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Jupiter & Palm Beach Offshore Saltwater Fishing Report

Capt. Rob Mazzei
July 20, 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.

Weekend predictions for north Palm Beach and Stuart.

Bonito (AKA false albacore/little tunny) are most abundant and will eat almost anything. Sharks have been coming up on the hooked bonito, which has pretty exciting. We caught and released a double header of Black tip sharks around 100lbs.

Kings are thick in 60 feet north of St Lucie Inlet. Look for all the commercial kingfish boats, they'll usually be trolling in circles with older looking boats. It may be best to call the Snook Nook http://www.snooknook.net because they'll point you in the right direction.

Snapper and maybe a grouper will bite if the water on the bottom is not too cold. Friday the water on the beach was 84-86 degrees and Sat morning it was 74-75. This is the 3rd time this summer that there has been a cold water influx and has compromised fishing for several days at a time. Any given day you may encounter prime conditions and do well, the next day... same bait, same location and be disappointed. But you know how that goes! Be prepared for anything and everything. They've been in relatively shallow water as well, probably because that's where all the bait is. And I think the shallow water warms up faster as well. Although we caught a 6-8 lbs mutton in 110 feet off Jupiter.

Cobia have been around as well. They'll just show around the boat while your catching bait and/or drifting live baits out deeper Be ready with bright jigs or pitch baits on spinners. If you see a leather back turtle chances are they'll be at least 4-6 "cobes" hitching a ride. I got a 42lber recently and my buddy running "Tom Cat Charters" got 4 last week chasing a leather back and pitching live baits at the turtle,

Dolphin are relatively scarce near shore, except for the small ones and the new regs. state they must 20 inches to keep, they are fun on appropriate tackle. We fly rodded some on barbless hooks There has been a decent weedline 17 and 1/2 miles out of Jupiter probably further off St Lucie with some guys catching teen size fish, but water spouts and heavy t-storms have hindered our ability to get out there.

Wahoo bite will improve as the full moon approaches. High speed trolling at 10-14 knots at first light on wire line and a heavy trolling weight will probably be most productive. The medium size Yozuri Bonito in orange or purple with the single hooks is very popular. My wire line outfit is not that stout and those plugs will put a great deal of pressure on the rod at those trolling speeds so I usually will fish Illander with a large octapus skirt.

Lots of tarpon inside St. Lucie inlet because the ocean temps have been erratic.

Kings have been off Jupiter in 100-120 feet of water and the current has been ripping at 4 knots the north so you must stay on them.

I would, for sure plan on netting or sabiki-ing live bait outside the inlet, they're thick, again ask questions some days the baitfish will eat the heavier size #8 sabiki but there are times they want a #4 or #6, especially if the water's clear and there's heavy boat traffic.. Get all you can because you'll use the injured ones for live chum and the dead ones for cut chum and dead bait.

More Fishing Reports:

 

Palm Beach, known as the "Gold Coast" is golden when it comes to offshore fishing. It’s no secret the waters off Jupiter and Palm Beach are known as “Sailfish Alley”. We are a full-time professional fishing charter and guide service, located in Jupiter, Florida. When you fish with us you can "get your hands dirty." You will not just sit back and wait for Capt. Rob to hand you the rod. Inshore and offshore fishing, specializing in live bait kite fishing for Sailfish, Dolphin, Wahoo, etc.

Contact Info:

Sail King Fishing Charters
114 Pennock Landing Cir.
Jupiter, FL 33458
Phone: 561-352-7844
Alt. Phone: 561-741-4371
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