Member since: March 10, 2018
Capt. Mark’s passion for inshore saltwater fishing began while living in Stuart, Florida at the southern reaches of the Indian River Lagoon. Here he learned the fine art of snook fishing from the area’s lighted bridges while fishing at night. Here too he learned how to catch trout by the hundreds on the expansive flats from Jensen Beach to Ft. Pier
As we near the end of this segment of snook season, I’m happy to report the bite is still good! The top-water bite is steady for snook, jacks and an occasional gator trout in the backwater jungles north of town.
The snook bite in the backwater, mangrove jungles of Fort Pierce has finally turned on. Top-water walking and popping plugs are getting blasted by linesiders, trout, jack crevalle and small barracuda (yes, barracuda). Look for lots-o-finger mullet in sheltered coves on an incoming tide for a starting point.
Typically this time of year there is a lot going on here in the Fort Pierce area. However, the aggressive and persistent winds this Spring season have kept me in hiding.
I wish I had an actual fishing report for this past week, but I simply do not. I will however, offer a bit of a forecast for the very near future.
Not much to brag about over the past week or so. Jacks and ladyfish have been the norm in much of the Indian River…
Sorry for the long absence, but up until recently fishing has been infrequent for me. Not only has “life” gotten in the way, but this odd weather has kept the bite very sporadic. Cold fronts are a regular factor in the winter months, however this unseasonable heat has kept our local water temps into the mid to upper seventy degree range; not a good scenario for a winter pattern.
Fishing continues to be steady to good in Fort Pierce with the exception of the low tide time frame. Starting at first (safe) light will get you bit using top-water plugs like walkers or poppers and unweighted or very lightly weighted Z-Man Jerk Shadz. Unfortunately, if it’s the last two hours of the ebb tide or very early in the flood tide this bite is likely to end quickly.
Wind be damned! I decided to take my regulars fishing when they asked. I even decided to book a couple of new clients that were willing to risk getting skunked because of wind direction and velocities forcing me to hind in areas I wouldn’t have chosen to fish.
First off, I’d like to apologize for my lack of regular reports. I promise I’ll get back on a normal weekly schedule very soon. Aside from this past week the blustery winds have made fishing “iffy” at best and downright dangerous at times!
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!
It’s good to be back on the platform! The knee injury is well behind me and looking forward to the cooler weather that’s in our near future!
Bill caught a bunch of redfish this morning on the Mosquito Lagoon and finished up with an average-sized trout.
