November/December 2008
Pompano are a prize in December and are at the top of the wish list for many anglers here in the Stuart and Jensen Beach region. These tasty game fish can be caught while fishing from the beach of Hutchinson Island or various locations throughout the IRL. In the Stuart area hot spots include the deeper channels of the sailfish flats, areas adjacent to the mouth of the manatee pocket and 4-8’ deep sandy flats between the Stuart and Jensen causeway. When in doubt, one way to locate pomps is to move the boat around a targeted area at idle speed and have your fishing partner scan the water around the boat until the fish begin to surface. Often when you are near to a school of fish, they will begin to briefly start “skipping” out of the water around the boat. That would be a great place to drop the Power Pole or anchor and start fishing. Sand fleas, small shrimp or brightly colored jigs tipped fished naked or tipped with pieces of shrimp are go to offerings for pompano. A DOA Cal jig rigged with a DOA grub with the ½ of the body of the plastic trimmed is another deadly pompano lure. Various flies will also work including small bright chenille wrapped head patterns as well as clousers in tan and white will fool these fish but more importantly the key is to keep your offering down, bouncing on the bottom.
Trout fishing on the grass flats should be on fire in December and as you work into deeper water as the day progresses don’t be surprised if you start hooking into bluefish, snapper, sheepshead, ladyfish or jacks. Trout fishing remains a catch and release game for the month of December so handle the fish with care if at all. The use of an ARC dehooker will insure the quickest and safest release for trout and most other released fish.
The greatest population of Spanish mackerel will be south of the St. Lucie inlet at pecks lake but if you want to avoid the crowds look for diving birds up and down beaches of Hutchinson and Jupiter islands and you’re likely to find your own little pod of macs or bluefish.
Its sailfish time in south Florida waters so now is as good of a time as any to hook a high flying billfish and there’s always a good chance for dolphin hook ups too. Start at the 6 mile reef and work east keying on weed lines, color changes, rips or anything floating on the water’s surface with both live bait or trolled ballyhoo and lures.
Captain Duber Winters
Green Water Charters
772-631-1023
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