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!!!

Well the weather forecast looks pretty good this weekend, and with a little luck the fish will show up for us.

Offshore things are still rolling along pretty good.  The sailfish bite has still been consistent, with most boats live-baiting goggle eyes or blue runners getting at least a few shots a day.  A little north or northeast breeze and the sails should really bite good.  The kingfish are still here, and they for the most part have been very good size.  Trick for the kingfish has been getting the baits down to them a little bit.  They aren’t as likely to come right up to the surface for a meal as they are in the summertime, but let a sardine down 10-15 feet and it should be game on.  Biggest school of kingfish seems to be hanging out just south of the Juno Beach Pier in 90-120 feet of water.  A few dolphin reports came in over the last week.  The fish seem to be scattered and not holding in any one depth.  If dolphin are your primary target it may pay to put out the small trolling lure spread and cover some water.  Bottom fishing remains very spotty, with a few porgies and grunts making up the bulk of the catch.  The snapper are still very very hit or miss, with a lot of misses!  A chicken rig with squid will be your best producer for a mixed bag of bottom fish.

Inshore the fishing also remains very good.  Pompano are still hanging around the Loxahatchee River in second and third bay.  They are not overly hard to find, as the bots drifting through will lead you in the right direction.  A 3/8 oz Doc’s Goofy Jig will no doubt be the top producer for the pomps.  Pink, orange, and yellow seem to be the top colors for the goofy jigs so far this year.  Be sure to bring a good number of backups with you as the ladyfish, jacks, and bluefish also really like those silly little jigs.  Headed north in the ICW up towards Hobe Sound the flats are producing a few trout, redfish, pompano, snook, jacks, and ladyfish.  Small skimmer style jigs, bucktails, live shrimp, and gold spoons should all put a variety of fish in the boat.

Surf/Pier has been a little slow for this time of year.  The bluefish and pompano don’t want to seem to come south of Hobe Sound beach on any regular basis. Again, a little North/Northeast wind could change that in a hurry.  The sharks are still around in big numbers, and a good chunk of fresh bait won’t last long with the blacktips and spinners around.  Spanish Mackerel are hanging out at Peck’s Lake, with a few small schools breaking off and heading south from time to time.  Small flashy jigs, old school tube and straw lure, Gotchas, and small silver and gold spoons are going to be the top producers for the macs.  The biggest news of the week has been the very good cobia bite along the beach.  It is primarily sight fishing with jigs in 20-30 feet of water for these guys.  A flashy Gulfstream Cobia Jig, Squid Skirt, or live sardine or greenie should get the Cobia’s attention.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!