We fly fished the past five evenings along the North Fork, South Fork, and Roosevelt Bridge. With outgoing tides and North winds blowing 10-30 mph, we spent lots time along the shadow lines of the old Roosevelt car bridge. We positioned the boat thirty feet up-current from the shadow lines. By casting parallel to the bridge with 500 grain intermediate lines we slowly stripped flies through the shadow line at 15-20 feet. We used 6 foot 20 lb leaders with twenty inches of 40 lb. shock tippet. The flies we used were 1/8 oz. chartreuse “Tide Swingers”.

With Northern wind, we also fished the lights along the South side of Lighthouse Point and East side of the North Fork. We switched up to 20 lb shock tippet along the docks using #4 and #6 “Snook Snack” flies, available at Southern Angler. When using small white flies along the snook lights, I find the best stripping method is very short and quick to mimic the tiny minnows dancing in the lights. The best docks were the ones holding the bigger boats.

Throughout the week, we landed 42 snook 16-30 inches.  Our best night was Tuesday with the ugliest conditions all week (30 mph winds, 45 degrees) The larger snook were mostly under the old Roosevelt car bridge.

We’ll have incoming tides this week, which changes our boat position to the East side of the old car bridge.

Good luck out there!

Tight Lines,

Giles Murphy | Guide 

T: 772.223.1300 | F: 772.223.5046

info@southernangler.com | www.SouthernAngler.com

4695 S.E. Dixie HWY, Stuart, FL 34997

Visit us at www.SouthernAngler.com for all of your fishing needs

As another cold front rolls through, the water temps have stayed in the low seventies. With calm Northwest winds blowing 5-10 knots, some sailfish and dolphin have been pushed into the shallows. Cobia are also showing up close to those schools of threadfin shad. To find the bait, simply drive out of the St. Lucie Inlet and head North to the bright pink condos. Stay in 35-40’ of water and look for bait splashing with birds.

Last Monday, I took clients down to the Roosevelt and we landed a slot snook tossing those threadfins along the old car bridge. Weighted rigs aren’t necessary with those threadfins as they dive when they hit the water. This time of year, some big snook also hang out under the yachts docked along the St. Lucie River.

For fly fishermen, these deep snook spots require a 500+ grain sinking line. Cut off your 30-40’ line belly and tie that to 40 lb. mono. This gets you line sinking fast enough while keeping up with the current. Cast at an angle upstream and allow your line to swing down as it sinks. Strip your weighted fly only when it gets deep in the hole. Some big snook are still showing up along seawalls back in the South Fork. I find the Gurgler flies work best before sunrise. Then switch to a deceiver or deer wrapped mullet pattern.

Tight Lines,

Giles Murphy | Guide 

T: 772.223.1300 | F: 772.223.5046

info@southernangler.com | www.SouthernAngler.com

4695 S.E. Dixie HWY, Stuart, FL 34997

Visit us at www.SouthernAngler.com for all of your fishing needs

Large schools of tarpon have been spotted up at the Boils. They have been surfacing for gulps of air, but they mostly stay on the bottom. A few were hooked dropping shrimp.  The migrating manta rays are showing up near the inlet and House of Refuge followed by cobia. Captain Shannon landed two cobia yesterday weighing in the thirties.

Capt. Scott Fawcett said the greenies are showing up along the beaches about 3 miles North of the inlet. He landed one sail this morning kite fishing 2 miles North of the St. Lucie inlet at 120 feet. Out of Jupiter, some nice kingfish and dolphin were caught trolling at 120-140’ feet.

Inshore, the water has been warm and clear. Last night, my client landed 3 snook on fly near the Palm City Bridge. Along Sewall’s Point, the jack are getting thick, but some trout and snook can be picked out. My friend Tim landed 2 slot reds North of the Powerplant at Bear Point along with one trout using shrimp.

With morning high tides, the next few days could be worth trying the flats for pompano.

Tight Lines!

Captain Giles Murphy | Fishing Guide | Sales Associate

Telephone: 772.223.1300 | Fax: 772.223.5046 | Cell: 772.475.4857

giles@southernangler.com | www.SouthernAngler.com

4695 S.E. Dixie HWY, Stuart, FL 34997

Visit us at www.store.southernangler.com for all of your fishing needs

Inshore this week, we have morning incoming tides to try for pompano. My friend John caught a few 2-3 pound pompano this morning at the crossroads using sandfleas. Some pompano and trout have also been caught by fly fishermen wading into trauphs of the Sailfish Flats and casting #2 green clousers. A few other pompano have been caught bouncing jigs at the Stuart Causeway along with black drum and sheepshead.

Back in the North Fork and South Fork, my clients caught some slot size snook last Thursday and Friday using “Gurgler” flies along the seawalls and docks. Get out there at sunrise and use at least 60 lb. shock tippet. We lost 2 on 40 lb. The mangroves have also been holding snook, but they’re usually smaller.

The water remains warm in the mid seventies with SE winds, so the sailfish bite has been slower than January last year. Some dolphin are still being caught 100’-120’ one mile North of the St. Lucie Inlet. Some other decent dolphin were caught this weekend trolling 150’ out from the Loran Tower. Later this week, the wind is forecasted to shift to the Northeast 10-15 mph. That could help with the sailfish.

Snook season starts in 2 days!

Captain Giles Murphy

Southern Angler

Some more Pompano are showing up inshore along Sailfish Point. This morning, we landed some Pompano and lots of Jack inside the channel of the Manatee Slow Zone using Capt. Joe’s Jigs. I find that when using a teaser fly with your jig, replacing the split ring with a 3-inch loop knot works better.

All this week, we have morning incoming tides, which I prefer for Pompano.

Offshore, the seas have calmed down and should stay decent through Wednesday blowing NE 5-10 mph. Some more gaffer Dolphin were landed by Capt. Scott Fawcett this week and Sailfish are being found between 120 and 240 feet of water.

Also, keep in mind that the Finest Kind Quickie Sailfish Tournament was kicked off today with 15 fishing teams going after first place. It’ll be exciting to see how many Sailfish are boated this year, with well over 60 Sails released last year. We’ll keep you posted on the results.

- Capt. Giles Murphy, Southern Angler

Happy Black Friday everyone! This cold front has brought overcast skies and NNW winds 10-15mph. Lots of bait have been back in the South Fork where Jim Harter recently landed a 24” redfish on a chartreuse DOA CAL jig. I fished along the Sailfish Flats in search of pompano. No luck with the pompano, but we got a black drum and a keeper size mutton snapper. We were drifting along the edge of the slow zone channel on the South side of Sailfish Point. On another note, my friend Russ caught four pompano that same day between the Stuart and Jensen Beach Causeways.  He was near the East side of the channel South of the red marker #4 off of Joe’s Point in 6 feet of water. As the water continues to cool down, we should continue to see more pompano infiltrate our local waterways.

Don’t forget, we have a Black Friday sale going on at the shop until this Saturday, November 24th at 6 pm. 20% off on all rods, reels, tackle and more.

-Capt. Giles Murphy