Florida Inshore Report
By: Capt. Bob Bushholz
8-13-02

The big event on the Treasure Coast the past couple of years in August has
definitely been the tarpon bite.  Each year, fishing gets better and better. 
Pretty soon we will see Florida Keys residents traveling north to Stuart to
target our "silver kings".  I can picture it now.  Stuart, the "Sailfish AND
tarpon capital of the world".  August provides many angling opportunities. 
It's summertime and we will cover it all!

Starting in the surf, whiting and croaker are thick in the first trough.  Try
ultra light 6 lb. test, casting no more than 10 feet out, using crappie jigs
tipped with shrimp, squid or clams.  Great action for everyone on light
tackle.  Don't be afraid to toss a whiting out on a circle hook with
beefed-up tackle (12-20 lb. test) for snook roaming in the trough.  If you
feel like strolling, bring a 7-foot rod with 12 lb. test using a 20 lb.
leader, throwing an assortment of artificials and there's a good chance of
hooking into snook tarpon, permit, bluefish, Spanish mackerel and who knows
what else.  DOA's baitbuster, crabs and terrorize, bombers, spoons, Gag's
mini mambo, Yozuri plugs and windcheaters are best for those long casts.  A
good place to start, if the water clears up, is Bathtub Beach and fish south
to the Inlet.  If conditions are dirty heading south, just fish north casting
diagonally, working these baits in the first trough (the "strike zone"). 
Resident bluefish, pompano and Spanish mackerel always show up at the
craziest times.  Early morning till 10 a.m. and near dusk (low light hours)
work the best.  Remember, snook season is still closed, so crimp those barbs
down for easy removal and release all snook while they are still in the water
to protect their slime coats.  If fishing from a boat surfside, look for
tarpon inside 20'.  Schools of permit and snook are in close.  Be respectful
of the surf anglers by not crowding their already limited space.  It's easier
to motor 300 yards than it is for the angler on the beach to walk.  Don't
forget to use plenty of sunscreen and bring lots of water.   With the heat
index the past week, temps have been over 105 degrees. 

Moving into the River, it's the same deal.  Fish early or late.  If you must
fish midday, the fish move into deeper water into the inlet, crossroads,
bridges, channel markers or anywhere they can find cooler water temps and/or
shade.  By 11 a.m., shallow water reaches 90 degrees and there won't be
anybody home.  Water temps in 10 feet of water are cooler by up to 10-15
degrees.  Since we all know fish have a tendency to outsmart us, just follow
their lead.  Cooler is better.  Even if there are more releases from the
canals and Lake Okeechobee, fishing deep will keep you in saltwater.  Fresh
water sits on top in the St. Lucie River, so the dirtier the water, the
deeper you need to fish. 

Tarpon will be everywhere.  In the North Fork of the St. Lucie, look around
Club Med south to the Roosevelt Bridge.  These tarpon will be munching on
abundant glass minnows and eels that run through the area in August and can
be found all the way to the Hospital dock.  Heading east, the St. Lucie Inlet
and crossroads to the Stuart Causeway are a good bet for tarpon action just
east of the ICW channel.  Sailfish flats will hold tarpon, but it's a large
area to cover.  Channels into the Dolphin Grill and Anchors Aweigh Marina
hold a few huge tarpon (over 100 lbs.) and like to feast on mullet.  There
seems to be a resident "monster" that stalks the Indian Riverside pier
looking for easy prey.  You can spot them rolling in the channel all the way
north to Fort Pierce, but "rolling" doesn't necessarily mean "eating".  At
the power plant entrance, right up against the yellow boom and just outside
of Little Mud Creek in 12 feet of water has produced some super jumpers. 
These fish have been in Little Mud Creek for two months now and will really
test your patience.  They almost seem to recognize certain boats and
absolutely refuse anything you might throw at them.  Maybe a disguise is in
order.

Tripletail will be hanging around channel markers up and down the Indian
River until the beginning of October.  It seems the hotter the air temp the
better they like it.  Live shrimp on a 2/0, ¼ oz. trollrite jighead seem to
be the preferred bait with DOA shrimp and terrorize, assorted sort rubber
baits working well too.  You have to be mobile, spending no more than 10
minutes on each piling.  Flounder and jacks will be spread out all over. 
Spanish mackerel in the pat few years have appeared unexpectedly around the
Mosquito Bridge on the Jensen Causeway, making them a "boaters only" target
for the next two years during the construction period.  Black drum are
hanging around the structure of the bridges, with the Roosevelt and Jensen
Bridge holding drum to 10 lbs. on the bottom.  Snook remain on the beaches,
inlets and flat. 

Night fishing is excellent in August.  Private lighted docks hold plenty of
trout and snook.  If you're fishing these docks, approach with much stealth,
cast into the shadow lines and work your casts close to the docks.  Slow
sinking DOA glo shrimp are hard to beat.  Live shrimp (if you're lucky enough
to find any at the local bait shops) and topwater plugs will definitely work.
  If there are lots of glass minnows around, try throwing Gag Grabber's Mini
Mambo and match the hatch.  They've made a believer out of me!  Remember to
respect the dock owners and not blast your casts onto the docks leaving line
and hooks behind. 

There are plenty of great fishing opportunities in August.  The key is low
light for shallow fishing, deeper water for midday.  New fish pictures are
now posted on my site. Just click on "Latest Fish Pictures"

                                        Capt. Bob Bushholz

                                   http://www.catch22fish.com

                                         (772) 225-6436