07-17-2003, 03:52 PM
Trout action remains excellent on the Indian River. The west side is the place to be from the Stuart Causeway north to Midway Road. Early morning (5 – 7 am) throw your favorite topwater lure near the docks and close to shore. Most trout and redfish will be sitting in less than 2 feet so keep the noise to a minimum. Lot’s of glass minnows and scattered mullet schools in the area. After 9:00 am drop it back to 3-4 feet with soft rubber baits and live shrimp. Most trout will be in the 2-3 lb class at this time with the gators biting early in the morning. We have fished the east side at the bird platforms (just south of the nuke plant) with great action on DOA glo and rootbeer shrimp. Quite a few nice flounder also in the flats. Find sandy patches dragging a live shrimp along the bottom. Some jacks hitting shallow but nothing over a few pounds.
The bottom action was hot until last week with fresh water runoffs making it’s way north. I was in the inlet yesterday at hi tide and the water looked great. I left at the beginning of outgoing and the water from the St. Lucie River didn’t look quite as bad. The quarter bridge and Jensen Bridge are still holding mangrove snapper, sheephead, black drum, goliath grouper and a few snook and tarpon cruising through. The channel markers have been hot and cold with mainly small lane snappers (bait stealers) along with flounder, jacks and tripletail. We have hit 75 of them this year already so “100” is looking good this year. Last year we fell short with 78. We are seeing an increase of smaller tripletail in the 5 pound and under class which is a great sign. Fish under 5 pounds and over 15 are released to swim another day on my charters.
In the St. Lucie Inlet I suggest livebaiting with greenies and sardines . Plenty of bait outside the rocks near the whistle bouy and sandpile. Lot’s of flatsboats are anchoring just outside the detached jetty on incoming tide pitching baits up close to the rocks for catch and release snook. Circle hooks are the rule allowing a fast and safe release of the spawning linesiders. For tarpon, just outside the north jetty, along the beaches, inside the inlet near Sailfish Point and from the crossroads to the quarter bridge are target zones. Yesterday we were just outside the north jetty bottom fishing shrimp for snapper when a 150 lb tarpon enhaled a shrimp. We got to see 2 quick jumps before he broke us off. On 12 lb test we would still be out there fighting it. If livebaiting I suggest a full spool of 20 lb test with 60-80 lb flurocarbon leader . A 7/0 to 9/0 livebaithook will work. I like the area near marker #239 anchoring between the marker and sandbar just east. This is a major intersection where inbound tarpon must pass while heading north up the ICW. Look for monster jacks in the 20-30 pound class in this area too. Tie a float to your anchor line so you can quickly chase the fish and retrieve your anchor after the release. Give other boats plenty of room when you see them hooked up. We are in prime time for tarpon so have fun and don’t forget the camera!!!
Capt. Bob Bushholz
http://www.catch22fish.com
(772) 225-6436
The bottom action was hot until last week with fresh water runoffs making it’s way north. I was in the inlet yesterday at hi tide and the water looked great. I left at the beginning of outgoing and the water from the St. Lucie River didn’t look quite as bad. The quarter bridge and Jensen Bridge are still holding mangrove snapper, sheephead, black drum, goliath grouper and a few snook and tarpon cruising through. The channel markers have been hot and cold with mainly small lane snappers (bait stealers) along with flounder, jacks and tripletail. We have hit 75 of them this year already so “100” is looking good this year. Last year we fell short with 78. We are seeing an increase of smaller tripletail in the 5 pound and under class which is a great sign. Fish under 5 pounds and over 15 are released to swim another day on my charters.
In the St. Lucie Inlet I suggest livebaiting with greenies and sardines . Plenty of bait outside the rocks near the whistle bouy and sandpile. Lot’s of flatsboats are anchoring just outside the detached jetty on incoming tide pitching baits up close to the rocks for catch and release snook. Circle hooks are the rule allowing a fast and safe release of the spawning linesiders. For tarpon, just outside the north jetty, along the beaches, inside the inlet near Sailfish Point and from the crossroads to the quarter bridge are target zones. Yesterday we were just outside the north jetty bottom fishing shrimp for snapper when a 150 lb tarpon enhaled a shrimp. We got to see 2 quick jumps before he broke us off. On 12 lb test we would still be out there fighting it. If livebaiting I suggest a full spool of 20 lb test with 60-80 lb flurocarbon leader . A 7/0 to 9/0 livebaithook will work. I like the area near marker #239 anchoring between the marker and sandbar just east. This is a major intersection where inbound tarpon must pass while heading north up the ICW. Look for monster jacks in the 20-30 pound class in this area too. Tie a float to your anchor line so you can quickly chase the fish and retrieve your anchor after the release. Give other boats plenty of room when you see them hooked up. We are in prime time for tarpon so have fun and don’t forget the camera!!!
Capt. Bob Bushholz
http://www.catch22fish.com
(772) 225-6436