FORECASTS FISHING

Martin County Inshore Nearshore

Capt. Jonathan Earhart

Chaos Fishing Charters

(772) 341 – 2274 www.chaosfishigcharters.com jon@chaosfishigncharters.com

August is always a great month for fishing on the Treasure Coast. It can be one of the hottest months of the year, so be sure to wear plenty of sunblock and stay hydrated. Inshore fishing is best for big snook, tarpon, and jack crevalles. Live whitebaits and or mullet depending on what baits are available. We can expect to see an influx of mullet this month as a precursor to the fall mullet run.

Nearshore fishing remains steady with some sailfish, bonito, snapper, kingfish, and the occasional mahi. To produce surface pelagic bites, target 25-to-65 foot of water around bait schools.

Bottom fishing on nearshore reefs will provide plenty of snapper for the fish box. Long leader rigs and or chicken rigs with cut bait will get the snapper bites. Beach fishing will be a good choice for tarpon, snook, jacks, permit, and sharks. Live bait, dead bait, and or artificials early morning or late afternoon around dawn and dusk. Tight lines! baits and live baits presented at the end of longer (20 to 70 feet) straight leaders will produce a snapper bite from larger representatives of the mutton and mangrove species at these same reef locations. (For local GPS coordinates for Martin County’s Artificial Reef sites, go to martinreefs.com.)

Snapper catching strategies will dominate the offshore lives of most local anglers, during the hot summer days of August. Several species of snapper—including lane, vermilion, mangrove (gray), and mutton—will be solidly into their yearly spawning period this month. These members of the snapper family will populate an expansive swath of Martin County’s reef system from 50 to 180 feet of water, allowing captains and anglers to dial in a daily fishing strategy that best suits individual tastes and abilities. Depths of 55 to 95 feet of water will be the focal point for most snapper fishing and will allow anglers to catch representatives from all four categories of snapper mentioned above. Snapper ‘grand slams’ will be a highly achievable feat during offshore bottom fishing outings this month, as these representatives of the snapper family coexist at similar reef sites and will fall prey to similar baits and tackle presentations. All varieties of cut bait, including squid, bonito, sardines, and ballyhoo, to name a few, will result in snapper catching success. Chicken rigs and single hook, straight leader rigs will suffice for bait delivery options to these tasty bottom dwellers. Large cut

Besides a flavorful selection of snapper as fish targets, anglers will continue to be able to catch and keep grouper this month. Grouper will also be found right alongside schools of spawning snapper at these same reef outcroppings, making a bottom fishing strategy for a day’s outing a highly desirable option.

August’s relatively calm summer seas will allow fishing crews to explore their near coastal fishing zone. As in all summer months, fishing teams must maintain a healthy concern for thunderstorm activity and shape their trips accordingly.

So, in August, stock the boat up with plenty of lead and cut bait and target the many species of snapper that inhabit the near shore waters, east of Martin County.

For Reservations Call (772) 334-4411

Trip Times

Monday-Saturday 8:30AM-1:30PM

Adults $70; Children $60

Sunday 8:30AM-3:00PM

Adults $80; Children $70

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Forecasts Fishing

ST. LUCIE COUNTY OFFSHORE

Capt. Bo Samuel

Pullin Drag Charters

(772) 971-6661 facebook.com/Pullin-Drag-Charters catainbofishing@gmail.com

Warm waters, sunny days, calm seas, and low-to-no winds continue making August a good time to plan on reeling in some of those salty groceries on your list! While Treasure Coast fishing can be a little slow this month, having a plan to target certain species will increase the chances of keeping your boat deck fishy and your dinner table full. No matter what others may say, the right plan of action will keep you on the fish.

August also reminds us that Fort Pierce is a diving destination for divers hoping to catch limits of tasty Florida “bugs”. The highly anticipated spiny lobster season opens on August 6 and we expect significantly more boats in the area as divers from around the state come to enjoy our spectacular inlet and lobster bounty. Local captains and boat operators must be aware of dive flags on boats and personal buoys while navigating busy local waters. Many anglers are also divers but if you’re not a diver, trade some scales for tails and truly enjoy why we live in a fishing and diving paradise.

Local snapper species of lanes, mangroves (gray), and muttons are well into their yearly spawning season now and will be quickly found in area reef systems anywhere from 50-to100 feet. This means that even novice anglers will be able to dial in on a stellar snapper bite and boast some bragging rights. We are consistently pulling in sizable snapper, 8 to 10plus pounders and daily limits, with the key of keeping the bait on bottom with enough weight. I recommend stirring up these aggressive feeders by using a chum bag and throwing some cut bait like frozen sardines and then get ready for some incredible action.

Targeting snapper can also provide a little luck for potential grouper hookups. Grouper will be found mixed in with the spawning snapper along the reef in all depths so bottom fishing is the go-to strategy. Running a flat line on top behind the boat while bottom fishing is also a great idea as it could help catch a bite from a cruising mahi. Nice to have options...especially for dinner.

Offshore bites of cobia, kingfish, amberjack, some dolphin, and sailfish are being reported. Big kings and cobia follow the bait fish so start looking carefully around any bait pods you find. Some days the kings will demolish anything you show them but other days they can be picky eaters. Always be prepared for a hit though, as kingfish are known to pull 100-to-200 feet of drag quickly and the challenge is on!

If you need a ride out to fish the blue, Pullin Drag has the fishiest boats on the Treasure Coast for you. Remember fishing rules, tackle, and bait can be found at great local area tackle shops like DeBrooks Fishing Corner and Little Jim Bait & Tackle. Here’s to scales and tails and a salty summer Pullin Drag!

Resort, live music by Leah Orchid, raffle drawings and a silent auction, made possible by donations from local businesses.

Tournament sponsors included Boar’s Head, PUBLIX Charities, Frito Lay, JJ Taylor Companies, Inc., Jordan

Dynamics, Inc., Breakthru Beverage, Florida Insurance Trust, Flora Fine Foods, Closets by Design, H.E. Hill Foundation, Yates Funeral Home, and Owen Insurance Group.

For more information on The ARC of the Treasure Coast, visit www.arcmc.org.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY INSHORE

Capt. Adam White

St. Lucie Flats Fishing Charters (609) 820-6257 www.stlucieflatsfishing.com

Assummer continues to bring the daily chance of afternoon rains and thunderstorms, fishing will take the usual second seat to the opening of lobster season. Expect lots of boats on the water each day as they head out in search of the spiny critters. Be mindful of dive flags, practice safe boating tactics and don’t be in a hurry to get out there.

Bridges will hold some nice snapper during the month along with snook and tarpon in the lights at night. Using 20-to-30 fluorocarbon with live mojarras is a great way to target the mangrove snappers around

ST. LUCIE COUNTY DEEP SEA

Capt. Scotty Gold

Miss Fort Pierce Fishing (772) 766-0191 fortpiercefishing.com

As August is upon us, so is the hot steamy weather. As the mangrove snappers continue to spawn, there is a continued bite in 65 to 85 feet of water. Fish with the shorter leader of 12- and 15-foot, 40-or 30-pound fluorocarbon leader with any kind of cut bait or sardine, as well some live bait like a mojarra or finger mullet. Fish on the bottom on rough reef structures.

Also, the mutton snappers will continue to bite in depth of 30-to120 feet of water. Continue long leaders at 15 to 25 feet of 40-to50-pound test fluorocarbon or monofilament line. Once again, cut the bridges. Once the sun sets, the shadow line will load up with small pilchards and greenies, and the snook and tarpon will be gorging themselves on them. Using small baits is a good way to get into some snook or tarpon action. D.O.A. TerrorEyz, small MirrOlures, and Yo-Zuri twitch baits are all good small profile lures to work the shadow line at night.

Head out to the docks along the river for snook, snapper, and an occasional redfish. When the water gets very hot, cut bait is a great way to get some of these lethargic fish eat in the mid-morning sun. Ladyfish, mullet, and pinfish are all good baits to soak under a dock or in the mangroves. To beat the heat, fishing the dock lights at night is another good option through the heat of the summer. Snook and trout will be actively feeding in the lights looking for shrimp, crabs, and small pilchards.

Pay attention to the weather this bait or live bait will work. Fish on the sand adjacent to rocks, reefs or wrecks. Grouper will also be continuing to bite in the deeper

SEBASTIAN RIVER – The north fork of the Sebastian River will still have tarpon rolling in the early morning and evening, especially after thunderstorms cool the surface waters. Flies, plugs, D.O.A. Root Beer TerrorEyz and finger mullet will all catch these backwater tarpon. The docks and bridges of the lower river will be good places to work jigs, plugs and D.O.A. shrimp both day and night for snook.

INDIAN RIVER LAGOON – Fishing around docks and mangrove shorelines has been the most consistent way to bend a rod in the lagoon this summer. Fishing plugs, jerkbaits and D.O.A. shrimp around shoreline cover will draw strikes from snook of all sizes. You may also find some trout, redfish and mangrove snapper in the same areas taking advantage of the shade. Mosquito impoundment outflows are excellent places to look for juvenile tarpon and snook when rains flush baitfish out.

SEBASTIAN INLET – August is always a great month to catch and release snook and oversized redfish at Sebastian Inlet. Fishing outgoing tides with live baits including croakers, pigfish, greenies, pinfish, and shrimp will be the key to daytime snook action. Night fishing can also be great, whether you drift through the bridge with live bait, or cast plugs, bucktails or soft plastic swimbaits from the rocks.

Bull reds will take advantage of the buffet provided by the inlets outgoing tides. They can be caught in the same areas and on the same baits as snook, but when juvenile crabs decide to catch a ride on the outgoing tide, big reds and permit can often be seen slurping them off the surface along the rip created by the outgoing tide as it pushes into the ocean. Topwater plugs, poppers, crab flies and live crabs properly placed will do the trick.

NEAR SHORE ATLANTIC –August should find king mackerel, bonito, and the occasional cobia within a few miles of the beach as long as the ocean remains calm and clean. Slow trolling live mullet or greenies around bait pods or hard bottom structure in 30-to-45 feet of water is as exciting as it is productive. As mullet and other baitfish begin their southern trek late in the month, the fishing along the beaches should really heat up. Big tarpon, kings, Spanish mackerel, sharks, snook, jacks, etc. all follow the bait south. The mullet schools generally travel within casting distance of the beach giving surf fishermen a great opportunity to catch a trophy. Tight lines!

Capt.

Big

Warm, clear water usually makes for tough, slow fishing in August, this combined with the impact of the extra 150 plus boats a day during the red snapper opening for two days this season—it will surely have an impact on the bottom fishing that might last into August. I’d much rather see them open it to one per boat per day until the quota is reached. If we get a thermocline that pushes fish into our area from the deep and southern water such as mutton snapper on the beach reefs 20 feet to 45 feet and amberjack on the 85 to 90 foot reefs it will be something to look forward to.

Kingfish, some in the 40# to 50# class, will be our only sure thing. Start looking around the bait pods that pop up from just outside the inlet and sometimes three to four miles out. You’ll often catch the kings right where you’re catching your threadfins. You have to figure the reason the bait on the surface is because there’s predators underneath.

Also, the artificial reefs will hold bait, cobia and mangroves. The trolling offshore is usually quiet in August so if you do go deep make sure you’re prepared to drop to the bottom to salvage your day.

It’s a good time for some tile fishing. They are usually in the 680 to 740 foot depth. If you’re looking to set up for tile fishing and you don’t have an arm like a wrestler, you might invest in an electric reel. The Diawa Tanacom 1000 is a good start. Pair that with some 80-pound T/C Power Pro on an 50 to 80 bent butt rod and you’re set up for deep dropping. You’ll find it satisfying to have something else to try when you’ve trolled to 600 feet without a knock down.

If there’s one thing to look forward to in August it’s some calm water and sunny days, throw a few extra bottles of water on the boat and stay hydrated. And watch out for those 3 p.m. storms. Always plan to go early and be in early. Early birds catch the worm in August. But it’s the second mouse that gets the cheese. That means it’s a good time to try some night fishing. Especially around the full moon.

Despite what some might say we do have good fishing in August. Let’s all pray the hurricanes stay away. As always be kind to your fellow angler, you might need a tow one day.

“Fish on gotta go!”

Greetings, anglers! Here’s your fishing report for the beautiful Lake Okeechobee during the month of August 2023. As always, we’ll cover the latest lake levels and recommended lures to help you have a successful fishing excursion. Currently, Lake Okeechobee is experiencing high water levels due to extreme rain in the north Kissimmee River basin and the lake is hovering around 14.85 feet. The water clarity is good, providing favorable conditions for boating and fishing activities. However, it’s essential to keep an eye on weather forecasts and potential rainstorms, as they can impact water levels.

August is a fantastic month for bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee. The warm waters and abundant vegetation make it an ideal time to target largemouth bass. Here are some recommended lures and techniques to maximize your chances of landing a big one:

1. Topwater: In the early morning and late evening, try using topwater lures such as buzzbaits, frogs, and poppers. These lures create enticing surface action, attracting bass that are actively feeding.

2. Soft Plastic Worms: As the sun rises and temperatures increase, switch to soft plastic worms rigged Texas-style or wacky-style. Choose colors that mimic the local forage, such as green pumpkin or watermelon red. Cast near weed edges, submerged structures, and lily pads, and work them slowly to entice strikes.

3. Spinnerbaits: When fishing in open water or around grassy areas, spinnerbaits are highly effective. Opt for 3/8- to 1/2-ounce sizes in chartreuse or white. Retrieve at a moderate speed, allowing the blades to vibrate and trigger aggressive strikes.

4. Swimbaits: Large swimbaits, around 6- to 8-inches in length, can be effective for targeting trophysized bass. Fish them near drop-offs, submerged trees, and weed lines. A slow, steady retrieve imitating a wounded baitfish often entices strikes. lures and techniques based on the current conditions and the behavior of the fish. Pay attention to their feeding patterns, and weather, and adjust accordingly. Tight lines, and may you reel in the catch of a lifetime! FORECASTS FISHING

Sal Aquino and his son caught tons of nice bass on their trip in June—including this monster!

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FROM THE SHORE Chris Beachwalker Sharp

(772) 320 8611 beachwalkerfish@gmail.com

Christmas comes early for those who fish from land. That can only mean one thing: The Mullet Run. This is the time of year that mullet run the beach and river by the millions and it won’t be hard to find them. Most important thing is to get the right cast net for beginners. I suggest a 6-foot with 3/8-inch mesh because it’s easy to throw and catch enough mullet to keep alive in a 5-gallon bucket. For more advanced users, I would suggest a 10-foot 3/8inch mesh to catch with one cast.

Tarpon will be on the beach at first light. Try looking for them up close at Inlets and bridges. Some will be big others will be in the 50-pound range. If you have never caught a silver king, this is the best chance for you to hook up.

I use an 8-foot extra heavy rod with a 6000 series reel lined with 50-pound braid and 80-pound mono leader. Tarpon will jump, pull, and test your will as a fishing person. You can also find the tarpon by just looking at them busting the bait on the beach or river.

Snook will be at your feet at the beach, chasing mullet and pilchards along the first trough of the beach. It’s going to be hot, so I go before first light and get the bigger ones in the 40-inch-plus range. The best places to catch them are inlets, bridges, and flats around Hermans Bay area.

Never forget the jack crevalle. This fish will fight like a big tarpon without the jump, with some over 40 pounds. The mullet run is a great time of year to take the family to local beaches, bridges, or flats to catch some of the best fishing in Florida has to offer.

Tight Lines!

Kayak Fishing Forecast

Brian Nelli

Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters

(772) 201-5899

Brian@tckayakfishing.com www.tckayakfishing.com

INSHORE: Snook fishing should be your target this month. Fishing dock lights and bridge shadow lines at night are a great way to catch one and avoid the heat of the day. If daylight is more your thing, try fishing seawalls and docks with good water currents. Launching at Sawfish Park in Jupiter will allow you to access some good areas. Don’t overlook fishing the beach for snook as well as tarpon. Get out early and launch at places like the south side of Jupiter Inlet. Fish the beach south and look for rolling fish and snook in the surf.

OFFSHORE: Fishing offshore should produce plenty of bonito, kingfish, tuna, sailfish and some wahoo in the mix. Slow trolling a live bait like a goggle eye or pilchard will be your best bet. Try trolling 80-to-250 foot of water looking for weed line or current breaks along reefs and ledges. Check out Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for all the latest adventures my clients and I get into.

By Capt. Michael Mauri