sTUART iNSHORE rEPORT: 12-14-07

[catch22]

Almost Christmas here on the Treasure Coast and fishing has been pretty good. Starting north of the Jensen Beach Causeway, the trout bite has been good on both sides up to the power lines. Fishing in 3-4 feet throwing a mix of live shrimp, DOA glow & rootbeer shrimp working slowly in the grass have produced trout to 20" along with the normal action of jacks, ladyfish ect. A few snook in the shallows but most have been at the bridges and inlet. I have yet to really target the pompano but it's getting around that time. Flounder are starting to show up just about everywhere. Last week we had a nice 6.5 pound doormat in the inlet on the start of incoming tide but have seen them at various locations. There are still scattered baitschools near the shorelines with spanish mackerel, jacks and blues mixed in. Last week we stayed on a school for over an hour which held large macs up to 5 pounds and small jacks around 2-3 lbs.

The inlet area the past few weeks has been fantastic on the snookies. One trip we released 17 in about an hour mostly running 20-25" but a few keepers. Don Cook from PSL had a nice 31 incher along with Bill Mathewes with a 29" snook. Most fish have been down low along the bottom on both tides as long as the water was moving fast. I have noticed plenty of boats anchored up on incoming targeting those pompano. Looks like they are using sand fleas along the bottom. Some pomps are starting to show up in the flats but no great numbers. Incoming tide with clean water is the key. Areas around the crossroads on early outgoing when the water is still fairly clean will produce also. Like I said, I have not spent much time on the pomps yet mainly because the action around the dime and Roosevelt has been preety good. I have always liked the outgoing tide in the St. Lucie river. At the bridges lately we have been banging on large and I mean large croaker. I weighed one last week at 4.2 but had many over 3 lbs. The black drum bite is also picking up with most fish in the 3-5 lb range. Still snook at the bridges but have seen an increase in trout running 20". It's great to see the trout in the St. Lucie which means salinity levels are up. You can see it at the dime bridge at high tide with green water sometimes north of the bridge. The flounder bite should get stronger and stronger in the next few weeks.

Have yet to wander outside to Pecks Lake this season but the mackerel are there. Almost ran there last week but was a bit swelly. As most of you know even on a calm day you have to watch out for those rollers which seem to come out of nowhere. Yesterdays trip I fished a group from Canada who had a great afternoon. I was cleaning fish for over a half hour!!!

Happy Holidays,

Capt. Bob Bushholz

Catch22 River fishing

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