From the land to the deep sea, Stuart’s inshore and offshore waters offer an abundance and variety of different catches. We’re proud to team with the Coastal Angler to bring you the latest fishing reports to help put you on the fish and keep your lines tight
The smoke has cleared from the fireworks, but the Treasure Coast fishing is still poppin’! Historically August was never a banner month but in the last 8 or 10 years it has consistently provided some really good action. Sailfish, tuna, wahoo, kings, bonito and mahi take up full time residence on the Treasure Coast and although waters are typically pushing 90-degrees out in the stream this time of year, when you get in the cooler sections of water outside of it, fishing can be very productive.
Live bait is typically my method this time of year, although if I was strictly targeting wahoo or dolphin I would probably troll. Most fishing takes place shallower than 350 feet right now, except for going for yellowfin tuna and swordfish with the water being so hot.
This is the perfect time of year to fish a down bait on a downrigger or try fishing a vertical jig while you’re live baiting. We use a Cannon 10 TS optimum downrigger because it has a cycle mode which often triggers lazy fish into biting and doubles as a dredge boom later in the year.
Whatever style of fishing you decide to do this August, I hope your next trip is off the chain.
Snapper and grouper fishing will be the go-to strategy for near coastal anglers during the hot summer days of August.
Several local species of snapper, including lane, vermilion, mangrove (gray), and mutton will be solidly into their yearly spawning period this month. These snapper family members will populate an expansive swath of Martin County’s reef system from 50 to 180 feet of water, allowing captains and anglers to dial in a daily fishing strategy that best suits individual tastes and abilities.
Depths of 55 to 95 feet of water will be the focal point for most snapper fishing and will allow anglers to catch representatives from all four categories of snapper mentioned above. Snapper ‘grand slams’ will be a highly achievable feat during offshore bottom fishing outings this month, as these representatives of the snapper family coexist at similar reef sites and will fall prey to similar baits and tackle presentations. All varieties of cut bait, including squid, bonito, sardines, and ballyhoo, to name a few, will result in snapper catching success. Chicken rigs and single hook, straight leader rigs will suffice for bait delivery options to these tasty bottom dwellers. Large cut baits and live baits presented at the end of longer (20 to 70 feet) straight leaders will produce a snapper bite from larger representatives of the mutton and mangrove species at these same reef locations. (For local GPS coordinates for Martin County’s Artificial Reef sites, go to martinreefs.com.) Besides a flavorful selection of snapper as fish targets, anglers will continue to be able to catch and keep (most species of) grouper this month. Grouper will also be found right alongside schools of spawning snapper at these same reef outcroppings, making a bottom fishing strategy for a day’s outing, a highly desirable option.
August’s relatively calm summer seas will allow fishing crews to explore their near coastal fishing zone. As in all summer months, fishing teams must maintain a healthy concern for thunderstorm activity and shape their trips accordingly. So, in August, stock the boat up with plenty of lead and cut bait and target the many species of snapper and grouper that inhabit the near shore waters, east of the shores of Martin County.
Summer fishing patterns are in full effect as we would expect for the month of August here on the Treasure Coast. Early morning and late afternoon fishing will be best to avoid the sweltering heat and catch the fish when they are most active during these hot summer months.
Snook fishing around inlets and along local beaches has been great for larger fish as of lately. Live bait fishing will produce the most action. Pilchards, greenies, sardines, and croakers work very well. Early morning is a great time to throw artificial top water plugs for aggressive surface strikes from hungry snook, tarpon, trout, redfish, and jacks along the Indian River. Also, if you like fly fishing opportunities, August is a great month to find small minnow schools along the beaches. Cast minnow flies around these schools of minnows just off the beach for steady action from large tarpon, snook, and jacks.
Tarpon fishing has been good along channel edges in our river systems and down the beaches early morning and later in the afternoon. Nearshore fishing has been great for snook, tarpon, permit, goliaths, sharks, and schooling jack crevelles. Running the beach is an easy way to find schools of fish for sight fishing opportunities. I also enjoy finding bait schools nearshore this month and fishing in and around them for shots at kingfish, sailfish, bonito, cobia and sharks. Fishing a live bait near these bait schools off the beach is a great way to find some good action with a variety of said species. Use wire leaders for catching sharks and/or kingfish.
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