LOCAL FISHING REPORT
Offshore
When asked about the fishing off Jensen Beach this week, one guide said, “more kingfish than you can handle.”
The king mackerel are
being caught using live baits or triple hooked dead sardines. Most are in the
7- to 15-pound range and, though not giants, are still great table fare.
Though there has been some current, the bottom fishing in the area also has been good. Anglers are catching big vermilion snapper off the wrecks and reefs in 60 to 80 feet of water.
Venturing south to the
Loran Tower, the mutton snapper bite has been good. They are being taken on cut grunt plugs.
Anglers fishing for snapper have reported seeing and catching cobia as well. Some are being caught on the same rigs they are using for snapper. Others, after being spotted, are being caught using pitch rods kept at the ready.
Though it’s a bit longer haul than usual, there have been dolphin off Jensen. Anglers heading out to around 700 feet and deeper are catching some nice fish up to 30 pounds.
Off the Jupiter Inlet, there also has been an excellent king mackerel bite recently.
Anglers fishing in 80 to 95 feet are having good luck.
In the areas where the kings have been hitting, there has been good action on the bottom for mutton snapper. Though there are some shorts, there are plenty of keepers. Remember, there are new regulations regarding muttons and they must be at least 18 inches.
There has been a good bite for vermilion and yellowtail
snapper. They have been in a bit shallower than normal possibly due to some cool water upwelling.
Looking for dolphin? They’re out there, but they’re a bit farther out than usual. With the west winds, the weed patches have been pushed out to around 1,000 feet and the dolphin have followed.
Anglers looking for live bait have been catching greenies and sardines along the beaches in Jupiter.
Off Boynton Beach, dolphin have been hitting trolled bonito strips around weed patches in 400 to 750 feet.
Blackfin tuna and bonito are being taking using cedar plugs and drifted sardines in 215 feet.
The king mackerel bite, like areas to the north, is on fire right now. Kings up to 30 pounds are being caught using sardines in 65 to 150 feet.
Yellowtail snapper up to 4 pounds, along with cero mackerel and cobia up to 25 pounds, are being taken in the same depths.
Inshore
Seeking snook? They are still being caught in the St. Lucie River, but are also pushing out to the inlet and along the beaches. Remember, it’s catch and release only as they are not in season.
Tarpon are also being caught in the St. Lucie River, the inlet and along the beaches.
Snook, tarpon and mangrove snapper are hitting cut bait, live shrimp and Red Tail Hawk lures off the Boynton Inlet jetties.
Lake Okeechobee
The bluegill bite is still fantastic. Anglers fishing the Rim Canal, Kissimmee River and the Harney Pond areas are having a blast catching these delicious panfish. Worms and crickets are working well. If going with an artificial, Beetle Spins have been producing a good bite.
The bass bite has been good. Anglers using spinner baits and hitting the King’s Bar and Tin House Cove areas have been doing well. All fishing report information courtesy of Snook Nook in Jensen Beach, Fishing Headquarters in Jupiter, Capt. Bruce Cyr and Garrard’s Bait & Tackle in Okeechobee.