SportFishing and Charters Forum - West Palm Fishing starting the 27th?

Going to the in-laws Next Friday for the Easter Break. Any advice where I can get a fair shake on a center console rental and what should I be fishing for? I have done my fair share of offshore and inshore fishing off the east end of Long Island but none in Fla. Point me in the right direction please.
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Anyone want to trade a few days of their boat in Fla for the same of mine in the Hamptons this summer? Someone should start a boat share site like that. It's a good idea. BTW, I have a 35 Alura.

Finding a rental boat in WPB is going to be tough -- that's just not the marketplace.

I'd call Sailfish Marina and see if they have any recommendations.
http://www.sailfishmarina.com

What I'd recommend is just hiring a charter captain for the day(s) you want to fish.

Fishing in WPB is more of an offshore thing (if this wind ever lays down :mad: ). There should still be some sailfish around, and kingfish/dolphin/cobia will start to show. There is inshore fishing as well, it's just not as well known there.

One other option is to go to the Floridasportsman website and forum. Ask the guys in teh SE section.

PB

Try jupiter inlet boat rentals.
Great operation, nice people, solid boats with outriggers.
Before I purchased a boat and stored it in FL for the winter, I used to rent there all the time. Dont rent on a windy day and expect to go offshore, that inlet can get nasty and it aint fun on a bad day.

Another place is Atlantic boat rentals. Lance is a good guy and will give you some pointers on fishing. although Ive never used the boats.

Had a bad experience with Blue water boat rentals.

Good luck.

Thanks folks. W Palm isn't exactly the fishing capitol of Fla huh? I'll check out your recomendations.

there is some excellent fishing out of west palm! renting boats is not something i am familiar with but the fishing i am. right now there are plenty of species to target depending on how far you are willing to run.
inshore: jacks, snook, and pompano have been comming in good numbers this month though the pomps reports are not as plentiful as they were a month ago and snook are out of season but great fun. i assume you do some striper fishing up north, many similar tactics will work for snook, including bouncing jigs around structure or throwing x-raps and crystal minnows, live bait too!

beach: LOTS of spinner sharks up and down the coast as well as some schools of spanish macks with a small blue fish or two in the mix. the spinners can be great fun on light tackle and may even hit a topwater plug if you can find them in some numbers. also keep an eye out for cobia, they are often with the rays but sometimes can be found crusing down the beach. soak a dead or dying bait for the spinners for best results and cast spoons or stick baits for macks or jig for pompano while waiting on a shark to bite.

offshore inside of 600' (5-10 miles):
though it is not prime time drifting live baits in 120' give or take will give you a good chance at releasing a few sails. kites work well but a ballon rig or a freelined livey will get the job done suprisingly well. in the same water maybe to the inside a bit there are still some good numbers of king mackeral. fish live baits or drift dead baits at various depths to entice kings up to 30 lbs. a few wahoo have been caught in the last few days up to 40 lbs just to the south but no doubt they are out of pbi also.

way off: everyone is chomping at the bit for the spring dolphin run to kick off. the last two days where there was a se wind a few decent fish were caught in the 20lb range. trolled ballyhoo or pitched liveys work well if the fish are there. it is definatly a bit early for the main run but 20 lbers are nice any day. if you were gonna be here late april that is the only way to go and fish to 60 lbs are caught every year!

hope this gets you going and if you want a more detailed report or a few tips give me an im when you arrive and i'll let you know whats happened between now and then.