LOOKING FOR A PROFESSIONAL FLY FISHING OR LIGHT TACKLE FISHING CHARTER?
Captain Steve Beare with On Island Time Charters offers you a professional fishing guide service that specializes in Fly and Light Tackle Angling along the biologically diverse waters of the Indian River Lagoon and Treasure Coast. Our Inshore, Nearshore and Fly Guide services operate in Sebastian, Vero Beach and Fort Pierce.
Whether you are a novice or an experienced angler, if you have the desire to fish the grass flats and back country potholes silently stalking Redfish, Snook and Speckled Sea Trout, chasing tailing Permit, fishing the beaches for migrating Tarpon, or trolling for a chance with a trophy game fish, join us at On Island Time Charters and let us guide you to your next fishing adventure.
Fishing Report
The schools of bait coming in the FPI have been easily identifiable...just follow the constant mark of top water explosions. Finger Mullet have been the most productive bait for Snook in and around the Inlets and Bridges. If you chose to leave your bait unweighted, on a flat line, be prepared for some Bluefish and Spanish Mackeral action. Redfish and SeaTrout continue to be found in the deeper holes and channels around the flats Death Flats north to Johns Island. Snapper and Black Drum are still around the bridges and deep water docks. The beaches have been the place to be, with the "Mullet Run" in full affect. Large schools of Mullet are making their way through the trough, providing opportunities to for Snook, Tarpon, Sharks, Jack Crevalle and Bluefish. The Pompano bite has heated up as well. Offshore fishing has been hot. Kingfish and Cobia are working the 60'-80' range with Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi) in the 100'-350' range. Mutton and Mangrove Snapper continue to stack in the 80'-100' range, and there are still opportunities for Sailfish when bottom fishing if you put out a flat line. Live greenies have been our go to bait. We haven't hooked any Wahoo but have received reports they are starting to show up for those targeting them.
September...ohhhh...September. The fall bait run usually starts at the end of August and runs until November. Locals, and many others, call it the Mullet Run. In years past it has begun to start later and later. But right now, Mid September as I type this, the beach and nearshore waters are the place to be. The "Mullet Run" seems to be back and has produced as good as it has in several years. I like netting the finger mullet for Snook, Redfish, Jacks, Bluefish and juvenile Tarpon along the Mangrove Shorelines. We have spent a lot of time on the water this month, mostly along the beach which has produced a number of tarpon, Spinner Shark and Snook hookups using Silver Mullet. I've been focused on Tarpon but I've got reports of good numbers of Mangrove Snapper in the 60′-80′ range, with some Cobia taking flatlines. Back to prepping for some more Tarpon....
First light continues to best time for Redfish and SeaTrout bite along the flats. Snook have been around the bridges and FPI. The Snapper bite along the channel edges has been good with live shrimp and pilchards. Tarpon have been working their way up and down the beaches and into the turning basin providing multiple opportunities. The 60'-80' range continues to be the hot spot for Mutton and Mangrove Snapper on reefs and wrecks and also for Sailfish, Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi) and Kingfish with our best results coming on live greenies. A couple of our fish have hit the flatline while we were bottom fishing. Had reports of some Wahoo being caught along the 600'-800' ledges at first light. The Summer weather patterns are here so watch for the pop-up thunderstorms
July has reminded us how hot it can actually be in Florida as water temperatures break the 90 degree mark. However, the inshore fishing been in full swing with Redfish, SeaTrout, Snapper and Tripletail visiting anglers. First light remains the best time for top water SeaTrout action. As the sun comes up, switching to a live shrimp on a popping cork and moving to deeper water has been our key to continued success. We've been finding Tripletail on and around channel markers. Redfish are here, with many of our opportunities coming around deep water docks, but the numbers have dwindled from years past. Jacks, Spanish Mackerel and Snapper have been targeting the schools of Glass Minnows flooding into the Lagoon. For some constant action, grab some live shrimp and target Mangrove Snapper around the channel edges and bridges. The bait has been showing up in along the beaches providing for some Snook, Spanish Mackerel, Jack Crevalle, and large Tarpon. If you can't make the run for the beaches, fishing culverts and relief canals has produced some Snook and juvenile Tarpon. July brought the anticipated 3-day Red Snapper season and it didn't disappoint. Along with Snapper, we are seeing more consistent good weather days which has resulted in several Sailfish being caught in the 60′-80′ range and Dolphin in the 150'-300' range.
The Lagoons water clarity has remained relatively clear providing opportunities for sight fishing Snook, Redfish and SeaTrout. The early morning dawn bite on top water plugs is still my favorite for SeaTrout.
The Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi) bite has fallen off a bit as did the Kingfish bit. The Mangrove Snapper bite remain consistent. The beaches have been hit and miss, with the saturation of sargassum weed rolling onto the beaches, but hopefully the projected west winds will help. Clear beaches have produced Snook, Spanish Mackerel, and Jack Crevalles. Been a slow month so far.
May is one of my favorite months for fishing. The spring bait run is in full affect and the Snook fishing will continue to be good. While we have been strictly C&R with Snook, Snook Season closes May 31. Inlets, bridges, seawalls, docks and mangroves continue to be the best places to target Snook. Redfish should be active on the grass flats, mangroves and docks from Johns Island south to Midway Rd. Look for SeaTrout violating top water lures at first light. As the sun rises move to deeper water and switch to a grub or soft plastic of your choice. Look for clean water (hard to come by lately) and good grass to have your best results. Spanish Mackerel will still be coming in with the tides. Sheephead, Snapper and Black Drum are still hanging around the bridges. This is when the big Jack Crevalles and Ladyfish begin to create havoc in the river. Whiting, Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish and Pompano will continue to run the beach with Tarpon in the mix. Tarpon will also begin to make their way into the Lagoon. Another great thing about May is that May 1st is the opener for Grouper along our zone. Couple that with the influx of Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi) and you have the earmark for a great day on the water and evening at the table. Grouper can be found from 60'-200' and pilchards, grunts and cigar minnows are my top choice of baits. The Mangrove and Mutton Snapper bite will also continue to get better. My success has come in the 65'-90' range. The trolling bite is will consist of Kingfish, Cobia, Dolphin, and even Sailfish. Tarpon will be working the beaches out to the 40' range and may even have a chance at some strangling Cobia.
Spring has arrived! Water and Air Temps will begin to rise and the fishing should heat up. Snook fishing will continue to be good around inlets, bridges and sea walls. The grass flats will be active with SeaTrout and Redfish. Pompano will be cruising the deeper flats. Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, and Jack Crevalles will be plentiful around the inlets and channels. Bridges will continue to hold Sheepshead, Jack Crevalles, Bluefish and Black Drum. The sheepshead was in early and many have already left the river. Docks will still be holding Snook and offer an excellent chance at a Redfish. Whiting, Pompano and a host of other fish will be feeding on the bait schools along the beach. Offshore waters have started to heat up as well with Dolphin, Cobia and Kingfish taking top billing. There are still plenty of Sailfish providing aerial shows for Anglers targeting them. Sailfish and Dolphin have been found in the 85'-200' range, while the Kingfish and Cobia have been found in 25'-80' range. The bottom fishing is seeing an uptick as well with Mutton and big Mangroves being caught in the 60'-80' range.
March will bring warmer weather and that will bring water temperatures up. In the early mornings, when the temps are cooler, look for Redfish in the deeper holes and along deep water docks. As the day warms up, Redfish will make their way onto the flats. If the water temps stay the same, we should continue to see good SeaTrout bites don’t drop too much more. Snook will be active in the FP Turning Basin, the Bridges and up along the docks in Vero. The bridges should also be holding Snapper, Black Drum and Sheephead. The Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish and Jack Crevalles are stilling following schools of bait in the inlet. Find the bait schools and you will have a successful day. Pompano continue to give early morning risers steady action along the beach.
March generally is when we start to see bigger Dolphin and Cobia. Wahoo, Sailfish and Blackfin Tuna are still hanging around and the Blackfin this year have been chunky. Wahoo have been hit or miss lately but there have been some big Kingfish in 30'-80' range.
February has been trying with high winds. Inshore, the lee sides of the spoil islands, grass flats and bridges have produced Redfish, SeaTrout, Snook, Black Drums and Spanish Mackeral. The beach has been rough with big swells but if you braved the winds and surf, there are still Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish and Pompano for the taking. Winds have kept many at the dock, but I did get reports of Sailfish and Dolphin being caught in the 80'-120', along with Cobia and Kingfish in 60'-80'.
Winter came a little early and the cold fronts have come with low temps and strong north east winds that have caused the water temp to drop a little faster. But cooler temps inshore mean the Bluefish, Pompano, Sheephead, Spanish Mackerel and Black Drum become daily catches. These fish will be coming in the Inlet and working their way both north and south in the Indian River so target the channel edges. The Redfish and Seatrout will be in the deeper holes and channels. Fish the grass flats for Redfish and SeaTrout as the sun gets higher in the mornings. Snook will be hanging around the Mangroves and the Pompano bite along the beach should be good if you are using sand fleas and/or clams.
The cold fronts have signaled the sign to break out the sailfish gear and this year should be no different than years past with the opportunities for double digit fish. Target the 150'-600' range if you are looking for Blackfin Tuna, Wahoo and Dolphin. Live bait tends to be tricky this time of year, so I always have a couple dozen ballyhoo on board.
December has brought us some cooler weather and less rain. This has helped clean the water up a bit in the Lagoon, leading to more sight fishing opportunities. Redfish continue to on the flats near Round Island. Seatrout are also being caught along spoil islands and shorelines. There have been good numbers of Snook around, but as the water temps drops they become a little more lathargic. Beaches continue to produce Pompano, Whiting, Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel. The Tarpon and big Jack Crevalles continue to be found both North and South of the Inlet with many reports of fish being from the Boils north to the FPI. Sailfish activity from FPI to Riomar has picked up considerably, with reports of double digit days with Dolphin (Mahi) mixed in. Weather and Winds are starting to pick up making days offshore few and farther between.
Winds and Weather have started to pick up but fishing has been consistent, if you modify your style. Somedays inshore for Snook, Jacks and Tarpon have prevailed while other days, when the fresh water is being released into the lagoon, the offshore and inlets have been the prevailing locations. Snook in the inlets have heated up along with migrating Tarpon along the turning basin at FPI. The best part about the new Pathfinder 2500 is the ability to fish multiple locations in different conditions. We've had a couple days where we caught a weather window and made it out for some Sailfish and smaller Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi), while other days we've run the ICW in search of deep water Snook and Tarpon. The fresh water releases have caused some issues up in the Lagoon, so staying near the inlets, with higher salinity levels, is the best choice.
