Stuart Area Inshore and Offshore

{%image_id=7857%}After a week of cold weather, we were able to get out and fish. The water temperatures were way down but it helped to put us back in the winter fishing pattern. The Spanish mackerel returned to Peck's Lake in great numbers. We limited out in no time the other day. Bluefish are all around the inlet and we had a great time catching them on light tackle. The pompano bite, which had virtually disappeared, turned on again. Sailfish and dolphin are being caught in decent numbers once again. On a recent trip we were in acres of threadfin herring with jumbo jacks pounding through them. We had a rod bending time bringing these tough fish to the boat. The bottom bite at the Loran Tower has also been great. We limited out on vermillion snapper and had a bunch of nice sized porgies on our last trip there. Triggerfish and several small grouper were also in the mix. Look for pompano at the Stuart Causeway and on the flats near the St. Lucie inlet. Shrimp tipped jigs or sand fleas will do the trick. Snook season opens February 1st so get your gear ready. More later.