Southeast Florida Forecast
May 12, 2023
By Capt. Jonathan Earhart
Capt. Jonathan Earhart predicts fishing trends from Wabasso Beach to Boca Raton, including Vero Beach, Ft. Pierce, Stuart, West Palm Beach and Lake Worth
May 12 - 14 May is a great month on the Treasure Coast for fishing. Bait fishing in the Indian River can be excellent for snook, snapper, jacks, tarpon, redfish and sea trout. Large pilchards will produce the best action for inshore game fish. As we approach the month of June, we will start to see larger concentrations of snook near inlets and passes. This makes them easier to catch as they gear up for the summer spawn. I suggest heavier tackle for a quick catch, picture and release. Tarpon fishing has been slow but I expect to see more juvenile tarpon this time of year starting to migrate out from the river to the ocean. DOA TerrorEyz work great in the darker-colored water in the St Lucie River for juvenile tarpon this month. Along the beach, I suggest light-colored Hogy lures and or live baits such as crabs, mullet and pilchards.
Fishing nearshore along the beaches has been producing large jacks, cobia, kingfish, permit and tarpon. Again crabs, pilchards and mullet will yield quick bites if you can find live bait. Topwater lures are always a blast for schools of jacks cruising along the beach at any time of day.
Offshore fishing we can expect some good mahi catches this week. I see several mahi caught every year around this time up to 60 lbs and sometimes only in 90' of water. Find a good weedline and work it hard for shots at larger gaffer mahi this month. As usual, 90'-160' depths will produce sailfish, mahi, kingfish, tuna and the occasional wahoo. Snapper fishing remains steady for larger muttons on the 6-mile reef. Long leaders with sardines will get the bites. Remember to reel fast the goliath groupers and sharks will eat them if given the opportunity.
Capt. Jonathan Earhart www.chaosfishingcharters.com
