July 4th Weekend Fishing Outlook (7/1-7/4/2016)

OFFSHORE:  Great looking forecast for the upcoming holiday weekend; and luckily the fishing has been much better this week.  The dolphin bite improved; with scattered catches coming both in shallow and also out deep.  No way to know which path the dolphin are going to take, so don't be afraid to really cover some water while looking.  Trolling a good assortment of baits (Go more with squid, bonita strips, and jet head style lures to cover water, and ballyhoo when your in good areas and want to slow it down a bit) is the key out deep, while drifting and chumming will be a good way to go in a little shallower,  This is the time of year that dolphin lock onto floating debris so keep your eyes peeled for any floating stuff that may be attracting dolphin.  Even if the surface is quiet, be sure to drop a jig or live bait down deep for big loner dolphin or wahoo.  In towards the 120' ledge the blackfin tuna are still hanging around.  A few wahoo are being caught on the backside of the moon, with low light periods being the best.  Summertime sailfish are also hanging out on the deep side of the 120' ledge as well.  The kingfish are scattered in 100-120' of water.  Snapper fishing remained good this week, with good catches coming out of both Palm Beach and Jupiter Inlets when the water gets right.  Look for the snapper to bite best in blue water and north current.  Sardines and squid remain the top bait choices for the snapper.

INSHORE:  Catch and release snook fishing remains good at night around the bridges.  Look for the outgoing tide to produce the best, and don't shy away from the big baits.  The snook are hungry and they will chase down a good size meal this time of year.  Mangrove snapper action inshore has improved.  The mangroves will also bite best at night, and the bridges again are e a good area to look for them.  Live shrimp and small live pilchards are good mangrove snapper bait choices.  A few big jacks cruising the Loxahatchee River and a few small tarpon hanging around dock lights in the Lake Worth Lagoon and ICW.  

SURF/PIER:  The snook showed up really good along the beach this week, and have really fired off early in the morning. Small pilchards seem to be what they are chasing down, so small swimming plugs and soft plastics are a good way to go.  The best action seems to be right as the sun comes up, and will continue for about a half an hour.  The sand perch and a few croaker are biting in the first trough.  Small pieces of shrimp is the way to go for them.  Other surf action remains spotty at best.

NOAA MARINE WEATHER:
FRIDAY...SOUTH WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS AROUND 2 FEET. DOMINANT PERIOD 4 SECONDS. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY...MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOON.
SATURDAY...SOUTH SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS AROUND 2 FEET. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE MORNING. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. SHOWERS LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON.
SUNDAY...SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS AROUND 2 FEET. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
MONDAY...SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

SHOP UPDATES:  Monday July 4th Hours 6AM-12PM...then family fun and fireworks!!!