Stuart Inshore Report: 02-12-12
We have been fishing south in the inlet area and up the St. Lucie River in the Hell's Gate area the past few weeks tagreting pompano, sheephead, black drum and snapper. The pompano have been spread out in the Sailfish Flats, Stuart Causeway and Hell's Gate with nice pomps up to 3 pounds hitting Capt. Joe's jigs with pink being the hottest color lately. No big numbers but catching a few each trip. The ladyfish action in the flats have seemed to turn off but the ones we have seen are good size.
Black drum to 5 lbs and a few snook have been hanging around both the 25 and 10 cent bridges hitting shrimp on trollrites and small redtail hawks. Seems the ribbonfish have vacated the quarter bridge for the time being. Also mixed in are gag groupers to 20" and a few small goliaths to 10lbs. I look for the flounder action to start picking up soon.
Have not made it outside at all for the mackerel due to weather conditions but they should still be here for another month or two. We did see a few bluefish in the crossroads a while back but the last few weeks have been on the mild side keeping the blues in the surf. When water temps drop below 65, you can expect to see more bluefish come inside.
I did manage my recon trip a few weeks ago looking for signs of tripletail and flounder north of the Jensen Causeway but the markers and crabtraps we fished were holding nothing but bait stealing pinfish. The trout bite remains good in 3-5 feet of water along Indian River Drive.
On a somber note, while fishing with David Anderson, Ed Delany, Steve Malingowski and Jeff Baker on Wednesday, my Yamaha F100 engine finally passed away. Have been running this bad boy since Sept of 99. 124 oil changes and 12,400 hours later it's time to repower. I hope to have my new 115 up and running in a few days.
Capt. Bob Bushholz
(772) 530-1496
www.catch22fish.net