Fishing this week we can expect to catch lots of snook & tarpon locally near & around our St. Lucie Inlet. Remember, snook season is now closed and will remain closed until September. Harvest prohibited, but none the less fishing live baits is a great way to ensure a successful day on the water for snook & tarpon during summer months. Fish near or around structure for snook. Tarpon tend to hang out further away from structure in open bays, channels, river bends, etc. I typically suggest fishing mullet or crabs for tarpon & sardines, pilchards, & or greenies for snook this month. Bottom fishing for flounder, snapper, croaker, sheepshead is a good option if you just feel like tossing some shrimp out on the bottom, you should catch a few of these species.
Fishing nearshore has been tough this week. We still have cold water lingering around but it also means more snapper will be closer to shore. They will take more convincing to get a bite but they will be larger on average. Bigger vermillion snapper have been in good numbers in 55′ of water around structure. Also mixed in are mutton, mangrove, lane, & even red snappers this week. Cobia fishing has been hit or miss. Dirty water has made sight fishing very difficult at best. Goliath groupers are starting to show up around local nearshore wrecks as well. Some tarpon can be found along the beach throughout the day along with jacks & permit.
Again cold water has made fishing somewhat difficult this week when fishing offshore. Strong currents should remain for a few more days then slow down to a fishable pace. Trolling has been fair for mahi, tuna, & sailfish lately. Mahi are ranging in depths from 180- 350′ & 700-1100′, tunas in 300-500′, & sailfish in 70-180′. Bottom fishing has been decent for amberjacks, grouper, larger vermillion, mutton, & mangrove snappers. Live & dead cut bait have been your best bet with a fish finder rig and ample weight to hold on the bottom.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Jonathan
www.chaosfishingcharters.com
