For this weekend, we’re looking at much nicer weather than the past few weekends as the wind dies down to 5-10 mph with much clearer skies. We do have a 40% chance of rain moving in on Sunday afternoon, so make sure to get an early start on Sunday.

For you fishermen, there’s more reason to get out there early this weekend, as we’ll have a Morning high tide out at the inlet on Saturday at 7:21 am and a dead low tide at 1:33 pm. Inshore around Sewalls Point and the Sailfish flats, we’re looking at high tide at 9:40 am and low tide at 4:27 pm. Sunday, those highs and lows tides are going to run about 50 minutes later, and we’re also looking at very strong tides this time of year.

Wednesday, down in Hobe Sound, we hit the beach again surf casting for pompano, but it seems they did move out as we didn’t even have a nibble and everybody I talked too said the same.

This month marks the last month of Snook season and they are still pulling keepers at the Roosevelt and 10 cent bridges, so get out there for some final attempts.

We have also been scoping out around the inlet to see if the Tarpon are rolling in, but haven’t seen them yet. I’ll keep you posted on that and let you know when we see them.

For those of you heading offshore this weekend, we should have calm enough seas to get out there and get this Grouper season started. Along with the many Snapper being caught lately around 110-140 feet. Lots of guys are throwing sardines out there for Kingfish and that’s been getting better and better. Some decent Dolphin are still getting caught a little further out in the gulfstream mostly at 180-220 feet and hopefully they move in some more.

Ok guys, good luck out there, and come by the shop if you need anything.

Tight Lines!

Team Southern Angler

Sunday, April 29, 2012

This afternoon, out at the inlet, we’re looking at a high tide at 2:51.

Inshore around Sewalls Point, the tide will be dead high at 5:03 pm. This gives us an outgoing tide this evening for those of you working the snook lights and bridges. And as we all know, outgoing is usually the best time to throw redtail hawks at the Roosevelt and 10 Cent bridges.

Tomorrow, Monday, April 30, 2012

At the inlet, we’ll start the day with a low tide at 9:14 am.

Inshore, we’re looking at dead low tide right about noon. That will give us a late morning incoming tide for those of you still trying to get some pompano. We landed 7 decent sized ones yesterday down off Hobe Sound Beach using sandfleas. We have plenty of sandfleas at the shop, along with clams, so come by if you need them.

Our Local Weather & Fishing Forecast

Today remains cloudy and windy blowing onshore 15-20 mph. It is not forecasted to clear up any time soon. Also there is a good chance of rain over the next few days, so bring a rain jacket for those of you roughing it out.

As the summer get’s closer, we should see the wind continue to die down and the daily showers moving in. This makes flyfishing more and more possible with calm conditions AND those summer tarpon should be moving in soon around the Inlet, Roosevelt Bridge, and back in the North and South Forks, where you also have less of a crowd.

For those of you getting offshore, the dolphin are showing up further out at 180-220 ft. Not many sails showing up this time of year but a few have been pulled at those same depths. The cobia have also slowed down out at the sand pile, but for bottom fishing, the bite has been good with snapper and grouper. The grouper season starts next month, so get on them before they head out to deeper water for the summer.

Good luck out there everyone, and come by the shop if you need anything. We are always here to help!

Tight Lines,

Team Southern Angler

After a very windy weekend, the wind is still blowing out of the South East 15-20 mph right now. The winds are forecasted to stay gusty at 10-20 for most of the week with clouds and patchy rainfall. As the summer get’s closer we should see the wind continue to die down, while the daily rain showers move in.

The pompano are still showing up off the beach in Hobe Sound. However, with these ruff seas, I strongly recommend using a Sputnik weight to keep your bait from getting dragged in.

For those of you making it offshore with these choppy seas, some decent 20 pound dolphin have been caught and should pick up over the next few weeks.

The snapper are also getting pulled out at the reef along with grouper, which is good as grouper season starts at the end of the month.

Ok guys, good luck out there, and come by the shop to talk more about our local fishing.

Team Southern Angler

The windy season continues to roll through with low-pressure fronts bringing Southeast winds and scattered showers. Along with warm water, this has fish staying deep along channel drop offs and eddies such as the Crossroads. The pompano have been skipping along the rocks of Hell’s Gate and behind Bathtub Beach during the incoming tide and beginning of the outgoing.

Decent trout have been showing up North of Jensen Beach Causeway along the scattered docks to the West. Look for deep sandy spots along the end of the docks and work the pilings using shrimp, bright CAL jigs, and spoons. Reds are still being caught up at the St. Lucie Power Plant, which can also provide good shelter on a windy day inside Little Mud and Herman Bay.

Many anglers have been nocturnal with big snook still showing up at night along 10 Cent Bridge and the Roosevelt Bridge. Most are being caught on green or blue Red Tail Hawk jigs retrieved down current along the bottom. Flyfishermen are using large, heavy chartreuse Clousers with intermediate line. The lights around Lighthouse Point, Bennihana’s, and House of Refuge have been constantly holding small snook, trout and the occasional red. For keeper sizes, stick to the bridges and seawalls.

As the water continues to get warmer, keep an eye out for rolling tarpon off the beaches and take a cruise down the North and South Forks. Palm City Bay is still holding some nice early morning snook and reds along the old oyster beds and mangroves. Some are being caught on “New Penny” and “Fiji Chix” CAL jigs with ¼ oz. heads.

Good luck guys!

- Team Southern Angler

The sailfish frenzy has slowed down the past couple of weeks, but dolphin are showing up around 110-140 feet free-lining and trolling. Some decent kings and wahoo have also been caught further out at 270-350. Tons of grouper have been released at the six-mile as anglers wait for the season to open back up May 1^st. Meanwhile, some vermillion snapper and sea bass have been bagged at the reef and Loran Tower.

The permit and cobia are showing up more just north and south of the inlet. Gulfstream’s bright colored 2 and 3 oz. jigs have pulled a few cobia along bathtub reef and near the FPL boils. They’re also still showing up out at the Sand Pile taking horn bellies and sardines. For the permit, free-lining large shrimp and crabs sometimes using a 3/8 oz. jig head along the reefs can do the job. Best around high tide.

Down at Peck’s lake, the warmer water is still holding lots of mackerel. Throw some spoons or chartreuse tube lures. With very clear water, stepping down to a 30 lb. leader can get you some more opportunities to get chased.

Keep your eye on the forecast as these fronts continue to move through during this windy season. We should also start to see the pollen build up on our cars as Spring rolls in!

Stay tuned for more!

- Team Southern Angler

With no more fronts forecasted for the next 2 weeks with westerly winds moving in, now is a good time to check out the coast if you’re on a small boat. The mackerel have schooled up thick ½ mile south of the St. Lucie Inlet. Bring spoons, green Gulfstream jigs, and Got-Cha lures to load up on Spanish.

Yesterday, we spent a couple hours commercially jigging along Bathtub reef for jack. We loaded up with small jack and got pompano on that same pink or yellow 3/8 oz. goofy jig. There’s also been some cobia spotted close to shore off the bathtub reef and near the House of Refuge. As those rays move down, we should see more cobia along the shore. Good jigs for that are Capt. Al’s Cobia 3 oz. and Gulftream’s Cobia Slayer.

Back at the Roosevelt Bridge at night, huge snook have been caught on Red and Blue tail hawk jigs. Bring your boat on the down-current side of the bridge and cast up-current along the corners of the bridge platforms. Slowly retrieve down-current along the bottom and pass by the fenders and platform corners. The best nights have been during outgoing tide with slightly choppy conditions.

Some large snook and redfish have also been caught down in Palm City Bay while casting and slow-trolling TerrorEyz, C.A.L. jigs, and gold spoons. Brighter colors work well down there, and tide doesn’t play a big role. Just get out there early. Pompano haven’t showed back up in the North Fork, but keep your eyes open for skippers.

As the winter passes through, the windy season has begun with rainy fronts and low pressure moving through. Calm, sunny windows will still show up between fronts giving anglers a chance to get out north of the St. Lucie inlet 40-60 ft. of water. Here, the sails and cobia are being caught constantly. While bait has been hard to find, large schools of horn bellies are moving through at the same depth as the sails at 20-40 ft. Horn bellies aren’t the most popular bait, but if that’s all that’s out there, that’s what they’re eating. Free-lining or deep dropping bait has also pulled nice sized cobia 20-35 lbs. Some captains are still trolling, but save gas while you can.

Cobia have also being caught closer to shore sight-jigging along the rocky beaches (Peck’s Lake, Tiger Shores, and Bathtub).While jigging the shallows, have pompano jigs ready too as they are moving south  with this cooler water. Get ready for the manta rays holding cobia as they should come through at end of the month and into March. That thick chain of rays should show up be just outside the inlet in 20-35 ft. and is amazing just to see.

Keep your eye on the weekly forecast with these fronts. Live webcam sea conditions are available at stlucieinlet.com

While the pompano have not yet been showing up as well as last year, they are being caught randomly near the causeways, Hell’s Gate, and some have been spotted way back along the docks of the North Fork. The most consistent spotting, however, remains to be off the rocky bottom beaches. Some of these are Tiger Shores, Bathtub, and the House of Refuge. Through February and March, we should see the pompano skipping more out on Sailfish flats so keep on the lookout.

Herds of sheephead have been moving through the natural sandy cuts of the Sailfish Flats with some anglers limiting out using shrimp and jigs. The channel markers found off the Northwest corner of Sailfish Point have been loaded with sheephead. Lots of which kayakers are catching by putting in at the House of Refuge or the inshore trail at Stuart Rocks beach access. Some redfish, trout, and flounder have also been caught off the flats along the edge of the main channel near Boy Scout Island. C.A.L. jigs and goofy jigs are what worked for us. Just keep your eyes open for manatees as dozens are showing up there right now.

The mackerel and bluefish are still schooling up around the St. Lucie inlet and Peck’s Lake. With calm seas, it makes for a nice family fishing trip and plenty of seafood. Speaking of seafood, the Port Salerno Seafood Festival is this Saturday with lots of live music, dancing, and beauty pageants. Stop by our booth and pick up a new GOT BAIT! shirt or grab a few of our stickers and put them on your grandmas bumper!

See you there!

As the New Year dawns, the offshore fishing gets better and better out of the St. Lucie Inlet. The sailfish have showed up in record numbers with over 320 sailfish released during the 3 day Pirates Cove Sailfish Classic last month. Many were caught trolling in water depths ranging from 90-130’, yet the red flags have been stacked up most on boats coming in from 200-240’. Many dolphin and kingfish were caught as well. Just keep your eyes open for weed patches as their depth varies daily. Wahoo have also been showing up more between Stuart and Jupiter from 170’-200’ so make sure to keep wire in mind.

For bottom fishermen, grouper season has come to an end until April. However, lots of lane snapper and triggerfish are being caught at the six-mile-reef found at 80’ using squid, sardines, and live blue runners being found out of the inlet. Amberjack are also being caught as their season begins March 1^st so make sure to get yourself ready. Tight Lines Guys!

Many anglers have been out enjoying the beautiful holiday weather and catching lots of mackerel, bluefish, jack, and ladyfish. We have had very calm seas making the inlet and Peck’s Lake possible for small boats. However, another cold front has arrived bringing with it onshore winds and choppy seas. So, get out there while you can.

The pompano bite continues to get better as most are being caught off beaches. (Tiger Shores, Seminole Shores South to the Inlet) If looking for the pompano inshore, small schools are showing up just North of the Jensen Causeway not far off the channel. Some are also being caught off the Stuart Causeway and Sailfish Flats towards the end of incoming or beginning of outgoing. Double or single hook Chicken Rigs with shrimp work for bait fishermen. Capt. Al’s Goofy Jigs in pink, tan, and yellow have been working best. If the water is looking cloudy, throw on a teaser with flash. When working near the inlet, stay on the Northern shoreline off Sailfish Point and work the current seams coming off those sandy points. Doing so with an outgoing tide gives a good drift to bounce jigs off each current seam.

The Crossroads has been a good spot to anchor up near the Northeast corner and cast for large jack crevalle, bluefish, and ladyfish moving through in schools. Sheepshead are being caught near the rocky shore of “Hole in the Wall” and the Southeast corner of the Crossroads.

Enjoy the rest of the year with the family and have good holidays!