Capt. Rob utilizes the latest tackle and techniques to pursue a variety of game fish. Outriggers, downriggers, kites, planers, wire line, teasers and circle hooks are all part of the arsenal that may be employed during the day.

  The use of a fishing kite is an awesome, specialized technique that employs the use of a special rod and reel, release clips and a kite. The kite is sent in the air attached to rod designed for the task. Once the kite is flying high, live baits such as Goggle Eyes or Blue Runners are hooked or bridled behind the head and then the lines set in release clips attached to the kite outfit and then suspended off the kite line. As the kite is let out further, it’ll carry the baits out away from the boat. Keeping the bait near the surface is paramount, the leader and all terminal tackle are suspended in the air, keeping them out of site of weary game fish. The strike at times can be slow and deliberate as a sailfish or dolphin inspect the bait, other times a Wahoo or “smoker” kingfish or tuna will violently attack the bait, “skyrocketing” out of the water. All of the action takes place in full view of the boat.

  Live chumming is a great way to get fish stirred up and hungry. Having a large live well enables Capt. Rob to acquire and retain large amounts of live baits. When live chumming, small Pilchards or Menhaden are cast netted in the area, once at the “hot spot” these “livies” are tactically tossed overboard thus creating an easy feeding opportunity for any “sportster” in the area. The action can at times be fast and furious and total mayhem can occur when everyone is hooked up and there are still 50 fish swimming around under the boat looking for a free meal!

Trolling with artificial baits is the best way to cover water and locate feeding fish. Weed lines, rips, floating debris and birds are good signs that fish are in the area. Once a productive area is located, out go the natural baits. Ballyhoo, Bonito strips and Mullet are preferred trolling baits once feeding fish are located. Slow trolling live baits is a productive method for the larger, weary and less aggressive fish. Trolling, then live baiting is deadly and efficient one-two-punch combination and is the goal of many offshore anglers.

When Wahoo, Dolphin and Tuna are the target. High speed trolling remains one of the most productive techniques. The use of wire-line or high speed planers allows one to present the baits below the surface where Bull Dolphin and the tiger-like Wahoo lurk.

The use of teasers to attract game fish close to the boat has gained great popularity in recent years. The fish-like teasers rigged in a series are fished behind the boat. Ballyhoo, squid or mullet look- a-likes will skip and swim behind the prop wash and attract everything from marlin to cobia to within casting distance of the boat.

Circle hooks were at one time considered to be a fad, now are attached to the end of even the some of the most experienced anglers lines. Most “pros” have switched over to using circle hooks to assure a solid hook up and prevent causing injury by gut hooking any fish. facilitating a safe and easy release. The trick is not is set the hook, just let the line come tight and start reeling. The design of the hook does all the work.

A relatively new technique perfected by local pros is the use of lightweight braided lines to deep drop jig and worm combos for large deepwater fish such as grouper, amberjack and snapper. Braided line in the 20-30lbs class has the diameter of 8-10lbs monofilament and has little or no stretch. The small diameter line is less water resistant and will allow a 4-8oz. jig to penetrate the depths to 600 feet. The no stretch factor will account for greater sensitivity and feel, even the lightest strike can be detected. This combination of the two have given many anglers the confidence and capability the catch the giants of the deep without the use of heavy lead weights and electric reels.

Offshore Fishing:

It’s no secret the waters off Palm Beach and Jupiter are known as “Sailfish Alley”. Anglers from all over the world come here in pursuit of a trophy sailfish. Whether kite fishing, trolling or drift fishing, sailfish are a likely catch. While winter is considered “peak season”, during the summer months large the influx of baitfish such as Goggle Eye, Blue Runner, Spanish Sardine, Cigar Minnow, Threadfin Herring, and Pilchard reside along the beach and will attract and hold sailfish throughout the season. Drifting with live bait is the most popular and effective method of catching sails and kings. The use of kites and flat lines and downriggers allows Capt. Rob to cover more water and expose his baits to as many fish as possible Live chumming with pilchards brings fish close to the boat and affords anglers the opportunity to pursue sailfish with fly gear if so desired

Large schools of King Mackerel reside off Palm Beach and Jupiter during most of the year. Immense schools of Kingfish migrate near shore of our coast as well. During the Spring and Fall months the migration is in full swing and these Kings are hungry and not picky. Summer and winter schools thin out but are still fairly abundant and will provide action for those seeking them

Dolphin, Wahoo, Bonito, Blackfin Tuna and Sailfish, Marlin are all pelagic species that cruise the open ocean. Their migratory patterns and ocean conditions dictate that at times, they be easily accessible for those who wish to challenge the angling skills offshore Jupiter or Palm Beach. Fishing offshore out of Jupiter and Palm Beach inlet generally means 2-6 miles from shore. That’s not say that a 10-15 mile run offshore is out of the question. Sea conditions and fish location will determine the game plan. An average day we fish no more than 2-8 miles offshore.

Inshore Fishing:

Palm Beach, Jupiter inlets, the Loxahatchee River, and the beaches around the inlets provide at times, almost non-stop world class light tackle fishing action. Whether inshore fishing is your forte, or as an offshore fishing alternative when the weathers too rough, you won’t be disappointed. The use of fly-fishing gear or artificial baits on light spinning tackle really shines when targeting Florida’s inshore “gamesters.” These fish are tough and aggressive, and will test one’s skill to the max.

Jupiter and Palm Beach inshore fishing provides explosive action for Tarpon, Snook, Barracuda, Jack Crevelle, Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, Ladyfish, Permit and Pompano. Inside the inlets giant sized Jack Crevalle will cruise in large schools around seawalls and the edge of the channel, they’ll pounce on any bait thrown their way.

In the Spring time, off Palm Beach and Jupiter, large schools of 20-40lbs. Jack Crevelle will gather over the inshore reefs to spawn. Medium to medium heavy tackle is used to catch these "bad asses" by either deep jigging, or by trolling large swimming plugs. Although not a "glamour species", they are one of the strongest fighters there are.

At times, vast schools of Spinner Sharks will take up residence along the beaches off Palm Beach and Jupiter. Capt. Rob has had a local news helicopter notify him that he observed what looked to be 500-700 sharks along the beaches off Singer Island. “Spinners” get there name from the high jumps and violent spins they do in the air. Some people ask " why do Spinner Sharks jump and spin for no apparent reason? I will sometimes say in a "Sopranos" like tone, AAY!!! IT'S WHAT THEY DO! Typically a shy shark, once located, Capt. Rob will anchor the boat, cut the motors the use chum to put the sharks in the feeding mood and attract them closer to the boat. The action takes place so close to shore that many anglers have had beach-goers scurrying and then cheer them on as the shark would jump and “shake their thang” in the air a mere fifty yards from shore. At times the anchor must be pulled and store enabling Capt. Rob to chase down the adversary so the angler doesn’t get “spooled”. All sharks are released unharmed.

If targeting shark is your passion, Capt. Rob is experienced at catch and release shark fishing. Generally encountered by chance when fishing for the “glamour” species, a variety of sharks can be caught close to shore. Aggressive sharks will at times follow a hooked fish to the surface, at which time a large baitfish will be sent out on appropriate tackle and rarely gets ignored.

***Also, I don’t recommend chumming for sharks nears crowded beaches around Jupiter or Palm Beach. I personally, will set out to locate secluded areas for this type of fishing.

Spinner Sharks, Spanish Mackerel, Pompano, Bluefish, Sea Trout, Redfish and Ladyfish are generally more common catches in the cooler months.

We're waiting for you're e-mail! captrob@sailking.com