SW FL-Bonita Beach: Snapperfest and a Big ‘Cuda
I was off the water for a while—slow season here means time to do yearly boat servicing and maintenance. I did get offshore Thursday, 9/24, with Frank Reid and son, Tim. Seas were calm on the beach but a little sloppy in 38 feet out of New Pass. We released mangrove and lane snapper, along with a 40-pound goliath grouper, before we headed in a little early to get out of the swells. Friday, October 2nd, I headed offshore to 73 feet, 36 miles out of New Pass with Randy and Susan Weestrand. We caught a bunch of good-eating fish, including whitebone porgies to 19 inches, mangrove snapper to 14 inches, yellowtail snapper to 14 inches and keeper lane snapper. We released red grouper shorts, some of which were painfully close to legal size, along with a 50+ inch barracuda. We used live shrimp for all except the ‘cuda—That one cut off two of our fish, then grabbed a third one and got caught in the lip with a circle hook. (see photo)
Mosquito Lagoon September Fishing Forecast
September, 2009
Complements of Mosquito Creek Outdoors, Apopka, FL
Special Announcement: On October 10th, Captain Mark Nichols of DOA and Jerry McBride of Florida Sportsman Magazine will be conducting a FREE fishing seminar from 1 -3 PM at Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka Florida.
As hurricane season progresses and the summer squalls try to develop and move north in the Atlantic, our prevailing summer breezes begin to switch from the southeast to the northeast. This shift in wind direction along with shorter periods of daylight signals the beginning of the fall migration of all critters preferring warmer climates. This transition also marks the beginning of the fall fishing season as hordes of baitfish, primarily silver and black mullet, bay anchovies (glass minnows), greenies, and predatory species begin their southerly migration along the beach and through the Indian River Lagoon. Rather than a continuous flow, baitfish typically moves south in pulses or waves, so finding the bait is the key to catching fish. One day a particular location will be loaded with bait, and the next day they will be gone. It’s hard to predict the magnitude and duration of the run, but it recent trends continue, this year’s run will start early, and like last year, progress into October and November. Currently bait pods are forming up in all areas of the lagoon, and small concentration of baitfish have already made themselves known around Ponce De Leon Inlet, Port Canaveral and along the beaches south to the Sebastian Inlet area.
Look for snook, tarpon, redfish, bluefish, jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, sharks, and large kingfish crushing and shadowing bait pods all along the beach. The bait pods are easily located by watching for birds diving and fish working the bait on the surface. Once you’ve located the bait concentration, simply determine its direction of movement, usually south, and set up in front of it and let them come to you. This is also my preferred time of year to target tarpon and snook along the beach.
September 1st marks the beginning of snook season and the beach snook run has already started with a few fish being reported. This action will pick up substantially as the bait run progresses. When fishing from the beach, I prefer using live finger mullet as bait, (match the hatch). The technique I like to use starts by treading a ½ ounce barrel sinker onto your line. Next, attach a small swivel to the tag end of your line serving two purposes. The swivel acts as a stop keeping your weight from sliding down on the hook, and it also reduces line twisting as your sinker rolls with the tide and wave action. Next, I attach about 24″ of fluorocarbon leader, 40 to 50 pound test, and a large circle hook. You will need to step up your tackle, rig, and bait size if tarpon are targeted. Another tip is to use 20-pound test braided line, because it greatly increases your spool capacity over standard monofilament line. Once you’re rigged and acquired bait, you’ll want to hook your finger mullet through the lips. Fish the very edge of the beach, just beyond the whitewater, and walk along the beach letting your bait roll along in the direction of tidal flow. This technique will allow bait to cover more ground and help keep it in the strike zone longer. Also, if you are into full contact fishing, Sebastian Inlet features some of the best snook action on Florida’s Indian River Lagoon Coast, but its popularity attracts anglers from across the state, so be ready for some shoulder to shoulder fishing.
Near-shore, good numbers of kingfish will continue to work the beaches, Port Canaveral buoy line, and the inshore reefs and wrecks in 70 to 120 feet of water. When targeting kingfish, slow trolling live pogies (Atlantic menhaden) on stainless steel stinger rigs is the preferred method. Also as the water temperatures cool, look for the large manta rays to move into shallower water on their migration south bring cobia with them. In Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet look for flounder, mangrove snapper, redfish and snook around the jetties and other structure, and tripletail, barracuda, and cobia under the Canaveral buoy cans.
I always like to use Mother Nature’s signals to help predict changes on our nearshore and inshore waters, and currently my goldenrods in my backyard are in full bloom. This flush of golden blooms signals the beginning of the mullet run and the formation of spawning schools of breeder redfish in the IRL and inlet passes. Besides redfish, sea trout are still plentiful on the deeper edges of the grass flats with the best bite occurring at first light and sunset. Also look for ladyfish, tarpon, slot redfish, and jacks to be mixed in. When targeting these fish, work top water plugs for explosive action, or try working ¼ ounce jigs with a white or rootbeer colored DOA Shrimp combined with a Woodies Rattle capsule insert. Near the end of the month, start looking for the pompano and flounder to begin moving out of the lagoon through the inlets into the near shore waters along the beach. Also watch for the larger redfish to begin forming up just outside Sebastian Inlet feeding on small baitfish and small crabs washing out with the tide.
Be sure to check out the new Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando in print and online for free at www.coastalanglermagazine.com.
Good Luck and Good Fishing,
Captain Tom Van Horn
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
SEPTEMBER 3, 2009
INSHORE - This week snook season opened and a lot of the reports were about the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Anglers who were drifting live baits in the Inlet on the tide changes are catching nice upper slot fish — 30 to 32 inches but, even more fish are over the slot — fish up to 40 inches. Along with the snook I did get reports of a good number of big redfish mixed in and taking live baits. Snook fishing around the bridges started off a little slow with most of the action coming from around the fenders of the North Bridge. Again, a live bait has worked the best. On the flats the docks along Indian River Drive have been producing some slot fish and a lot of under sized fish. A top water bait fished early in the morning has accounted for most of the fish. As for the rest of the inshore action – it has been about the same. The trout action remains good on the flats right after first light and the snapper bite along the channel edges remains steady. Also, a few tarpon around Big Mud Creek.
OFFSHORE - The dolphin action has been a little on the slow side. The fish that have been reported are coming from 200 to 400 feet of water and hitting ballyhoo. I am still getting reports of a few nice cobia around the buoys and over the reefs. Most f he fish were caught on a live bait or squid. There is a lot of kingfish, bonita and cuda’s in 30 to 90 feet of water and hitting ballyhoo a live baits. And, the bottom fishing has been steady over the reefs and wrecks.
JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - Last Saturday - August 29th was the first from shore fishing tournament for the Treasure Coast Chapter of Junior Teen Anglers. Most to everyone’s surprise it turned out to be a snapper and blue runner tournament.
In the 5 to 8 age group
1st place - Neeley Bankston - Allapattah Flats K - 8
2nd place Andrew Evans - Fairlawn Elementary
3rd place - Cash Roe - Samuel S. Gaines K - 8
In the 9 to 11 age group
1st place Thomas Roop - F.K. Sweet
2nd place - Laine Pruitt - Fairlawn Elementary
3rd place - Mikey Hazellief- Home Schooled
Biggest fish of the tournament — Mikey Hazellief
All Junior’s received a goodie bag. The next tournament will be on Oct. 3rd. For more info you can call 772-201-5773 or go to the web at www.teenanglers.org.
BRAGGING BOARD - I got an e-mail and picture from Don Tatum. He was visiting here a couple of weeks ago and caught a 49 pound cobia in 25 feet of water. He was using a live bait.
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com Or call me at 772-201-5770. You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe’s River Charters
South Florida fishing report
MiamiHerald.com, FL - Feb 21, 2008
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Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report - Nov 30, 2007
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