Treasure Coast fishing: Ignore Saharan dust; Tarpon, snapper still biting for anglers

Hazy, hot conditions have been the norm this week throughout the Treasure Coast. Kids may have headed back to school, too. But none of this has calmed the bite for tarpon, both in the lagoons and along the beaches, snapper on the reefs or snook around structure like dock pilings and jetties.

It's still a few weeks before the fall mullet run begins in earnest, but when it does, expect predators like jacks, sharks, tarpon, mackerel, redfish, snook, trout and more to become energized.

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Closures & regulations changes in effect: Anglers are reminded about these fishery harvest closures currently underway and ones about to begin and end.

• Redfish: Harvest of redfish is banned in the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon beginning Sept. 1.

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

• Snook: Season opens statewide Sept. 1.

• Lobster: Regular season opened Aug. 6.

• Dolphin: New fishing regulations began May 1 for state waters. Bag limit is now 5 fish per day per angler; Vessel limit is now 30 fish per day. Captain & crew may not be included in limit.

• Grouper: Shallow water grouper season is open May 1 through Dec. 31. That includes gag grouper, red grouper, scamp and six other lesser species.

• Hogfish: Harvest of hogfish is open May 1 through Oct. 31, 2022 in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida.

• Tilefish: A commercial fishing closure is in place beginning July 6 until Dec. 31, 2022.

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

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

Indian River

Offshore; Big Easy Capt. Terry Wildey said anglers are capitalizing on good mutton snapper fishing on the reefs in 70-90 feet of water. Along with muttons, anglers are finding mangrove snapper, lane snapper, kingfish and triggerfish. Tarpon and bonitos can be caught along the beaches in 20-40 feet of water around bait schools like sardines or pogies.

Inshore: It has been sort of slow around the spoil islands this week. Some small spotted seatrout can be caught, but redfish have been hard to come by. Snook seem to be everywhere, but season does not open until Sept. 1 so release all that are caught.

Freshwater: During what is arguably the worst time of year to fish for bass, the bite at Headwaters Lake has been steady. Anglers are finding fish in deeper water along drop-offs or holes and not along the edges. Bluegill and shellcracker fishing at area lakes and canals has been good on live crickets.

St. Lucie

Offshore; There have been some dolphin and wahoo caught on the current edges for trollers. The deep ledges in 120-150 feet of water are holding grouper and amberjack. Snapper fishing has been steady in 70-100 feet of water. Kingfish can be caught in 30-50 feet of water drifting live baits. Tarpon have been in the inlet.

Inshore: The Turning Basin has been a good place to catch snook and tarpon on live sardines or pilchards. There has also been good snook fishing around dock pilings, rocky shorelines and seawalls. Use live mullet to get bites.

Surf: There is just too much seaweed to make surf fishing anywhere along Hutchinson Island a worthwhile venture. Anglers will have to spend all their time clearing lines from seaweed and slime grass.

Martin

Offshore; Vermilion snapper, triggerfish, mangrove snapper and mutton snapper can be caught along the Six Mile Reef or along ledges in 70 feet of water. Use dead sardines or cut bait to get bites. Kingfish have been caught in 40-80 feet of water on live baits. Cobia can be caught in the same depths while kingfishing. Tarpon have been schooling along the beaches around schools of pilchards. Sailfish are still thick in 80-100 feet of water northeast of the inlet.

Inshore: Snook fishing is very good around docks of Rocky Point, Sewall's Point and Sailfish Point on live pilchards. Tarpon can be caught in the inlet, near the Crossroads and in the channel on live sardines or pilchards during the incoming tide.

Lake Okeechobee

Bluegill and shellcracker fishing has been very good at Taylor Creek and Nubbin Slough on live crickets and red worms. The best bass fishing has been on spinnerbaits or topwater frogs fished around clumps of bulrushes.

Ed Killer is TCPalm's outdoors writer. Sign up for his and other weekly newsletters at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage. Friend Ed on Facebook at Ed Killer, follow him on Twitter @tcpalmekiller or email him at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Tarpon & snapper bending rods as Treasure Coast returns to school