Stuart Inshore Report: 10-03-06

[catch22]

We are into October already and conditions are beginning to change. Water temps inland are down to 79 which is 6 degrees cooler than last month. The mullet run is in full swing now which is always great. The winds will pick up 10-15 mph this week which will keep things nice and cool. The water clarity has been off for a few months now with dark brackish conditions up in the St. Lucie and parts of the Indian River but expect this to start cleaning up any day now. With hurricanes the past 2 years, I will take these conditions in a heartbeat.

Starting north near the power plant, finger mullet are everywhere so livebaiting or top water action is a definte option. Snook, trout, reds, ladyfish, jacks and some scattered pompano and spanish mackerel are targeted species in the flats along with flounder and tripletail on the channel edges and markers. Been seeing some really nice flounder the past month north of the Jensen Causeway. The bridges can get pretty wild near sundown with all these baitfish around. Normally, each tide you get a 45 minute window when the fish simply go nuts. Pretty wild seeing baitfish getting chased and pounded around.

Further south in the inlet, incoming tide has been more productive with cleaner water coming in from the ocean. Livebait for snook, jacks, reds and tarpon or what I like to do is drift with shrimp, spoons and soft rubber baits. With shrimp you can expect a wider species list including bonefish, ladyfish, permit, croaker, drum, snapper, flounder, pompano, sheephead along with the larger fish mentioned above. The past few weeks have seen an increase in pompano which nornally starts mid October and runs into late April. No spanish macs yet in the inlet area but they have been further north near the Jensen Causeway for over a month now.

I know the mackerel bite is on now just south in Jupiter and they should make their way to Pecks Lake real soon. I plan on a recon trip to Pecks Lake around the 10th. For those of you who have not fished this area, I suggest you give it a try if you like non stop action.

Offshore, sounds like the dolphin bite is on again. These fish are scattered from 70 to 350 feet with many fish over 10 pounds. Kings are in a bit closer along with most sailfish.

Capt. Bob Bushholz

http://www.catch22fish.com

(772) 225-6436