Stuart Florida Fishing Report

Fishing has been picking up in the St. Lucie Inlet lately. We are seeing an increase of pompano and sheephead on the incoming tide. The water temps have heated up a bit which seems to push the bluefish out. Back in December with several cold fronts hitting our area the water temps were upper 50's to mid 60's which is ideal for the bluefish. The only problem is when the water is this cold, sometimes all you see is bluefish, bluefish and more bluefish. Now with 70 degree water the pompano are moving in. Early incoming I like to start just inside the jetty rocks and drift about even with the hole in the wall. As the clean, warmer water reaches the crossroads and heads north up the Indian River, thats where you want to be. By the 3rd hour of incoming, the south end of the sailfish flats cleans up and with the cleaner water come the pompano. Late incoming (4th hour to high tide) the Stuart Causeway is a good bet bouncing pompano jigs. Outside along the beach the mackerel bite is still on. Just look for the boats south of the inlet and you are in the zone. Many days the bite starts after 10am. The usual flashy lures like minnow jigs, Joe's jigging spoons, clark spoons and tube lures work. When the bite is slow try trollrites tipped with shrimp. You will increase bycatch with bluerunners and snappers along with some mackerel. Up the St. Lucie, Hell's Gate area has been hot and cold with some large mackerel over 3 pounds and a few pompano mixed in. The dime bridge is still holding some black drum to 6 pounds and a few croaker. I have noticed an increase of pinfish around the bridge which I have not seen in the past. North of the Jensen Causeway in the Indian River, trout, ladyfish, pompano can be found in 3-4 feet on the west side along with some flounder on the channel edge. I have heard reports of redfish north of the powerlines on the east side but have not fished there myself. Capt. Bob Bushholz www.catch22fish.net (772) 530-1496