigs, they eat any thing that moves. From the
bridges the Black Drum are eating shrimp and clams, Pompano just enough to
keep you coming back and again the Blues and Mac's are eating any thing you
put in the water. For that late night angler the Snook continue to chew, do
they not know the water is cold? Flair hawks fished slowly in the deeper
water has their attention.
Surf has been a tough call, one day it
is calm and then the wind kicks it up? For the days when you could fish,
it is one cast one fish. The Blue fish and Spanish Mac's on a three quarter
to one and a half ounce spoon kept anglers busy all day. The smaller soon
with its smaller hook put the Mac's on the beach, smaller hook was the key.
The Pompano were there and if you put in the time and could make that long
cast you found the fish. No time was better you just had to be there.
Off shore the Ocean was perfect,
amazing what happens when the wind shuts down. The Spanish Mac's south of
the St. Lucie Inlet, one cast one fish, take only what you need and come
back tomorrow for more. Trolling Clark Spoons or casting that Gulf Stream
Glass Minnow Jig will keep anglers busy. Take the barbs off the hooks for a
fast easy release. The King fish action started in thirty feet of water
trolling spoons, nice fish in the twelve pound class, excellent for the
grill. Dolphin and Sails from ninety feet on trolled bally hoo.
Till next week
...........................................Henry
Well it is cold, that's the only way
to say it but it is really cold to the north and this we can deal with. We
have had a good bite of Blues, Mac's and pompano all year but this is their
weather, this is when the limit catches show. Get a copy of the fishing
rules at any bait shop, they are free and make sure you know what their
limits are.
Surf temps have are perfect for our
winter species, now if the wind will just dial down we can get to some
serious fishing. Good catches of Blues casting chrome spoons and cut bait,
these fish are three to five pounds. Pompano on sand fleas, the longer the
cast the bigger the fish, Hobe Sound beach has been the hot location. The
Spanish Mac's are mixed in with all of the above and the best time would be
morning or high tide. With the wind changing direction every day it has been
a hard call, the fish do not mind but it is all about the conditions for us
that do not live in the water.
Off shore the action started in 90'
and went out to 150' with most caught in the 100' zone. Those "pesky" Sail
Fish ruled eating very thing that you trolled past. From early to late it
was Sail Fish, singles, doubles and triples were the talk of the radio.
Dolphin bite was steady in the above zone, most fish were fifteen pound
class fish eating any thing that the Sails missed, pesky Sail Fish. The
first week end in December is the Finest Kind Sail Fish Quickie, the first
Sail Fish tournament of the season, then we will see about those "pesky"
Sails. Mixed in with the Dolphin were small Cobia and a few Kings, these
fish were all hungry and perfect for the table. Watch the temp lines and the
color lines, troll down one side and back the other, slow down let the baits
swim.
The river and the bridges, first on the
catch list has been the Pompano, most in the three pound class. Pompano in
the wide St. Lucie, Evans Crary bridge, Hells Gate, through the Cross Roads
and north in the Indian River. The falling tide is the favored but early has
also been favored so never having caught a fish with a watch on, when can
you go? Favored bait from the bridge has been the jigging spoons, open water
the Nylure jig but do not forget the natural baits, Sand Fleas, Shrimp and
Calm strips, real good Pompano bite. Snook are staying deep, fish a bait
that will get you to the bottom the dark hour has been the bite time. Blues
and Mac's in good numbers just cruising the area so have that extra rod
rigged and ready. Trout season is closed so if you are fishing up around the
power lines bring extra bait, they know the season is closed. Few Reds in
that area, fish early and fish in the shallowest water you can, they like
the cooler temps.
Till next week, bring a
jacket.......Henry
FISHING 11/15/08
Cooler water temps have brought the
Pompano, Blues and Mac's to all locations. For me it is not cool
it is cold to cold for me but not for the Pompano anglers
jigging from the bridge. Three pound fish form the bridge, the
bite times differed but the temps stayed the same, cold. Pompano
catches reported from all bridge locations in our area, even the
Roosevelt. Doc's Goofy jigs, Nylures and Clams plus Sand Fleas
all caught fish. Then came the Blues and Mac's biting every
thing off and it was the small spoons and Got-Cha lures to even
the score, yes it is winter. I believe the highest the
thermometer will go this week is in the 70's, good for the fish
but its early for me to break out my winter shorts.The Snook and
Trout have move to the deeper water, the warm water. If this is
your target, you have to get to the bottom and hold, so bump up
the weight and slow your presentation, be ready to set the hook,
the fish will pick up your bait, not strike it. If all these
fish were at the bridge they had to pass your favored flat, if
you see them skip loop around and drift back, you spooked them
know you must wait for them to settle down, what is the limit on
Pompano?
The surf has been less
than favorable, weeds one day and wind the next but you have to
go look. Had good catches reported at different times from
differing locations. The bigger Pomp's were for the long caster,
but plenty of Blues and Mac's up close casting small Spoons.
Off-shore those pesky Sail Fish
were at it again. Anglers trolling baits around the weed and
color lines reported double headers taking any thing they had in
the water, pesky Sail Fish. All this started in ninety feet of
depth and went out from there, Bally hoo top the bait list. The
Dolphin catches were all nice fish, 15 to 25 pound class and
there were plenty of them, Kings in the 12pound class, excellent
for the grill. Plenty of Spanish Mac's south of the inlet, yes
back to the King fish hole or maybe we should call that location
just the Mackerel hole, that Gulf Stream "glass minnow" jig is
the bait, two cast one fish. Bottom fishing in 60feet using
Sardines for the Snapper and big Pin fish for the Grouper made
for some great dinners and you didn't get invited either. May be
next Time.
Till next week slow
down............HENRY
Finally a week end of perfect weather,
moderate temp, no wind, and fish, could it be any better?
Off shore the action
started at 100', straight out of the inlet, weed lines, pretty
water, bait and fish, the most important. Trolling was the method
and Dolphin were the targets.Really nice fish, 15 to 25 pounds
with some bigger but perfect fish. Those pesky Sail Fish were
there chewing, most anglers reported from 2 to 5 releases and more
Dolphin. There were Wahoo and Kings for the anglers that pulled
down baits and more Dolphin and those Pesky Sail fish. Big
Spanish Mac's were there for the pitch rods with quite a few Cobia
to keep you busy and yes more pesky Sail fish. Down to the King
Fish hole the Spanish have made a strong show for anglers using
Glass Minnow chum, It just could not get better. That strong show
of Sails should make for big tournament numbers, yes it is about
that time.
Surf anglers the water has settled
and weeds have broken up, Blues, Mac's and Pompano were waiting
for you. Spoons top the bait list for the early angler, big top
water lures took their share. Late morning anglers caught the
Whiting , Croakers and Snook, just had to wait for the water to
warm. Pompano were in and out all day, most were small but enough
numbers that you were sure to take a few home and yes there were
fleas on the edge.
The river water was absent the
turbidity and the fish were every where, east side or west, happy
fish. It was those pesky Trout, they know the season is closed and
anglers reported slot size fish in shallow and deep water. East
side and west it was hard to get a bait to the Red fish because
the Trout were on it. Good catches of Red Fish in the Power Plant
area, lots of slot fish on both live and artificial baits, cool
part is they have been in all day. Good numbers of small Snook,
plenty of Jacks, Lady fish, two pound Flounder ,a few Blues and
Mac's just enough to keep that rod bent. The bridges, lots of
Black Drum and yes they do have limits. Not less than 14"or more
than 24", five is the bag with one over 24". Still looking for the
slot Snook, the bridges is their location taking deep baits. Bring
your camera most fish are over the slot and the older the picture
the heavier the fish. Finally the Pompano at the east end of the
causeways, this is where the bigger fish have been taken. The fish
have been there all day, not always chewing but there, you will
just have to put in your time, even if that guy that just walked
out catches the first one. Doc's and Nylure jigs top the list,
green was the color this week end. Plenty of Mac's also reported
from those locations, and yes the big Jacks would come through to
test your equipment.
Till next week,
patience at the boat ramps
please...........................................Henry
