SW FL-Bonita Beach: Inshore & reef Report
With gusty winds and high seas Sunday morning, 3/22, Stuart Norris and Mike Holers took my recommendation to fish the backwaters. We fished central Estero Bay with live shrimp, where we caught a 23 inch black drum (see photo) and five keeper sheepshead. We released lots of smaller sheepshead and crevalle jack.
Eight-year-old angler, Alex Goodall has been fishing with me yearly since he was three years old. He, his dad, Joe, and two family friends, Dave Bixby and Fred Irish, fished Estero Bay with me Monday. Alex caught an 18 ½ inch trout, once again out-fishing the adults, as he usually does. The group also caught three keeper pompano, two keeper mangrove snapper and seven keeper sheepshead, all on live shrimp.
The winds were howling Tuesday morning but they were easterly and the close-in forecast was for two to three foot seas, even though it was much rougher than that well offshore. I headed out to the near-shore artificial reefs with Ron Musick, Richard Arnett, Richard’s grandson, Jack, and father-son anglers Larry and Mark Laudick. We caught fourteen keeper sheepshead to 18 inches, with Jack catching the largest of those. We also caught five keeper mangrove snapper and a couple of large grunts, all on shrimp. We released lots of grouper shorts.
Wednesday was another windy day and I encountered three-to-four foot seas even at the near-shore reefs, where I fished with Sandy Hook, sons-in-law Ryan Abbot and Matt Ball, and grandchildren Nathaniel Ball, age thirteen, and Emmit Ball, age ten. We caught a keeper sheepshead, a large grunt and five keeper Spanish mackerel, all about 20 inches, before we called it a morning and took a rough ride back in.
Thursday morning, we played it safe and stayed inshore as the winds continued to blow hard. Mike Curran and son, John, and father-son team, Don and Dan Bernardi fished central Estero Bay with me, using live shrimp. We caught an 18 inch trout, a19 inch pompano, three keeper sheepshead and a keeper mangrove snapper.
Friday morning, as yet another windy front roared through, I fished Estero Bay with Jeff Reichle and friend, Warren. We caught four keeper-sized sheepshead to 15 inches and a 21 inch keeper redfish. We released two small snook at 18 inches and 22 inches.
I had planned to fish offshore Saturday, but seas were too rough. When the winds are this high, even back-bay fishing is challenging, so I scrapped Saturday’s fishing plans and remained in port.
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
MARCH 28, 2009
INSHORE - There has not been much to report this week except for plenty of southeast to east winds. This has made fishing from most spots tough. About the only reports were coming from Bear Point where there has been some trout, snook and a few small redfish. These fish have been lying in the sandy pockets that are close to the shore line. The bait to use has been a live shrimp or a C.A.L. bait in the lighter colors. Around the local bridges there has been a few snapper, sheepshead, black drum and sandperch being caught on pieces of fresh dead shrimp or clam strips. The snook fishing has been okay around the lighted docks in the Ft. Pierce Inlet for anglers free lining a live shrimp. The best time has been the late tide change. The Ft. Pierce Inlet from Mangrove Mattie’s to the Turning Basin has been the most fishable spot all week. The incoming tide has been producing some spanish mackerel, bluefish and some big jacks. They were hitting on just about any type of live bait.
OFFSHORE - There is no offshore report this week due to the sea conditions. Hopefully the seas will lay down soon.
TEEN ANGLERS - The local chapter of Teen Anglers had to reschedule their inshore fishing tournament last Sunday. They will try again this Sunday — March 29th. For more info on Teen Anglers just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org
BRAGGING BOARD - Last Saturday I had the father and son team of Jeff & Jared Sprague on the boat with me. They showed up at the dock at 7:45am and make the call to go. We didn’t even get to the South Bridge before the rain started. Jeff & Jared caught several sheepshead, several black drum, a snook, and a few jacks. They did have a nice bag of filets to take home.
MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND FISHING TOURNAMENT - The Dockside Inn in Ft. Pierce will host it’s first Mother’s Day Weekend Fishing Tournament. On Saturday — May 9th there will be an offshore and a inshore tournament for the guest staying at Dockside Inn. There will also be a dock fishing tournament for the kids. There will be cash prizes for the inshore and offshore tournament and a BBQ on Saturday night. Call the Dockside Inn at 1-800-286-1745 for more info and join in on the fun.
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: Kings, Mangs, Sheepies, Porgies, Pompano & Trout
Fishing with Lynn and Margie Harned and friends Dave and Jeannie Jenkins on Monday, 3/16, we had a productive morning in 45 feet out of New Pass, using live shrimp. We caught six keeper mangrove snapper between 15 and 17 inches, a dozen whitebone porgies to 15 inches and a 14 inch sheepshead. We released lots of smaller snapper, gag grouper shorts and a small hogfish, along with one unusual catch that Margie hooked—a “rock beauty,” which is a beautiful, ornamental fish that takes its name from its habitat in the rocks.
The Christensen family fish wit me a few times each year and they picked a good, calm morning to head offshore on Tuesday. We headed out to 45 feet, from New Pass, with a bait tank full of shrimp and put them to good use. We caught keeper mangrove snapper to 18 inches, whitebone porgies to 18 ½ inches, a few grunts and a 15 inch hogfish. We released Spanish mackerel and king mackerel to 30 inches, along with grouper, snapper and triggerfish shorts.
I had planned to fish offshore Wednesday, 3/18, but the 20 knot winds, 3-5 foot seas and small craft advisories issued that morning nipped those plans in the bud. We had experienced a couple weeks of calm seas up until then, and it looked almost as if we might completely avoid the high winds that often affect our March fishing, but no such luck. This front was weak and short-lived, though, and I managed to get back offshore Thursday, when I fished in 45 feet, nineteen miles west of New Pass, with frequent anglers Ron Musick, Richard Arnett and Eddie Alfonso. We caught fourteen keeper porgies, a keeper yellowtail snapper, four keeper mangrove snapper and three king mackerels, ranging 24 inches to 32 inches. We released lost of grouper and triggerfish shorts.
Friday, I fished 37 miles out of New Pass with Harold Matthews and his son-in-law, John Winchester. We caught five nice mangrove snapper the 17-18 inch range, some big grunts and porgies for table-fare. We released a 25 pound goliath grouper, a 36 inch king mackerel, a 17 inch bluefish, and grouper shorts to 19 inches, all on live shrimp.
Saturday morning brought three-to-five foot seas offshore, the result of another weak cold-front that increased winds. Dean Weaver and Scott MacIsaac traded their offshore plans for a morning of catch-and-release in Estero Bay. Catches included fifteen sheepshead, a dozen of them keeper-size, a 13 inch pompano and a 15 inch trout, all on live shrimp.
The photo shown is of angler, Mike Conneally with a 20 inch mangrove snapper, caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip. The mangs have been good-sized for several consecutive weeks.
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
MARCH 20, 2009
INSHORE - The inshore fishing was good the first part of the week before the winds started and the rain came. There was plenty of bluefish and spanish mackerel action around the Ft. Pierce Inlet and between the North & South Bridges. A live shrimp or spoons were working well to attract these fish. The trout bite started out good over the weekend at places like Bear Point, Herman’s Bay and along the Midway Road area. A soft plastic bait or a live shrimp has been taking most of the fish. The snook fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet at night has been steady with a few fish in the slot being caught this week. Small white baits have been the bait of choice this week. The sheepshead and black drum have slowed down some with a few reports coming in from down at the power lines. Most of the fish were caught on live shrimp or a fiddler crab
OFFSHORE - Not much to report after the weekend as the sea conditions were not that great. The only report I received was a handful of small dolphin in 130 to 165 feet of water. A few kingfish in about 70 feet of water and they were taking live baits. The bluefish and spanish mackerel have been scattered along the beaches — look for the birds and you will find the fish. The bottom fishing has been hit or miss with only small snapper, black seabass and triggerfish being reported around the reefs and wrecks in 50 feet of water.
TEEN ANGLERS - This Sunday — March 22nd is scheduled for the monthly inshore fishing tournament for the Treasure Coast Chapter of Teen Angers. If the weather holds they will meet at Jaycee Park in Ft. Pierce and fish from 7:00am until noon. There will be trophies and prizes after the tournament. If you would like more info on Teen Anglers for the 12 to 18 age group or Junior Teen Anglers for the 5 to 1 age group just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org or you can call 772-201-5773.
MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND FISHING TOURNAMENT - The Dockside Inn in Ft. Pierce will host it’s first Mother’s Day Weekend Fishing Tournament. On Saturday — May 9th there will be an offshore and a inshore tournament for the guest staying at Dockside Inn. There will also be a dock fishing tournament for the kids. There will be cash prizes for the inshore and offshore tournament and a BBQ on Saturday night. Call the Dockside Inn at 1-800-286-1745 for more info and join in on the fun.
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: Calm seas-Hogfish, Sheepshead & Snapper
What a treat Monday, 3/9 was offshore! For the first time in a very long time, seas were dead-calm and the fishing was good at the same time. I fished in 46 feet out of New Pass with brothers Mike & Paul Conneally and their friends, Rodney & Kass Bromm. Using live shrimp, we caught five nice mangrove snapper to 20 inches, none of them less than 15 inches. We also kept five of eight sheepshead we caught, to 19 inches, and a 15 inch whitebone porgie. We released silver porgies, porkfish, grunts, Spanish mackerel, red grouper shorts and gag grouper shorts to 21 inches. We had a big shark eat one of our fish and run off before I could identify what type of shark it was.
Seas were still calm Tuesday and allowed me to get out to 74 feet, about 37 miles out of New Pass with Ron Musick, Eddie Alfonso and Richard Arnett. We caught fourteen nice mangs to 17 ½ inches, five 17 inch whitebone porgies, a 15 inch triggerfish, a few large grunts and a 15 inch hogfish, all on shrimp. We released grouper shorts.
Wednesday, I fished about 20 miles out of New Pass in 43 feet with Sandy Hook, Sam Sayles, Doc Washa and Hank Lischer. We caught a 16 ½ inch mangrove snapper, a couple of 15 ½ inch whitebone porgies, porkfish and grunts, and we released lots of grouper shorts.
I fished Estero Bay, close to Wiggins Pass, on Thursday with Sherman Heazlitt, Todd Miller, Bob Miller and Mike Dash. We caught two keeper pompano, ten sheepshead, five of which were keepers to 17 inches, and we released a couple of small mangrove snapper and some ladyfish.
Calm waters offshore were again a treat on Friday, when I fished in 45 feet, 22 miles west of New Pass. And, Friday the thirteenth wasn’t at all unlucky for Gerry Casey, Terry Vallely, Bob Bellevielle, and Steve O’Connor. Baited with shrimp, we caught seven mangrove snapper to 18 inches, sheepshead to 15 ½ inches, porgies to 15 inches, a few big grunts, and a 14 inch hogfish. We released grouper shorts, porkfish and undersized triggerfish.
I ended this week of fishing offshore in 45 feet, fishing with Reiner Neumann, his son, Steve, and friends Vince and Dino Bacetta and Leo Adamo. We caught lots of mangrove snapper, four of them keepers, along with a half dozen good-sized whitebone porgies and three sheepshead to 16 inches, all on shrimp. We released smaller snapper, porkfish, triggerfish, Spanish mackerel and lots of grouper shorts. This week was one of the calmest full weeks offshore we have seen all season.
The photo shown is of six-year-old angler, Max Robson, with a 17 1/2 inch sheepshead, caught on shrimp on a recent trip that was his first on a boat.
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
MARCH 12, 2009
INSHORE - There has been a lot of action this week starting with loads of spanish mackerel and bluefish. These fish have been around the Ft. Pierce Inlet and in the Turning Basin. All you need is something shinny or any kind of live bait. The sheepshead bite has also been red hot around just about any structure you could fish. A live shrimp has been hard to beat. The trout fishing has also improved with most reports coming from the south — from down around Herman’s Bay to Little Mud Creek. A soft plastic baits and a live shrimp have been taking most of the fish. I did get reports of a few redfish to the north of Queen’s Cove but, they weren’t eating much. The snook action has been steady around the local bridges, docks and in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. A live shrimp seems to be the best bait this week.
OFFSHORE - There has been a lot of action along the beaches this week with spanish mackerel and bluefish everywhere and they have been hitting just about anything you can throw at them. Also, along the shallow reefs in 15 to 30 feet of water the reports have been good for snapper, sheepshead and black drum. Try using a live shrimp. Out deeper — the kingfish bite continues to be in 60 to 80 feet of water and hitting on spoons or a live bait. I had reports of scattered dolphin all week and the were coming from 160 to 240 feet of water and they were taking ballyhoo. Over the deeper reefs and wrecks look for a good snapper bite and a few grouper and aj’s and they all will be taking live baits.
JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - On Saturday — March 7th the Treasure Coast Chapter of Junior Teen Anglers held their from shore fishing tournament. There were 17 Juniors fishing and they caught and released 27 fish.
In the 5 to 8 age group
1st place - Savannah Ward - age 8 - Lawnwood Elem. - Ft. Pierce
2nd place - Andrew Evans - age 7 - Fairlawn Elem. - Ft. Pierce
3rd place - Mackenzie Tessier - age 6 - Imagine Schools of Vero Beach - Vero Beach
In the 9 to 11 age group
1st place - Robert Santos - age 10 - Samuel S. Gaines - Ft. Pierce
2nd place - Cory Arnold - age 11 - Oslo Middle School - Vero Beach
3rd place - Jeffery Garrett - age 11 - Oslo Middle School - Vero Beach
The biggest fish of the tournament went to Savannah Ward for her 1lb. 8oz. bluefish.
Their next from shore tournament will be held on Saturday — May 2nd at 9:00am at Harbour Pointe Park in Ft. Pierce. For more info go to the web at www.teenanglers.org or call 772-201-5773.
BRAGGING BOARD - On Tuesday Wayne Wilson, Jim Flynn, Jim Dole & Bob Weinfergarter caught all the bluefish they wanted then went on to catch some really nice sheepshead and black drum. They had several sheepshead that were 5 pounds and also a black drum that was 5 pounds. They were using live shrimp. On Saturday I had the Lyons from Minnesota on my boat. They caught and released so many bluefish and spanish mackerel that their arms were tired. They also had a limit of sheepshead and a few snapper. On Monday I had Mr. & Mrs. Jim Pierce on the boat. They also caught and released all the bluefish and spanish mackerel they could stand to catch. They also released a 15 pound snook.
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: March in Like a Lion; Plenty of Sheep
March definitely charged in like a lion on my first scheduled day of the month. Monday, 3/2, brought extremely rough conditions offshore with seas to fifteen feet. The tide in the backwaters was low, and it was cold and windy. I cancelled my fishing trip. Conditions were somewhat better Tuesday but still not good enough, with seas of three to five feet predicted, so I spent a second consecutive day in port. Wednesday, the tide was a little better in the bay and I fished there on a catch-and-release trip with Chuck Nebes and his son, Steve. We released a dozen sheepshead to 15 inches, a small snook and an 18 inch trout, all on live shrimp. Thursday, seas were predicted to be calm, with the wind shifting and coming from the east. But, it was rough in the morning, with a 20 knot wind blowing when I headed out of New Pass with Ron Musick and friends, Eddie, Alan and Hank. It calmed down in the afternoon to less than two foot seas. We caught a few keeper mangrove snapper, grunts and eight good-sized porgies. We released bluefish, triggerfish, gag and red grouper shorts, as well as smaller mangrove snapper and porgies. Fishing central Estero Bay Friday with Ronald Haggin and his fifteen-year-old grandson, Johnny, we did well with sheepshead, catching ten of those to 18 inches and releasing lots of smaller ones, along with a crevalle jack. We also caught a 19½ inch pompano, all on shrimp. Monty Robson, his son, Stu, and six-year-old grandson, Joe, fished Estero Bay with me Saturday morning. We again caught a lot of sheepshead, kept eight of those to 17 ½ inches and released the rest. We also caught a keeper redfish at 23 inches, on live shrimp.
The photo shown is of angler, Garry Jacobson, with a 15 inch hogfish (hog snapper), caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
MARCH 5, 2009 INSHORE - The inshore fishing this week has been tricky with all the northeast wind that we have had all week but, I am still getting reports. For the snook try the lighted docks along the Ft. Pierce Inlet as well as the docks on South Indian River Drive. Try free lining a live shrimp around the lights. There has been plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish around the Turning Basin and in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. These fish have been hitting anything live or anything shinny. The sheepshead bite has also been good around any structure you could fish. A live shrimp or a small crab will get the job done. Most of these fish have been from 2 to 4 pounds. The wading anglers are reporting a fair amount of small snook, some trout and plenty of jacks and ladyfish around the Bear Point area. They were using both live and artificial’s. Another good wading spot this week was the area around the mosquito impoundments along South Ocean Drive for the anglers throwing top water baits like a Zara Spook or a Top Dog and they key was to be there early in the morning before the wind got up. The anglers fishing in the surf have been reporting that the seas are rough but they did find plenty of bluefish and spanish mackerel around the South Jetty and down around the power plant. They did report a handful of whiting and only a couple of pompano. OFFSHORE - There really has been any offshore reports except for today and they were all about kingfish. Most of the catches were in 30 to 60 feet of water. They did report that they didn’t see any live bait out there. Most of the boats were back to the dock by 10am. JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - This Saturday — March 7th is the regularly scheduled from shore tournament for the Treasure Chapter of Junior Teen Anglers. They will meet at Harbour Pointe Park in Ft. Pierce. Trophies and goody bags will be awarded after the tournament. If our child is between the ages of 5 and 11 and you would like for them to fish with the Junior Teen Anglers just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org and sign them up. You can call 772-201-5773 for more info. BRAGGING BOARD - Last Saturday I had Kevin & Pat Harrington on the boat. They had a mixed bag of fish with several big spanish mackerel. It was a great day for both father and son. On Tuesday I had Mr. & Mrs. Brown from West Virginia. We had another good day of fishing. They also caught several spanish that were so big that they thought they were kingfish. They did have 2 fish that were 7 & 8 pounds. They also had a mixed bag of sheepshead, snapper, black drum and bluefish. They did release 3 small snook too. 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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Fishing Blog- Web Updates - Nov. 4, 2009
- Salmo Sting Review - Salmo Lures
- Salmo Chubby Darter Review - Salmo Lures
- Salmo Bullhead Review - Salmo Lures
- Salmo Hornet Review - Salmo Lures
- Shrimp Tease Review - Creme Lures
- Killer Diller Shrimp Review - Creme Lures
- Jerk N? Shrimp Review - Creme Lures
- Devil?s Tongue Review- Saltwater - Creme Lures
- Creme Shrimp Soft Plastic Lure Review - Creme Lures
