Wabasso Beach to Boca Raton
Includes Vero Beach, Ft. Pierce, Stuart, West Palm Beach and Lake Worth.

Nov. 20-22

WABASSO BEACH TO STUART

Finally a weekend where you won’t have to hang on for dear life as you catch all those sailfish with calmer seas and lots of fish to catch. Don’t stray too far off the 120 depth range and have lots of baits because the dolphin will be something of a nuisance. Don’t be surprised if you encounter some of the larger bonito that are common down south in the process. Fish a large live bait on the bottom with heavy tackle if you want some grouper filets before the season closes.

Gigantic waves on the beach have really roiled the surf but the bluefish will still be biting this weekend. Spoons will help get you lure past the shore break but cut mullet or ladyfish is favored by many of the regulars. It’s way cheaper. Snook and tarpon will be biting around the residual mullet schools around the Jensen Beach Causeway as well as up in the river. Pompano are being seen skipping in the surf as well as inside the St. Lucie inlet. Flounder will be eating cut mullet up in Fort Pierce inlet on the outgoing tide.

JUPITER TO LAKE WORTH

Sailfish will be chasing flying fish and ballyhoo in close and kingfish will be mixed in with them. The Gulf Stream is just four miles from the beach so if you want dolphin find the blue edge and put out the spread. Lots of mutton snappers and red groupers are being caught on the reefs using dead sardines but the vast majority are undersized. A venting tool is a must.

Lake Worth Pier was closed for few days due to large swells washing up the boardwalk but is now back open. The structure is designed that way to prevent permanent damage. Lots of large mangrove snappers are being caught there along with a hoard of blue runners and a few Spanish mackerel. Snook however have been scarce. Sharks have been moving in, as evidenced by two surfers who got bit in the past couple of weeks. Bluefish action will be better to the north, especially past Juno.

BOYNTON TO BOCA

Take advantage of the bait availability to catch sails and kingfish using kites and flatlines in 90 to 200 feet of water. Drop down some dead sardines while you are at it to entice any muttons. Remember vermilions must now be released. Trollers willing to cover some water will be catching skipjack tunas and a few dolphin. Mostly strays.

Mullet schools up under the bridges at night will be areas to target for snook and tarpon but if there is no bait then use live shrimp. There are plenty of them skittering under the lights and the fish love them. Black drum, sheepshead, ladyfish and large mangrove snappers are all other likely prospects. Big jacks will be cruising along the seawalls early in the morning.

By Captain Eden White
FSeden@aol.com | Web Site

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