bass report

Larry posing with a chunky largemouth taken with Capt. Kenny Hass on a recent trip we took out of Headwaters Lake!

Life’s obstacles kept me off the water again this week with the exception of a trip to Headwaters Lake. The bite was off the morning we went, but we still managed many quality bass that ate a variety of lures, including top-water plugs and worms. I look forward to returning to the new lake soon!

The Indian River is fairly active with trout, snook, jacks and more. Free-lined live shrimp drifting with the current along the mangroves can catch them all with a sheepshead or two mixed in. Four inch Z-Man soft plastics like the Diezel Minnowz or Jerk Shadz will also produce good results.

Pompano are here in great numbers in both the surf and river. The river fish have been very shy about eating fleas, shrimp or manmade alternatives. I’m hoping to get out and try jig fishing them a day or two this coming week.

Surf pompano are eating everything you might typically throw at them. The only problem is the pompano you hook quickly becomes shark appetizers. I don’t mind paying the Tax Man his fair share, but these critters are eating everyone out of house and home!

The Jetty has been producing decent numbers of sheepshead and other bottom fish. A few Spanish mackerel and lookdown are also being caught and live shrimp or greenies drifting in the tidal currents along the rocks are catching snook in the early mornings. Jacks are the most active fish from the rocks and are eating live and cut bait, jigs and Gotcha lures. The bite hasn’t been what I’d call “hot” but has been somewhat steady.

If the number of tarpon I’m seeing in the inlet is any indicator I’m betting they’re stacked-up at the Power Plant boils. ‘Poons in the double digit weight range are rolling in the mouth of the inlet with the spinner sharks. The outgoing tides seem to the most active for the spinner sharks and the tarpon haven’t seemed to care.