A hunter goes into the woods with a rifle, a shot-gun and a pistol.
Unfortunately, he has not decided what he is hunting. Now, he may get lucky and come across a turkey, a few quail or even a deer that has lost its sense of smell, but in all likelihood, he will not find a thing because he did not decide what tactic to use before heading out.
The same applies to fishing the inshore and offshore waters of Florida.
The first key to any successful day fishing is simple: get out there. A very close No. 2 is targeting one or two species. Take the time to read a few different fishing reports, look at the weather from the past week and understand how much time you have to dedicate to your goal. This can help you decide well in advance what species to target.
Once this is accomplished, prepare your tackle, rods and reels accordingly. Success depends on focus, decision making and execution, but none of these will come into play if you don't know what you're trying to catch.
Offshore report: Summer weather patterns may be here to stay. Light easterly breezes and sunny skies, until afternoon showers move in, are expected for the next 14 days. Good news is that the dolphin bite is heating up.
I have heard of fish being caught along the ledge, but as far out as 700 feet of water. Debris is key, but not the end all. Birds are better at finding fish than any human. Pay attention if you see terns, cormorants or frigid birds diving. It is a certain indication of schooling fish forcing bait to the surface.
I have heard that there are sparse schools of sardines being caught for bait, but they are difficult to find.
Deep jigging has produced a good amberjack bite on the 70-foot reef line off of Lake Worth Inlet.
Inshore report: Snook have finally started to move out in good numbers to the jetties and beaches. This will likely become my personal focus over the coming weeks. These fish are very frisky in the mornings and will hit top water plugs with incredible ferocity.
Big jack crevalle have been caught and sighted along the beaches in Palm Beach County. I have caught two fish more than 30 pounds off Juno Pier. These bruisers remind me that I am getting older, but I cannot resist the excitement.
Pompano continue to hit sand fleas fairly well. It is a daily bite for most anglers fishing the beaches.
Tight lines, crystal clear waters and sunny skies to all.
Is there something more you would like to see in this article? Send me an e-mail with your suggestions.
Rob Fielding is an addicted angler and the owner of Sharkey's Tackle in Jupiter. For more information call (561) 630-3100 or e-mail Rob.Fielding@SharkeysTackle.com.