[dropcap]A[/dropcap]good black drum and sheepshead bite has been going on at all Treasure Coast bridges using shrimp and jig combo fished near the bridge pilings and underwater rubble. Those big yellow belly croakers are showing up around the Ten Cent and Twenty-five cent bridges and love live or dead shrimp. Tripletails have made their appearance on some of the channel markers and docks. In the St. Lucie River if you catch a tripletail it will be a double-digit on the scale. Atlantic snook season opens February 1 so test your luck around the bridges and dock lights. Live bait is best or smaller artificials will produce. Make sure you schedule your snook trip around moving water. The redfish bite has been the best I have seen and will continue to be hot. The docks on the west or the mangrove shoreline on the east are holding some mighty fine fish on them right now. Soft plastics or live shrimp are your best choices. A lot of schoolie trout are on the flats with bigger gator trout lurking back waiting for the opportunity to feed. The D.O.A. C.A.L. jig in root beer is my favorite color this time of year. Water temps are still favorable for bluefish and Spanish macs. Surf fishing for blues is best at high tide in the morning using cut bait or shiny spoons. The Spanish macs like Green flash minnow jigs with a fast retrieve and a couple scoops of chum to keep them near the boat. Make the body count add up quick if you are keeping them. Keep the waterways clean and wear your Sunscreen.
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