Photos are from last Saturday on the Mango. Se Ft. Pierce Inlet 240-260 feet. the trip was made up of employees from the John Deere Dealership in Ft. Pierce/ aka Everglades Farm Equipment west of town. Names are Mark, Melvin,Travis,Don, Kevin, Don & Mark #2. They had a great time!
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"Good Fishing in Tough Conditions"
Yes, you are right. It has been a 'windy winter'. And it's hard not to take it personally when the windiest days always seem to fall on the weekends, but lately the wind has continued through the week as well. 'Mind set' becomes the key for me at times like these. If you make up your mind to prepare for a day of fishing, get the gear and bait ready the night before, then get up and go; your chances of pulling off a successful fishing trip are greatly enhanced. (Oh, depending on your constitution, don't forget the Dramamine...one at bedtime and one in the morning!) If you are leaving the dock after 7:00 AM, you can monitor your local charter boat channel (Ft. Pierce is channel 78) for some 'at sea' insight. We are usually gabbing about the sea conditions 'and' where we are headed to start our day. That's not to say we are always going in the right direction, but our estimate of sea conditions is a good benchmark for your consideration. There have, however, been plenty of rough days in February that produced good results. Although spotty, the dolphin bite has been excellent mid-month. Add the occasional sail lagging behind his buddies who have already moved south, and you have the makings of a fun and rewarding fishing trip. Both of these fish sometimes bite best in rough sea conditions. I think that this is due in part to the fact that better 'edges' are apt to form from a NE breeze and also because a moderate chop disassociates the bait from the boat and may sometimes give it an action that just drives dolphin and sailfish mad in that rough water. Speaking of sails, what about the bite off of St Lucie Inlet in early February and continuing on as I write. A large concentration of sailfish has provided incredible live bait action from Ft. Lauderdale back up to Stuart all month. Live bait tournament tallies of 400 plus fish released by 50 boats gets my attention. If you plan on fishing down that way and want to compete with the locals next season, don't forget to secure a tank full of 'goggle eye's' before you head out. It's no secret that it's the ultimate sailfish bait.March, another potentially 'windy month, will be here before we know it. I'm still looking for the cobia to show up and the next thirty days should provide some action there. You will find the cobia around the buoys, on the wrecks and following the manta rays down the coast. Anchoring on good bottom anywhere can bring a cobia up to the boat. Keep a sharp eye out for my favorite fish. Not much to look at, it's appearance is a cross between a giant catfish and a shark. Many an angler dismissed a tasty meal as "a small shark behind the boat". What an unfortunate mistake that would be! Grouper and snapper will be moving inshore to spawn in March. Look for them on the North of 12 Buoy rocks and in particular on the N.E. Grounds from 65-85 feet. Live sardines would be your best bait. Pigs and pinfish are also great bottom bait and can be purchased at some of our local tackle shops or caught at the buoys and on the beach reefs using a small hook double rig tipped with shrimp. Kingfish should also be abundant on the offshore bar as well as inshore N of 12 Buoy once the water warms back up. Slow trolling or drifting greenies always provides great action with kings. I have not heard much talk about catches off the power plant of late but always keep that in mind as an alternative to an offshore run. A little live bait (often caught right there!) will usually produce some action down to the south and with the wide variety of species known to frequent the warmer waters by the outflow,you never know what you might catch."In like a lion, out like a lamb"..............That would be March weather I'm referring too! Tight lines,Capt T
Tris Colket
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