By Lauren Eissey, Loggerhead Marinelife Center Contributing Writer
The first month of summer brings average temperatures between 75°F and 89°F with an estimated 12 days of rainfall throughout June. A little treat is to be expected for anglers who fish under a full moon on June 24th, which will lead to greater schools of fish when tides are higher than average at the Juno Beach Pier (JBP).
With the weather, plan on catching Spanish mackerel, crevalle jack, blue runners, and croakers at the JBP. Anglers can catch Spanish mackerel, a fish found year-round, by using live bait on lures. Bonus tip: oven roast and season mackerel with lemon, oil, garlic, and parsley!
Handling live and cut bait with lures, anglers can expect to catch crevalle jacks and blue runners. Pier experts suggest using a lively baitfish to catch crevalle jack when selecting bait. While crevalle jacks can grow up to 20 pounds, there are commonly caught around 3 to 5 pounds. Local fishing experts suggest using crevalle jacks as bait rather than eating them.
Typically, adult blue runners can be found inshore and nearshore. These fish can be identified by their light-olive to bluish-green back. Experts advise catching blue runners with fish, shrimp, or squid as bait. While most anglers use blue runners as a bait fish, some anglers use the fish to make sushi.
Atlantic croakers are commonly caught at the pier and can be identified by their silvery-gray or bronze, iridescent head. These bottom feeders tend to prefer crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish. Try using whiting, sand perch, or squid strips as bait to catch croakers. Considered a fatty fish, croaker contains high levels of omega-3, which is known to lower the risk of coronary heart disease.
During sea turtle nesting season in Palm Beach County, the JBP adjusts its angling and spectator hours to accommodate nesting and hatching sea turtles. From March 1 through October 31, the pier opens a half hour before sunrise and closes at sunset each day. Turn to Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for best practices regarding sea turtle safety.
As part of LMC’s Responsible Pier Initiative, the JBP practices sustainable fishing and recycling. Please dispose of used monofilament lines in the designated recycling containers and report any accidentally hooked sea turtles.
LMC offers private fishing lessons for adults and children (ages eight and older). One-hour lessons are offered daily and scheduled based on availability. Cost: $25 per angler (without gear); $35 per angler with rental gear included. Cost does not include bait. Email reservations@marinelife.org to register. The full-service Pier House features a snack bar as well as a variety of fishing tackle, including rental poles and bait.
Randy Yent, Pier Coordinator
Juno Beach Pier (561) 627-8280 x140 • Facebook.com/junobeachpier • Instagram & Twitter:@junobeachpier