Ponce Inlet - Weekly Reports

Popular Reply
03-30-2020, 08:32 AM
Senior Member

I'm no expert but here's my observations. Most pelagics can be caught anytime of the year, with the spring and fall being your peak seasons. Getting offshore in January or February is almost impossible with the winds. Dolphin best times are probably March through May and late September to November. Tuna (blackfin) I think are more prevalent during the cooler months. There's a pretty good black fin bite out there now. To catch yellowfin you need to go out 80 to 100+ miles usually. Kingfish and cobia can be caught on the reefs pretty much all year long. The cobia run with the rays tends to be in March. November and December seems to be great months for kings. Hst for wahoo during the colder months, especially around the full and new moons. Sailfish more prevalent during the cooler months, but we've seen them on the hottest days of July.
More people bottom fish out of Ponce probably due to the distance to the steam from there, which is usually around 40 miles. Plus, there's a bunch of artificial reefs and live bottom spots. Problem is red snapper dominate your catch usually.
More people bottom fish out of Ponce probably due to the distance to the steam from there, which is usually around 40 miles. Plus, there's a bunch of artificial reefs and live bottom spots. Problem is red snapper dominate your catch usually.
#5
Senior Member

Steady caught 7 hours worth of large fat and hefty ARS.
Caught a nice size cobia but accidentally cut the line with the gaff.
Threw a large grunt free lining and had something completely spool my Penn spinning real with 80 lb power pro.
A few keeper sea bass.
All in all a good day
Caught a nice size cobia but accidentally cut the line with the gaff.
Threw a large grunt free lining and had something completely spool my Penn spinning real with 80 lb power pro.
A few keeper sea bass.
All in all a good day
#6
Admirals Club 


Made it out both Saturday 11/19 and 11/26.
Worked the party grounds and ended up with 4 smoker kings on the 19th and 3 on the 26th. All in 88-93 feet. Got a couple around 3.8 knots and a few around 2.5 Seemed like they wanted it a bit slower.
Pulling #3 planers with split tail mullet on the corners and ballyhoo with chugger heads of the riggers and shotgun. 5 of the fish were off the planers and the other 2 off the shotgun.
Had a few other knockdowns that were short strikes with the bait chewed off behind that last hook. Will probably add stingers next time.
This past Saturday we found a weed line about 2 miles long on the north side of the East Ridge. A few birds working it and a few bait fish. Worked it pretty hard but came up with nothing. Pretty disappointing.
I wanted to run out to the Steeples but it was a slow go with a head sea and the guys I was with wanted to get lines in the water. Compromises I guess...
Was happy to get the kings for the smoker though.
Smoked fish chunks and fish dip for Thanksgiving...nothing better.
Worked the party grounds and ended up with 4 smoker kings on the 19th and 3 on the 26th. All in 88-93 feet. Got a couple around 3.8 knots and a few around 2.5 Seemed like they wanted it a bit slower.
Pulling #3 planers with split tail mullet on the corners and ballyhoo with chugger heads of the riggers and shotgun. 5 of the fish were off the planers and the other 2 off the shotgun.
Had a few other knockdowns that were short strikes with the bait chewed off behind that last hook. Will probably add stingers next time.
This past Saturday we found a weed line about 2 miles long on the north side of the East Ridge. A few birds working it and a few bait fish. Worked it pretty hard but came up with nothing. Pretty disappointing.
I wanted to run out to the Steeples but it was a slow go with a head sea and the guys I was with wanted to get lines in the water. Compromises I guess...
Was happy to get the kings for the smoker though.
Smoked fish chunks and fish dip for Thanksgiving...nothing better.
Likes:
#7
Admirals Club 

#10
Admirals Club 


Thanks. Knew we should have run out there past Saturday. Like SWW and the rest of us...waiting again for the wind to lay down. Doesn't look like it's gonna get there this weekend.
#12
Senior Member


Here's a bump for this thread.
Didn't go offshore today, but fished the south side of the inlet with blue crabs looking for a red or black drum. Nothing even at the slack tide. Fished under the bridges in NSB and put my GF's son on a few nice sheepsheads. That's it for the day. Really quiet and the wind was howling. North Causeway ramp only had about 15 trailers.
Didn't go offshore today, but fished the south side of the inlet with blue crabs looking for a red or black drum. Nothing even at the slack tide. Fished under the bridges in NSB and put my GF's son on a few nice sheepsheads. That's it for the day. Really quiet and the wind was howling. North Causeway ramp only had about 15 trailers.
#15
Admirals Club 

Thread Starter

Here's a bump for this thread.
Didn't go offshore today, but fished the south side of the inlet with blue crabs looking for a red or black drum. Nothing even at the slack tide. Fished under the bridges in NSB and put my GF's son on a few nice sheepsheads. That's it for the day. Really quiet and the wind was howling. North Causeway ramp only had about 15 trailers.
Didn't go offshore today, but fished the south side of the inlet with blue crabs looking for a red or black drum. Nothing even at the slack tide. Fished under the bridges in NSB and put my GF's son on a few nice sheepsheads. That's it for the day. Really quiet and the wind was howling. North Causeway ramp only had about 15 trailers.
took the family out for a boat ride yesterday and the guys fishing under the North Causeway said the Sheeps were biting. Glad you got a few
#16
Admirals Club 


Today is looking tempting...damn work. Maybe slide out after lunch for a few hours.
#17
Admirals Club 


Here's a bump for this thread.
Didn't go offshore today, but fished the south side of the inlet with blue crabs looking for a red or black drum. Nothing even at the slack tide. Fished under the bridges in NSB and put my GF's son on a few nice sheepsheads. That's it for the day. Really quiet and the wind was howling. North Causeway ramp only had about 15 trailers.
Didn't go offshore today, but fished the south side of the inlet with blue crabs looking for a red or black drum. Nothing even at the slack tide. Fished under the bridges in NSB and put my GF's son on a few nice sheepsheads. That's it for the day. Really quiet and the wind was howling. North Causeway ramp only had about 15 trailers.
I.e.: remove both claws, legs, swim paddles, etc?

#18
Senior Member


38 Bait behind Merk's. Cut off the claws, split in half, hook through bottom. They are quick and aggressive until those claws are gone! Fished on the bottom with 2oz lead above a swivel.
#19
Admirals Club 


Have you ever used the hook laid across the shell held in place by a rubber band? Heard about it a while ago but have never fished with crabs before.
#20
Senior Member

Was planing another Friday trip as yesterday said 2 to 3 ft seas.
Just checked again and now jumped 4 to 6 for Friday, the day I took off.
Wednesday calling for 1 to 2 though. Just my luck.
May have to travel to the West Coast
Just checked again and now jumped 4 to 6 for Friday, the day I took off.
Wednesday calling for 1 to 2 though. Just my luck.
May have to travel to the West Coast