It had been nearly a month since Tania and I had been offshore together. Saturday finally delivered the window we’d been waiting for, with clear skies, a light southeast breeze, and seas holding steady around two feet. We loaded up the boat with a couple of bags of ice, grabbed some lively shrimp from The Fishing Center, and hit the water early. By 7:00 a.m., we were heading out through the Ft. Pierce Inlet, greeted by a stunning sunrise that painted the sky in soft oranges and golds, the kind of start that makes every early morning worthwhile.

The run out to the Boils was a little bumpy as we punched straight into the waves, but the anticipation made the ride seem shorter than it was. We arrived around 7:30 am and began our first drift near the buoy, expecting the southeast wind to push us north. Instead, the stronger current took us south, so I repositioned us closer to the center of the Boils to line things up better.

Not even a minute after dropping her line, Tania hooked into a serious fish that immediately started peeling drag. I reeled in to help her, and on the way up, I got smashed by a bluefish that couldn’t resist my jig, making me the first to land a fish that day, which is usually a curse for the boat, but Tania didn’t care as she had a real fight on her hands. After about ten minutes of working the fish, we finally saw color. It was a beautiful 15-pound permit. We couldn’t think of a better way to start the day.

Unfortunately, the boils were slow. We stayed on the Boils for the next few hours, marking plenty of fish but struggling to get them to bite. Tania stuck with her trusty Squidtrex, and I rotated through a few of my favorite 40G jigs, but nothing seemed to light them up. Just before 10:00 a.m., I landed a small shark, which sparked the decision to give the buoy one last try before heading back towards the inlet.

That final drift brought another burst of excitement. Both Tania and I had hits, though neither of us hooked up right away. Then, just as we were about to reel in, Tania connected with another big fish. Judging by the fight, I figured it was a shark, heavy, head shakes, long runs, but when it came into view, we were both shocked to see a 33-inch snook rise to the surface. It was an unexpected catch out there and a real highlight to cap off our morning at the Boils.

With the bite being slow, we decided to work our way back in and stop at a few shallow reefs right off the beach near the inlet. Armed with four dozen shrimp, we bounced around structure and had a blast catching fish on light tackle. Over the next hour or so, we went through all of our bait, catching around ten different species — everything from snapper, grunts, margates, porgies, and bluefish. It wasn’t wide-open action, but it was steady and fun, and it reminded us how much life those nearshore reefs can hold when you slow down and fish them right.

We pulled back up to the dock feeling tired but satisfied. It had been a long time since we were able to get offshore, and though the bite wasn’t non-stop, the day delivered some truly memorable catches. Between the permit, the snook, and the variety of fish on the reefs, it was exactly the kind of trip Tania and I live for.

Tania and I send our best wishes to all fellow anglers. May your fishing adventures be safe, blessed, and filled with tight lines and good times! Until next time, keep casting and chasing those dreams on the water.

The Treasure Coast Chapter of Salt Strong now hosts monthly meetings at Islamorada Brewery and Distillery on the 4th Tuesday of each month. These meetings offer members a range of benefits, including guest speakers and fellowship with local anglers who share their knowledge and help one another catch fish. Membership to Salt Strong includes a 20% discount on tackle, access to Smart Fishing spots, and insider information on local trends. To learn more about Salt Strong, click the link below for a FREE 30-day test drive.