How about this weather? I am not sure it could be nicer with cool evenings and moderate temps through the day. I love south Florida.
Bigger dolphin, cobia and sails for the offshore anglers. Surf anglers have found plenty of whiting and croaker with a mix of blues and macs to keep busy.
It's the river for the reds and trout with a mix of plenty of black drum; perfect.
Finally we are seeing some dolphin in the 20- pound class hanging in the 150-foot zone. These fish have been found on the color lines feeding on flying fish, of which there has been plenty. With a good mix of sails definitely worth the ride, trolling small ballyhoo has put plenty to the boat. Kings also this weekend up closer, 60 feet north of the St Lucie Inlet or on the king fish numbers, check your charts.
Cobia have been from the sand pile, taking pitch baits, sardines, even had one caught on a fly. Favored bite time for the cobia has been when they were ready. You needed to spend some time and while you were there the lanes have been biting at the bottom. No rhyme or reason, they just would decide it was time then back off and start over.
These fish are hanging with the sharks, so be fast with you catch, box open and a person is ready to sit on it when it closes. A green cobia can make a mess of the boat and anglers, be ready. With the polite seas bottom fish has been busy, muttons, lanes, yellow tail and a few more, sardines has been their favored snack.
If the temps had been cooler we would be talking about pompano but the water is still warm, too bad for the pompano fans, but it sure is nice. Plenty of blues for the early morning anglers, but a short bite time. You need to watch the sun come up and cut bait is favored.
Whiting and croaker for anglers who like to sleep in or fish after lunch. Just a pitch, these fish are in that first trough. Cast and you'll be beyond them.
Yes, there have been a few pompano, but not the numbers. The plus side is the rods have been bent all day, come on down. When was the last time you fished the beach?
Perfect for the reds and trout, mix in a snook or two and then the blues and jacks. Busy fishing I would say.
Fishing from Round Island to the Sailfish Flats have had good reports of slot reds eating a wide variety. Bite has been early but as the sun rises the trout move in and it will keep you busy.
Snook opens Feb. 1, but all the rest is open, flounder, black drum, blues, jacks and a few I left out, of course. Several nice south Florida days in a row sure makes it easy. Maybe next week the pompano will show.
Henry Caimatto is the owner of the Snook Nook Bait and Tackle shop in Jensen Beach.