Fishing Report

OFFSHORE- Dolphin fishing has been fantastic all week, with good numbers and good size fish around.  The nice thing is most, if not just about ALL, of the fish have been caught inside 200′ of water; making for a quick ride for those fishing from Jupiter Inlet south.  Trolling ballhyoo, bonita strips, squid, mullet, small trolling feathers, and jetheads should all produce a few mahi-mahi bites.  Those fishing livebaits for sailfish between 100-160′ are finding a good number of dolphin as well.  The sailfish bite slowed down this week, but a little north-northeast wind should get them snapping again.  Jupiter Inlet to Palm Beach Inlet was the place to be for the most action most of the week.  In with the dolphin and sails were a good number of small kingfish, scattered cobia, and even a stray wahoo or two.  Bottom fishing was very good most of the week, with a above average bite on the mutton snapper this week.  Sardines or squid still are the best producing baits for the bottom fish.

INSHORE- Snook season is back open, and with the mild winter we’ve been having the fish are around in good numbers and feeding well.  As usual with the snook, nighttime and good current will produce the most bites.  Keep in mind this time of year the main diet for snook is shrimp when picking out baits and lures.  Other inshore action has been spotty.  The Intracoastal north of Jupiter is holding some ladyfish, jacks, trout, and a few pompano.

SURF/PIER- Pompano fishing has been a little better over the past week, but still not great.  The spinner and blacktip sharks are showing up in decent numbers.  Spanish Mackerel and bluefish action is scattered at best.  Wish I had more to write about the surf fishing, just not a great winter for it…

…is almost here!!! Time to start checking the tackle and getting ready to start chasing some of those tricky linesiders around!  Should be good fishing for them as the mild winter has not really slowed them down much.  They are around and hungry!!! More coming soon on this…

OFFSHORE- The mild cool front pushing through this morning should help to get another pack of sailfish moving down our way.  With mild temperatures, fair seas, and only light/moderate winds expected this weekend; I would expect to see a lot of kites flying goggle eyes and blue runners between Palm Beach and Jupiter Inlet.  This is the kind of weekend that even the small boat crowd gets a chance to take on the sailfish.  While fishing livebait may be the main game in town south of Jupiter Inlet, plenty (in fact the majority) of sailfish are caught trolling from the Loran tower up to the north.  Small swimming ballyhoo rigged on 5olb flurocarbon leaders are deadly on the sailfish, and allow you to cover more water than you can while fishing with live goggle eyes or runners.  Mixed in with the sailfish have been a few very nice dolphin and a stray wahoo or two.  A few winter time smoker size kingfish are hanging out between Jupiter and Lake Worth Inlets as well.  90-120′ of water has seen some nice kingfish in the 30-40lb class with fairly good regularity.  Live blue runners fished ten to fifteen feet below the surface should get the big kings attention.  Bottom fishing remains fairly strong.  Some nice snapper catches, a few good porgies, and a few cobia all grabbing sardines and squid fished on the bottom.

Good Luck Everyone!

The last few weeks have seen a very nice sailfish bite.  The Silver Sailfish Derby had a record setting number of fish caught, with over 1100 sails released over three days of fishing.  The Jupiter Billfish Tournament didn’t set any records, but still produced over 400 releases for two days of fishing.  The winter sailfish season is here, its time to get after them!

OFFSHORE- Sailfish season is in full swing right now, and they will continue to be the main game in town.  South of Jupiter Inlet most fish will be caught using live baits like goggle eyes, blue runners, or greenies(threadfin herring).  While fishing the baits under a kite will improve your chances of catching sailfish, it is not totally necessary.  Plenty of sails are caught drifting baits from flatlines or slow trolling them from the outriggers.  Once you get north of Jupiter Inlet the livebaiters become out numbered by guys pulling ballyhoo for the sailfish.  This is due largely to the flatter slower sloping bottom north of Jupiter Inlet, which tends to spread the fish out more.  Trolling allows them to cover more ground and better find the fish.  It is pretty neat to watch the best crews work the trolling game; with two large dredges, two teasers, and four to six lines the mates never stop working.  Most sailfish will be caught between 100-200′ of water, but where the bait is you will find the fish.  Don’t be afraid to fish shallow or deeper if you find bait around.  Mixed in with the sailfish should be a few dolphin, cobia, and even some wahoo.

Bottom fishing has remained pretty good over the last few weeks.  Still some good catches of yellowtail, mutton, and mangrove snappers coming in.  The grouper are biting, but remember they are out of  season and have to go back now.  Mixed in with the good stuff will be assorted grunts, triggerfish, and porgies as well.  Plenty of stuff around to chew on some sardines or squid fished on the bottom right now.

INSHORE-  The fishing is getting better in the Intracoastal(ICW) these days as the water cools off a little bit.  Fishing the ICW north of Jupiter Inlet will provide a nice mixed bag of species with some pompano, jacks, ladyfish, trout, bluefish, snook, and mangrove snapper all possible catches.  Live shrimp will be the most productive natural bait, while Doc’s Goofy Jigs and soft plastic jerkbaits get the nod in the artificial department .  The Loxahatchee River remains hit or miss action wise.  Munyon Island has a good number of trout hanging around, with some nice size females mixed in.  Snook season is closed, but if your into catch and release most bridges have some fish(including some big females) hanging around.

SURF/PIER- The pompano are starting to show up in some decent numbers along the beach.  Most of the fish have been north of Jupiter Inlet, but they are headed south.  Every cold front will get them coming south in a hurry.  Other action remains spotty. A few bluefish, blue runners, jacks, croaker, and whiting are around…but the mild winter has not pushd any big numbers of fish down the coast…YET!!!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!

Sorry for missing a few weeks, we were just ironing out a few website issues.

OFFSHORE- It isn’t going to be a weekend for the faint of heart or most small boaters, but those who brave the rough seas should find some good fishing offshore.  With a good north breeze to downright hard wind in the forecast, expect the sailfish to be surfing the swells looking for easy meals in the churned up ocean.  Live goggle eyes, blue runners, or mullet fished under a kite will produce big numbers most likely this weekend.  Where the biggest school of sailfish will be is anybody’s guess, but the Loran Tower in Hobe Sound will be a very good starting point.  Some nice dolphin should be in the mix as well.  Bottom fishing has been very good, but it won’t be the nicest weekend weather wise to try and set up a decent drift.

INSHORE- Still plenty of finger mullet hanging around inshore, and plenty of fish mixed in with them.  Snook, Tarpon, and jacks will be the main fish hanging around the mullet schools.  Fish a live finger mullet on the outside edges of the schools or underneath for best results.  The slightly cooler water temperatures have the Loxahatchee River coming alive with fish.  Ladyfish, Jacks, Bluefish, and even some Pompano are starting to filter into their fall/winter homes.

SURF/PIER- Bluefish continue to dominate the action along the beach and at the pier right now.  They are here in numbers, and they are hungry!  Spoons, swimming plugs, topwaters, and cut bait will all provide plenty of bluefish bites.  Pompano have also shown up along the beach.  Lots of small fish, but some good size keepers mixed in with them.  Some big jacks, sharks, and still a few tarpon around for those looking for a little something bigger to pull on the liner!

Good luck this weekend!

Things are looking good on the fishing front.  The first “cool” front of the season pushes through this weekend and that should really fire up the fall fishing patterns.

OFFSHORE- Friday should be a nice day offshore; Saturday and Sunday may get a little bumpy to downright rough! That north-northeast breeze will be great for the fishing, but will have it on the uncomfortable side for the smaller boat guys.  With the slightly cooler temperatures this weekend the sailfish should start to get excited.  Livebaiting the edge with goggle eyes and blue runners will, as usual, be putting the most numbers up on the board.  Expect a nice push of dolphin over the weekend as well with the choppy conditions.  Trolling ballyhoo, bonita strips, or squid will be a great way to target the dolphin.  Bottom fishing has been good for the yellowtail and muttons…just have to find them.

INSHORE- Take advantage of all the bait around inshore right now.  The Intracoastal is a great spot to be looking for snook right now.  Try fishing around bridges at night for really good results.  Find a bridge with a good amount of current, light, and bait; and you will find a good number of snook and tarpon hanging around.  The ICW up north towards Hobe Sound is full of assorted fish right now.  Fishing the flats around mile marker 40-44 with some live shrimp will produce; snapper, sheepshead, ladyfish, trout, snook, jacks, and more.

SURF/PIER- Surf fishing is great right now.  All of the fall players are showing up, they are hungry, and ready to eat!  Spanish Mackerel., Bluefish, Pompano, Sharks, and more are all around right now; and they are here in good numbers already!  For those looking to travel light on the beach it’s time to break out the silver spoons and go to town.  For the bait guys go with shrimp for the mixed bag action, sardines and finger mullet for the bigger stuff!

More Detailed October Fishing Outlook coming in the next few days.

Thanks For Reading and Good LUCK!!!,

Todd

Nice looking fresh ballyhoo available this weekend, $12/Dozen.

OFFSHORE- Offshore fishing pressure has been on the light side the last few weeks, but the fishing has been good.  The fall push of dolphin has been starting, and those putting in the time are finding some decent schools of fish.  While they may be anywhere up or down the line, most of the dolphin have been between 300-600′ of water.  Weedlines, structure, rips, and floating debris will all be holding dolphin, but they are almost as likely to be out swimming freely in open water.  This is the time to cover some water and put out the trolling spread.  Trolled ballyhoo, small trolling feathers and jethead lures, and trolling squid will all account for a few fish.  Keep a few small baits out for the little football size blackfin tuna swimming around.  The bonita are starting to thin out, and the sailfish will begin to slide in to the ledge as the northeast winds start to blow.  Wahoo catches will not be like August, but a few are still hanging around.  Split-tail mullet are a great choice for the wahoo this time of year.  Inside of the ledge the snapper fishing has been good.  Find the cleaner water and put the time in, some snapper will no doubt end up in the box.  Sardines, squid, and bonita chunks will all be good bottom fishing baits.

INSHORE- The mullet are still flowing inshore, and the snook and tarpon are liking the easy meals.  Find the mullet schools and you will find the fish, its really that easy inshore right now.  I still like lures in low light periods and at night, live bait during the higher light periods.  While the snook fishing is the highlight inshore this month, others are around as well.  Tarpon, jacks, and a few redfish are following the mullet schools as well.  The local bridges are still holding a few mangrove snapper, sandperch, and blackdrum.  Lastly on the inshore front, the toady cult is starting to move…you know who you are.

Surf/Pier- The surf/pier fishing has been very good over the past few weeks.  We still have good schools of bait around, lots of fish, and some nicer weather.  While the bluefish are starting to show, they haven’t run everything out of town just yet.  Snook fishing along the beach and at the pier is still good.  The pompano are starting to show.  Sandfleas, shrimp, clams, and Doc’s Goofy Jigs will be your top bait choices for the pompano.  Bluefish and spanish mackerel will really start to fill in nicely over the next few weeks.

Good Luck Everyone,

Todd

Yes, I know it still feels like summer; but we are moving into fall fishing patterns on the beach.  The mullet schools are still coming down the beach, and with them have come a good number of assorted species.  In the mix are the usual fall players; spanish mackerel, king mackerel, bluefish, and even some pompano.  I’m going to keep this report short (more details coming in the next few days), no need to waste your time…you should be fishing!  Now is a good time to get on the beach.  More coming soon.

Good Luck Everyone!

Snook fishing remains very good these days.  The mullet are coming down the beach (and filtering inshore) nicely, and the snook have taken notice.  Jupiter Inlet, Juno Beach Pier, and all the usual inshore bridges are holding fish right now.  Standard drill for the most part; live bait is better during the day (and at night most of the time), try and trick them with the lures at night.  If you opt for the lures, keep them looking like a finger or small silver mullet.  Good lure choices include Zara Spooks, Rapala X-Raps, Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows, DOA Baitbusters, and Gulfstream Skimmer Flair Hawk Jigs.

Get after the snook before the bluefish show up in force.

Good Luck Everbody,

Todd