Jupiter Kayak Fishing during the Fall Mullet Bait Run

The Fall season brings the almighty mullet bait run to South Florida. During this time these baits make their way down the Atlantic Ocean coastline. Snook, Tarpon, Jacks, Sharks and all other predators are following these large schools to join in on the feast.

The Jupiter kayak fishing area is a great place to target the Snook, Tarpon and Jacks feeding on the mullet bait schools. Fishing along the beaches is the first place to start. Getting out early is best to find a school of mullet and be able to stick with them for the day. Predators won’t be far from any school, so if you can just locate one school you should be in business. If the weather forces you off the beach don’t worry, these schools get pushed in and out of the Jupiter Inlet with the daily tides. Look to set up at ambush points around bridges, docks and seawalls along the river for your best shot at a bite.

Using live mullet for bait is the best bet, but when these fish are fired up around the schools most mullet bait artificial will work just as good. I love getting bit on artificial, so the first lure that is going to hit the water will be either a Super Spook or a large paddle tail swimbait.

The Jupiter kayak fishing basic fishing set up is a 7ft, 10-20lb spinning rod with a 5000 sized reel lined with 30 pound braid attached to 40lb Yozuri Fluorocarbon leader. This set up will give you enough backbone to pull fish out of structure, but at same time not wear you out casting all day.

September 25, 2017 Brian 0

Kayak Fishing in Florida

Kayak Fishing in Florida provides many great opportunities. We are lucky enough at Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters to be located in the southeast coast of South Florida. From inshore and offshore saltwater to inland freshwater kayak fishing we got it all. Here are some of the best areas to fish in South Florida throughout the year.

Martin County

Stuart

It is called the sailfish capital of the world, but for us kayak fisherman it is more known for its nearshore and inshore fishery due to Stuart’s proximity to deep water. There is a wide range of species that can be caught in this area depending on the time of year. Let’s look at your best bets by season.

Spring – Large Seatrout are my favorite to target this time of year. The spring is their breeding time and they are plump and hungry. Mangrove lines, channel edges and docks will hold a few of these pigs. Offshore kayak fishing the shallow water wrecks will yield Cobia and Permit. These two are always on my mind during this time.
Summer – marks breeding season for Snook. Look for these big girls to stack in the inlets and bridges near them. Live bait is always best, but trying jigs and other bottom bouncing lures work as well.
Fall – will bring on the mullet bait run. Fishing the beaches for Tarpon is a blast when these big bait balls start to come through.
Winter – kayak fishing in Stuart is all about pompano and Spanish Mackerel. I enjoy fishing for pompano in the Indian River Lagoon instead of off the beach. Fishing the flats near the inlet is a sure bet to catch a few. Finally, the Spanish Mackerel stack up just off the beaches for their spawning session. These fish can be caught cast after cast and are a blast on light tackle.

Palm Beach County

Jupiter

Has one of the most beautiful inlets on the east coast of Florida ad is topped off by the Historic Jupiter lighthouse. The scenery is spectacular, but the fishing is even better. Let’s get into your best bets.

Spring – west of the inlet and closer to the mouth of the Loxahatchee River can produce some really good Tripletail fishing during this time. Channel markers and crab pot buoys will hold these guys looking to pick off a live shrimp or baitfish.
Summer – Jupiter is the capital of inlet Snook fishing. The big breeders stack in this inlet to feed and find a mate. Live bait on incoming tides fished near the bottom will put a few in the kayak.
Fall – This area is also hit hard with a mullet bait run. Big Jacks, Sharks, Tarpon and Snook will all be focused on the large schools that come down the coast.
Winter – Spanish Macks, Pompano and Bluefish are a lot of fun kayak fishing just off the beach. Light tackle and small bucktail jigs will give you a chance to bring a few fish home.

Palm Beach

Singer Island provides great beaches and resorts all right next to the Palm Beach Inlet. There are many kayaking activities in this area. Snorkeling Peanut Island is a favorite of mine. Many species of reef fish inhabit the islands snorkeling rock piles. Here are your best bets for kayak fishing Palm Beach.

Spring – Mahi will start to make their way into offshore kayak fishing range. Tolling your normal live bait like google eyes and blue runners will entice these guys to bite.
Summer – Palm Beach Inlet is another great place to target the breeder Snook. Fishing lures like a DOA Terror Eyz and live bait near the bottom will work great.
Fall – My favorite thing to do during the fall is bottom fish offshore for mutton snapper and yellow tail snapper. The reason being is that there is so much finger mullet bait around. These baits are like candy for any snapper.
Winter – Barracudas and Sharks will keep the rods bent during the colder months. Fishing around Peanut Island is a great place to start looking for fish.

Delray Beach

Just south of the Boynton Beach Inlet sits Delray Beach. The coastal city is known for its upscale shopping and fine restaurants, but we are here to talk about kayak fishing! Let’s check out the best bets.

Spring – If the weather cooperates this is also a great area to kayak fish offshore for big mahi. I like using mullet if they are around, but any live bait or even dead will work.
Summer – kayak fishing the beach will put you in line for Snook and big Tarpon. I like to slow troll with live bait and have another rod ready with a lure to throw at any rolling fish.
Fall – is always going to focus around the mullet run. Fishing the beaches and anywhere close to Boynton Beach inlet will get you a chance at the many species feeding on the mullet. This is also a great time to head inland for Peacock Bass. Kayak fishing Delray Beach in the Lake Ida area can produce days of 50 plus fish.
Winter – This time of year can also be amazing Peacock Bass Fishing, but all depends on how cold it gets. If we don’t have any long periods of temperatures in the low 40’s or lower the bite should be going off.

Broward County

Pompano Beach

This area is an offshore kayak fishing heaven with its many artificial reefs just off the coast. The Pompano Beach Pier is located just south of Hillsboro inlet and is where the largest offshore kayak fishing tournament takes place every year. Let’s look at the best kayak fishing options.

Spring – Blackfin Tuna is a sure bet just off the coast of Pompano Beach. Vertical Jigging and Live bait work well this time of year. The larger fish are usually around in May.
Summer – Offshore kayak fishing is a home run for the Summer months. Snapper, kingfish, sailfish, tuna and wahoo are all available when you kayak fish this part of Florida.
Fall – Mullet, mullet, mullet once again. Kayak fish the inlet, the beach and anywhere you find the bait; the big fish won’t be far behind. Try using baits like a DOA baitbuster and other mullet like imitations.
Winter – Kingfish make their way south to Key West for the winter months. Try to kayak fish offshore for them come November and December to pick them off before they get down south.

August 1, 2017 Brian 0

Jupiter Offshore Kayak Fishing for Mahi

Jupiter Florida is one of my favorite areas to go offshore kayak fishing. It has the best bottom structure of all the areas we fish. There is a lot of ground to cover and fish can be very shallow to very deep.

During the early spring and fall this area will see a good push a Mahi come through. I have caught dolphin in as shallow as 50 foot and deep as 180 off the Jupiter coast. Finding flying fish, current rips and floating weeds is very important. Locate one of these areas and fish it hard. The great thing about this time of year is that there is usually plenty of mullet around. I like using finger mullet in this area as I can also bottom fish for snapper at the same time fishing for Mahi. My bait tank holds 10 gallons in which I run two bubblers to keep the water oxygenated. With this set up I can hold roughly 40 finger mullet.

General set up for these fish is our normal offshore rods and reels. 6’6” medium live bait rod paired with a Shimano Spheros 8-10k lined with 30lb braid and attached to a 40 pound Yozuri fluorocarbon leader. I like using 4/0 circle hooks and run a light drag. This allows the bait to be swallowed on hopefully the initial strike if not the second attempt.

To start the day, slow troll live baits starting in 50 foot and make your way out to 180. Again this area off Jupiter is spread out so that journey is about 3.5 miles. If you spot weeds, rips or other bait, stop and set up a drift. If you are unlucky enough that there seems to be no signs of life, keep on the slow troll. Change baits out every now and then to constantly have a frisky offering and hopefully by the end of the day your offshore kayak fishing trip in Jupiter will send you home with a Mahi dinner.

For more information or to book your trip call Brian at 772-201-5899 or fill the short form below:

June 19, 2017 Brian 0

Glass Minnows, Tuna, Mahi

Inshore Glass minnows have showed up in good numbers and our weak spring mullet run will be right around corner. Artificial baits like DOA Cal Shad Tails, jerk bait and terror eyes will work well around the mangroves, docks and bridges. April also brings tripletail into our river system. Look to target crab trap buoys and channel markers with live shrimp to bring in these tasty fish. Offshore April is the best month of the year! Tuna and Mahi should be in full force. Trolling Sealime Lures should pick up both species as well as other pelagics. Vertical jigging 230-350 feet will also produce blackfin tuna and bonita. There are many beach areas to launch your kayak throughout Palm Beach County. The fishing grounds off our coast are anywhere form 1-3 miles. Look to work the normal 90-200ft depths. Finally don’t forget about the cobia. Bouncing the reef will put you in line for one of these tasty fish. Check us out Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for all the latest adventures my clients and I get into. See you on the water!

April 12, 2017 Brian 0