Fly Fishing

Joe_M · Location: Boston

Hey Guys,

I'll be down around Fort Pierce, FL over the holidays and I'm looking to get in some fly fishing. I have caught blues off the beach walking the beach in the morning and casting in the surf, but I would love to find places to target snook, reds, or lady fish. I won't have a boat so I'll be pretty much confined to wade fishing from shore. I thought about renting a kayak but I'm not sure where to get one and then where I would go if I had one. We are staying on Hutchinson and I will have a car. If anybody is familiar with the area I would really appreciate some advice.

Thanks Guys!

Joe

jeremy · Location: Portland, Maine

Hey Joe_M,

I saw your post a couple days ago and emailed my good friend pete from fishingjones.com .. he and i do an annual bluefin tuna trip every year (stay tuned for that story and killer video from this years trip ... pete wrote the fishtale and i am carving up the video .. almost done) .. anyway, pete is the editor for boating magazine and goes down to florida seemingly on a weekly basis .. and he is a florida native .. so, he knows a TON about the florida game .. i knew he fished in or around that area alot .. and has been inviting me on a spinner shark trip with him for the last couple years .. and this year we are gonna make it happen ... anyway, i got an email out to him .. he is gonna come on over here and help you out with some info. standby.

Pete · Location: New York, NY

Hey Joe-M,

Hutchison's a little north of my range from where I grew up, but at this time of year big jack crevalle--10-20 pounders--hang out around the inlets in Palm Beach and Jupiter if you can find a way to get at them. I imagine they'd do the same up there.

On the Intracoastal side you may be able to find wading spots up there or if you can find that kayak--speckled trout should be around and reds, too.

I wish I had specific spots to PM you but unfortunately I don't know Ft. Pierce/Hutchison well enough to help there.

If you're up for hiring a guide, Scott Hamilton is the bluewater fly fishing pioneer down there. He guides out of Jupiter or Palm Beach. Try flyfishingextremes.com

I don't know if Mike Holliday still guides out of the Stuart area--he now edits Florida Fishing Weekly--but if he does he's also top notch.

Hope this helps.

Joe_M · Location: Boston

Thanks for the responses guys!

Pete - thanks for your tips. Stuart and Jupiter aren't far so I'll try to check them out. Sounds like I might have to look a little harder for a kayak. I'm not sure if I can a afford a bluewater adventure but I'll look in to Mike Holiday.

Thanks again for the help guys!

miscotty · Posted: Mon 12/15/08 3:13 pm Post subject: RE: Fort Pierce

Hey-

I live on Hutch Island in F.P. and fly fish exclusively. Here's my general routine:

- If the weather's nice, and the wind is blowing in the right direction and velocity I fish the surf. The main reason is that it's my favorite place to be. It's so boom and bust, but when its good, it doesn't get better. Fish down by the power plant and Walton Rocks beach a few hours on either side of high tide, mornings and evening preferred; Bathtub Beach in Stuart down to the inlet provides excellent fishing as well- but its farther.

- There are acres and acres of wadeable flats in the area. However, using a kayak will allow you to cover way, way more ground and greatly increase your chances. I am a lousy flats fisherman, so you should probably ask someone else for advice on that (see below) But little mud creek, big mud creek to the south are popular as are Round island to the north. There are several kayak rentals around so it should not be hard to find a boat.

- the inlet is a great place to try if you are cruising around- look for birds. Try the back of Mangrove Mattie's restaurant on incoming tides. This place is excellent during the snook spawn but can be good other times too. They have a seawall and totally condone fishing.

- Last spot: lights. at night. get your rented kayak out in the thumb point vacinity and pitch little clousers into lights. the best guarateed action around. get in touch with me if you want so specific lights to go to.

- last, last bit: go to White's Tackle on 2nd street. best shop around, period. not a dedicated fly shop but everyone that works there fly fishes; they're the most helpful shop in town.

Joe_M · Location: Boston

Hey Miscotty,

Thanks for all the Beta. I'm sure it'll be quite useful. It sounds like I might owe you a beer at Archies. Is there specific kayak rental place that you are familiar with? Thanks again for all the help!

Joe

miscotty · Posted: Tue 12/16/08 3:29 pm Post subject:

I don't know the name of any of the local outfitters. There's one that I see driving boats around here on South Beach a lot Lisa's Kayaks, I think- they often set up in the Parking Lot at Bear Point. If I see any numbers I'll jot them down and post them.

this place is up in Vero:

http://www.orchidislandrentals.com/

waterwhippa · Location: Upstate, NY

Hey Joe,

I would highly recommend John Meskauskas at stuartflyfishing.com he is the real deal. Myself and a couple of the regulars here have fished with him, he goes the distance to take care of business.

troutdawg · Location: Denver

Just got back from being down there and lved it, can't wait to get back again and get on some Reds!