Stuart, Florida - Sailfish Turn On

Sailfish fishing off Stuart's St. lucie Inlet is the place to be right now. With the beginning of the mullet run just starting, good populations of bonito, and the wahoo migration following the arriving dolphin, life is good. With all that, the sailfish had to turn on and turn on they did. Sailfish have been clobbering live baits fished on top from 40 ft. out to 240 ft. The heavy dolphin migration should be in full swing within a couple weeks and that should product hot action here and in The Bahamas.

If Wahoo fishing is your thing, The Stuart Gulfstream side and The Bahamas will have prime time Wahoo fishing with the full moon in September. We have a two to three month window of opportunity to target those hard fighting, good eating, speedsters.

Plenty of dates are available to get you out there for a fish of a life time. Feel free to give us a call anytime if its to book a trip or even just to get a fishing report.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Stuart, Florida - Thunderstorms and Tough Fishing

Saltwater fishing off Stuart's coast has been hit or miss this past week, both near shore over the reefs and further offshore along the Gulf Stream. Add to that lots of thunderstorms and spotty bait availability, and fishing for gamefish or supper proved frustrating. A few sailfish and dolphin are being caught, mainly well offshore. Some small blackfin tunas are being caught right on the inshore edge of the Gulf Stream. A few boats are finding some small schools of mahi-mahi, but they really haven’t made their grand summer entrance yet. When the dolphin show, with them will be the huge wahoo that following them around.

Usually, the second week of August marks the beginning of the annual wahoo migration past Stuart Florida's St. Lucie Inlet. Last year that arrival came a bit later than usual, but the bite was great. We have a two to three month window of opportunity to target those hard fighting, good eating, speedsters.

Plenty of dates are available to get you out there for a fish of a life time. Feel free to give us a call anytime if its to book a trip or even just to get a fishing report.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Stuart, Florida - Go Where the Fish Are - When You Can

Fishing the Alantic Ocean off the coast of South Florida can, at times, be problematic. Stuart Florida's close proximity to the Gulf Stream provides anglers with a constant supply of game fish year round, but the Gulf Stream by itself or in conjunction with other forces and conditions can be troublesome, if not dangerous. A current of up to 5 knots rushes north in the Gulf Stream and, when met by winds out of the north, it can create a mad, boiling ocean with violent and huge waves that threaten even the most seaworthy boats. Up until several days ago, those were the conditions we were experiencing.

Thankfully, the wind has changed and fishing off the coast of Stuart Florida is now in calm seas & sunny skies, a returned to normal for this time of year. That makes for comfortable fishing, but not so much for catching.

The Pushbutton Hill area, which is about fourteen miles east of the St. Lucie Inlet, has been a reliable destination for blackfin tuna. They have been hitting small lures and feathers fairly consistently in the early morning or late afternoon bite. There have also been a few dolphin caught in the same area and the dolphin fishing is getting better.

South of the St. Lucie Inlet, near the Loran Tower, the bottom bite has been decent for vermillion and porgy.

King mackerel are striking slow trolled live baits on the 70 to 90-foot reefs and there’s been a few Wahoo in the mix. Around bait pods (mainly glass minnows) anglers will also find cobia, tarpon and king mackerel, plus a variety of sharks. Mangrove snapper are holding over the wrecks in the 70 to 100 foot depths.

Some sailfish are being caught in depths mainly between 90 to 120 ft., but sailfish sightings have dropped and catches are even rarer.

With the arrival of August comes the annual Wahoo migration past Stuart Florida's St. Lucie Inlet. We have a two to three month window of opportunity to target those hard fighting, good eating, speedsters.

Plenty of dates are available to get you out there for a fish of a life time. Feel free to give us a call anytime if its to book a trip or even just to get a fishing report.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Stuart, Florida - A Sailfish Fishing Paradise!

It is mid-July and Stuart Florida Gulf Stream fishing has returned to normal for this time of year. Earlier in the month the fish were biting most anything thrown at them and there were a lot of fish around. They're still here, but catching them has become harder. Although there are plenty of bait fish around and the Gulf Stream is running strong (about 5mph), seas have calmed. That makes for comfortable fishing, but not so much for catching. Winds are expected to shift to the Northeast tomorrow, which will bring choppier seas and likely better fishing.

Some sailfish are being caught in depths mainly between 90 to 120 ft., but sailfish sightings are being reported in all depth from 40 to 600 ft. The problem is that they will not bite.

King mackerel are striking slow trolled live baits on the 70 to 90-foot reefs. Around bait pods (mainly glass minnows) anglers will also find cobia, tarpon and king mackerel, plus a variety of sharks. Mangrove snapper are holding over the wrecks in the 70 to 100 foot depths. Live finger mullet, small sardines or small cigar minnows are the usual bait of choice.

Dolphin, blackfin tuna, and cobia seem to have thinned a bit. Considering that dolphin have been getting lots of attention, they haven't proved abundant. The boats getting any numbers of dolphin and blackfin tuna are running well offshore.

Thankfully there are lots of bonito to keep anglers busy and every now and then a big kingfish.

There are sailfish here right now and sailfish fishing should turn hot if they stay and start feeding. With the arrival of August comes the annual Wahoo migration past Stuart Florida's St. Lucie Inlet. We have a two month window of opportunity to target those hard fighting, good eating, speedsters.

Plenty of dates are available to get you out there for a fish of a life time. Feel free to give us a call anytime if its to book a trip or even just to get a fishing report.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Sailfish Bite Continues!

Cool water conditions off Stuart Florida's St. Lucie Inlet are resulting in sailfish action similar to our prime winter season. With cold water up-swelling over the past two weeks producing surf temperatures in the sixties, drifting and trolling with live bait for sailfish this past week has been especially productive. Nice size dolphin are being caught in 300 ft east of the Loran Tower and black fin tuna have been fairly consistent on and around Push Button Hill, but not in great numbers. The dolphin bite is still sporadic but kings are being caught regularly as are nice sized amberjack.

Near-shore action remains favorable for an amazing variety of game fish including barracuda, mackerel, gag and red grouper, and cobia fished on light tackle with live baits.

July is one of the best months of the year to target blue marlin off the coast of Stuart. If your looking to go nighttime swordfish fishing in the gulf stream or sport fishing for marlin, sailfish, or tuna on the reefs or wrecks, feel free to give us a call to book a trip or even just to get a fishing report. Plenty of dates are available to get you out there for the fish of a life time.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Stuart, Florida - A Fishing Paradise!

What a wonderful time in Paradise!  It is July 1st, midway through the peak season for dolphin fishing off Stuart's St. Lucie Inlet. With calm seas and warm water, conditions are favorable for the angler and an amazing variety of game fish. Drifting and trolling with live bait, this past week, has been especially productive. Nice size dolphin are being caught in 300 ft east of the Loran Tower along with marlin and sailfish between there and Ranken Reef. If black tuna are your target, head for Push Button Hill. Come across a weed stack on the way and you will likely have a run in with a school of Dorado's.

Bringing up the list last but certainly not least is the near-shore action. Barracuda, Mackerel, and Cobia will all be fooled on light tackle with live baits ranging from the surface to just off the bottom. Don't count out Gag and Red Grouper, Mangrove Snapper, and much more. King Mackerel, Cobia, and Permit will be the high liners.

July is one of the best months of the year to target blue marlin off the coast of Stuart. Weather your looking to go nighttime swordfish fishing in the gulf stream or sport fishing for marlin, sailfish, or tuna on the reefs or wrecks, we can make your dream come true. Plenty of dates are available to get you out there for a fish of a life time. Feel free to give us a call anytime if its to book a trip or even just to get a fishing report.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Stuart, Florida Summertime Sailfish Report

Early in the month the sailfish action had been rivaling prime winter time action. That action has slowed, but sailfish fishing has been good to excellent on most days. Most are being caught by live baiters targeting big kingfish. Local sailfish fishing should be good to excellent over the next month or two.

Most kingfish are biting in waters 20' - 140 '. There are still plenty of smokers around, but most are smaller schooling fish in the 5-12 pound range. Bottom fishing is good; we´ve been catching lots of good size tilefish in the 400 foot range. Vermillion snappers are also biting as well and late June marks the month that the giant Warsaw groupers show up. The snapper bite should remain steady during the full moon. The snapper have been taking both live and cut baits.

Although the dolphin bite is hit or miss, there are fish being taken from 60 to 350 feet of water.

July is the time of year when we head across to the Bahamas for sport fishing expeditions. The weather is perfect, the seas are calm and the fishing is incredible. Early July is prime season for Blue Marlin.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Stuart, Florida Saltwater Fishing Report

It's about as good as it gets offshore right now. As of this moment, kingfish are biting in waters 50'- 100' east of the Loran Tower, dolphin are south of the Inlet in +/- 400' waters, black fin tuna, snapper and horse eyed jacks are biting off Push Button Hill and bonitos seem to be everywhere. In addition, with the winds shifting back to normal the weed lines are holding together and building. If that continues the eminent North bound migration of dolphin will hold on those structures and be easier targets.

Sailfish action has been rivaling what many see in the winter time. Most are being caught by live baiters targeting big kingfish. Sailfishing should be good to excellent over the next month or two.

You can sense the dilemma. Like the kids in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, what prize do you choose?

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Stuart, Florida Deep Sea Fishing

Another great week of saltwater fishing off Stuart Florida's St. Lucie Inlet. The winds, blowing out of the East and Southeast much of last week formed up weed lines that were teaming with dolphin. The first part of this week those winds shifted to the west and dolphin fishing sputtered a bit. Most of the weed lines held up and the last several days the wind shifted back to East and Southeast. We are back in business.

With the winds shifting back to normal June should provide excellent dolphin fishing for the next 2 or 3 weeks.

The shallower water along the Gulf Stream are still teaming with bonito, cobia, kingfish, snapper, black fin tuna and shark as well as sailfish and dolphin. Out in the deep water where the Gulf Stream meets inshore waters (500-1200 ft) the weed lines should hold the bigger packs of dolphin.

Sailfish are starting to show up for the summer run and sailfishing should be good to excellent over the next month or two. We usually get a big push of sailfish for a couple of weeks in July. As the water warms, sailfish, dolphin, kingfish and bonita will move in to 75 to 150 feet of water.

July is one of the best months of the year to target blue marlin off the coast of Stuart, as the small schooly dolphin that are starting to move in are their favorite food. July is also an excellent time to spend the evening drifting the gulfstream for Swordfish.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Stuart, Florida Deep Sea Fishing

Wow, another great week of fishing off Stuart Florida's St. Lucie Inlet. The winds, blowing out of the east and southeast, are forming up weedlines that are teaming with dolphin. The shallower water along the Gulf Stream are still teaming with bonito, cobia, kingfish, snapper, blackfin tuna and shark as well as sailfish and dolphin. Out in the deep water where the Gulf Stream meets inshore waters (500-1200 ft) the dolphin action is still hot and holding bigger packs of dolphin.

This weekend was especially sweet for Christina Ambrosius, the 14 year old daughter of One Call Charters' owner, Robert Ambrosius. Fishing the Treasure Coast Builders' Association Tournament, off Port Salerno, Christina caught and released her first blue marlin. For details read:

Blue marlin release highlights TCBA for One Call angler

Additionally, the first and forth place prizes, in the Kingfish category, went to One Call anglers Matt Booth and Jimmy Homan. Matt's Kingfish weight in at 40.34 lbs and Jimmy's Kingfish weighted in at 22.58. All and all, a great day for all aboard the One Call.

Conspicuously absent from the list of fish weighted in for the tournament was the Wahoo. Not one of 84 boats entered in the tournament weighted in a Wahoo. Looks like they have moved on for the summer.

Tuna fishing for the next 6 to 8 weeks will be excellent for Yellowfin, Skip-Jack, and Blackfin Tuna, especially for those who venture out to the Bahama Corner. It is a 75 mile run from the St. Lucie Inlet, but usually well worth the trip this time of year.

Sailfish are starting to show up for the summer run and sailfishing should be good to excellent over the next month or two. As the water warms, sailfish, dolphin, kingfish and bonita will move in to 75 to 150 feet of water.

May, June or July are prime season for Marlin. For the best shot at the much sought-after Blue Marlin, try the new moon in June. If you really have your heart set on fighting the Blue Marlin, check out the entry below labeled: A Bahamas Corner Yellowfin Tuna Charter Report Date: March 4, 2010.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Florida Deep Sea Fishing in May

Fishing off Stuart Florida's St. Lucie Inlet this week has been great. All are reporting good catches for the time they are out, independent of sea conditions and depth. Fishing in the shallower depths near the Gulf Stream (around 200) puts you on a variety of species like bonito, sailfish, cobia, blackfin tuna, shark, and dolphin. Out in the deep water where the Gulf Stream meets inshore waters (600-800 ft) the dolphin action is as hot as it gets. The trend has been that the stronger the chop, the hotter the action.

The only downside this month is the usual increase of afternoon thunderstorms. Ever so, expect the rest of the month to bring the hottest action of the year, if you are looking for action with all species. Dolphin action is hot now and should stay that way as long as conditions remain unchanged. The sailfishing should be excellent in the coming weeks as they move North to Stuart, Florida's cooler Gulfstream waters.

All in all, that's much of what May has brought us so far.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Florida Deep Sea Fishing in April

With the winds blowing at twenty to thirty mph for the last week and six to eight foot choppy seas, few offshore fishermen have braved passage through Stuart Florida's St. Lucie Inlet. The few that have are reporting good catches for the time they are out, but all admit that miserable sea conditions caused them to turn tail and run for home. All in all, that's much of what April has brought us for weather.

Looking forward, the weather will change for the better. Those winds that I am complaining about at the moment will be appreciated in the near future. "It is an ill wind that brings no man good." April winds bring with them the best dolphin and sailfish action of the year, as the winds kick up the seas and the fish just love the addition aeration in the water. At this moment, the water temperature at 150 ft. is seventy degrees. Kings have arrived in good numbers and biting on most anything put in front of them. When the current is right bottom fishing has been good, with plenty of Bonita and big Amberjacks on the wrecks. Signs look good for the days ahead.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Florida Gulf Stream Fishing in March

"Beware the Ides of March" sums up how this month has been going for the offshore fisherman. Cold, rain and wind is what March has brought us for weather. We get one good day and the rest are not fit for man nor beast. Cool windy days have kept the water temperatures cool and fishing condition uncomfortable. Early this week Cobia were every where. From 40 feet out the cobia and rays were keeping all busy. They were not big but there were plenty of them. Then the rain, wind and 3’ to 5’ seas moved in and the bite was off.

On the other hand, "It is an ill wind that brings no man good" seems to apply for the surf anglers. They are having plenty of action with Blue Fish on the beach, independent of time and tide.

Looking forward, it is the middle of March and the weather should change for the better. Typically the winds lie down in April and make for calmer more pleasant offshore fishing.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

It's about that time of year when the sailfish bite off Stuart Florida's St. lucie Inlet starts to settle down and thought of sensational adventures fill the mind. For a jaded South Florida fisherman the fish and destination the fill those fanticies are the yellowfin tuna and the Bahama Corner. Located 70-miles due east of Fort Pierce Inlet, The Corner is a spherical body of water situated north-northwest of West End, Freeport Grand Bahama Island.

Freeport Grand Bahama Island is the northern most island in the Bahamian chain and is well known for great saltwater fishing. Every year Freeport gets the first crack at many of the most well known sportsfish like Marlin, Wahoo, Sailfish, Tuna and Dorado because of yearly Altantic migration of these fish.

Here, nutrient rich seas from the Little Bahama Bank filtering across the shallows spill into the deep. Those who make the run to The Corner tell tales of monster dolphin – a typical bycatch for trollers scouting for prize tuna. With very little fishing pressure and abundant forage, pelagics flourish throughout The Corner in unprecedented numbers.

There is a good reason why those fish see very little fishing preasure. Reaching The Corner is no joke. It’s a long run across the Gulf Stream and you will likely be fishing alone far from the nearest port. You need a good boat, an experienced captain and reliable weather.

If your thoughts have turned to this action-packed fishery, One Call Charters is here to serve. Over the years, we have made the crossing numerous times in One Call, a 29 foot open fisherman. In January, we added a Rampage 38 Express yacht to the fleet. It truely is a do all craft. Whether it's chasing tuna, sailfish or marlin, out beyond the fog bound reaches, that's where the Rampage 38 Express prowls.

The Bahamas Corner Fishing Calendar:

Wahoo: Peak months for Wahoo are December through early April.

Tuna: March to June is peak season for Bahamas Yellowfin Tuna. The tuna in these waters range from 20-100 pounds, and can either be trolled or live baited.
Dolphin: Found year round, but peak season is March to June. Extremely plentiful in April & May, Bahama corner dolphin tend to be 20 pounds and greater.
Marlin: May, June or July are prime season for Marlin. For the best shot at the much sought-after Blue Marlin, try the new moon in June - June 12th.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

With today's water temperature between 70-72 degrees all day long, the sailfish action continues strong off the St. Lucie inlet. Wahoo, greater amberjack, cobia, good numbers of dolphin, and large bonita are being reported in the same areas as the sailfish. The sailfish action has been good from the beach to the Gulf Stream in depth up to 300 ft.

New 2010 Atlantic fishing regulations have been posted online at:
Florida Fishing Regulations:
http://myfwc.com/docs/RulesRegulatio...Newsletter.pdf

New fishing gear regulations can be found at:
http://myfwc.com/RULESANDREGS/Saltwa...Gear_index.htm

With mild weather conditions back on the Treasure Coast, warm days and comfortable evenings make it nice to be on the water. The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Sailfish continue to dominate the St. Lucie inlet offshore scene. Wahoo, good numbers of dolphin, and large bonita are in the same areas as the sailfish. The sailfish action has been good from the beach to the Gulf Stream in depth up to 300 ft. Some very respectable dolphin are being taken in 300 feet of water, close to the Gulf Stream with radio reports of great dolphin action (five to fifteen pounds) from the Jupiter Inlet, St. Luice Inlet and Fort Pierce Inlet in 100+ feet of water.

The major cold snap of the last week or so has finally ended and the weather is perfect. Right now the sailfish action is red hot. The quick drop in water temperature slowed the action some, but now the fish are hungry and active. Now is the time to be on the water. Midday temperatures today in Stuart hit 70°; Perfect.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

There is still a good sailfish bite offshore. Wahoo, good numbers of dolphin, large bonito and a lot of small sharp-nosed sharks are in the same areas as the sailfish. The sailfish action has been good in depths from the beach to the edge of the Gulf Stream. The most productive depth is likely around 120 feet. Some dolphin are being taken in 300 feet of water, close to the Gulf Stream, chasing hordes of small blackfin tunas.

There are reports of kingfish in 50 to 80 feet of water and they were taking slow trolled live bait.

Also, major schools of bluefish are moving South with the sharks close behind. Good wreck fishing is being reported, but keep in mind that in one more week all specie of grouper go off limits for four months.

As has been the case for the last several weeks, getting bait has been problematic.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

Cold, calm, partly cloudy and the sailfish are here and hungry. As I write this (Noon - Monday, Dec. 21st), it is 56°F with a light wind out of the North and partly cloudy skies. Conditions are perfect and the weather forcast for the rest of the week looks good. Life is Good!

Last week the sailfish migration moved into the St. Lucie Inlet area in mass, but the weather for most of the week was wet and windy with condition beening good one day and bad the next. The few days that were fishable produced great sailfish action with sailfish and dolphin taking both slow trolled ballyhoo and live bait in the 160 foot range both North and South of the St. Lucie Inlet. Finding bait fish has not been easy.

Dolphin and kingfish are still here and biting. Much of the dolphin action is being reported in 160 to 200 feet and the kingfish in about 80 feet of water.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

My previous fishing report (December 1) started off with "December is here and so are the dolphinfish, still." and ended with "Although the sailfish bite is picking up, until the water temperature drops a bit, the heaviest consentration of sailfish will be some considerable distance North of the St. Lucie Inlet. But, all it should take is some cold weather to bring them here." Nothing has changed!

December generally produces spectacular sailfish action off the St. Luice Inlet and likely 2009 will be the same. Still, by this time we usually have several significant cold fronts pass through and the water temperature is lower by a few degrees.

That said, the sailfish acton has been good with the sailfish taking both ballyhoo and live bait, primarily North of the St. Lucie Inlet. That's good, because finding bait fish has not been easy this week and weather condition have been good one day and bad the next. That's to be expected and come with the season.

Dolphin and kingfish are still here and biting. Much of the dolphin action is being reported in 160 to 200 feet and the kingfish in about 80 feet of water.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

December is here and so are the dolphinfish, still. As a matter of fact, dolphin action has picked you over the last couple weeks. The likely reason for that is water temperature. According to todays report at HotSpots Charts, the recorded water temperature outside Stuart Florida's St. Lucie Inlet is 80 degrees Fahrenheit. That's the high end of the dolphin's preferred range and close to the high end of a sailfish's range.

Although the sailfish bite is picking up, until the water temperature drops a bit, the heaviest consentration of sailfish will be some considerable distance North of the St. Lucie Inlet. But, all it should take is some cold weather to bring them here.

The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

The wind blew fifteen to thirty miles per hour out of the North East to East nearly all week long. How does that make one feel?  To steal a line from Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea" protagonist, Santiago, following his sighting of the shark, Hemingway wrote:

"Ay, he said aloud. There is no translation for this word and perhaps it is just a noise such as a man might make, involuntarily, feeling the nail go through his hands and into the wood."

But, the past is the past and the season is upon us. The adventure begins anew. Let's go fishing.

New Regulations in the Gulf of Mexico

Greater Amberjack Fishery Closure in Federal Waters of the Gulf of Mexico

Effective October 24, 2009, the recreational fishery for greater amberjack in federal waters is closed.  The recreational harvest in or from federal waters will be prohibited through the end of the current fishing year, December 31, 2009.  This closure is effective from 9 miles out in federal Gulf of Mexico waters.  Florida State waters remain open for the recreational harvest of greater amberjack with the current bag and size limit of 1 per harvester per day; 28” minimum fork length in the Atlantic and 30” minimum for length in the Gulf of Mexico.

In addition, a person aboard a vessel for which a federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued must also abide by this closure provision in state waters. This action is required by regulations implemented under the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico.

Based on recent catch data from regulators, NOAA scientists determined the recreational quota for AJs to be full. Therefore, the greater amberjack lockout will start Oct. 24 and will continue at least until the end of the year

NOAA Fisheries Service has determined this action is necessary to prevent overfishing and to keep the recreational sector from exceeding its quota during the 2009 fishing year.

This closure does not include Stuart, Florida Gulf Stream waters nor does it apply to One Call Charters, as One Call Charters is not a federal charter vessel. Still, it is troubling that Florida's fisheries have come to this.

Strong onshore winds this week made it very rough offshore, up until this weekend. Saturday and Sunday it calmed down and fishermen were raking in the dolphin. Dolphin are being caught in seventy-five to one hundred and twenty feet. The crew of the NEGOTIATOR reported Sunday that by midday the dolphin started to show up east of the Loran tower in 75 ft and they filled out their limit.

The mullet run continues its move south and sailfish, in surprising numbers, are being taken in between 120 and 200 feet of water. Sailfish and dolphin should begin showing up in better numbers as November arrives. Kingfish are being caught in 20-80 feet of water. Snapper fishing should be steady as long as the sea conditions and bottom current allow. Anglers need to remember that this will be the last week anglers can keep their limit of vermilion snapper caught in federal waters. No vermilion snapper may be kept from November 1 through March 31, 2010.

Also, trout season is closed in November and December each year and re-opens on January 1st.

The action on the beach is the arrival of bluefish and mackerel thick up and down sailfish alley and the largest kings of the season will be found in these same areas. There are still some full grown tarpon around all the bait fish schools.

The first major cold front of the fall season for the Stuart, Florida area came in yesterday and brought with it cold air and Northerly winds. Nighttime temperatures dropped into the high forties. This should drop our water temp a little and put the fish on the move. The cold will bring the best run of ballyhoo of the year from now through November when they push South to the keys. Now is a great time to target mackerel, dolphin, sailfish, and other species, in from 120 feet of water all the way up to the beach.

Offshore, there is a lot of bonito, barracuda and kingfish in 70 to 90 feet of water with both live and artificial's working well. A good number of sailfish are being caught to the Nouth of the St. Lucie Inlet in about 100 feet of water. Most of the sailfish hook ups are on live bait. The bottom fishing has been steady for sea bass, snapper and triggerfish. Both live and dead baits are working well.

The weather has been perfect and the water very clean. That combo leads to good fishing when the fish are here. That said, dolphin fishing has been quite good over the last few weeks! That's great, but how about tomorrow? If for instance, dolphin action was great for the last several days around Push Button Hill and the weather holds, shouldn't I expect more success tomorrow? Consider this.

While the exact migration patterns and seasonal occurrences of dolphin in the Atlantic are largely unknown, anglers and scientist are getting a better idea of what the dolphin's extraordinary journey entails. New information provided by the Cooperative Science Services Dolphin Research Program tells us that a lone dolphin traveled from Marathon to Ft. Pierce in only four days. That is an average of 84-miles a day! In January of 2009 an angler fishing off the coast of Puerto Rico tagged and released a cow dolphin with an approximate 22-inch fork length. 88 days later the fish had traveled 381-miles west and was estimated to have grown 14-inches before being recaptured.

These examples suggest that if you see a trophy dolphin today, don't expect to find him tomorrow. His brother may come along, but he will be long gone.

Right now, dolphin are beening found from 75 feet on out. For those willing to do some trolling, find floating objects. Dolphin have been caught along the scattered weedlines offshore and under floating debris. The NEGOTIATOR reported smoking hot dolphin action in 70 feet with frigates working the area. He limited out on schoolies between 5 and 15lbs.

Nighttime bottom fishing continues to produce a mixed bag of snappers, groupers, jacks and grunts. Many of the fish are small with the bigger fish generally caught just trolling open water. Its a great way to chance upon any traveling sailfish, or blackfin or yellowfin tuna.

Large schools of baitfish are moving up and down the beach from Palm Beach To Stuart.

Midday temperature today was 90F. Second week of October; It it hot! But then, so is the fishing.

Much of the chatter this week has been related to Push Button Hill. About a ten mile run from the St. Lucie inlet, it attracted a lot of fishermen, with nice things to say about their visit. The numbers for Push Button are as follows:

NORTH PUSHBUTTON PEAK 27/10/95 79/57/85 282 FT
SOUTH " PEAK 27/09/95 79/56/85 276 FT
PUSHBUTTON HOLE 27/11/75 79/58/08
These numbers and many more are available on Home Port Charts # 36 which shows reefs (natural & artificial), wrecks and other valuable info.

Mike Beath and crew of MIKNEVETS reported a calm weather day last Thursday, run out to push-button and landed a 40# wahoo while trolling ballyhoo. Two nice blackfin tuna, two large Bonitos and a cuda made the day exciting.

For those willing to do some trolling, find floating objects. Scattered groups of dolphin have been caught along the scattered weedlines offshore and under floating debris. Eric Knipfer of the ONE OF THE GIRLS reported 5 black-fin tuna in less that 2 hrs in 190 feet. The NEGOTIATOR reported smoking hot dolphin action in 70 feet with Frigates working the area. He limited out on schoolies between 5 and 15lbs.

Nighttime bottom fishing continues to produce a mixed bag of snappers, groupers, jacks and grunts. Many of the fish are small with the bigger fish generally caught just trolling open water. Its a great way to chance upon any traveling sailfish, or blackfin or yellowfin tuna.

The first cold front of the fall season stalled over Stuart Thursday, but didn't bring any cold air. Drier air, but not much for cold. Actually, the front is the second of two. The first, which arrived in South Florida on Tuesday, was so wimpy that it really didn’t count. However, it did bring ideal weather and calm seas. Midday temperature today was 84F.

Offshore, the calm ocean has made it nice to cover some water looking for dolphin and blackfin tuna. For those willing to do some trolling, stay out past 200 feet and find floating objects. Scattered groups of dolphin have been caught along the scattered weedlines offshore and under floating debris. Swordfish slowed last weekend but should pick up again with this weekend’s full moon. Nighttime bottom fishing continues to produce a mixed bag of snappers, groupers, jacks and grunts. Many of the fish are small with the bigger fish generally caught just trolling open water. Its a great way to chance upon any traveling sailfish, or blackfin or yellowfin tuna.

The weather this week has not been cooperative for Stuart area fisherman, but those who suffered through this outrageous fortune fared well. The kingfish are around in decent numbers as well as a fair share of false albacores. The kingfish, mostly under 30 pounds, are hitting on live baits in 40 to 70 feet of water. Dolphin are scattered in 90 to 170 feet of water and are being taken one live bait or trolled ballyhoo. Lots of sailfish are being sighted North of the St. Lucie Inlet with most of the hookups on ballyhoo. The bottom fishing has been tough but still reports of bonito, snapper, triggerfish, black sea bass, and amberjack are being posted.

With the mullet run in full swing in the Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie River and along the beaches the fishing is picking up nicely. On the inside, redfish, trout, and ladyfish are gorging themselves on finger mullet. Plenty of trout has been reported at just about any place you find schools of glass minnows.

Along the beach, there are plenty of bluefish, snook, tarpon, redfish, spanish mackerel, jacks, flounder, and ladyfish. With all the mullet in the Lagoon and St. Lucie river the redfish are active on the flats. 

Never satisfied; We are still looking for the next cold to bring down surface water temperatures to the sailfish's preferred range. Prime time for Stuart, Florida area sailfish starts about Mid October through April when there are a lot of fish concentrated in our area. On winter days with the wind out of the east it is not unusual to get 4-5 sail releases in a days.

Fishing has just been great offshore and inside and with fall just days away, the sailfish fishing will get hot. So, If you are coming down, give us a call.

Tip of the Week:

With the fall mullet run in full force, find the lures that best imitates a wounded mullet. The fish are keying on the bait schools and will attack anything that looks like an easy meal. It wasn't long ago that the fish were gorging on pinfish, but now it's mullet time! Match your lures to the bait and you will have better success out on the water.

Great weather and good fishing; Life is good. With the mullet run in full swing in the Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie River and along the beaches the fishing is picking up nicely. The bottom bite has been good and likely to only get better. The kingfish have been around in decent numbers with some decent fish being caught as well as a fair share of false albacores. On the inside, redfish, trout, and ladyfish are gorging themselves on finger mullet. Along the beach, there are plenty of bluefish, snook, tarpon, redfish, spanish mackerel, jacks, flounder, and ladyfish. With all the mullet in the Lagoon and St. Lucie river the redfish are active on the flats, even with the high tides.  The bottom fishing has picked up this week for bonito, snapper, triggerfish, black sea bass, and amberjack.

We are still looking for the next cold front to bring a big push of mullet south along the beach. Then we will see action on the flats as the schools of finger mullet fill the river and bring in the predators.  It's a great opportunity to catch some big fish, so call me and let's get out on the water!

Prime time for Stuart, Florida area sailfish starts about Mid October through April when there are a lot of fish concentrated in our area. On winter days with the wind out of the east it is not unusual to get 4-5 sail releases in a days. This week, North of the St. Lucie Inlet, one boat reported a 5 for 7 sailfish day. During the late winter season be sure to present plenty of baits down deep, at least 60 feet or more down. It is a bit too cold for them on those days when the winds are blowing from the north.

Fishing has just been great offshore and inside and with fall just days away, the sail fishing will get hot. So, If you are coming down, give us a call.

The annual fall mullet run is in full swing in the St. Lucie River estuary. This triggers a predatory feeding frenzy and produces some of the best fishing of the year. On the inside, redfish, trout, and ladyfish are gorging themselves on finger mullet. The key to finding the tarpon, snook, jacks and many other species is finding the small mullet. Find them, and sport fish will be nearby. The predators will be cruising along the beaches or cornering bait around the St. Lucie Inlet and seawalls in the Indian River and around the bridges in the St. Lucie River. With all the mullet coming into the St. Lucie river, the snook are crashing bait and fishermen are everywhere. Redfish are still active on the flats.  Also, the bottom fishing has picked up this week for snapper, triggerfish, black sea bass, and amberjack.

The next cold front should bring a big push of mullet south along the beach, so look for action on the flats as the schools of finger mullet fill the river and bring in the predators.  It is a great opportunity to catch some big fish, so call me and let's get out on the water!

During the winter season, good sailfish fishing will be affected by the passage of cold fronts through our area. What these cold fronts do is jump start our winter fishing. This gives us good action as the winds associated with the fronts will kick up the seas and the fish just love the addition aeration in the water. Kite fishing becomes the most popular method for seeking sailfish action, although flat lines catch their fair share of sailfish. Kingfish and dolphin aren't very choosey and will hit baits on the kite, flat lines, down rigger, or bottom rod.

September brings a change in the air; You can feel it. A little dryer, a touch cooler in the morning, and the fish can feel it too. Typically sailfish can be seen in deeper waters offshore this month. Sometimes you will see them surrounding large schools of spanish sardines as they head south. As we near the winter time they will start showing up in large numbers along the edge of the Gulf Stream. Dolphin are starting their return trip south and should be fat and happy as they head our way. Look for small kingfish along the edge. Bottom fishing for Mutton Snapper should be good as well. It's beginning to happen. Call for availability.

Good dolphin fishing has finally arrived off the Stuart/Jupiter area. There are large numbers of fish in the schools and they can be found through a wide range of depths and distances offshore. The fish range in size from schoolies to fish into the 15 pound range. Remember that there is a 20 inch minimum from the lower jaw to the fork of the tail (LJFT) and a 10 fish per person limit.

There are still some nice snapper around the channel edges and docks. Around the bridges, the anglers have caught snapper, croakers and sheephead. The mackerel are still around the inlet, but not as frenzied as last week. We did see some bonito crashing bait out there today. The surf has been producing mostly whiting and some croakers and mackerel. We had a lot of fun out this week and will be out there again looking for the action around the St. Lucie river for big tarpon.

Speaking of time of year, be warned that as of August 1, 2009, Florida resident fishing in saltwater from land or from a structure fixed to the land will be required to have a Florida saltwater license.