Each morning, as Tania and I drive to fish, we say a prayer. We ask the Lord to bless us with protection on the water, to open our eyes to see His wonderful creations, and, if it’s His will, to let us catch a few fish along the way. That simple prayer centers our hearts before every adventure, reminding us that each trip is a gift, not a guarantee.

Saturday morning greeted us with a soft pink sunrise that painted the horizon as we loaded the boat at 6:30 a.m. The air was crisp, the northeast wind brushed the surface at ten knots, and although the forecast promised calm two-foot seas, the ocean had other plans. The five-second interval created a choppy, rolling start, a bit sportier than my older bones prefer, but the excitement of the day pushed us onward.

We made our first stop at the spot where we caught that little six-inch croaker last week, but nothing was biting. By 7:30 a.m., we moved toward the Boils, where at least ten boats were already fishing the west end. Tania and I decided to start on the east side near the buoy. The water was murky, but we made drift after drift, working our 30-gram slow-pitch jigs through the current. The orange jig was the most effective, attracting more bites than the others. Around 9:00, we shifted to the west end, and just as I was about to head for our snapper spot, a nearby boat landed two beautiful permit. That was all the encouragement Tania needed to stay a little longer! Unfortunately, the murky water made the jigs less effective; the boat with crabs clearly had the right bait for the day. The Boils were full of life, with sharks jumping everywhere and the Spanish mackerel thick. Tania also caught a few nice bluefish, including the largest I had ever seen in Florida, around 7-8 lbs. 

By 10:30 a.m., we headed to our bottom spot and switched to shrimp on 2-ounce jig heads. Four dozen shrimp went quickly with only three fish caught, but once Tania picked up her jig again, the bite picked up. We both caught black margates, grunts, a baby bonnethead, and a baby gafftopsail catfish. But as usual, Tania out-fished me at this location.

I couldn’t resist tossing a few six-inch jacks we caught at our snapper spot, near the north side of the Fort Pierce Inlet, hoping for a snook or tarpon strike, but the rough water chased us off after half an hour. Even so, we were content. Between the pods of dolphins, sea turtles, and sharks passing by, there was no shortage of life on the water. We made it back to the dock by 1:00 p.m., tired but grateful for another beautiful day doing what we love most, fishing together.

While we take our gear to the car, Rory, the gentleman we met in Texas, came up and said, “See, I told you I was from Ft. Pierce.” It was nice to see him again, and I’m glad he made it back to Ft Pierce with the boat he was transporting.

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

If you’d like to know more about the setups Tania and I use, the baits that work best for us, or maps of the locations we fished, subscribe to Captain Mike’s Treasure Coast Fishing Adventures for upcoming gear guides and fishing insights.

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.