PIGEONS AND OTHER ANNOYING CREATURES

I'm seriously considering changing the name of my boat from Free Jumper to Pigeon Coop. I have tried everything to get rid of these filthy, multi-colored befoulers short of poison or shotgun with little or no luck. They learn fast. The last ploy was a pair of two foot long reptiles from Toys R Us. For the first couple of days my gator and iguana seemed to be the solution. On the third day the birds were spied sitting atop these plastic replicas doing what they do best. I understand the rock dove pulled many a soul through the Great Depression but then if I was to kill and consume them I would just have to deal with other annoying creatures.

CAULERPA

A client pulled up a hunk of weed the other day and examined it closely after removing it from his hook.

"This looks like that aquarium grass that's invading California and the Mediterranean."

Well...it is. And it is so invasive and fast spreading that anything in its path is short lived. Now if manatees ate Caulerpa that might be a good thing because the invasive algae has no known enemies. If they don't... they too will go the way of our sea grasses and reef systems, swallowed up by an aquarium grass that some have accused Jacques Cousteau of releasing into the Mediterranean. Go figure.

In San Diego they have had moderate success using mats to block out the sunlight and injecting these mats with chlorine.

Sounds like the cure is worse than the disease.

BEACH TO LAGOON

The last time I left the Beach was just prior to our last cold front, and, I truly hope it is our "last" cold front. The BIG crevalle are still around and I suppose the last cold front might have dropped temperatures enough to put them off their spawning ritual,but just for a while.

The Spanish mackerel continue their migration northward and can be encountered anywhere along the Beach though they are difficult to catch at times while they are on the move. There are still bluefish around and we found some decent five to six pound fish the other day just north of the Inlet.

King mackerel fishing continues to be strong and some impressive catches were made this weekend during the Yellowfin Tournament out of Ft. Pierce. The leading fish as of Sunday morning was a 62 + pounder but there were also three or four fish in the 50's. Most of these fish came from south of our Inlet, though our Six Mile and Eight Mile have been holding fish consistently.

Slammer dolphin season is just around the corner and the reef and wreck fishing continues to give up a good snapper bite.

THE LAGOON

Some areas of the river are becoming difficult to fish because of the amount of algae. This is especially true if you are "dredging" the channels and deeper cuts.

There are snook along with trout showing on the flats and structure from the Jensen Causeway north.

I am still getting tarpon reports from Little Mud to Bear Point area and I am sure they are on the Ft. Pierce jetties early and late.

Put on your sunscreen!

Capt. David Fawcett/Free Jumper Charters