Palm Beach is in the heart of its spring run. The mahi bite is at peak, the first blue marlin of the year have shown up offshore, and inshore the tarpon are stacking in Lake Worth Lagoon.
Mahi — Peak Season
Mahi-mahi are at full peak on the offshore weedlines. Run east 8–15 miles to the color change. Schoolies are everywhere; bulls in the 30–40 lb range are mixed in. Trolled ballyhoo on small skirts is the standard. Pitch live pilchards or chunks to floaters and fish under birds. Some of the biggest schools have been holding under sargassum lines.
Blue Marlin and Tuna
First blue marlin bites of the year have come in. Boats running the 100-fathom edge with high-speed trolled lures and ballyhoo/Ilander combos are getting shots at fish in the 200–400 lb range. Blackfin tuna are stacked at the buoys and on the deep wrecks — small live baits or jigging is producing.
Tarpon in Lake Worth Lagoon
Tarpon are stacking in Lake Worth Lagoon and around the Palm Beach Inlet. The bridge bite at night is on fire — Royal Park Bridge, Flagler Bridge, and the Southern Boulevard Bridge all loaded with rollers from sunset to 2 AM. Live shrimp, small mullet, or a dark fly on the lights is the move. Daytime, the Loxahatchee River and the inlet on outgoing are producing.
Beach and Inshore
Snook are on the beach in the early morning — DOA Bait Busters and live shrimp at first light. Pompano are winding down but a few are still being caught on sand fleas.
Specific Spots This Week
Offshore mahi anglers are working the 80-foot ledge east of Palm Beach and the deep weedlines at the 100-fathom line. The Loran Tower area has been good for blackfin tuna jigging on butterfly jigs at 80–120 feet. Tarpon at night are stacked at the Royal Park Bridge and the Flagler Bridge — work the fenders with live shrimp on the lights. The Palm Beach Inlet on outgoing tide is producing rolling fish on the surface at sunset. Loxahatchee River tarpon are best on the falling tide at the mouth of the river and inside the cuts of Munyon Island. The beach south of the Palm Beach Inlet at first light is producing snook on DOA Bait Busters and live shrimp.
Conditions and Outlook
Water temp 79–81°F. New moon Saturday — strong night tarpon bite. Light SE winds all week. Ideal offshore conditions through Friday.
Local Intel This Week
The Royal Park Bridge in Palm Beach at night is the dock-light-equivalent for tarpon — rollers from sunset till 2 AM, live shrimp or small mullet on a 5/0 circle. Lake Worth Inlet on outgoing produces snook and tarpon at the rocks. For mahi, the color change has been 8-10 miles offshore — head east-southeast to the edge. Loxahatchee River back is holding tarpon and snook in the upper reaches. Florida saltwater license required, snook stamp mandatory for any harvest. Tight lines.