Fort Pierce Tripletail and Pompano

December 01, 2019 By Florida Sportsman

Recent inshore fishing reports from the Southeast region.

Fort Pierce Tripletail and Pompano

Florida Sportsman member: SLW UroCane

We started early on the incoming looking for flounder, but could not get a bite. I did catch a large mantis shrimp that did not let go of my Gulp shrimp. Next stop was targeting tripletail. Got a nice eight pounder on live shrimp. My dad offered to pull my crab pots. The last stop of the day was using the Goofy jig for pompano. We caught a few and some other by-catch. All-in-all, a productive day here on the Treasure Coast on the last day in November!

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Fishing St. Lucie Mullet Run

Florida Sportsman member: snookcook

The fishing has been awesome lately. The mullet run is pretty good right now. My customers got a keeper flounder on a live finger mullet a few days ago, along with some nice keeper mangrove snapper. Another customer got a nice 25" redfish on the fly the other night at a light. About eight customers got their first snook ever in the last week or so. Managed to land a big tarpon myself. Jumped a few tarpon on mullet the past few evenings messing around. Also, we have been catching bluefish, jacks, ladyfish, catfish, little mutton, lanes, nice croakers, black drum, among other things.

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Sight Fishing Fort Pierce Snook

Florida Sportsman member: JTFD

We went out a few days ago and were met with glassy conditions that called for some sight fishing. We landed a overslot snook along with some small redfish.

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Super Bowl Supper

Florida Sportsman member: SLW UroCane

I got out today with goal of getting some meat for a Super Bowl party fish fry... job accomplished. The sheepshead bite was great all over in Ft. Pierce, with a small jig head with half a shrimp. There was clear water to the power lines, but a bit dirtier past Nettle's Island. I ran back up north to Fort Pierce and found a nice cut in the mangroves loaded with fish. I kept one 19" red for half-shell grilling tomorrow, released another 11 or 12, also released five or six snook and few black drum. Caught on whole shrimp, and when those ran out, pearl Gulp minnow. Finally, pulled my pots and bonus with few nice claws.

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Fort Pierce Sheeps, Macs and Mangs

Florida Sportsman member: blakhawkdoc

It was a bit windy, but all in all it was a beautiful day on the water. We tried several new spots with little success, but had a manatee and some dolphins come within ten yards of the boat. After a few hours of only two bites, we went to one of out trusted spots. We caught three sheepshead within a few minutes and the bite died off. About 15 minutes in our spot, the line I had drifting behind the boat with a cork popper started to scream. I caught my first spanish mackerel. I was hoping for a seatrout, but I was happy with the mackerel. We also caught about 15 mangrove snapper, but all were too short. All in all, it was a great day on the water and we had fresh fish for supper.

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Loxahatchee River Snook

Florida Sportsman member: zzzzzzsplash

Check out this monster mama snook forum member zzzzzzsplash snagged in the Loxahatchee River. "I really thought I had snagged a gator."

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New Personal Best

Florida Sportsman member: sandwashslugger

The mullet run has been pretty good so far this season. We've had a lot more snook and tarpon off our seawall where we live than I've seen in years past. So far, I've landed two snook and jumped off four or five tarpon. I handed one off to a six year old and we lost him right at the seawall. This fish was caught on a live finger mullet with 30 pound fluorocarbon leader, and a mustad hook with live bait.

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Her First Snook

Florida Sportsman member: Nearshore1

I took the lady out today to check out the mullet run and catch some snook. Instead of some snook, she caught the snook! A freelined live mullet near sailfish point did the trick. She did a killer job from start to finish! We set the bar pretty high to get her started in fishing. There were lots of mullet around the inlet area with plenty of action!

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Stuart Night Snookin'

Florida Sportsman member: lunkerman

We went and hit some lights after the storms cleared on Wednesday night. We ended up getting a half dozen and jumping off another half dozen snook. The biggest landed at 26" and the biggest lost at the side of the boat was around 30". We caught most fish on freelined live shrimp and dad fished artificials, hooking the biggest one that we lost boat side.

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St Lucie Inshore

Florida Sportsman member: greenie-slayer

I've been finding a lot of snook and tarpon in the river lately. Mostly smaller fish, but still plenty of fun. Soft plastics have been doing the trick on both species. Most days we are jumping five to ten tarpon and adding a few snook. I've have had a couple days of jumping 15+ tarpon. Makes a great morning bite before work or an afternoon bite after work. Either way, work is getting in the way of me catching more!

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Boynton Beach Inlet Night Fishing

Florida Sportsman member: Flfjack

We went out just before sundown to fish the inside of the inlet. We fished with cut mullet on circle hooks and I couldn't keep a chunk in the water for long. After getting a few baits mauled by sharks, my spinning rod bends in half and starts getting dumped. I tighten the drag, it starts pulling harder. I yell for my buddy to pull the anchor and turn the motor over. After a nervous minute of me palming the already locked down drag, we are free and chasing the fish down. I get it within 20 feet of the boat and I can see silver... POON!!!!! It took one look at the boat and then decided to basically run to Boca. We finally get it boat side for a picture and a quick release. This is the first tarpon I've ever caught! What a day!

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Surf Snookin'

Florida Sportsman member: krimi

We went out Friday out of Juno for some casual beach fishing. It wasn't until 9 am that a solid bait ball of threadfins appeared and it was game on! Non-stop action from 9 to 12. We got hit several times and brought in five solid fish, all of us catching an overslot ranging from 34-36 inches. There were solid bait balls out beyond the pier in boating territories that were holding some big baits and probably some big fish.

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Fort Pierce Fishing Trip

Florida Sportsman member: spyderman2015

Water clarity this year was way better than the few prior years. We had up to 20 feet of visibility in the inlet. We spent most of our time fishing the mangrove shore lines south. Inshore we used light tackle, 10 pound braid and 20 pound flourocarbon, and managed to get some decent snook to the boat.

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Fort Pierce Cobia and Snapper

Florida Sportsman member: Capt.AW

We immediately noticed it wasn't fighting like a typical jack. Then it jumped and we were astonished to see that it was a big cobia. After quite a bit of finesse, we manage to get it in the net.

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Finding Fish in Vero

Florida Sportsman member: palmbeachpete

Even with all this wind you can find a place to paddle and fish. All you have to do is do a little homework and have a little luck.

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Smoker King of a Lifetime

Florida Sportsman member: e-money

After a 30 minute fight, we see a huge flash of color. I'm still hoping for another wahoo like our recent 74 pound fish. A few minutes later, I get a good look and I am shocked. It is a 58 pound king, hooked in corner of its jaw.

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Quick Catfish

Florida Sportsman member: Shark Bait

Using cut pilchards and team work, my boys caught, landed, dehooked, took pictures and released six big gafftopsail cats in less than an hour.

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Surf Fishing Sharks

Florida Sportsman member: sandwashslugger

At times, I could count ten sharks within sight. I was literally sight casting to these guys. It's a royal pain re-tying these rigs on the beach, but as quickly as I could get another rig ready, I would be hooked up within minutes.

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Indian River Variety

Florida Sportsman member: landshark

The next fish is one that I have been trying to get on all my wade trips and it has eluded me every time. Rich pulled up this fat mama trout in the 24-26 inch range.

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Indian River Wade Fishing

Florida Sportsman member: landshark

We walked along the mangrove shoreline and ended the day with one more snook. It makes you wonder, what if we had fished the South side earlier in the day and got on the morning bite.

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Fort Pierce Snook Frenzy

Florida Sportsman member: Capt.AW

Since the season has opened, the snook bite has been absurd. For a little over a week, it was every bait as soon as it hit the bottom. Most have been in the slot or just above. Bait, on the other hand, has been tough.

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Sunset Snook Fishing

Florida Sportsman member: Aquaholic IV

A buddy and I ran down the South Fork looking for Sheepshead, but found Jacks. Then we worked the docks where we caught Snook, some bigger than others. Finished the night landing five and losing six on my small rods, it was a battle.

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Tasty Fort Pierce Mixed Bag

Florida Sportsman member: SLW UroCane

Hugged a few mangrove shorelines and released ten small snook and three reds. Again using live shrimp on 1/8 ounce HookUp jig, but floated it from a popping cork. Then went South along the East side of the river. Water was clear and the pompano were skipping! Caught four fat ones, used Goofy Jig, 3/8 ounce.

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Fort Pierce Variety Bites

Florida Sportsman member: FISHHUNTR

Getting on some fish each trip, some more than others, usually several under slots a night and some bigger fish on the jigs. The other night was jack after jack in two areas I fish (10-15lb). They ran me off. I literally got tired of catching them.

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Stuart and St. Lucie Inshore Variety

Florida Sportsman member: snookcook

We ran back up the river some and found a seawall. Threw a mullet up on it and connected with a nice 32" Snook. After a ton of acrobatics & close calls with the engine & trolling motor, we boated the beast.

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Fort Pierce Channel Marker Mixed Bag

Florida Sportsman member: Telese

We put in at South bridge Fort Pierce with four dozen live shrimp and hit the markers. I rigged up the small spinners with 10 lb braid, 30lb flouro leaders, and 1/8 ounce white hook up lure jig head. I feel with the small 1/8 ounce head I can feel the slightest sheepshead tap better, only problem is that the hooks bend after a couple good size ones. We had nonstop action all day.

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Stuart Snook and Mixed Bag

Florida Sportsman member: snookcook

We boated about 20 under slot and managed one nice 31.5". We also landed a really big fat snook, a little over 24". Several trout landed in the boat all keepers under 20". Ladyfish, jacks, mangrove snapper, and a flathead catfish also made appearances. We went through about five dozen live shrimp from the Snook Nook. Landed the biggest snook on the snook jig. Four or five of the trout and others were caught on soft plastics with 1/8 ounce jigheads.

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Targeting Tripletail

Florida Sportsman member: lunkerman

Dad got the first bite on the vudu shrimp. Turns out to be the biggest fish of the day. Caught three more on the same marker, two on live shrimp, two on vudu. Got one more off of another marker along with a nice sheepshead before the wind picked up and the tide went slack and the bite turned off.

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Outfishing Dad in Stick Marsh

Florida Sportsman: Collin Brown

If you ask 9-year-old, Collin what he wants to be, he'll say a professional fisherman and hunter. He and his dad fished Stick Marsh in Fellsmere, where he caught 17 bass using shiners. Dad didn't catch any! Keep it up, Collin!

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Saint Lucie Redfish, Trout and Grouper

Florida Sportsman member: lunkerman

I made the move to the gulp shrimp on a hookup jig. Popped from dock to dock and nailed a nice slot red. About 25". I found a nice school of trout and got four keepers within ten casts. All really nice eating size at around 20-23". At this point I'm thinking slam and look for my snook. A few minutes later I get the bite and he's taking drag and it must be a snook....right? Finally get him out in the open and get a look and it's not what I want but a cool surprise nonetheless.

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Fort Pierce Snook and Tripletail

Florida Sportsman member: Telese

We put in around 5:15am at the south bridge and threw some hawks for about 30 minutes or so and produced a 31" slot snook. The tripletail were plentiful out there today. Caught numerous shorts and three 16" and one 22". All on live mullet except the biggest which inhaled a live small blue runner believe it or not.

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Fort Pierce Snook: Know Your Electronics

Florida Sportsman member: FISHHUNTR

The HDS isn't quite as good as marking fish as hummingbird, which is what I used to have. After playing with some settings, I think I have it dialed in. I ran across a spot that showed several laying on bottom. First cast results in a 30" Snook! Gave it a few more casts, just for the heck of it. Landed a 21" black grouper and a short snook.

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Palm Beach Inlet Variety Bites

Florida Sportsman member: Angler Management

I know it's been windy but the inshore bite has been very good. The tarpon are swirling. The jacks and snook are around and under them. Pitch small gogs, or big pilchards on light line around them and wait.

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Jupiter Inlet Variety: Redfish, Snook, and Jack

Florida Sportsman member: timswriter

I was shocked to see that they both caught Redfish in the Jupiter Inlet which is not something I hear happening a lot. Ricky managed to score a slotty while Pete's red was just a tad too short.

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Fort Pierce Tripletail

Florida Sportsman member: Capt.AW

Forum member Capt.AW has been on some nice tripletail in the intracoastal."Been running the markers the past few weeks. Gulp shrimp, jerk baits, and live shrimp on a jig head have been the baits of choice."

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SLI Bite

Florida Sportsman member: greenie-slayer

For the next few hours no sardine lasted more than 10 seconds after hitting the water before getting a fish on, countless numbers of sharks and jacks. Jumped two poons on the day and saw a bunch of snook that weren't fast enough to get to out baits before the jacks did.

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Jetty Action

Florida Sportsman member: SLW UroCane

I've been doing pretty good on pomps lately, limiting out three days this past two weeks at Fort Pierce jetty. Using a Doc's Goofy jig tipped with shrimp, pink/pink, pink/white, pink/yellow.

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Catching Dinner

Florida Sportsman member: Fowlplay87

I caught some more mullet and it wasn't long before her rod was bent over, landing her biggest to date and first slot snook followed by a second and a pile of nice jacks. We ended the trip around sunset with the last mullet getting eaten and up comes a 25 inch gator trout, her biggest to date as well.

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Spring Time Bite

Florida Sportsman member: Capt. AW

The bite has been great lately using pinfish, croakers, and greenies. Drifting or anchored, around the inlet and bridges with very few fish in the slot.

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Fort Pierce Inshore

Florida Sportsman member: Capt. AW

The river bite is on fire. With the cooler weather the river plummeted into the high 50's low 60's depending on locations and tide. I prefer fishing midday low tides when it gets this cold. We have been beating down the docks, mangroves, flats, and catching a nice mixed bag.

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Fernandina Surf Fishing

Florida Sportsman member: Amelia Paddler

Started out an hour into the falling tide, dirty & flat water so I had no high aspirations for a good day. I ended up getting slammed right off the bat with a 31-32" red and lost another one in the wash that was a bit smaller. Managed a few keeper whitings for lunch tomorrow as well.

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Night Time Bite

Florida Sportsman member: FISHHUNTR

Moved around a lot more and ended up in the inlet. I was slow rolling a jig and got a vicious hit followed by line screaming off the reel and figured I was into an overslot snook, up pops a fat gag which taped out at 29.25 inches!

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Fort Pierce Inshore

Florida Sportsman member: Capt.AW

The redfish bite has been good for the past few weeks. We have been soaking cut bait,ladyfish and pins primarily, in the dirty water and doing well with the reds. Most fish have been in the slot with a few just barely over.

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Fishing with Dad

Florida Sportsman member: lunkerman

Well today's trip showed me that you should always listen to your papa! He dropped down a berkley gulp crab on a sliding sinker rig and boom! It wasn't 30 seconds until he was hooked up.

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Fort Pierce Night Bite

Florida Sportsman member: FISHHUNTR

Tried a few spots before finding the fish and once I did the bite was on fire! Landed several shorts on the spooltek, two of which were 27 inches and picked up one on a freelined live mullet. I put a bait on the bottom as the tide slowed and got two reds, one just under 27 the other just over 27 inches.

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Summer Fishing Fun

Florida Sportsman member: MattBudd

The snook fishing has been as good as it gets in the inlet and my charter customers have been taking full advantage of that. As you will see from the pictures I have attached. We caught and released a 51 inch slob in July which is still the big fish of the season but many others in the upper 40 inch range.

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Southeast Inshore

Florida Sportsman member: LilJim

Last week my buddy and I did a few short trips throughout the week. We had decent luck at the mosquito impoundments for snook and reds. We also picked up a nice flounder and a few black drum as well. Lots of giant croakers out right now as well, some pushing up to 20 inches.

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Indian River Reds and More

Florida Sportsman member: Telese

Indian River has been packed with snook and reds! Started fishing around 6 am between midway rd and the power lines. Went out with some buddies wading who have done well the last few days. A couple over slot snook, trout, ladies, jacks, and reds. Bass assassin sea shads on 1/8 ounce twist lock heads did the trick today.

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Southeast Snook Bite

Florida Sportsman member: bsnookn584

The last few nights that I have been able to get out have been really productive. Some spring mullet are starting to show up, so I have been using some larger artificial's. Targeting small schools of mullet when you can find them, and fishing swimbaits low and slow around bridges and seawalls have been key.

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Topwater Time

Florida Sportsman member: Net 30

Went out at 6:00pm and fished for 90 minutes last evening before lightning chased us off the water. Found a nice little piece of shoreline with good bait and had a blast with my oldest son.

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Treasure Coast Sight Fishing

Florida Sportsman member: palmbeachpete

I went to Ft. Pierce and fished north of Little Johns Island. It was a little windy and the fish were shallow. Had a great time and will be back there again soon.

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Slammin' in the Canoe

Florida Sportsman member: ReelLefty

We loaded up on bait with a throw of the net and drifted along the shore line with a decent south wind and incoming tide. Fish were also picked up on gulp jerkbait.

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Father and Son Fun

Florida Sportsman member: SLW Urocane

We then worked the flats for a few hours, both if us tossing Vudu shrimp. We caught about 7 trout, including a nice fatty . We moved and worked a few mangroves and went 2 for 3 on snook.

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Vero Beach Reds

Florida Sportsman member: SS Canoe

I also put my mom on her personal best trout, an excellent weekend slamming the fish. I'm still looking for those big snook to show up in numbers on the flats. They make for some interesting eats in shallow water.

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Treasure Coast Reds

Florida Sportsman member: summer daze

We did manage 4 slot redfish, one 25 inch trout and a snook. We released everything to fight another day, We were throwing vudu shrimp and sebile soft mullet.

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Beach Sharkin'

Florida Sportsman member: AlexAngler

We had a few runs and within half an hour I had landed a nice black tip shark that was 5 feet 3 inches, I was thrilled! It was awesome to come to a completely new area and with help from you guys on the forum do good and catch a nice shark!

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Treasure Coast Reds

Florida Sportsman member: SLW Urocane

Got out this afternoon with a buddy who wanted to try a few of his redfish spots in north Ft. Pierce. We worked the mangroves out of the wind and landed 7 slot and 1 over-slot fish. Kept our limit one each for some blackening. Go to bait was mullet.

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Epic Bass Fishing

Florida Sportsman member: inshore dave

"All fish were fat, healthy and beautiful. Once hooked, they all, even the dinks, fought with attitude. They were all released unharmed and healthy. We were off the water by 4 p.m. We didn't see another boat all day."

Want to catch bass like these? Click here for how-to videos, feature stories, and more.

December Inshore Bite

Florida Sportsman member: Snookslayer772

Doa Terroreyz has been a major go to with the colder water, bouncing bottom in the deeper holes and ledges. The pompano bite has been pretty good, find 66 to 68 degree water and you should be in them, as well as a good tide, higher the tide, the further they push back, and a lot of people don't realize this.

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St. Lucie Snook and More

Florida Sportsman member: snookcook

Hooked up with a sweet snook that turned out to be a slot. One more and I guess we could go home. We went out to get one slot each & only planned to fish a couple hours. We had been out not even fifteen minutes and we had two in the boat.

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Stuart Pompano

Florida Sportsman member: Captain Dave

This morning Brian and I decided to give the pompano a try for a few hours. The tides weren't exactly convenient for our tight schedule, but we weren't more than 15 minutes into fishing when Brian nabbed a fatty that was 19 inches to the fork of the tail.

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Pompano from the Pier

Florida Sportsman member: Compleat

Forecast said to pass on the offshore but my missus was in fishing mode. We tossed the rods in the car and hit the pier. We started off slow but picked three nice pompano.

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Tournament Win and Nice Reds

Florida Sportsman member: SS Canoe

With my direction he whipped his doa into the feeding fish, bam, hooked up. Got the fish in and pictured, a 20 inch red. About this time the were finger mullet being showered along the mangroves. A quick pole over, a hookup and a picture was all we needed and he was 2/3 done with the slam that I knew would win this tournament.

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Indian River Night Bite

Florida Sportsman member: snookcook

I prefer to fish at night or in the evening mainly to avoid the sun. Plus, the night time is the right time! The docks have been holding tons of trout and snook. The tarpon are here in huge numbers in the river and on the beach. We jumped a few this week, got lots of hits, and landed a few.

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The Trout are Chewin'

Florida Sportsman member: Snookslayer772

"September is here and so is the bait! The finger mullet schools throughout the South Indian River are the ticket. Fishing these schools with topwater lures and suspending twitch baits below the schools have been great..."

Want to catch tarpon like these guys? Click here for how-to videos, feature stories, and more.

From the Spillways to the Beaches

Florida Sportsman member: Snookslayer772

"Now's the time to get out there and pull on some bruiser snook! Been catching them in the river all the way to the beach. If you can find clear water on the beach sight fishing these big breeders is a blast (really gets the adrenaline pumping watching one eat)..."

Want to catch big snook like these guys? Click here for how-to videos, feature stories, and more.

Tangling with Tarpon

Florida Sportsman member: SaltyRoots

We've been fishing the beaches early morning and late afternoon for tarpon. Mainly from kayaks and paddleboards but some days it's easier to catch them from the beach. The tarpon have been crushing bait pods from Vero Beach to South Patrick. Pogies, pilchards, glass minnows, and now mullet have been schooling just outside the breakers.

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From the Spillways to the Beaches

Florida Sportsman member: Snookslayer772

Want to catch big snook like these guys? Click here for how-to videos, feature stories, and more.

St. Lucie Beach Tarpon

Florida Sportsman member: snookcook

"Fishing has been awesome! Tarpon are in, snook are popping, trout are munching, and snapper are snapping! Some reds are around too, just have not been targeting them. I have been getting a good mangrove bite, in the St. Lucie and Indian River on both tides."

Want to catch tarpon like these guys? Click here for how-to videos, feature stories, and more.

Hot Snook Bite

Florida Sportsman member: Snookslayer772

As we progress into the full swing of summer the snook bite has been on fire. Whether fishing the beach, inlets or backwater, all of it is good right now. Mostly throwing artificials and fly and sight fishing a lot of them.

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Cobia From a Bridge

Florida Sportsman member: landshark

My buddy Ryan has made some impressive catches over the years, including the Juno pier record Cobia a while back. He's back at it but this time he did something pretty unusual and landed a keeper Cobia on a Bridge at night while snook fishing.

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Spring Snookin'

Florida Sportsman member: OverslotsOnly

Recently, the snook seem to be keying in on baitfish. Any kind of whitebait or mullet are great when available, but don't overlook blue runners, especially closer to the inlet, ladyfish, or sand perch. If a certain type of bait isn't around, try something else that's more available.

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South Indian River Bite

Florida Sportsman member: capt charlie

Our best fishing has been around the mangroves this past week. We have caught redfish, snook and trout in those areas. Our redfish have been up to 32 inches. The snook have beaten us on a number of occasions where we couldn't slow them down before being broken off under the mangroves. We have caught some nice trout in the upper 20 inch range this week as well.

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Welcome to the Neighborhood

Florida Sportsman member: Snookslayer772

Well last week the girlfriend and I scored a new place on indian river drive. With a 540 foot dock to fish and many fish to catch I'm in heaven. The fish have welcomed me to the neighborhood in a the nicest way possible, letting me catch them!

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Stuart Snookin' with a Bonus

Florida Sportsman member: MinerCatch

After cleaning the boat i decide to pull an iron man now that i feel like an insomniac and decide to go fishing inshore with my buddy Ben. Ended up with a few stud snook all of which were in the upper 40 inch range and a decent 29 inch trout.

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Monster Snook and More

Florida Sportsman member: Snookslayer772

I knew it was a snook by the way she smacked the topwater. The fish came up and shook her head and I realized the size this fish had! I loosened up my drag and started to play this fish to make sure I had the best chance and landing it. Don't forget this is with only 25 pound leader and a 2000 size reel. 8 or so minutes of me doing the dance with her and some pretty epic head shakes I had her!

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Fort Pierce Snook Bite

Florida Sportsman member: dukhuntr1991

I loaded up on bait this week so we went out to drown a few tonight. The bite was on when we got there and we had a 34 inch fish in the boat 2 minutes after pulling up. Caught a big jack and also caught a 32 inch keeper before heading in.

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Stuart Snookin'

Florida Sportsman member: Bullshark

We hit it hard the last few days. All in all we caught about 50 Snook and 1 Red. 3 of the Snook being slot fish.

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Snook Fishing In The Cold

Florida Sportsman member: Marker954

These cold fronts have been great for loading up the deep channels with big snook. We fished during the recent polar vortex (aka a cold front), and landed six of these nice snook and got hit by 8 others. Here is Tom Lewis with a nice 39 inch oversized Fort Pierce schoolie from Tuesday night using a First Light Tackle snook jig.

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South Indian River Bite

Florida Sportsman member: capt Charlie

We spent some time in the turning basin of Fort Pierce with the jacks, runners and ladyfish to finish off the morning. Cheryl, Frank and Steven were out on the two windiest days of the week. We caught lots of fish, but had to hide from the worst of the weather. Frank finished off the trip with a nice Spanish mackerel. It was a fun time on the water this week in spite of the conditions.

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South Indian River Bite

Florida Sportsman member: capt Charlie

Redfish have been hanging around docks and mangroves lately for us. Try a CAL paddle tail around the mangroves and docks. The trout bite was slower this week mainly due to the windy days keeping us off most of the grass flats. We did catch a few short snook around the mangroves while searching for redfish. The black drum and sheepshead are moving into the river and you should see good catches of them in the next several months. Try bridges, docks and channel edges for these species.

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Backwater Reds Are Chewing

Florida Sportsman member: evergladeskid243

Worked my way into some mangrove cuts and started jigging the current rips and points and found a nice lit up 27 and a half inch redfish! He inhaled my DOA jig and gave me a fun tug o war up in the tight mangrove canal, trying to catch the line on down branches and roots!

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Seeing Red In The Southeast

Florida Sportsman member: SS Canoe

Not 10 minutes go by and I get slammed by a big fish big, it boils and I knew It was red. Got him to the boat and he stretched the 30 inch mark. Biggest red I'd pulled off that flat in years. Boom Cole's on, We Boat the redfish, 25 inches. Great 2 days before the front. Like clockwork!

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Winter Time Wading In The Southeast

Florida Sportsman member: Snookslayer772

Throwing Mirrolure lil jons on 1/8th ounce jig head just hopping them through the grass, and that was the ticket! second cast with mine, boom, a trout. After that it was every other cast catching them. No gators but kept the rod bent. Did hook one and realized he got really heavy half way through the fight, brought him to my feet and he was sawed right in half by something, and I didn't want to find out what it was.

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Great Fishing With Mom In Vero

Florida Sportsman member: SS Canoe

I have fished the lagoon since I was a young child, but after all these years I have never taken my mom fishing. well, recently I bought a little Carolina skiff that is much more stable than my old jon boat, so I decided it was time. Excellent introduction to fishing the lagoon! Ended up with 4 reds up to 27 inches, and she caught 3 of them.

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Dinner On The Flats

Florida Sportsman member: SLW UroCane

Got out and fished solo today. Had to deal with rain and wind all day. Fished mostly the Round Island and Moorings area. At least the bite was ok. DOA Cal and MirroLure suspending twitch baits were the key. Caught trout, pompano, ladyfish, jacks and a small red. Kept the pomp for dinner. Water color was terrible, as expected, but the bite was fairly steady.

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Night Time Stuart Action

Florida Sportsman member: Snookslayer772

Was getting ready to leave till I saw this bruiser cruising the shadow line, pitched a live bait in her face and watched it get destroyed. From the bridge she only looked 33 inches or so but realized she was a lot bigger when hooked. Measured out to 40 inches.

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Light Tackle Mayhem

Florida Sportsman member: Snookslayer772

The sun started to go down and the finger mullet started to pack up in tight schools and were getting busted. I threw my topwater in a school of mullet and no more than 2 twitches later BOOM! I thought it was a slot fish till I saw it jump and realized it was way over slot.

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Fort Pierce Variety

Florida Sportsman member: FISHHUNTR

Pitch out a 6 inch mullet and immediately it is crushed, I thought it was a jack initially but noted it was really digging for the bottom and that got me hoping. Sure enough I see color and it's a keeper gag that ended up taping out at 27 inches!

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Sebastian Inlet Mixed Bag

Florida Sportsman member: Final Point

We Landed one more nice red before we called it a night. Fishing is starting to pick up in the inlet. Saw several tarpon role to the south of the inlet but they didn't want to chew. All in all it was a great day of fun fishing with some tasty treats for the cast iron skillet.

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Boca Midnight Snook

Florida Sportsman member: Dolphin_Hunter

The fish fought hard and I knew it was big. Never saw her. Luckily she went in the middle of the intercoastal away from pilings. I backed off on the drag since I was only fishing 15 pound braid with 25 pound leader. 10 minutes later, fish in the boat! 40 inch total length and a solid 18-20 pounds. Biggest snook I've caught in a long time. Super stoked! Awesome fight on a 4000 reel. Revived the fish and she swam away strong.

Read more: http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?130701-9-29-SLOB-Snook-40-quot-amp-a-Slot-Boca-Pompano-Midnight-Mullet-Run-Bite#ixzz2gP8wvFa4

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Ft. Pierce Trout, Reds and Snook

Florida Sportsman member: Pensacola

Put together a little friendly inshore tourney against some fellow forum members. I was on my Gheenoe going against Ricky (seein red) on his Ranger and one other forum member who I wont mention...because he slept in! No showed the tourney, so it was just us against Seein red. Format was total length biggest red, trout, and snook, picture only.

We get out early in hopes to get a early morning trout. Plan comes together with a small 15 inch trout on a doa shrimp. As the sun comes up, we chum a little and castnet some nice pinfish for livies. We set up and I get tight on a nice 25 inch red. So we have a 40 inch slam so far. Around 9 a.m., I get tight on a really sluggish fish, felt like a catfish, no headshakes or anything. Get it to the boat and ends up being a big 27 inch gator trout. I think the warm water had him fighting weak. Quick pic, strong revival, and off he swam. So we have a 52 inch slam and im feeling good.

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3 Nights, 60 Snook + More

Florida Sportsman member: Joupdog1

The snook bite has been great to say the least! Before we got on the snook, Sunday I met up with my buddy Shane and we got on the redfish up in Ft.Pierce! Sight fishing schools of up to 100 fish. All beautiful 26 to 28 inch fish. Dad also took the boat out and got a stud 28" trout at midday. At night we've been bridge fishing the shadow lines in the St.Lucie and found plenty of snook willing to eat. We totaled 33 on our first night out with the biggest being right in slot. I went wading down in Jupiter with my buddy the next evening and wasn't disappointed. Only 2 snook were caught, but both were slobs. My first one being a fat, 38 incher that about made it to the channel on my little 2500 Stradic.

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Gator Trout and Monster Snook

Florida Sportsman member: Joupdog1

Decided to head out to a flat that had been good for trout and within the first 5 minutes hooked up on a nice 26 inch trout! Snapped a few pictures and released. We worked the flat for almost the rest of the evening, but it only produced 5 or 6 slot trout. I mention that maybe we should work a little closer to the docks on the way in. We move in and I land a cast about 30 yards from the nearest dock and hook up! My little 2500 Stradic is screaming! The fish pushes a huge wake as it beelines for the dock. Somehow I turn it before it gets to the dock. After about 5 minutes, I finally get a half jump from it and see it is a huge snook. Once I've got it close, it decides it wasn't done and takes back off on another 15 second run. 3 jumps later, it's landed! My 12 pound braid/30 pound leader held up and I could tell immediately that it was my new personal best.

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Trials & Tribulations of Fishing a New Spot

Florida Sportsman member: Joupdog1

Left the house bright and early with Dad, ready to go explore somewhere new. Knowing the wind was going to kick up out of the south, we headed up to Ft.Pierce. We launch the Gheenoe in calm conditions and made a run to a dock line that looked good. We dropped the trolling motor and reached for the rods, except we left them in the truck at the ramp. Fifteen minutes later, we're back in position. We catch some baby tarpon sized ladyfish and big drag screaming jacks to start things off. We move more onto the flat and catch 6 or 7 trout up to 18 inches, but nothing too good. We cut over to the other side of the river and hide from the now strong south wind behind some of the islands. Dads 1st cast, nice flounder! Next thing you know, we had 2 small mutton snapper and a nice mangrove in the boat. About 9:30, the action slows down so we go to the channel and make a run.

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Flats Snook on Topwater

Florida Sportsman member: SS Canoe

This monster snook busted my rapala skitterwalk in 2 feet of water.The fight was on, and what a fight it was. After 10 minutes of screaming runs and ticking line, I got him in with no frayage on my 25 pound flourocarbon leader.It made a great addition to a slew of topwater snook this summer. You have to trust the topwater in order for it to work for you. Don't switch lures or move around. Make long casts and walk the dog to the best of your ability.

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July Fishing report

Florida Sportsman member:capt. charlie

July brings hot weather, chances of afternoon rains and Fourth of July parties. Oh....and lots of great fishing out there, too! Watch out for afternoon thunderstorms this month. Mornings on the river will bring action at first light on top water lures for snook or trout along the flats. They will seek deeper water as the sun rises. It's a hot, but very productive month around the Treasure Coast.

I will be fishing along the mangroves for snook and redfish with DOA shrimp, CAL jerk baits and top water lures, like the new DOA Airhead, where the water will be 2-3 feet deep. Trout will move to deeper flats in 2-6 feet of water and will most likely hit pigfish, DOA shrimp or Deadly Combos. Look for the trout to move to the deeper edges of the flats as the sun warms up the water. Fish the sand holes on the flats! You will find the bigger fish sitting in these holes waiting on the tides to bring the food to them. It has been another banner year for big trout around the area. Redfish will continue to hold up on the flats. Read the water as you move across the flats and look for any activity that might be a school of reds. Gold spoons, soft baits, like DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits will work best for them. Search along the docks during the day for snook or redfish hanging around there as well. It's a fantastic month to be fishing...

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Fort Pierce Mixed bag

Florida Sportsman member:Capt.AW

Thursday the 13th we had plans to look for permit or tarpon on the beach. It took a while, but we finally found the permit and managed to pull 3 mid teen size fish from the school.

Friday the 14th we went out looking for the permit again, but the water temps dropped almost 9 degrees overnight. Knowing that our odds of finding them at that point were slim to none we made a long run up the beach to look for some tarpon. Once arriving we found big pods of bait being worked by some bigger mackerel and snook. So we decided to stay with the bait and pull on some snook. We ended up landing a few in the upper slot to over slot range then called it a day.

Thursday the 20th Joe, Dj, and I headed out hoping to find those beach snook again. Upon arriving at the location things looked bleak the conditions or more importantly the bait wasn't there. From there we bounced around to a few spots but ended up coming back in catching a couple decent snook and reds.

Friday the 21st I got an early start to meet up with a buddy who's been telling me I need to come down and get on these monster snook he's been catching. While we didn't get any true monsters, I did get one in the high 30's that probably went 20lbs or so. My buddy was gracious enough to hop in the water to make the release but wanted me to crop his head out of the photo

Stuart Causeway Redfish

Florida Sportsman member Jermos

I had Friday off so I decided to wake up at 5:30 and take a mini excursion from Stuart to a spot I usually kayak fish near Ft. Pierce. No signs of any activity which was unusual, spent almost an hour there and called it quits. Went back south for some breakfast then tried one of the beaches in search for a surfin snook, no luck. Left the beach around 10am headed back home to Stuart, on my way over the causeway I noticed the glassy conditions on the north side of the river and couldnt resist. I normally overlook this spot a lot, but when I pulled up there was all kinds of surface activity. I was able to castnet a school of nice sized pilchards, and quickly waded out with one on my light rod. I had him tail hooked free-lining for maybe 10 minutes when I got bumped and rod almost ripped from my hands with the drag screaming. Definitely thought it was a good sized jack or small shark from the violent head shakes. Fish made numerous violent runs before I finally get a glimpse of the tail, a big red?!! Yup, dont know exact length but she/he was a lil over slot. Surprised as a kid on Christmas morning, I got out the gopro for a flick. Then released it and called it a day by 11,

Inshore Slam in Stuart

Florida Sportsman member: Joupdog1

Decided last minute to go scope a new spot with Dad this evening and what a good decision that was! Arrived around 6:00pm and were greeted by mullet running with big jacks chasing them. No takers there, so we continued to work down the docks and flats. Finally hook into a nice fish and it goes airborne quickly. First thought is snook, but it's a 26 inch trout! We start to work back at 7:15 and it absolutely went off! We notice some fish busting so we each launch a cast into them. Immediately double up both fish screaming drag, mine tires pretty quickly as it was a big blue runner. Dad's on the other hand, just never stopped. It would scream drag and kind of circle around him. Finally get a look and it is a MONSTER trout. Dad gently eases it closer and I grab it! Absolute monster. Get some good pictures of it and release. Just over 30 inches and Dad's personal best....

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Ft. Pierce Reds

Florida Sportsman member: evergladeskid243

Launched out of the $2 fee Torpey Rd boat ramp around 7 a.m., paddled out and was greeted by a high tide with no current movement which made things tough right off the start. Threw topwaters but only got one bite/miss by a nice trout. Didn't land the first fish until around 9 or 10 a.m., which were a mix of small trout and jacks. Paddled across the river to the far east side and missed a huge trout who tried to eat the spook jr twice, catching the hooks the second time only to come unhooked, bummer! Next cast I hook into a nice red who gave me a nice ride before I landed him. Beautiful colors on him, he was all lit up and bright orange, a perfect specimen for the GoPro! Dont know how long, didnt bother to measure

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Snook in the Shallows

Florida Sportsman member: SS Canoe

The snook always seem to be more aggressive during the summertime and I have been catching a lot by sighting out the snook, waking and throwing topwater in front of them. They have been hitting it almost everytime. My cousin Cole has never caught a big overslot and i told him that this is the time of year to do it. We set out at about 6:30 and started bombing topwaters. Not too long after the sun peeked out of the clouds, I spotted a wake, a big one. Cole casts a little too much on top of him, and bam! The snook attacks the lure and Cole has a hookup!

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Beachside Snook

Florida Sportsman member: BigNiner19

NOAA calling for some really rough seas, so I elected to leave the boat on the trailer and grab a rod and some snook lures and head down to the beach. Good action, snook busting on bait and looked like some schools of bluefish were mixed in. The winds can make it a challenge fishing from the beach, but timing is everything. Ended up landing a few nice snook. Caught one inside the slot but let it swim away to fight another day.

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Fort Pierce Snook, Trout & More

Florida Sportsman member: Pensacola