Stuart Florida Fishing Report
The past few weeks along the Treasure Coast we have been dealing with some wacky weather to say the least. Several cold fronts have pushed through the area dropping the water temps into the mid 50's around the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Some species don't really mind including trout, bluefish and others but it does tend to slow the bite down for others including snook and pompano. In the inlet area on incoming tide the surface temps have been as high as 75 degrees but the water below is still cold.
Outside there are plenty of spanish mackerel south at Peck's Lake. It looks like the weather next week is warming up and we are back into the 70's which should increase the pompano bite inside. I've heard reports of good pompano fishing in the surf but have not seen much to talk about inside.
Lately aboard Catch 22, we have seen plenty of bluefish scattered in the inlet, in the Hell's Gate area of the St. Lucie and in the grassflats of the Indian River. The blues are running 2 to 3 pounds and lot's of rod bending fun on 10 lb test. Also in the inlet have been a few spanish mackerel up to 3 lbs, some sheephead, jacks, ladyfish, mangrove snapper, and black drum.
Both incoming and outgoing tides have been producing but we have seen more bluefish on outgoing where the water is colder.
Around the bridges, black drum to 5 pounds along with mangrove snapper, croaker and a few small goliath grouper under 6 pounds. The Jensen bridge has been holding some large whiteing.
Happy New Year!!!!
Capt. Bob Bushholz
www.catch22fish.net
(772) 530-1496