Tania and I decided to reserve a boat in Jupiter so we could try some deeper-water fishing. We also invited our good friend Vern, who came over Friday night since he lives on the west coast. It was great catching up with Vern Friday evening and getting everything ready for an early start.

Saturday morning, we left the house around 5:30 a.m. since the ride to the dock was going to take about an hour. We arrived at 6:30 a.m., which was about 30 minutes earlier than our boat reservation. We had to wait for the dock hand to arrive, but I texted him to make sure we were in the right place. He confirmed that we were and let us know which boat we had reserved. He told us we could start loading the boat and that he would be there shortly.

By the time the dock hand arrived, we had the boat loaded and Vern already had a barracuda in the boat. We were checked out in no time and began heading out. The Jupiter area is beautiful, and we enjoyed the short ride to the inlet before heading offshore.

Our first stop was about two miles outside the inlet in approximately 70 feet of water. I was hoping we could find some snapper in the shallower water and avoid having to make the longer run offshore. The bite was slow, so we decided to move deeper.

We found a spot that looked promising based on the bottom, but the current was running close to 4 knots. We did not have anything heavy enough to hold bottom in that kind of current, so we had no choice but to head back into shallower water.

While Tania was reeling up so we could move, something hit her line. Within a minute, it nearly spoiled her. The fish was running so fast that she could not slow it down, and eventually it broke her off. It was disappointing, and little did we know that would be the most exciting event of the day.

We continued working water in about 75 feet, but after around 10:00 a.m., the dive boats became a major issue. At one point we were drifting over a spot when Vern said, “What are these bubbles?” I told him they were probably divers. The dive boat was probably 500 to 600 feet away from us and positioned in the opposite direction of the current. Sure enough, the divers surfaced about 50 feet behind our boat.

That definitely did not help the bite. I was amazed at how some of the dive boats would pull up near us while we were drifting, and we would watch the divers jump right off the back of the boat. Between the divers, sharks, and slow bite, we had to work hard for every fish.

We made the best of it, though, and after a lot of effort, we managed to put a decent bag of fish in the cooler. The ticket seemed to be a 40–60 gram slow-pitch jig tipped with squid.

We headed back to the dock around 2:30 p.m. It was a fair bit of a ride back in. Once we got into the inlet and started up the ICW, there were so many boats and jet skis that we had to stay at idle speed until we were about a mile up the river. We made it back to the dock around 3:30 p.m.

We came home with four porgies, a couple of lane snapper, a couple of strawberry grouper, and a toro. We also caught a ton of small triggerfish and an assortment of other fish that we did not keep.

It was an interesting experience, but we do not know the Jupiter area very well. In all honesty, we probably would have done better fishing in our home waters. Between the fuel and the distance we traveled, our fuel bill alone was about three times what we normally spend on a trip out of Fort Pierce.

Even though it was not the action-packed day we had hoped for, it was still a good day on the water with Tania and Vern. Sometimes that is what fishing is all about—trying new waters, learning as you go, and making the best of the day.

Tania and I extend our best wishes to all our fellow anglers. May your time on the water be safe, blessed, and filled with tight lines and lasting memories. Until next time, keep casting, keep believing, and keep 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 Thursday 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.