 |
Jupiter & Palm Beach Offshore Saltwater Fishing Report
Capt. Rob Mazzei
July 16, 2004
Jupiter - Saltwater Fishing Report
Infectious Fishing!
More drama and delayed reports. Unfortunately I caught a nasty infection from handling fish with cut hands. After 3 weeks of anti-biotics, a trip to the emergency room, and several doctors’ offices, I back on the water.
This week fishing was decent, but nothing special.
Schools threadfin herring and Spanish sardines are as thick as I've ever seen outside Jupiter inlet. Smaller "chum baits" are scattered but numerous inside the ICW and Loxahatchee Rivers. #8 sabiki rigs are the best bet because there have been many blue runners mixed in and they have been destroying the smaller size sabiki rigs.
We've started our pursuit of game fish in around 200ft of water off Lost Tree. Our goal has been to try to catch a sailfish or blackfin tuna and to try to avoid the bonito onslaught. After and hour or so with no luck, we moved in to 100ft. with the same live bait routine and scored with all the bonitos one would ever hope to catch. Mixed in were kingfish, blue runners, rainbow runners and large schools of very small dolphin. We used fly rods and light spinning tackle so the bonito were welcomed with open arms and the rainbow runners provided some table-fare. Rainbow runner is sub-specie of the Pacific yellowtail, which is popular with the sushi crowd. Count me out! When reeling in the bonito we've had many 100lbs+ blacktip sharks lurking under the boat, we did catch 2 of them Thurs. Both were released unharmed.
Our best king bite was in 100-110 feet of water just south on the inlet. They would not come up on the surface baits so and ounce or two of weight was needed to present the baits the way they wanted them.
There have been many reports of sailfish in the area, but none for us.
Warmer water pushed in on the bottom encouraging the snapper to start biting again. Along with others we did catch a 6-8lbs. mutton snapper on a live greenie sent down deep for kings.
Snook have been extremely thick outside the jetties at Jupiter inlet. When we were there we could see them on the bottom but could not get them to eat. Anchoring up, chumming and waiting for the dinner bell to ring is the way to go. I’m not sitting in a still boat in 95 degree heat waiting for the bite so that was out. Night time is much more productive.
We did see several tarpon along the beach off Blowing Rocks, they were moving fast to the north and were not interested in our offering.
If calm seas and steady action works for you, now is the time to go fishing, tropical season will be here soon and may kick up the seas for days at a time.
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
