The cooler nights are beginning to roll in pushing the bugs out and making for some perfect camping weather. Kayak camping can be very rewarding but also difficult if you don’t properly prepare, here are a few tips to make your next trip a success.Guest ColumnistJan 7th, 2015
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]re you a backpack angler? If so, what do you carry in your backpack and where are your favorite spots … Treasure CoastJan 2nd, 2015
Since lobster season remains open through March, divers have plenty of time to bag a delicious meal while exploring area reefs. Rough sea conditions typical of January in South Florida can affect lobster in a few ways. Lobsters are known to move around during large swells and heavy surf into areas that are typically picked over. Reefs like Peck Lake, just south of the St. Lucie Inlet in Stuart, or the shallow reef off of Bathtub Beach are usually hit hard during the first few months of lobster season leaving plenty of shorts behind. As the New Year gets underway, divers may be surprised to see the return of larger bugs in greater numbers to these areas. Secondly, fewer boats make it offshore this time of year compared to August, so pressure on lobster populations is much lower thereby increasing the chances for those who do make it out. Boat limits are not uncommon this time of year. Steve WoodJan 1st, 2015
Speckled perch are being caught lake wide. Anglers who traditionally use minnow are primarily targeting specks in open water areas like the Kissimmee River or canals such as Indian Prairie, Government Cut or J&S canal. Several anglers can be seen well out into the lake in open water, on a line between Taylor Creek and the mouth of the Kissimmee River. Anglers who prefer to jig with tiny artificial jigs are finding specks scattered in the grassy semi-heavy cover areas of the lake.Capt. Mike ShellenJan 1st, 2015
Floating live shrimp is the hands down most consistent way to take everything and anything when the mercury drops, although finding the right place to cast the bait is still the key to success. Pompano, blues, trout, weakfish, snapper and small grouper are regular catches around the deeper water flats behind the Sebastian Inlet. Nylure jigs, goofy jigs, small diving plugs and live shrimp are all good choices.Capt. Gus BruggerJan 1st, 2015
Despite the winds still blowing hard in January, there are still fish to be caught. The water temperature should have dropped enough to bring in the schools of bluefish from the north. Bluefish will be found from the beaches to one or two miles offshore. On days that the weather will allow, you can find bluefish cruising the near shore waters in larger schools. This will allow you to get out and bend some rods. Blue’s travel in schools looking for anything that swims to eat.Capt. Danny MarkowskiJan 1st, 2015
January is the time for the bluefish, Spanish mackerel, croakers and black drum to show up in full force. These fish will be coming in the mouth of the Fort Pierce Inlet and working their way into the turning basin and both north and south in the river. Capt. Joe WardJan 1st, 2015
Schools of kings, Spanish mackerel and lane snapper will congregate this month and populate known, preferred reef areas. While most species of fish can be found over a wide area in our local zone, these fish seem to have a predilection to certain spots, like the offshore Peck Lake/ Kingfish Hole, the 140 King Numbers, and the Sand Pile (the Texas Reef), just to name a few. Local knowledge of the preferred and proven fish haunts will be the primary component to any angler`s chance for success.Capt. Rocky CarbiaJan 1st, 2015
2015 is here and so are the sails, dolphin, blackfin tuna and wahoo. With every cold front this month the offshore scene will heat up as water temperatures drop. For the first time in years there is bait scattered up and down the coast, and stacked up on reefs and wrecks. There’s no way fish are going to migrate past us this year without stopping and camping out for a while. Focus on current rips, color changes, and weed lines on the surface and concentrate on areas that are holding bait. Typical depths you want to fish are 115 to 175 feet of water, but after a few days of northwest or any west wind for that matter, don’t be scared to venture out to the deep. A lot of the time during a west wind fish and water conditions will push offshore.Capt. Scott FawcettJan 1st, 2015
The 9th Annual Port Salerno Seafood Festival, voted two years in a row the “Best Local Event in Martin County” by Scripps Treasure Coast Newspaper’s readers, features seafood and a mix of music, arts, crafts and local business vendors, a Kids Fun Zone, mermaids, pirates and more, all along the historic Port Salerno waterfront. Treasure CoastJan 1st, 2015
