Captain Bob Bushholz
Jensen Beach, Florida
(772) 225-6436
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ALL YEAR LONG!!!!' | | Fishing Report for
July 22nd, 2002
"Tarpon Time"
All is well aboard Catch 22. Last week I ran
several morning trips again targeting waters from the Stuart Causeway
north 10 miles to Little Mud Creek. Trout have been sluggish with only a
few caught last week under three pounds. DOA shrimp has been the bait of
choice. Local baitshops are finding live shrimp hard to come by. It's that
time of year. Netters on the west coast will be happy campers when
September arrives making their jobs much easier. There has been plenty of
baitfish on both sides of the Indian River but getting the fish to chew
early in the flats has been tough. We spotted several redfish on the west
side near the power lines but no takers. Along with the few trout were
scattered ladyfish, jacks and small snook.
Saturday morning trip we departed at 5:00 am trying lighted docks near
Joe's Point directly across from my marina. A few bumps but nothing
exciting so we motored to Little Mud Creek which sits a mile north of the
power plant. This entire area holds baitfish most of the year. Little Mud
Creek itself is 80 feet wide & 300 yards long with 30 feet of water in
the center. Both sides are mangrove lined with dirt roads and mosquito
control ditches surrounding the creek. Both ditches have pumps which suck
water from the river to fill these ditches. Back in the 70's, I would
drive out here and fish these ditches for tarpon which are extremely
active when these pumps are running. The ditches only average 3 foot deep
but hold plenty of silver kings in the 10- 15 lb class. Little Mud is
great for johnboats or small skiffs wishing to launch saving the angler
gas, running time and exposure to "ramprage" which is getting
out of hand at Stuart Causeway and Sandsprit Park ramps. My anglers
Saturday jumped several tarpon in the 40 lb class while throwing Gag
Grabbers 3.5" Rattling Poppers. Both red & white and olive&
purple colors were pounded. Quite a sight watching these tarpon attack
topwater baits.
After 9:00 am it's back to deep water around bridges and channel
markers. Jensen Beach Causeway has been holding black drum to 7 lbs, snook
to 24", jacks to 5 lbs and an occasional trout to 3 lbs. On the
markers, too many small bait stealing lane snappers along with scattered
jacks, flounder, and tripletail. With 4 last week brings the tripletail
total to 55 for the year. Only 45 to go!!! We must have lost 6 nice fish
to barnicle breakoffs. I will be posting new pictures on my website
http://www.catch22fish.com tomorrow. I added a new link, simply click
"Last Months Pictures" on the homepage and check out the 22 lb
tripletail boated last week.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Bob
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