Tag: mullet Bait

Jupiter kayak fishing Tarpon snook

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.

Kayak Fishing Forecast

mullet bait kayak fishing

InshorE

The mullet bait run is upon us. Snook, tarpon, redfish and trout will all be cooperating this month. Matching the hatch will be your best bet during this time. Super spooks, DOA bait buster’s and anything that has the shape of a mullet will be the go to baits while kayak fishing. With the presence of so much mullet bait, the thought then goes to how do I get my lure the one that gets hit. I like trying to go with colors that stand out in the pack. Try dark or bright colors to get the attention away from the group of bait. Focus your cast on the edges of the mullet bait schools and you will do well.

Offshore

The shallow fall dolphin run should start to take effect this month, giving anglers kayak fishing a better shot at them Look for them to start to move into the more attainable depths from 250-100 foot of water. Another thing to get excited about is the snapper bite. Look to target Mutton snapper and yellowtail snapper in 60-100ft of water. I love using mullet this time of year for both bottom fishing and trolling. It is readily available and a great hardy bait to keep alive while kayak fishing.

Mullet Bait Mahi Mahi kayak Fishing

Freshwater

 

The peacock bass and clownkife fishing will really be taking off in the coming months. Look to fish structure like bridges to find the bite. Live shiners are always the go to bait, but during this time don’t overlook a finger mullet as well. Mullet will survive in the freshwater long enough for them to be crushed by a hungry peacock bass or largemouth bass. Finally as an artificial option try using DOA jerk baits or rattle traps to entice a bite.