Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
JULY 2, 2009
INSHORE - We have had a steady trout bite early in the morning down around Big Mud Creek to the south and to the north it has been at the Moorings flats. Most of the bigger trout are being caught on top water baits or live pigfish fished in 2 to 5 feet of water. There are still some tarpon in the 20 to 50 pound range cruising around the Moorings canals at first light. Try a live mullet or a D.O.A. Bait Buster. I am still getting a few reports of redfish along the docks on Indian River Drive but, they have been very spooked easily and it has been hard to get them to eat. Small live pinfish or pigfish should work for you. The catch and release snook action remains good in the Ft. Pierce Inlet when fishing with live baits. The snapper bite along the channel edges has been improving every day. Try a live shrimp when you can get them.
OFFSHORE - There has not been a lot happening out there but, I am getting a few reports about scattered dolphin from 60 to 600 feet of water. Most of the dolphin have been taking a skirted ballyhoo in pink/white. There is plenty of bonita and sharks around to fight with and look for some big kings around the beaches and they will be chasing the schools of bait fish. There are still some big tarpon in the 100 pound range also around the bait along the beaches — try around the Vero Cove. The bottom fishing over the reefs and wrecks has been steady for sea bass, triggerfish, some snapper and AJ’s. They have all been taking live baits.
BRAGGING BOARD - I got an e-mail from Dennis Howell about a trip last weekend out of the Jupiter Inlet. He stated that Tim Stewart, Brad Bass, Joe Ferante and himself went out early and were in about 180 feet of water and were high speed trolling. Brad had the luck of hooking up with a big hoo. Dennis said that it was 54 inches long and pegged his 50 pound scale. A few minutes later Joe had a chance at one that looked bigger than the first but the hook pulled at the boat.
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or call me at 772-201-5770. You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe’s River Charters
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
JUNE 25, 2009
INSHORE - The inshore fishing this week has been a little on the slow side with all the hot temps and the shortage of live shrimp. But, the early risers have managed to find a good trout bite when using top water baits in 2 to 4 feet of water and fishing around the spoil islands to the north of the North Bridge. There has also been a good late afternoon trout bite when using live pigfish. The catch and release snook action in the Ft. Pierce Inlet has also been good in the late afternoon on the falling tide and when using live baits fished on the bottom. A handful of snapper and sheepshead have been reported coming from along the channel edges. They were caught on live shrimp before the shortage.
OFFSHORE - About all I can say for the offshore is summer time patterns, hot weather and a slow bite. I have had reports of a few dolphin being scattered from 80 to 600 feet of water and they were taking ballyhoo. Look for some big kingfish along the beaches right now and they are taking live baits like blue runners or mullet. The sailfish bite continues to be good to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet in 100 feet of water. A ballyhoo and your favorite colored skirt will work just fine. The bottom bite has also remained steady for snapper and sea bass. Over the deeper wrecks and reefs there is plenty of amberjack action. Along the beaches looks for schools of big tarpon. Try your luck with a live bait like a greenie, pilchard or a mullet.
BRAGGING BOARD - Ricky Eisen — age 10 had the fishing trip of a lifetime last Friday. He started off the morning by catching and releasing an estimated 130 pound tarpon. He caught him on a slow trolled live bait. It took him about 1 hour to get the fish to the boat. Later in the afternoon I got a call from his dad — Jesse Pfeiffer stating that Ricky had just caught a kingfish that they believed to be around 50 pounds. They brought the fish in and we weighed it — 49.1 pounds. He will have a lot of fish stories to tell about that trip.
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or call me at 772-201-5770. You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe’s River Charters
South Indian River Fishing Report 6/26
June 26, 2009
INSHORE:
So the song says…..Feelin’ Hot - Hot - Hot! That sorta sums up the weather around the Treasure Coast this week. Getting out early in the mornings or late in the evenings has a more profound meaning lately around here. Look out for afternoon thunderstorms this time of year, too. The best bite will be at first light or late evening as things ease off a bit. It’s summertime!
July brings hot weather, afternoon rains and Fourth of July parties. Oh….and lots of great fishing out there,too! Mornings on the river will bring action at first light on top water lures for snook or trout on the flats. They will seek deeper water as the sun rises. I will be fishing along the mangroves for snook with jigs, twitch baits and spoons where the water will be 2-3 feet deep. Trout will move to deeper flats in 2-6 feet of water and will most likely hit pinfish, pigfish or live shrimp. Redfish will continue to hold up on the flats, but more scattered. As the water heats up, move to deeper cuts on the flats for them. Gold spoons, soft baits, like DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baitsor cut bait will work best for them. Search along the docks during the day for snook or redfish hanging around there.
Bridges will be producing snapper, drum and sheephead during July. Live or dead shrimp will be hard for them to resist. Watch the tides and fish the slower sides of them for best results. Whiting will continue to be in the surf with the occasional bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Sharks will be patrolling along the beach also.
Areas to fish in the river for July: Bear Point, Queen’s Cove and Round Island. South of Harbor Branch will be a great area to work for trout in the mornings before the sun heats up things. The flats in front of the power plant taper off to 3-5 feet and will be holding trout during the day. Live pigfish are the favorite food for trout this time of year. Try a DOA Deadly Combo during the day also for trout. The west shore down there will be good areas to search out redfish. Channel edges will be yielding snapper on structure. Tripletail should be around channel markers and pilings to the south towards Jensen Beach. Don’t forget dock fishing during the mid-day hours.
Tip of the Month:
With the heat of summer upon us, make sure you have a plan for an emergency. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion is always a possibility when out on the water.
SIGNS:
Heat exhaustion:
Cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal.
Heat stroke:
Hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high– as high as 105 degrees F. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel dry.
TREATMENT:
Heat exhaustion:
Get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine. Let the victim rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his or her condition.
Heat stroke:
Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water or is vomiting or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.
Check out the Red Cross web site for more information: www.redcross.org
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby….it’s an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Inshore & Near-shore Report
This week was challenging in terms of weather, for sure.
Monday morning, 6/22, was the best weather of the week. I fished Estero Bay with the Matt Stanford family, including Matt, his wife, their two young children and the children’s grandfather. We had a good morning, using live shrimp to catch seven keeper mangrove snapper, three keeper sheepshead to 14 inches and a keeper whiting. We released two small snook, each about 16 inches.
Tuesday morning, Julie Brady, her son, Nick, and Nick’s friend, Colby, had planned to fish offshore, but with stiff winds out of the west, we changed those plans to fish inshore instead. Using live shrimp in central Estero Bay, we caught keeper mangrove snapper and a 14 inch sheepshead. We released smaller mangs and sheepshead, along with a 15 inch snook. After two consecutive days of strong, westerly winds and rough seas, the offshore forecast for Wednesday calmed down significantly, with predictions for two-foot seas out to 20 miles and two-to-fours from 20 to 60 miles offshore. Robert Smith and son, Walker, were pleased to awake to calm winds that morning, and we optimistically headed out. But, even at the near-shore reefs, seas were sloppy, with a leftover swell and seas on top of the swell higher than predicted. We fished there until it wasn’t fun anymore, dared not venture out further, and retreated to the relative calm behind Ft. Myers Beach for the final hour of fishing. We caught keeper mangrove snapper and grunts, and released Spanish mackerel. NOAA continued to forecast calming seas, with predictions for two-foot out to 60 miles for the rest of this week. But the low pressure system that stalled over us had other ideas. Thursday morning, I was back to the dock by 10 AM with Mike Weber, Bill Carlson, and their wives. There was a stiff 20 knot wind and seas rough enough to be border-line unsafe. We released a couple fish and decided to head in before it got any more uncomfortable or dangerous. Needless to say, with unstable, rough conditions and lots of moisture still around on Friday, I advised Chris Morrow, son Alex, and Bob Snyder and son, Zack, to fish inshore, rather than risk gulf fishing. We dodged a few rainstorms throughout the morning but we ended up catching ten keeper mangrove snapper and a keeper sheepshead. We released smaller snapper and sheepshead, and returned to shore just as the skies were letting loose with a heavier shower. The photo shown is of six-year-old angler,Tyler Guthman, with a bonnethead shark, caught on shrimp in Estero Bay, on a recent inshore trip. 
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Inshore Report
Hot, hot, hot! Air and water temps are unbelievably hot this week.
Tuesday morning, 6/16, I fished with Larry Battiste and his young son, Lorenzo, in Estero Bay. We used live shrimp to catch seven keeper mangrove snapper and a 14 inch sheepshead. We released smaller sheepshead, snapper and trout. Wednesday morning, I fished Estero Bay again, with Cody Hennessey, on a catch and release trip. We released a dozen mangrove snapper and a 15 inch sheepshead. We hooked a big red but he got away from us before we could boat him. Saturday morning, 6/20, I fished a very warm Estero Bay with John McGushin and friend, Mike. We used shrimp to catch five keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches and we released crevalle jack and ladyfish. We couldn’t get any reds to bite—maybe the warm water temps are making them lethargic. We half expected the fish to be reeled in already cooked! The photo shown is of angler, Steve Vender, with a 24 1/2 inch redfish, caught on shrimp, on a recent inshore trip.
South Indian River Fishing Report 6/18
June 18, 2009
INSHORE:
Summertime has arrived here on the Treasure Coast, bringing warm weather and calm winds to the area. A fantastic time to fish! The bite has been improving each day this week. The best fishing has been just off the beach lately. Cobia, snook, permit and assorted other species have been cruising the beach feeding on the baitfish. It has been one of the best cobia runs in many years. Hope you had a chance to get out fishing!
Mike, his dad, Dick, and son, Grant, joined me earlier in the week. It was a slower day than most, but they did manage to catch some nice trout for dinner. As the week progressed, the fish became more active. Dave and Pam Clark were vacationing in the area and decided to head out for a day on the water. Pam finished her day with three nice redfish and a couple gag groupers. Dave caught a couple snook up to 27″ and a fat 26″ trout for a fun day on their vacation. We tried again on Thursday and caught an assortment of fish, including a nice flounder.
Trout are on the edges of the flats and feeding on the many bait schools. Look for schools of glass minnows and you should find the trout. Try a Deadly Combo for some trout action on the flats. We have found some nice snook also hanging around the flats. Redfish have been scattered in the shallow water, but willing to eat live bait or a DOA CAL jerk bait. Harbor Branch and Queen’s Cove have been good trout areas. To the south, the west side of the river has been good for trout and redfish. Have some fun out there soon!
Tip of the Week:
The fourth of July is fast approaching the Treasure Coast. Now is the time to check over your equipment before you plan an outing on the water this holiday. Safety equipment isn’t just a requirement, it’s just good sense to be ready for any emergency that might happen on the water. Some things to check now, before the holiday is upon us. Life vests, flares, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, etc. Check the requirements for your boat and make sure everything is in good working order and currently in date. It only makes good sense to be prepared…..and you never know when there might be an emergency or you might be checked on the water. Have a safe and fun July 4th!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby….it’s an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
JUNE 18, 2009
INSHORE - The inshore fishing has improved this week with not so much fresh water runoff. I have had good reports of tarpon from 25 to 80 pounds and they have been feeding at first light around the Moorings. The bait of choice this week has been live mullet. There has been quite a few trout reported this week and they were up around the Mooring’s flats and as well on the flats at Harbor Branch, Bear Point and Little Mud Creek. A live pigfish or a live shrimp has been the bait to use. The redfish have also become very active this week at the docks along St. Lucie Village and along South Indian River Drive. They have been feeding the best when you are using a live pig or pinfish. As for the snapper — they are still a little slow in showing up. I did have reports of a few along the channel edges to the north of the North Bridge and they were taking live shrimp. There were a few tripletail caught to the south of the power lines. They were using a live shrimp and the fish were in the 5 pound range.
OFFSHORE - Everyone is chasing the cobia which it has been a red hot bite. On Monday and Tuesday they were just outside of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and taking just about anything you could throw at them. But, on Wednesday after all the pressure the bite slowed way down. There are still plenty of kingfish and a good number of them are over 30 pounds. Most of the fish have been caught in 30 feet of water off the North Beach and they are taking a slow trolled live bait. The sailfish action remains steady with fish both to the north and south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Most of the hook ups have been in 100 feet of water. And, as always there are more than plenty bonita’s, cuda’s, sharks and amberjacks to keep you busy.
BRAGGING BOARD - I got an e-mail and picture from a very excited dad — Travis White. He reported that his new fishing buddy — his 5 year old daughter caught her 1st fish. Kyla White caught a 46 inch dolphin in 240 feet of water on a naked ballyhoo out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. I got a picture and e-mail from Dan Clemons about a first for him too. He was fishing in 350 feet of water southeast of the Ft. Pierce Inlet when he caught a marlin. He was using an Iland lure and a ballyhoo. Last Thursday Trevor Walk — age 6 caught a nice 22 inch trout while fishing with a live shrimp and a Cajun Thunder popping cork. He was on my boat with my granddaughter — Savannah Ward — age 9 and we were shooting a video about taking kids fishing. You can check it out at
YouTube - Inshore Knowledge - Fishing With The Kids
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or call me at 772-201-5770. You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe’s River Charters
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Bonito, Goliaths, Kings, Spanish, Snapper & Redfish
Monday morning, 6/8, I fished Estero Bay with Steve Sepan, his son, Ron, and his young grandson, Logan. We used live shrimp to catch two keeper sheepshead to 15 inches and a keeper redfish at 18 1/2 inches. We released small mangrove snapper, trout and crevalle jacks.
Tuesday was a full day fishing trip with Florian Kordas and son, Mike, so we headed out a good ways to 73 feet, about 36 miles out of New Pass. We had a good day with lots of action and variety. We caught and kept ten nice mangrove snapper to 19 1/2 inches, three keeper yellowtail, all about 14 inches, and a few 15-inch whitebone porgies. We released Spanish mackerel to 26 inches, a ten-pound bonito, a 150 pound goliath grouper, mutton snapper shorts to 15 1/2 inches, undersized yellowtail and mangrove snapper, gag grouper shorts and red grouper shorts to 19 1/4 inches. We used shrimp for bait except for the goliath, which took a blue runner. It was a good day for both sport fish and table-fare. Wednesday morning, I was back offshore, but only to about 20 miles and 43 feet, fishing with John Winters and Steve Pettitt. I tried my mutton snapper hole first, but a huge goliath grouper ate the first three fish we hooked–all pretty nice muttons–so we had to move because it is hard to compete with a 500 pound monster. We checked out some other spots and ended up with four Spanish mackerel, all 23-24 inches, four keeper yellowtail snapper, four keeper mangrove snapper, along with some grunts and whitebone porgies. We released undersized yellowtail, mangs, triggerfish, gags and red grouper. That is it for this week—Slow season is upon us in SW FL. And near record heat is keeping even some locals indoors. We’ll have more to report over the next couple of weeks. The photo shown is of angler, John France, with a 19 inch mutton snapper, caught on shrimp, on a recent offshore trip.
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
JUNE 11, 2009
INSHORE - The inshore fishing this week has been on the slow side due o the water conditions — all of the fresh water runoff. This has been making anglers have to search for pockets of cleaner water or wait until mid day for the high tide. I did get a few reports of a good trout bite in 2 to 3 feet of water and most of the fish are coming from the south — down around the Midway Road area. The bait of choice has been a live shrimp fished under a popping cork. There are some redfish around the docks at St. Lucie Village and they have been taking small pinfish or pigfish. Again, the dirty water has slowed the snapper bit along the channel edges but, a few fish were reported on the last of the incoming tide and they were taking small live shrimp.
OFFSHORE - It sounds like the sailfish bite has been the most consistent with fish taking live baits or trolled ballyhoo in 80 to 110 feet of water. There have been some dolphin coming in to the docks and they were scattered from 60 to 400 feet of water and most of them were caught on ballyhoo. The kingfish bite on the beach has been a little slow. But, if you put in your time and use a live bait then you should bring back fish. The bottom fishing over the reefs and wrecks has been steady for snapper, sea bass, triggerfish and a few nice cobia. The only problem has been all of the cuda’s. I got reports of several schools of tarpon in the 90 to 150 pound range up at the Cove and the were following the schools of bait fish along the beach.
BRAGGING BOARD - I got a picture and a e-mail from Steve Loudermilk about the 46.6 pound dolphin he caught while fishing the Blue Water Open. He said that they caught another dolphin too — 17.2 pounder that took 3rd place. They were fishing between 100 and 200 feet of water to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. They also caught and released a sailfish. The big dolphin hit a naked ballyhoo and the smaller one took a live bait. Congrats to Leslie Pfeiffer for her 45.7 pound kingfish she caught last Saturday while fishing the Blue Water Open. She took 1st place in the kingfish division and also lady angler. She caught the king on a live bait at the Cove.
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or call me at 772-201-5770. You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe’s River Charters
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Nice Muttons Offshore; Trout & Reds Inshore
Tuesday, 5/26, I fished central Estero Bay with Wayne Hawkins and his niece, Lauren Mullinax, both from Cumming, GA. We used live shrimp and popping corks to catch three keeper trout to 18 inches and release lots of smaller trout. We also caught two keeper sheepshead, and we released a 23 inch snook.
Wednesday morning, I headed out of New Pass to 43 feet to fish offshore with George Noonan and his two sons. We fished with shrimp, hoping to catch some nice mutton snapper, like I had last week. But the goliath grouper had other ideas and ate two of those before we could get them off the bottom. We managed to beat out the goliaths and keep a nice yellowtail, some porgies and grunts, and two king mackerel at 25 inches and 32 inches. We also caught and released a 25 pound goliath grouper, along with lots of mangrove and yellowtail snapper shorts, undersized gag grouper and smaller kingfish.
I headed offshore Saturday morning with Leon Mead and son, Spencer, but we only made it to the near-shore reefs because of three-to-four foot seas, even near-shore. We used shrimp to catch keeper mangrove snapper, grunts and Spanish mackerel, and we released grouper shorts, smaller mackerel and blue runners.
Fishing Estero Bay Sunday with Steve Vender and Shawn Hennessey yielded some decent trout to 19 inches. Steve fished with me a couple more times this week too, on Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday, 6/2, we headed offshore to 43 feet, about 20 miles west of New Pass. We caught three mutton snapper at 16 ½ inches, 18 inches and 19 ¾ inches. We lost another big one when it cut the line and also hooked a hogfish that got free about three feet from the boat. We also caught whitebone porgies and Spanish mackerel, and released triggerfish, grouper shorts, grunts and blue runners. Thursday, we’d planned to head out for more muttons but the rain offshore kept us in the backwaters, where we caught a 24 ½ inch redfish, a 14 inch sheepshead and a few keeper mangrove snapper.
Backwaters fishing Friday morning with Dave Koenigsmark and his five-year-old son, Tyler, was good for three keeper trout, two at 18 ½ inches and one at 17 inches, on shrimp with popping corks. We also caught a few keeper mangrove snapper to 13 inches.
The photo shown is of angler, Gary Click, with a 23 inch trout, caught on shrimp, on a recent inshore trip.
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