Martin County Inshore/Nearshore Forecast – March 2012

Marty L’Heureux, with one of seven snook caught near the Roosevelt Bridge with Capt. John Young aboard Bites On Charters just before a cold front dropped the temperature to 44 degrees. Photo credit: Capt. John Young.

Hopefully the winds of March will subside, allowing anglers to go offshore to hunt down the cobia that will be cruising the beach with the rays on the reefs and wrecks. You can sight cast near a ray, and if there’s a cobia interested in your offering, it should charge the bait in a hurry. Look for kingfish in 30 to 60 feet of water by slowly trolling live bait. The rocky bottom around the St. Lucie Inlet will be good for sheepshead, snapper and black drum.

In the Indian River Lagoon the redfish action should be hot! Work the flats in stealth-mode, using clockwork casts to cover more water. D.O.A. Shad Tails in Gold Rush or Electric Chicken have been a good choice. On the flats, the trout will be ready to take down some topwater action if the water temperatures are warm. If you see a topwater bite at first light, throw D.O.A. Bait Busters, Skitterwalks or Baby Spooks around the bait schools. Bounce the grass flats with soft rubber baits once the sun comes up for trout and reds. The snooking in the St. Lucie River will be back to normal once the water temperatures warm up and the fish shake the chill from their bones.

We are catching a lot of snook in the normal places, like the Ten Cent and Roosevelt Bridges, docks, underwater rubble, mangrove points, etc. You can’t beat live shrimp on a jig head for snook around the bridges in the day. The night bite is a different story; using 1.5 to 2.0 ounce chartreuse, pink or white jigs around the bridges at night is best. Work the jig by casting up current and let it drift back with the tide. Wait for the thump, set up on the fish and game on!

Keep the waterways clean and wear your Bullfrog.

FORECAST BY: Capt. John Young
Bites On Guide Service
Snook, Trout, Redfish, Tarpon, Kingfish
Phone: (772) 708-3593
Email: snoooky12@yahoo.com

[easy-social-share]