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Florida fishing: Got tartar sauce? Grouper fingers hit Treasure Coast tables

ed killer, treasure coast newspapers
·4 min read

Grouper fishing has been excellent throughout the Treasure Coast in 180-200 feet of water and should remain that way during the weekend coming up. Dead sardines and conventional tackle are necessities for anyone going after these fish. It's important to get that first crank on the reel when the grouper bites in order to keep it out of the rocks.

Pompano swept through the area last weekend, too. For anglers who were able to fish the days before the sargassum took over, there were limits of fish caught.

Snook fishing is at its best right now. The fish are still being caught near the mangroves in upstream areas because they haven't started moving to spawning sites near the inlet entrances yet. Remember, in Atlantic waters, the season for harvest remains open through May 31.

Algae alert: DOH in Martin County issues toxic algae health alert for Lake Okeechobee, St. Lucie Canal

PSL river advisory: DOH maintains water advisory for North Fork of St. Lucie River

New motor: ELC of Wabasso gets gift to guide visitors on Indian River Lagoon tours

Zach Hazellief of Fort Pierce hauled this nice sized grouper off the bottom in over 200 feet of water on May 1, 2023.
Zach Hazellief of Fort Pierce hauled this nice sized grouper off the bottom in over 200 feet of water on May 1, 2023.

Florida fishing regulations and fishing season opening and closing dates:

  • Grouper: Harvest opened May 1. Includes gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, scamp, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind and rock hind. Harvest closes Jan. 1, 2024.

  • Hogfish: Harvest opened May 1. Harvest closes from Nov. 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024.

  • Cobia: New bag and size limits for state waters. Bag limit: Two fish per vessel. Size limit: 36 inches fork length.

  • Snook: Harvest closes June 1. Reopens Sept. 1. One fish bag limit, 28-32 inches, snook stamp required.

  • Lobster: Season closed April 1. Two-day sport season (mini-season) opens July 26-27. Regular season opens Aug. 6.

  • Spotted seatrout:  Harvest opened Jan. 1 in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach counties. Harvest closes November and December 2023.

  • Redfish: Harvest of redfish is banned in the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon beginning Sept. 1. FWC will re-evaluate later in the year.

  • Alligator: Hunt season opens Aug. 15-Nov. 1. Permits required.

  • Dolphin: Bag limit is five fish per day per angler. Vessel limit is 30 fish per day. Captain and crew may not be included in limit. These fishing regulations began May 1, 2022, for state waters.

  • Tilefish: Harvest opened Jan. 1.

  • Bass: Bass at Headwaters Lake will soon become all catch-and-release.

For complete fishing regulations in Florida go to MyFWC.com.

Frank Orio of Fort Pierce caught this huge grouper May 1, 2023 while fishing with Zach Hazellief.
Frank Orio of Fort Pierce caught this huge grouper May 1, 2023 while fishing with Zach Hazellief.

Ballantrae Anglers Club supports FOS

The Ballantrae Anglers Club from Port St. Lucie presented Florida Oceanographic Society with a check recently for $1,000 to support the science center's educational programs instructing visitors about the value of the Indian River Lagoon and all its local waterways.

Indian River County

Offshore: Anglers have been catching a mixed bag of targets in this zone. Dolphin and blackfin tuna are out along the current edges 24 miles offshore. Trolling is the best plan to catch them. Kingfish have been in 70-120 feet of water at spots like Sea World. Mangrove snapper fishing is steady on the reefs in 70-90 feet of water.

Inshore: The inlet is still the best spot to expect to catch a snook, although catching slot sizes is another thing. Many of the snook starting to gather at the inlet are females over the slot so be prepared to handle them with care. Snook can also be caught along the mangrove shorelines through Vero Beach south to the county line.

Freshwater: Bass fishing has been steady at Headwaters Lake on wild shiners, crank baits and spinnerbaits.

St. Lucie County

Offshore: Anglers are catching mutton snapper and mangrove snapper on the reefs in 70-100 feet of water. Frank Orio and Zach Hazellief caught grouper to 30-35 pounds during the first week of the open harvest season.

Inshore: Good snook fishing can be had in several spots: St. Lucie Village around the docks; Taylor Creek; Turning Basin; Spoil islands across from the city marina; North fork of the St. Lucie River between Prima Vista and Crosstown Parkway. Tarpon and permit will take live sardines around the mouth of the inlet.

Surf: A few anglers caught pompano, believe it or not, in the early part of the week when the winds let up and the grass subsided a little. But by mid-week, the grass was in again. It will be an interesting zone to watch in the coming weeks.

Martin County

Offshore: There has been good fishing for jack crevalles and tarpon just offshore along the beaches. Use courtesy if other boats are working a school. Kingfish to 40 pounds can be caught along Loran Tower Ledge off Hobe Sound using live blue runners or bluefish on a kite.

Inshore: Snook fishing is steady for anglers tossing mullet or mullet patterned lures. Try fishing the Evans Crary Bridge or Ernie Lyons Bridge for action during the beginning of the outgoing tides.

Lake Okeechobee

Bream and bluegill fishing has been steady and will be in the next few weeks. Fish spots like Dyess Ditch, First Point, Fourth Point and Tin House Cove. Use live crickets or red worms, both work well. Bass fishing is best in Sportsman's Channel Harney Pond Canal and along Observation Shoal. Use wild shiners or swim baits to get bites.

Ed Killer is the fishing writer for TCPalm. Email your fishing report to ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida fishing this weekend: Grouper fingers, snook are on the menu