Florida Fishing Reports

July 17, 2008

INSHORE:

Summertime on the Indian River…..It’s a wonderful time of year.  Lots of afternoon thunderstorms have brought much needed rain to the area this year.  You have to plan your trips carefully to get out and beat the odds of getting wet.  The water has remained remarkably clear in spite of all the wet weather out there.  Fishing picked up the latter part of the week and we enjoyed catching a variety of fish around the river.

Joe, Manolo and Pepe were out with me when the fishing was a challenge, but did catch dinner of snapper, mackerel and trout.  It was a great day to be on the water.  Joe Senneville and Crystal Mutchler went out to celebrate Joe’s birthday.  Of course, Crystal caught the most and biggest fish!  She ended up with a 20″ black drum, 21″ redfish, several snapper and an assortment of other fish to end up the day.  Joe caught his share of the variety, including a grouper and snook.  Happy Birthday Joe!

We again found redfish on the shallow flats.  A few large schools have been cruising the flats with the higher tides, but have been very hesitant in biting.  We found a school of more than a hundred reds this week, but they were not in the mood to eat.  Move slowly when fishing the shallows as you never know when you might happen on a school of reds.  Gold spoons, DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits are good choices to use out there. 

Trout was on the slower side for us this week.  There is so much bait around, it’s hard to get them to feed on anything else.  We found lots of bait around Bear Point, Harbor Branch and Round Island.  Fish around the glass minnows whenever you happen on them.  Snook fishing around the inlet has been mostly at night or on the moving tides.  There are snook around the docks and mangroves of the river also.  Fish early for a chance around these areas.  Joe coaxed one to hit his top water lure in the shallows around some of the docks.

There are still some nice snapper around the channel edges and docks.  Crystal caught two keeper mangroves and a couple of short muttons from under the docks this week.  Around the bridges, the anglers have caught snapper, croakers and sheephead.  The mackerel are still around the inlet, but not as frenzied as last week.  We did see some bonito crashing bait out there today.  The surf has been producing mostly whiting and some croakers and mackerel.  We had a lot of fun out this week and will be out there again looking for the action around the river.

Tip of the Week:  Keep plenty of water on the boat during the summer months.  Drink lots of liquids to begin the day and continue throughout your adventure.  It is very important to keep yourself hydrated as the sun beats down on you and the water.  Make sure all your passengers do the same!  Have fun on the water this summer. 

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

Filed under: Ft. Pierce, Indian River, Treasure Coast, Uncategorized | No Comments »

 JULY 17, 2008

INSHORE - Not much change in fishing patterns this time of year.  Fish early or late and save the middle of the day for a nap.  Still, the best action is the trout, jacks and ladyfish and they all are hitting on top water baits at first light.  Try Bear Point or the flats just north of Harbor Branch.  I had god reports of redfish this week with some of them coming from around Jack Island area and some coming from the docks along South Indian River Drive.  At both places the fish are being very picky.  The best results are coming from small live crabs.  The catch and release snook action has been good in the Ft. Pierce Inlet for anglers using greenie’s fished on the bottom at the tide changes.  The snapper were scattered over the weekend with a few here and a few there  Most were caught along the channel edges on a small live shrimp — that is if you were lucky enough to find some. 

OFFSHORE - The word this week has been sailfish.  The boats at our docks reported from 5 to 12 hook ups per trip.  And, they were taking both live baits and ballyhoo.  Try the area just east of 12 buoy in 90 to 125 feet of water.  There were good reports of cobia to 50 pounds coming in over the weekend and this week.  Most of the fish were coming from 30 to 80 feet of water and a live bait was the way to go.  I have had a lot of kingfish come in over the weekend and also this week.  Try the area from south of Ocean Village down to the Boils at the power plant in 30 to 40 feet of water.  Slow troll a live bait for your best results.  The good news was that we have a good number of dolphin come into the docks over the weekend.  They were caught anywhere from 80 feet out to 250 feet.  All of the fish were caught on ballyhoo.  The bottom fishing has been off again this week due to the cold bottom temps.  The reports on the internet are of 52 to 57 degrees making grouper and snapper fishing nonexistent. 

CENTRAL FLORIDA OFFSHORE FISHING CLUB - The CFOFC held their monthly offshore tournament this past weekend at the Dockside Inn.  Club members reported a variety of catches but non as unusual as the blue marlin that  Eddie Merritt caught in 80 feet of water.  He was using a ballyhoo for bait.  Guy Harrell was sure he set a new club record with the 42.3 pound kingfish he caught in 26 feet of water to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.  Jarrod Naberhaus celebrated his 13th birthday by catching a 7.6 pound dolphin in 100 feet of water on a ballyhoo.  Robert McDonald caught a 13.7 pound dolphin in 102 feet of water and they had another in 80 foot.  Alan Wilcox had 2 dolphin that were caught in 120 feet of water.  The clubs next offshore tournament will be held on August 2nd.

1st place - Guy Harrell - Reel Party - 42.3 pound kingfish

2nd place - Julian Rioseco - Dread Knot - 18.2 pound cobia

3rd place - Craig Toth - Afternoon Delight - 13.7 pound kingfish

4th place - Robert McDonald - Gitty Up - 13.7 pound dolphin

5th place - Jarrod Naberhaus - 7.6 pound dolphin

6th place - Alan Wilcox - Swamp thing - 6.7 pound dolphin

BRAGGING BOARD -  On Saturday Rob Ward caught a 30 pound cobia while fishing with greenie’s in 50 feet of water to the southeast of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.  Danny Maness was 0 for 2 on sailfish.  Also, on Saturday Troy Brown fishing on the For Sure caught a 32 pound cobia while fishing in that same area.  He was also using live greenie’s.  All three had several kingfish.  I got an e-mail from Mike Drown stating that he went out of the Sebastian Inlet on July 9th in 100 feet of water and caught 2 - 10 pound dolphin and 1 - 30 pound bull.  They were caught on a ballyhoo with a blue/silver topper.  They also caught 2 bonita, 2 cuda’s and a small shark and all were released.

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

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Blues and Jacks and Ladys Oh my.These fish are all over the lagoon and the Bull Sharks and Tarpon are now mirroring these schools and being a part of our daily activity.In addition the big reds are still slurping Crabs in the Inlet and its quite easy to fill your day with activity.Some decent CPR Snook are being caught around the docks and mangroves.The biggest problem we have is a super low water level in this area because our wind has been hard south and west all summer.

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July 10, 2008

INSHORE:

Summer heat has sure taken over along the Treasure Coast.  Hot temperatures has warmed up the water and it has been an early bite most of the week.  Look to deeper water after the sun heats things up out there.  Fishing has been up and down this week.  Most of the action has been around the turning basin with many anglers out to challenge the hoards of Spanish macks and bonitos that are chasing the schools of baitfish around the inlet. 

Trout and snook have been on the flats early and move off as the sun rises.  Top water or live bait will be your best choice on the flats, while soft baits are good around the mangroves and docks of the river.  With all the bait around the inlet, night fishing can produce snook, tarpon or bonitos if you venture out.  All of our trout this week have come on DOA CAL jerk baits in various colors.  Mike James even caught a nice bluefish while fishing the flats.

We continue to find redfish up on the flats in the mornings.  They have been pretty picky about biting, but there are many different lures and baits to try and coax them into feeding.  The schools have been smaller most days and they have been in some shallow water.  DOA shrimp or jerk baits are good lures to use along with live pigfish.

The mangrove snapper have continued to hold along the channel edges and structure around the river.  Beaches have held whiting and Spanish mackerel.  The inlet has been boiling with all the action and many large bull sharks are cruising underneath the frenzy.  Don’t be surprised to find one chomping on your catch next to the boat.  Lionel Lusardi was out with his brother, Adrian, and battled a bonito in the boat.

Tip of the Week:   
Summer brings HOT weather out on the water.  Harmful rays from the sun are beating down on you.  Take a few minutes and make sure you put on good sunscreen during the day.  Hats and sunglasses are a given when on the water.  Don’t find yourself with one bad sunburn to end a good day of fishing.  Apply sunscreen before you leave the ramp and at intervals during the day to help protect your skin from the sun.

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

Filed under: Ft. Pierce, Indian River, Treasure Coast, Uncategorized | No Comments »

 JULY 11, 2008

INSHORE - The inshore fishing hasn’t changed much since last week — the old summer time patterns.  The trout bite has been better just before and right at daylight.  The late afternoon bite has slowed down because of the heat. The best baits have been a top water plug and right at daylight switch to a live pigfish.  Most of the trout have been between 3 and 6 pounds.  The catch and release snook bite has been great in the Ft. Pierce Inlet at night and on the tide change.  Just fish a live bait on the bottom and hold on.  The snapper bite continues to be good along the channel edges and around the bridges when using a live shrimp.  There have been a few tarpon rolling around the Mooring but they all have lock jaw.  I did get a couple of reports about tripletail being caught to the south of the power lines.  They were using a live shrimp. The spanish mackerel and bonita schools are still chasing the schools of bait fish in the Inlet.  All you really need is a silver spoon or anything that is shinny.  There have been a few kingfish mixed in with the mack’s and bonita.

OFFSHORE - The bite is almost the same offshore as last week but the cold bottom temps has made the snapper and grouper fishing tough.  The kings have moved in as close as 20 feet along the beaches.  A live blue runner has been the bait of choice.  We had kings to 38 ponds reported over the holiday weekend.  The sailfish are still going strong to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.  Most of the fish that were caught and released were in 80 to 125 feet of water.  Naked ballyhoo seems to be the bait of choice.  The cobia have been around more starting in 50 feet of water.  Most of the have been free swimming and not with rays so make sure you have something to throw at them like a chartreuse cobia slayer from Gulfstream Lures.   There has been a good number of what would be over the slot snook at the Boils.  Remember that they are out of season and you should handle them as little as possible.  Once again, the bonita and spanish mackerel are all along the beaches chasing the schools of bait fish and also following them into the Inlet on the incoming tides.

BRAGGING BOARD - Jesse Cervone along with his dad –Matt enjoyed a few days of fishing in Ft. Pierce — they were up here from Ft. Lauderdale.  Jesse caught a 38 pound kingfish at the Boils.  He also caught a 24 pounder in the same spot and he was using threadfins for bait.  Brian Zdrojowy of Westminster, Maryland was visiting Ft. Pierce with the Cervones.  He caught a nice seatrout on a top water plug just after daylight and also his 1st ever snook from the docks at the Dockside Inn.  The snook was caught on a live shrimp and released.  Wayne Wilson caught and released a snook that he estimated to be 25 to 28 pounds.  He was fishing the Ft. Pierce Inlet and using a pinfish.

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

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Estero Bay offered a pretty good variety of fish for us on Monday morning, 6/30, when I fished with Jason and Callie Eubanks, Don Cruz and Paul Odele. We used live shrimp to catch a keeper sheepshead, a 21 inch keeper redfish and a bunch of keeper-sized mangrove snapper. We released all the mangs but four, and we were broken off by another slot red and by a big cravalle jack. I was back in the bay Tuesday morning, with Tom Wolfe and young son, Jordan. We caught a nice redfish at 22 ½ inches (see photo) and lost another keeper-sized red when it snagged on some trees. We also caught a keeper mangrove snapper, which was big for a bay snapper at 14 inches. We released a couple dozen smaller snapper, along with three trout that were all around 14 inches, four snook to 16 inches, and a cravalle jack. Jim & Lisa Roe, son Brendon, and friend Jerry Garland fished the reefs with me in 33 feet Wednesday morning and we managed to get half-day of fishing done before the rains came. We caught twenty nice- sized whitebone porgies and fifteen keeper mangrove snapper. We also got a 25 inch Spanish mackerel and two hogfish, one of which was keeper-sized at 14 inches. We released small yellowtail snapper and red grouper shorts to 19 inches. We had a cobia that was about fifty pounds hooked at one point, after he bit a fish we were reeling in—that fight lasted about fifteen minutes until the cobia finally spit the fish and took off. 

Bill Brown and son, Greg, fished with me Friday morning until we got run in a little bit early by storms. Fishing with live shrimp about fourteen miles west of Big Carlos, we caught ten keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches, porgies to 14 inches and Spanish mackerel to 25 inches. We released red grouper shorts and grunts.

Ethan & Kay Ware, along with children Malachai, Jack, Noah and Julia, celebrated the 4^th of July with an offshore fishing excursion. We fished about 17 miles west of New Pass. Unlike the day before, there wasn’t much cloud cover and the water was crystal clear. We could see bottom in 38 feet. The bite was a little slower. We caught a keeper hogfish, whitebone porgies to 15 inches and grunts. We released triggerfish, a mangrove snapper that was just short of legal size for federal waters, a Spanish mackerel and red grouper shorts to 19 ½ inches.

Brian McGoldrick, Bill Justice and Todd Snapp fished central Estero Bay with me Saturday. Brian caught a nice 25 ½ inch redfish shortly after we anchored. He lost three more nice reds that came off their hooks. Bill caught a 24 ½ inch redfish and an 18 inch trout. Todd caught a keeper sheepshead at 15 inches and the group caught eight keeper mangrove snapper to 12 inches, all on shrimp.

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July 4, 2008

INSHORE:

Happy Fourth of July!  Wonderful weather, lots of sunshine and some great fishing opportunities await anglers on the Indian River along the Treasure Coast.  Afternoon thunderstorms have been the norm lately and it will continue to threaten the area each afternoon.  It’s best to plan an early trip so you can be off the water before the skies turn dark and stormy.

Snook fishing has been mostly around the inlet and flats areas.  We have found some under the mangroves and chasing bait along the flats.  Just remember to release them quickly and safely.  Top water lures, like a Skitterwalk or DOA Bait Buster, will work at first light on the flats.  Paul Reiss found several along the mangroves this week.  Redfish are still on the shallow flats. Move across quietly so you don’t scare them off ahead of you.  Soft plastics, like a DOA shrimp or CAL jerk bait, are great choices out there.  Trout action has been in a little deeper water.  Top water early, followed by jerk baits or live bait will be a good choice of lures.  Queen’s Cove, Harbor Branch and Little Mud areas will be holding fish this month.

Tarpon have been feeding around Big Mud and the North Fork of the St Lucie River.  A lot of tarpon are in the area and an early morning trip will give you the best chance at hooking up.  It’s usually a short bite and the earlier, the better.  The Fort Pierce inlet has held glass minnows that are being chased by Spanish macks, bonito and jacks.  For some great fun, give it a try.  Shiny lures, spoons and jigs are good choices, but don’t be afraid to change around if you aren’t getting a bite.  Try to match the glass minnows with your lures and you should have success.  Tom Hull got spooled by one bonito and fought both fish and sharks to land the next one.  I fought another for quite a while until the 8′ bull shark decided it was a nice lunch.  Bridges and docks have continued to hold snapper, sheephead and black drum.  It’s a great time of year to be fishing!

Tip of the Week:     Courtesy, Patience and Common Sense are essential to enjoying a safe and fun-filled holiday.  Whether it be Memorial Day, Fourth of July or Labor Day, you can have a much more enjoyable weekend if you practice these three simple concepts.  These weekends are crowded holidays on the water.  It all starts when you leave home and continues to the bait shops, ramps and waterways.  Ramps are busy, so don’t get upset or angry before you get on the water.  PATIENCE!  Waterways are swarmed with boats of all sizes and types.  Use safe boating habits and follow the Rules of the Road.  COMMON SENSE!  When returning back to the ramp, expect many others to have the same idea and don’t try to crowd or get ahead of others.  COURTESY!  Let’s all have safe, friendly and especially   FUN holiday weekends this year!

As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby….it’s an ADVENTURE!!

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852

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 JULY 3, 2008

INSHORE - There is a lot going on this week to keep anglers busy starting with the schools if bonita and spanish mackerel around the Ft. Pierce Inlet and in the Turning Basin.  A small silver spoon fished on light tackle will give you all the fight you need.  And, I am still getting reports of kingfish mixed in with the bonita and spanish.  The catch and release snook action has been good with most of the fish coming from the Ft. Pierce Inlet but, I am getting reports of some nice snook on the flats and a live bait seems to be the ticket  If it is trout you are looking for then you need to get up early and be on the flats and ready to fish before daylight.  The bite has been in 2 to 4 feet of water at places like Bear Point, Harbor Branch and at Big Mud Creek and use a top water bait at first light.  The redfish reports are coming from the east side of the river and to the north of the North Bridge and they have been taking gold spoons or jerk baits fished shallow.  The bottom fishing remains steady for snapper, sheepshead and grouper.  These fish have been taking live shrimp.  There has been a lot of tarpon seen rolling around but not many have been hooked up.

OFFSHORE - The kingfish action has been about the best thing going with fish from 12 to 36 pounds coming into the docks.  A blue runner or a ribbonfish have been the two best bait choices.  The bite has been anywhere from 30 to 80 feet of water.  I have had reports of some nice cobia popping up around the reefs and wrecks like the ones we had come into the docks last weekend.  Try using a squid or a chartreuse colored jig like the Cobia Slayer from Gulfstream Lures.  There are still numerous reports of sailfish action in 75 to 105 feet of water to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet for anglers trolling ballyhoo or a live bait — the reports are about equal on the baits used.  The only dolphin that were reported this week were caught anywhere from 75 to 400 feet of water and ballyhoo seemed to be the best bait. The bottom fishing for snapper in 50 to 90 feet of water remains good.  Again, the best bite has been at night.  Look for the big tarpon rolling along the beaches.  Try fishing a live silver mullet for the best results. 

BRAGGING BOARD - Emery Bennett visiting here from Wyoming made 2 great catches this week while fishing with Jesse Pfeiffer aboard the Strait Shot.  He caught a 35 pound jack and also a 34 inch snook which was released.  They were using live greenie’s as bait and fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet.  Bobby Thorlton on the Buckfin lead his anglers — Kyle & Kevin Prince and Logan Dressel to a nice catch of dolphin and cobia.  They were fishing in 90 feet of water and using live pilchards.  The cobia was 35 pounds and the dolphin was 25 pounds.  Rob Ward and Danny Maness caught two nice cobia to 25 pounds and several kings with the biggest one being 36.7 pounds.  They were in 80 feet of water and using live bait. I got an e-mail and picture from Adrian Lusardi about an over the slot snook be caught and released at the Ft. Pierce Jetty.  He guessed the fish to be 36 to 38 inches and weigh in the mid twenties.  He caught him on a shad rap.  Justin King visiting here from North Carolina caught a nice sailfish while fishing aboard the King’s Ransom.  They were fishing to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and he was using a live bait and fishing in 90 feet of water.

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.

Have a HAPPY & SAFE 4th of July!

Capt. Joe Ward

Capt. Joe’s River Charters

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Fishing Saturday morning, 6/21, about 17 miles out of New Pass with Dan Slavenburg and friend, Ryan, we cast live shrimp to catch eight keeper mangrove snapper and a dozen whitebone porgies to 15 inches. We released lots of smaller mangs, short red grouper, yellowtail and an almaco jack. Tuesday morning, I fished 14 miles west of New Pass with Mike and Norine Weber and Bill and Gail Carlson. We had lots of action and variety all morning, using live shrimp. Catches included three keeper hogfish, two at 13 inches and one at 14 inches, Spanish mackerel to 24 inches (we kept two and released three), ten whitebone porgies, of which we kept three, fifteen keeper mangrove snapper, and grunts. We released gag grouper shorts to 18 inches, red grouper to 19 inches, triggerfish, and a 15 inch mutton snapper. Thursday, Greg Sommeski, sons Greg, Jr. and Louis, and friend Joe Morono fished with me about 17 miles offshore. We caught a mess of mangrove snapper, kept ten of those to 14 inches and released lots more, along with whitebone porgies to 15 inches. We released Spanish mackerel to 25 inches, along with gag and red grouper to 19 ½ inches,  a 17 inch true black grouper and a 15 inch mutton snapper. We used live shrimp for all. 

The photo shown is of angler Sarah Hobbe with a 16 inch hogfish caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.

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 JUNE 26, 2008

INSHORE - The catch and release snook action has been good just before daylight around the lighted docks along Indian River Drive.  We had several fish over the slot. Try free lining a live bait like a pinfish or a pigfish.  The trout fishing has also been good at first light and just before dark.  The bigger fish are taking live mullet fished in 4 to 6 feet of water just off the edges of the flats.  Try the area around Big Mud Creek.  I am still getting reports of good catches of snapper along the channel edges and in the Ft. Pierce Inlet and a live shrimp has been the way to go.  And, if you are looking for some fun just take a small silver spoon and find the schools of spanish mackerel and bonita that are coming in the Inlet. 

OFFSHORE - Not much change again this week.  There is plenty of sailfish action in 75 to 125 feet of water.  Most of the sails were caught on naked ballyhoo.  We are still seeing a few dolphin come into the docks and they have ranged from 12 to 25 pounds and caught on a skirted ballyhoo in the green/yellow color.  The fish have been scattered from 70 to 300 feet of water.  The kingfish action is still good for anglers using a live bait in 40 to 70 feet of water and using a lot of chum.  The night fishing for snapper has been good in 50 to 90 feet of water with cut baits like squid, sardines or cigar minnows working the best.  Once again the chumming has been the key.  There are still schools of bonita, jacks and spanish mackerel chasing the schools of glass minnows along the beaches. 

BRAGGING BOARD - Ray Pirino caught a nice 21 pound dolphin last Saturday while fishing in 80 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.  He was bringing up his bait to check it and the dolphin turned and followed it up then slammed it.  Jimbo Wilson caught 4 snapper to 8 pounds will fishing in 60 feet of water.  He was using a piece of sardine for bait.

If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or you can 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

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