Rob Murphy’s SE Florida SPEARFISHING Forecast 6/2/11 
 
Location:
Outlook for spearing in Southeast Florida for the coming week:
We are coming off nearly a week of pretty rough seas and tough conditions but things are looking up. By Saturday seas will lay down to a more relaxing 2-4′ after driving 3-5′+ since last weekend. The cold dirty water is also moving out and being replaced by the warmer clearer water that we all love. The motto around here is if you don’t like the conditions, wait til tomorrow, because they are constantly changing. The cold did bring in some good fish though. I am looking forward to the weekend and plan to go out north of Jupiter inlet and go after some gags, cobia and muttons! 
 
Visibility:  (2 sections near shore and offshore)
0-2ft= Blacked out, Chocolate Milk
2-5ft= Only if you are really desperate
5-10ft= Thank goodness I own a 75cm gun
10-25ft=At least I can see all 12 feet of that shark now – Inshore is still pretty dirty and stirred up, though its improving. 
25-50ft= Wooohoo!!! It’s good enough for anywhere. – Offshore is a little better but still kinda dirty. 30′ Vis over the deep reefs today, the bluewater should be nice if you can brave the run
50-100ft= Great vis might as well be in the Bahamas!
100+ft= Doesn’t get much better, the rest of the world hates you right now
 
Wetsuit this week: 
Naked: water is as warm as it gets
Rashguard: keep the jellyfish and sun off 
1mm suit: just a bit cooler than is comfortable 
3mm suit: cool enough for a hood and full suit- Water temps have been cold, especially in Jupiter and to the north. 2pc 3mm or 1pc 5mm at minimun, 57* in 110′ today and 64* in 75′. The warm water is coming back though, so bring an option if you encounter that high 70s water too. 
5mm suit: cold, bring some hot water on the boat too
7mm suit: freezing, invest in a good suit and a warm jacket
Drysuit: arctic, time to fight the polar bears for your fish
 
Shark Factor:
Better chance of seeing one in your bathtub
Might see one but nothing to worry about
Definitely going to see one but shouldn’t be a problem
Going to see them and they are going to be looking for a free meal – The bulls are still here, though not in the ridiculous numbers that March-May brought us. Still keep your guard up and have a good buddy to watch your back. 
Undoubtedly going to see them and plan on losing a fish or two
Great Whites breaching on the surface or plan on a feeding frenzy or two
 
Weapon of choice:
Pole spear/Hawaiian Sling/three prong
Small gun: (up to 75cm)
Mid range: (90-110cm)
Game gun: (110-130cm) Bring something with some range, the clear water coming back means spooky grouper and muttons, and you never know when something huge like a big cubera or cobia may present you with a shot. 
Cannon: (130-Tuna gun)
 
Best Bets:
If you want to shoot something big this week hunt: Cobia north of Jupiter inlet. They have been very sporadic down south but up north they are still there in good numbers. I have also been seeing monster cubera in solid numbers but they are tough to get near! Trophy muttons are also around. They are spawning so expect good numbers and some big ones mixed in! Big permit are also around in some seriously huge schools. I was covered up in 20-30# fish last week off Jupiter. For the Bluewater hunters the some really big dolphin have been landed lately offshore. 
If you are just looking for dinner hunt: Grouper are still in Palm Beach though not in great numbers. Jupiter and to the north they are still holding strong. Muttons are everywhere, plenty of good eating size fish anywhere over about 40′ of water. Hogs are starting to show up in better numbers, just be selective and try to hold out for the bigger ones. Kings have been thick over the reef and near the drop off. 
 
Open Seasons of note:  Grouper, snapper, cobia, and most game fish are open right now. Lobster is closed. 
Regulations and size limits for your area:
Visit http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/regulations/spearing for up to date regulations.
 
Rumour has it:  A 79# warsaw was landed in state waters on Monday. While some of us were at the Blue Wild Expo, many people came back from spending Memorial day weekend in the Bahamas with great pictures and stories of big hogs and some nice grouper as well. Not a ton of action in the last week but that should change for the better very soon. Check back soon!
 
Upcoming events: The Treasure Coast Shootout big fish tournament is this Saturday, and there are a lot of big shooters signed up. Should be some great fish weighed. And tournament season is upon us, with at least 6 big tournaments in the Southeast US in June and July. Lots more in August including the Nationals, which is right in our backyard in Tavernier in the Upper Keys.

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