Seas are down, baitfish outside the inlet are thick so guess it's time to go play outside. We did a few trips recently livebaiting nearshore. Around the sandpile, plenty of bonitas to bend those rods with a few kingfish and cudas mixed in. Jeff Kane from Moorsville, Indiana had his hands full with bonita around 15 pounds on 12 pound test. On another trip, Tom Bishop released 3 kingfish to 20 pounds and a few boneheads fishing the same area near the sandpile. I have only ran the beaches once the past few weeks looking for tarpon and jacks. Did release a few jacks over 20lbs in about 18 feet near the House of Refuge. Seeing several boats livebaiting near the rocks for catch and release snook and anchoring up in the crossroads for tarpon.
Most of the snook we have been releasing have been around the 25 & 10 cent bridges. The 10 cent bridge has been holding a bit of everything. Jacks to 10 pounds, snook to 38", croaker, black drum, goliath grouper, tripletail, weakfish and still some pompano around. The water in the St. Lucie River is quite clean which raises that salinity level. The only bad thing I've noticed is lack of baitfish in the inlet and surrounding areas. The inlet itself has been on the slow side lately except for a few nice catches of bonefish and redfish.
The sailfish flats are still holding those leaping ladyfish on both tides. Further north, the Jensen Bridge along the fenders have snook, jacks and small mangrove snapper. This bridge used to be a haven for black drum 3-6 pounds but I believe the recent construction (bargeloads of rocks dumped) have moved them out.
Still tripletail on the crab traps and channel markers. Seeing lots of little ones which is a good sign. Guess I can mention now one of my hotspots the past 3 months. Marker 208 just south of the power lines has been LOADED with tripletail. The coast guard finally replaced the red float with a piling so there goes another hot spot. As far as the grassflats go, gotta get out there early. I left my marina yesterday at 8:00 am and the water was 85 degrees.
Just got in from my morning trip on July 1st fishing the Kocis family from Pittsburg. Started out at the 10 cent bridge with a nice assortment including black drum, croakers, goliath grouper, whiting, jacks and lookdowns. By 10:30 the tide was dead low so we headed towards the inlet to catch incoming. Did about 4 drifts and caught mangrove snapper, black margates, pompano and a nice 7 pound permit.
Thats about all for now. Catch em up and watch out for those afternoon thunder boomers !!!
Capt. Bob Bushholz
http://www.catch22fish.com
(772) 225-6436