SW FL-Bonita Beach: Sheepshead Predominate, Inside & Out
Another windy week began on Monday, 3/24. I fished in Estero Bay with Joe Goodall and seven-year-old son, Alex, Dave Bixby and Fred Irish. Alex has fished with me every year since he was about three years old, and he has turned out to be a full-fledged fishing enthusiast. We fished with live shrimp along the channel toward Wiggins Pass. Alex caught the biggest of four keeper sheepshead at 18 inches. He also released a 17 inch snook. Dave released a 25 inch cravalle jack. We also caught a 15 ½ inch trout and a keeper mangrove snapper, and released smaller sheepshead, jacks, ladyfish and a three-foot bonnethead shark.
Ross Christenson had been trying to get several sets of vacationing grandchildren out fishing for two weeks. Two dates had already cancelled due to weather and our final shot at a trip was Tuesday. With seas still kicked up and unsafe offshore, we opted for a catch-and-release backwater fishing trip with four of the Christenson grandchildren. Temperatures were in the forties when we headed out and a cold wind blew hard all morning. The tide was outgoing until it started coming in at the pass about 11:30 AM. The bay was extremely shallow. We saw several boats on the other side of the bridge waiting for the tide so they could head in. The water level was only about one foot behind Lely Barefoot Beach. Given those conditions, we were happy to have caught and released seven sheepshead (four of which were keeper-sized) and a ladyfish. We were thankful the kids were able to catch that many and also thankful that we were able to navigate back in without hitting bottom!
The Timbers family fished the artificial reefs off Bonita Beach with me on Wednesday, when seas were still pretty choppy in the morning. It calmed down some later in the morning. The group caught seven nice sheepshead, about 15 inches, as well as two keeper Spanish mackerel and two keeper mangrove snapper. They released blue runners and cravalle jacks.
Thursday morning seas were calmer than they have been in a while. I got out about 12 miles from New Pass with Stuart Norris and friend, Mike. We caught a 14 inch hogfish, a 15 inch sheepshead, Spanish mackerel to 20 inches, porgies, grunts and triggerfish, all on shrimp. We released gag and red grouper shorts.
Friday morning, Tim & Angela Cavanaugh wanted to play it safe in the backwaters with their eight-year-old daughter, Leah, onboard. They fished, along with a family friend, using shrimp along the channel by Wiggins Pass. The water was clear as could be and we saw lots of sheepshead, but they were reluctant to bite. We ended up with three keepers to 16 inches and we released smaller sheepshead, snapper and a cravalle jack.
Saturday, I fished a catch-and-release trip with Wayne & Nanon Foote, Dave & Dora Bush, Georgia Hulac and Diane Albright. We fished out to 35 feet, from New Pass, and used live shrimp. We caught seven yellowtail snapper, all around 15 inches, one 12 inch mangrove snapper, a 17 inch scamp grouper, large whitebone porgies, a small amberjack, blue runners and gag and red grouper to 19 inches. It was a beautiful day on the water without those gusty winds we have had lately.
The photo shown is of a 30 inch gag grouper, caught by angler Butch White on shrimp on an offshore trip before the windy fronts started to arrive.
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
MARCH 29, 2008
INSHORE - The inshore bite has finally picked up despite al the wind with lots of trout being reported on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Soft plastic baits or a live shrimp were working on the trout that were from 14 to 28 inches. The best places have been Bear Point, Harbor Branch and the Mooring’s flats. Look for a few redfish around the Queen’s Cove area or along the docks of St. Lucie Village but, most of the fish seem to have lock jaw. The snook have are getting a little more active around the Ft. Pierce Inlet and the local bridges at night. Most of the slot sized fish reported were taken on a live pinfish. There are still plenty of sheepshead sandperch, spanish mackerel and a few black drum around the bridge and they have been feeding on live shrimp.
OFFSHORE - The seas have been big for most of the week but we did have a few boats go out yesterday. One came back with a 5 pound dolphin. Most of them were reporting big swells and not much more.
JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - The next from shore fishing tournament for the Junior Teen Anglers will be held on Saturday — April 5th at Harbour Pointe Park in Ft. Pierce. If you would like more info on having your child — age 5 to 11 — join Junior Teen Anglers you can call 772-201-5773 or go to the website at www.teenanglers.org.
BRAGGING BOARD - Al Koelsch & Wayne Wilson reported good catches of snapper, spanish mackerel and sheepshead on Tuesday. Live shrimp was the way to go. Al & Carleen Keesler reported a good sandperch bite on Tuesday with 7 fish being caught. They were using fresh dead shrimp.
CATCH OF THE WEEK - The catch of the week goes to our daughter — Tina and her husband Jeff for their 7 pound 12 ounce son that was born at 2:03am on March 28th. He is 19 inches long and we have already bought him a fishing pole! Mother and baby are doing great!
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
March 28, 2008
INSHORE:
The Treasure Coast was alive this week….with wind, cold and yep…..the fish were out there most days, too! We had some great fun out there on the water and caught a variety of fish. I met some wonderful anglers this week and also had a few friends back to fish again. Other than the cold front, it was a super week to be on the water. The winds were a bit milder and each day was fishable if you used it to your advantage.
Trout fishing was good earlier in the week, but slowed down as the water cooled off from the latest weather. I even had to dig out the long johns one day! The catch of the week went to Tom Lukat, who ended up the day with a fat 26″ trout. We had a good day with Josh and Barbara adding fish to the catch. Live bait, jerk baits and suspending lures worked best for trout this week. We have lost a number of fish using live pinfish on the flats this week.
Keith Mullins and sons, Turner and Frank, were out with me again and this time we beat the weather and the kids caught ladyfish, jacks and a big bluefish before the rains set in for the day. Greg was back down to Florida and we had a good day in spite of the weather. Fishing was slower that day, but we did catch fish. Frank bought his two sons out on the coldest day of the week….and in a while, too! The water had cooled off quite a bit. The guys caught fish in spite of the conditions. Young Frank caught a nice flounder to end the day. Jim Senker, Matthew and Andrew was out today and we caught a variety of fish. Flounder, pompano, ladyfish, jacks and a bonnet head shark.
Snook fishing has still been best at night this week. Live bait or jigs around the inlet, jetties and docks have been the best choices. If the docks are fishable, there have been some large snook hanging around some of the deeper docks. Barbara caught her first snook on the flats this week.
Redfish have been on the flats. We hooked two on Saturday, but lost them before they came to the boat. Look for action to improve as the water warms up. The bridges have been slow this week, but sheephead and black drum can still be caught off the catwalks. The jetties have been busy at night with snook and jacks feeding off the full moon. Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jacks have been around the inlet. The channels have held mackerel, ladyfish, jacks and snapper. The surf has been hard to fish most days with an easterly wind. Whiting action will continue once you can get back on the beach. A few pompano are still out there as well.
Tip of the Week:
If you are fishing lately, make sure you keep a good sunscreen on in this weather. Not only will the sun give you a good burn, but the winds can also to some damage to you. Together, they can make the end of a good day a little brighter….red that is. Remember to use your sunscreen when on the water and keep your self protected from the harmful rays of the sun and those strong winds as well.
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
March Winds Will Give Way To Good Catches
While the winds have continued to limit our options each day on the water has provided us with some good opportunities. Over the past couple of weeks I have fished all but a couple of days and am waiting for the calmer days ahead. A huge school of 3-4 # ladyfish continues to help us to bend our rods as well as a smattering of Pompano and Jacks mixed in with them. Some Trout are being caught but overall I consider this action to be a little on the slow side. We have been catching a few Snook around the Mangroves and laid up on the flats including one 34″ fish on a Gold DOA shrimp on the 17th. Redfish continue to patrol the shallows with some success but a lot of spooky fish. There has been a pretty good bite around the back of the Sebastian Inlet for Trout,Snapper,Ladyfish,Pompano,Jacks and some Mackerel. Once the Winds come down we can once again head out to the Ocean as there was plenty of Macks and Blues on the beach as well as some 20# Jack Crevalle. All our fish in the last couple of weeks came on DOA Cal tails or DOA Gold Shrimp and Yo Zuri 3d minnows. Have a great Day and I will see you on the water.
Capt Mike
How’s Fishing? The Answer, My Friend, is Blowing in the Wind…SW FL-Bonita Beach
High winds were the theme on Monday, 3/17 so I stayed close in at the artificial reefs with Jay and Ellen Andreoletti. Still, we had three to four foot seas and it was choppy for the duration of our trip. We had a good morning of fishing, though, with live shrimp. We got into some cobia and released two of those at 30 inches and 31 inches. We lost one larger one too, after it ran the line out and broke off on bottom. We also caught four keeper mangrove snapper, a keeper sheepshead and a porkfish. We released gag grouper shorts. Overall, we had a productive and fun morning of fishing, despite the rough conditions.
Tuesday, winds blew even harder, seas got even rougher, and the bay remained bone-dry. I cancelled my fishing plans and hoped the wind might die down by Wednesday, but the wind howled all week long and Thursday morning also brought some rain along with the winds. By Friday, the winds were still strong but at least they had shifted direction and the water level in the bay was better. Lee Larsen, son Kyle and friends Steve and Bud traded their gulf fishing plans for the backwaters. Lee caught a keeper redfish at 19 inches and we also got a pair of 13 inch sheepshead on shrimp. We released smaller sheepshead, snapper and cravalle jacks.
Saturday morning was the calmest we’d seen for a couple of weeks but there was a lot of rain out over the water. My anglers that day included a few young children and they didn’t want to risk wet weather so we ended up calling that trip, making the total week’s tally two out of six. This is not an unfamiliar story for the month of March but is nonetheless frustrating. There’s always next week…
The photo shown is of a pretty 15 inch hogfish, caught by young angler Katie Koscher on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
MARCH 20, 2008
INSHORE - The inshore fishing this week has been tough to say the least. With all the wind you had to try and find a place to hide and also a place that had fish. Before the blow started we had several good charters from Thursday to Sunday and after that it was a day to day thing. On Friday we had our limit of mangrove snapper, 3 nice size sheepshead and a bunch of spanish mackerel and jacks. On Saturday we got into the Goliath Grouper — one was about 25 pounds and the other was about 40 pounds. We also had the usual jacks, spanish and snapper. I did have a trip today and we had 12 nice snapper from 1 &1/2 pound to 3 pounds. The snook action remains good in the Ft. Pierce Inlet for those fishing the tide changes with a live bait. This week it seemed that all the snook wanted was a nice big pinfish. I got reports of several slot size fish and one that was estimated to be about 42 inches. The trout were active on the flats before the winds and several nice ones were reported. We got a report of one that was 32 inches and was caught to the north in the river on Tuesday. Only one report of redfish and that was on Monday and they only saw a handful and did not catch any. The sheepshead and black drum bite has been about the best thing going with these fish around just about any structure you can get to. They have been taking live shrimp fished on the bottom with a trol-rite hook.
OFFSHORE - Once again before the winds started the anglers that went out last weekend did OK. On Friday we had several boats go out and they all had kings, bonita’s and a few small dolphin. On Saturday they went out again and had a good number of kings to 27 pounds, a amberjack, a good number of dolphin and several were 21 to 26 pounds. They also had the usual jacks, bonita, and sharks. The fish were caught in 150 to 300 feet with the bigger dolphin coming from the deeper water. Not much else to report but hopefully the winds will lay for the weekend and the anglers can get offshore.
TEEN ANGLERS - This past Sunday was the regular monthly inshore tournament for the local chapter of Teen Anglers. We held a 2 fish tournament and had great results.
In the Middle School Division
1st place - Shane Surrency - Lincoln Park Academy - 4lb 11oz. bag total
2nd place - Tyler Serio - Lincoln Park Academy - 3lb. 13oz. bag total
3rd place - Blake Brady - Sun Grove Montessori - 1lb. 7oz. bag total
In the High School Division
1st place - David Brasher - Florida Learning Institute - 3lb. 4oz. bag total
2nd place - Dillon Roberts-Louria - Westwood High - 1lb. 13oz. bag total
3rd place - Chris Matthy - Westwood High - 1lb. 11oz. bag total
Heaviest bag of the tournament went to Shane Surrency.
Our next monthly inshore tournament will be held on April 20th. If you would like more info on joining Teen Anglers or becoming a boat volunteer just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org.
BRAGGING BOARD - On Friday Donna Crespo had a 5 pound sheepshead and several snapper. On Saturday Ted Ohmer caught and released 2 Goliath Grouper while fishing in the Turning Basin. Wayne & Audrey Wilson, Jim & Barbara Flynn, John & Theresa Gilson and Al & Carleen Keesler have been reporting good catches of whiting, croakers, spanish mackerel and a few bonnet head sharks while fishing in the surf to the south of Ocean Village. The bait of choice has been fresh dead shrimp. Bob Sikes was very happy to show off a picture of a 32 inch trout that was caught on Tuesday. He was using a white soft plastic bait.
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 Charter
Windy South Indian River Fishing Report!
March 20, 2008
INSHORE:
Well, another windy week along the Treasure Coast to test your skills at fishing. Offshore has been difficult for most boaters to venture out. The river has been fishable on most days if you could find areas to stay out of the worst of the wind. I was fortunate to meet some really great people this week and we had some fun in spite of the blustery conditions!
Friday had Ralph and Cynthia Stinnler looking for snook. Cynthia lost one big fish under the boat and later caught a big jack around the jetties. We drifted into a number of big snook on the flats later in the morning. Harry Beaber took John and Peter out that afternoon and we found trout, jacks and a nice black drum on the flats. Joni and Paul Warner were out Sunday and found trout up to 21″. Joni caught her first snook on the flats along with ladyfish and jacks. Jeff Olson and Elise were out on a windy monday. We found trout, ladyfish and jacks again. Elise caught two nice trout in the 18 - 20″ size. Bob Alteri was back with friends, Tony and Mark. With a day that was too windy to stay on the water, Mark Roth managed to battle a fat 33″ snook (on a DOA CAL Morning Glory shad tail) to the boat for photo and safe release. It has been a good week, in spite of challenging conditions!
Trout have continued to bite well as long as you can fish the grass flats. Queen’s Cove and Harbor Branch have been the best producing areas on DOA CAL jerk baits in both light and dark colors. Work your soft baits slowly along the bottom for your best chance at a trout. We tried several days for redfish and found them on the flats, but just not willing to bite those days. Most we have seen are in less than two feet of water. Snook fishing around the jetties has been good with live pinfish for those brave enough to tackle the conditions. It will be nice to have a break in the wind until the next front arrives!
Bridges were quiet most of the week. Still sheephead and black drum around them, but hard to fish in this weather. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still around the inlet area and chasing bait. The surf has also been quiet for now. Look for whiting and some pompano around when you can fish the beach. March has proven to live up to it’s reputation of being a lion of months. Let’s wait and see what surprises April will bring!
Tip of the Week:
We were drifting along the flats this week and witnessed yet another boater run aground in six inches of water on the flats at a high rate of speed. Standing in ankle deep water, they tried to figure out how they were going to get off. It’s bad enough to take a chance at damaging your boat or harming yourself or a passenger out there. You are also damaging a very fragile eco-system that is having enough trouble surviving without us harming it more. Once you leave a channel, know the area that you are entering. Tides vary greatly with many conditions that affect it. On this particular day, the tides were lower than normal. I have certain tide marks on flats that I frequent to let me know what the tides are doing on any day I might be out there. It might be an oyster bar, mangrove tree or shallow sandbar. Protect yourself, your property and our environment and be aware of your surroundings.
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
Orlando Bass Fishing
Week ending March 16th
The past two weeks has seen some great trips out on Johns Lake. For the most part, schooling activity has been great up until the 13th when they just seemed to disappear. We are still having great success using Steel Shads in gold or silver color to catch not only schooling bass, but also bass in deeper waters in the middle of the main lake. One ounce Sugoi spinner baits have worked great around scattered grass patches and around areas with hydrilla and lily pads. When the bass have been schooling, these heavier spinner baits have been great at getting below the smaller schoolers where the quality bass lay.
Once the schooling action ends, junebug trick worms with red, green, or blue fleck with a small bullet weight worked around isolated grass patches have been key to catching the bass. Work the patches very good, to the point if you see one blade of grass, throw to it, as they have been holding bass. For the most part, the bite has been good, but the strikes have not been aggressive ones, you really have to watch your line, as several bass we had to let them swim with the trick worms a few seconds before being able to get a solid hooked.
We have not had too much success with bass around docks, but several of the areas with brush have produced as of late, fire tiger Fat A’s worked around these trees have caught several good solid bass, and made for a fun fight trying to keep them out of the wood after hook up. Deer Island cut has been a good area to work a split shot rig with a trick worm. Main focus has been in waters 4 to 8 feet of water and key in on bird activity, circling or diving birds will guide you to some good fishing action.
Capt Tim Fey
Bassfishingfl.com
Brave the seas or Endure the Shallows? SW FL-Bonita Beach
Monday, 3/10, seas were predicted to be calmer after a weekend of high winds and choppy conditions. With predictions for two to four foot seas offshore, we hoped for fairly calm seas close in at the three-mile and five-mile reefs off Bonita Beach, where I fished with Peter Kenney, Mark & Sue Auguster and their children, Mitchell, Alana and Regan. We weren’t so lucky—seas were three to four feet and building with a steady 15-20 knot wind. We hung tough and fished the reefs all morning, using live shrimp. We caught three keeper sheepshead to 16 inches and an 18 inch flounder. We released a 14 7/8 inch trout, just short of legal size, as well as small lane snapper. Dan Howey and son, Chris, fished a shallow Estero Bay with me on Tuesday. We released sheepshead, cravalle jacks, ladyfish and whitings, fishing with shrimp along tree lines and potholes.
Wednesday, there were still some pretty good waves offshore, but it was a little calmer and allowed me to get out to about 27 feet with Tom Coleman, brother, Russ, and parents, Jim and Donna. We caught seven sheepshead to 15 inches, eight keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches, two keeper lane snapper and seven Spanish mackerel in the 22 to 24 inch range. We released smaller lanes and mangs and we lost a gag grouper to a line break.
Thursday’s anglers, Ken Goretski, Paul Caruso, and friend, Tom, had originally planned to fish all day in Estero Bay but the tide was so slow it barely came in at all and the bay was shallow. We decided to come in at the half-day mark, after releasing two whiting, two cravalle jacks, five small mangrove snapper and a ladyfish.
Friday, seas were fairly calm until about mid-day. I fished at the near-shore reefs and out to 7½ miles with Ben Grigsby and his uncle, Ken O’Brian. We caught two keeper gag grouper at 22 inches and 23 inches, lost a bigger one when it came off the hook, and released lots of gag shorts and a 19 ½ inch red grouper. We also caught a 13 inch hogfish, and some porgies. We also released lots of blue runners.
Saturday the winds were back once again and with seas of three to five feet offshore, I cancelled my fishing trip and called it a week.
The photo shown is of a 17 inch mangrove snapper caught on shrimp by thirteen-year-old angler, Grayson Jacobson, on a recent offshore trip.
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore report
MARCH 14, 2008
INSHORE - The snook fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet with live baits on the tide changes has been good. A lot of slot size fish have been reported along with plenty of shorts and also a good number of over the slot fish. The best time to fish has been 1 hour before and until 1 hour after the tide change. The trout fishing has slowed down some with the fish reported this week coming from the deeper edge of the flats and the deeper cuts — like the cuts at Harbor Branch or the Moorings. Most of the fish were under 2 pounds. Try a live shrimp on a 1/16 oz. jig head. The bottom fishing for snapper, sheepshead and black drum has been good along the channel edges when using a live shrimp. There has been a lot of spanish mackerel around the Turning Basin, the Ft. Pierce Inlet and along the channel edges and they have been feeding on anything shinny.
OFFSHORE - Not a lot to report with the sea conditions being what they have been this week. On the calm days you can look for dolphin in 140 to 160 feet of water. The kingfish are in 60 to 90 feet of water and feeding on live baits. The bottom fishing for snapper and grouper has been OK but not red hot. Try the reefs and wrecks in 50 to 150 feet of water and try both live and dead baits. There has been plenty of spanish mackerel, bluefish and spinner sharks along the beaches. We did have one boat go out today and all they got other than a rough ride in 4 to 6 foot seas were 2 bonita and 2 small kings.
TEEN ANGLERS - This Sunday — March 16th is the regular monthly inshore fishing tournament for the local chapter of Teen Anglers. We will be meeting at Jaycee Park in Ft. Pierce at 7:15am and leaving as soon as the boats are assigned. For more info on Teen Anglers just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org.
BRAGGING BOARD - John & Theresa Gilson caught a total of 14 grouper on a charter with me on Wednesday. John kept one grouper that was 25 inches. Jim & Barbara Flynn caught 7 grouper, spanish mackerel, sheepshead and a sandperch on a charter with me on Thursday. On Tuesday Cammie Ward caught 2 sheepshead to 5 pounds, 3 grouper and all the jacks she could bring in.
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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