Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
JULY 30, 2009
INSHORE - There has been a lot of catch and release snook action this week in the Ft. Pierce Inlet for anglers using live baits and fishing on the out going tide. Also, a mixed in with the snook are some slot and over the slot sized redfish. Look for the trout bite to continue to be good during the cooler hours of the day. Top water baits or a live shrimp fished under a popping cork has been the best when fishing the docks at St. Lucie Village. I am still getting good reports of snapper along the channel edges both to the north and south in the Intercoastal. The bait of choice has been a live shrimp or a small white bait.
OFFSHORE - The kingfish bite has still been the most productive thing happening offshore. Try slow trolling a live bait in 20 to 60 feet of water. I have only had a few small dolphin reported this week and they were caught in anywhere from 60 to 600 feet of water and it seemed that most of them were small schoolies. A yellow/green skirted ballyhoo was producing the most fish. There is still a fair amount of sailfish being reported in 100 feet of water to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. The bottom fishing over the reefs and wrecks remains steady for snapper, sea bass and triggerfish. Along the beaches look for tarpon, jacks and bonita and they have been taking live baits.
MINI SEASON - The lobster mini season has been a good one for most of the people staying at the Dockside Inn. On Wednesday the boats had from 5 to 80 lobsters. The ones that went deeper had more. We did have a 10 pounder come in on Wednesday. On Thursday it was a hit or miss thing. Most divers saw lobster but a lot of them had eggs. Most of the boats averaged 10 per boat.
BRAGGING BOARD - On Tuesday Capt. Rob Ward, his daughter Savannah, her cousin – Brennen Tessier, and friends Jimmy Check & Alex went offshore fishing. All the kids caught fish — kings, bonita and a small dolphin. They were using live greenies.
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 7/23
July 23, 2009
Inshore:
Funny…..we fuss about cold weather in winter and hot weather in summer. It is hot out there! Days in the 90’s that bring on a sweat just thinking about it. Plan your trips with that in mind. Take plenty of water and don’t forget the hats, sunglasses and suntan lotion. We have been heading out by 6am to beat some of the heat this time of year. Keep your cool….the fish are out there!
Trout and snapper fishing has been the best bite on the river. Lots of mangrove snapper along the channel edges, docks and on the flats. Live or dead shrimp will get you in on some of the action. Trout fishing can still find you some gator trout on the flats. Justin Clarke had the catch of the week when he boated a nice 28″ gator trout. Top water lures and live shrimp on a DOA popping cork will work for you in two to five feet of water on the grass flats. Queen’s Cove, Bear Point and Harbor Branch have all been active recently. Find the glass minnows and you can find the trout hanging nearby.
There are still mackerel, bonito and jacks around the inlet. Snook fishing around the jetties has continued to be productive on catch and release snook. Tarpon have been around the mouth of the inlet as the tide comes in. It might be hot out there, but it’s a great time of year to be fishing!
Tip of the Week:
Mornings have been calm and that’s the time to get out the top water lures and have some fun at first light. There are lots of different types of top water lures and everyone usually has their favorites. There are the walk-the-dog styles like Rapala Skitterwalks or Mirrolure Top Dogs and the chuggers like the Storm Chug Bugs or the Bomber Pop N’ Minnows. Each have their own uniqueactions on the water. It’s not quite as important which one you use as how you use it. I like to work a top water at different speeds and patterns until you get that first strike to see what will attract the fish on that particular day. One thing about fishing……everyday is different!
Remember, as always,fishing is not just another hobby, it’s an ADVENTURE!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
Captain Charlie’s Fish Tales Charters
www.fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852
Catch of the Week goes to Justin Clarke who boated this 28″ gator trout on the flats.
[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/001-26.jpg[/img]
SW FL-Bonita beach: 20lb. Black Drum, Sheepies & Snapper…then Keys-Bound
Monday morning was a little rainy in Estero Bay, but I puddle-jumped with anglers Gary Haupt and Mike Kidwell and it paid off. Gary landed a 32 inch, approximate twenty-pound black drum, on shrimp (see photo.) He was tempted to keep it, but decided to release it and let it continue to thrive. We also caught and released five trout, all in about ten minutes of action, and we kept three keeper mangrove snapper. Tuesday, I fished Estero Bay with Chris Polumbo and his son, Matt, and Matt’s friends, sisters Bridget and Rachel Degreef. We used shrimp to catch an 18 inch sheepshead and three keeper mangrove snapper. We released lots of short snapper and crevalle jack. Matt hooked what was either a big jack or a grouper, but it stripped his line and took off. I headed to the FL Keys Wednesday for a busman’s holiday of fishing with friends. Thursday brought me the thrill of a lifetime, when I hooked a six-foot, approximate 100 pound sailfish…wow! The guys were helping me hold it and trying to take pictures too, so we’ll hope for a decent photo of that one. We also caught some nice mahi and we are heading out for more Friday morning. I’ll travel home and rest on Saturday and be back in local waters Sunday morning.
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
JULY 23, 2009
INSHORE - The inshore bite has been a little slow this week. The best time to try your luck has been from daylight until about 9am and from 6pm until dark. The trout bite has been the best action around with fish to 6 pounds being caught and they are taking top water baits. Try Bear Point or Harbor Branch. Still plenty of snapper along the channel edges if you can find shrimp big enough to fish with. Most of the fish have been from 1 to 3 pounds. The catch and release snook action and the tarpon remain good in the Ft. Pierce Inlet when you are fishing with live baits. Also, in the Inlet are schools of spanish mackerel and bonita. They have been following the schools of bait fish in and out with the tides. They will hit just about anything shinny.
OFFSHORE - I did have more reports of dolphin this week than last week. But, you can hardly say there is a good dolphin bite. Most of the fish were taken in 180 to 200 feet of water to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and the fish ranged from 6 to 15 pounds. The kingfish bite has been steady in 40 to 70 feet of water for anglers trolling live baits. And, to the south there has been quite a few sailfish reported in 100 feet of water and they were taking ballyhoo. I also had reports of several wahoo in the 35 to 40 pound range and they were hitting baits that were fast trolled in 200 plus feet of water. There are steady reports about the snapper, triggerfish and seabass coming from over the reefs and wrecks. Along with cuda’s, sharks and jacks.
BRAGGING BOARD - Last Friday I had 7 year old Tristan Euthler, his dad and grandpa on the boat with me. Tristan caught most of the fish – 14. He had trout, ladyfish, jacks and snapper. He was visiting here from Abudhabi. I got 2 e-mails with pictures. Steve Gerwig sent one about the trip they had down at Marathon. He and the crew of the KNOT RITE fishing team — Capt. Will & Marne Mizelle and Rick Johnson had a great catch to report — a 40 pound cow. The 2nd e-mail came from Tom Vanderspool about the catch he and his crew made in 95 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. They had a 50 pound wahoo that hit a purple/black skirted ballyhoo at 7:10am. They also had 2 dolphin, 5 cuda’s and a sailfish that hit a live sardine on 15 pound test line. Not a bad day of fishing.
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 7/17
July 17, 2009
INSHORE:
It’s been hot out there on the water lately. We have been hitting the water by 6 am to beat some of the hottest parts of the day. It has been flat on the water and top water fishing will be at its best at first light. Baitfish are all over the river, inlet and beaches right now and lots of fish are out there gorging on them. It’s a great time of year to fish the Treasure Coast.
There is some great action around the inlet and jetties this month. As the acres of glass minnows invade the area, you can find Spanish mackerel, bonito, jacks, snook and tarpon around the Fort Pierce inlet this time of year. Any lure that resembles a glass minnow will surely get you in on the action out there. Tom Hull and Ed were out with me this week and we hooked up on three jack crevalle at once. Get out and have some fun!
Trout have been holding near the glass minnow schools and feeding on live shrimp or pinfish. We have also been having luck on the DOA Deadly Combo as well. Pop it sharply as you work it to get the attention of a hungry trout. I have also had luck on the DOA glow shrimp when working it slowly around the bait schools. Chad Lambert had the catch of the week on a Bomber top water lure when he caught a fat 26″ gator trout on the flats. Snapper fishing has been good around the channel edges. We have been catching some muttons on the flats, but all have been shorts. There have been some good sized mangroves reported this week. There have been some redfish caught around some of the docks south of Fort Pierce. Lots of snook have been hanging around the jetties and bridges. Handle the fish carefully and release it quickly.
Tip of the Week:
Florida residents will need to have a fishing license as of August 1st when fishing from land or structure. They are now on sale. Think carefully before purchasing a shorebound license. If there is any chance that you might want to fish in a boat, then buy the regular saltwater license. Once purchased, you cannot change the license. If you have a shorebound license and want to fish in a boat, you will have to purchase a regular saltwater license at that time. The regular saltwater license covers fishing from boats or land. You will also be required to have a snook permit to keep snook in season from land or structure. Non-resident anglers will need to purchase a non-resident license when fishing anywhere in Florida. Don’t get caught without a license!
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: Hogfish, Yellowtail, Lanes, Mangs, Spanish…and Bonefish
Wednesday morning, 7/15, I headed out to fish fifteen to nineteen miles out of New Pass, with Paul and Debbie Szemplinski and their three children, Ryan, Audrey and Evelyn. We caught a bunch of yellowtail snapper, fifteen in all, but only one that we could keep at 18 inches. The spot that yielded the big one was overtaken by dolphin, which made catching more of the keepers impossible. We also kept five fourteen-inch whitebone porgies and released a bunch of silver porgies. We also got four keeper Spanish mackerel to 25 inches and released undersized mutton snapper, lane snapper, gag grouper to 18 inches and grunts. Interestingly, we caught and released a small bonefish that was ten inches long, an unusual catch around here (more commonly in the FL Keys), especially in the depths we were fishing. We used shrimp for everything. Thursday morning, I fished offshore again, this time with Chuck Mitchell, Reita Martin, and three children. We caught three varieties of porgies and kept six of those, along with two keeper lane snapper and six Spanish mackerel to 28 inches. We released about 40 undersized yellowtail snapper, along with some gag and red grouper shorts and small triggerfish. We were fishing with live shrimp, in 44 feet out of New Pass. Strangely, another bonefish bit our bait on Friday morning, about 15 miles offshore, where I fished with Bob and Kim Deering, their sons, Robert and Matthew, and father-son anglers Greg and Gavin Zarbock. Robert also caught a nice hogfish, 15 inches long, and the group caught a dozen keeper mangrove and lane snapper, porkfish, grunts and a mess of Spanish mackerel. We released lots of undersized snapper and grouper.
The photo shown is of angler, Florian Kordas, with a 19 1/2 inch mangrove snapper, caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.
Ft. Pierce Inshore Offshore Report
JULY 16, 2009
INSHORE - The inshore bite had been great for snapper and trout. The trout have been taking top water baits at first light and then we have been switching to live pigfish or a live shrimp fished under a popping cork. Most of the trout have been in the 3 to 5 pound range and are in 2 to 4 feet of water. The afternoon trout bite has been steady with trout up to 8 pounds being reported and all were caught on pigfish. The channel edges are holding a good number of snapper and they are taking a live shrimp. Most of the fish have been 1 to 3 pounds this week. There are still a good number of catch and release snook in the Ft. Pierce Inlet — just remember that the season is closed so handle them as little as possible. The tarpon are rolling at first light down at Big Mud Creek. Reports this week are that they have had lock jaw with anglers trying a variety of live baits and artificial’s. There are a few sheepshead and black drum around the bridges and taking live shrimp. The pompano have been hit or miss for most of the week with only a handful being reported.
OFFSHORE - The offshore bite has been good when bottom fishing for snapper or slow trolling for kingfish. The kings have been in 20 to 60 feet of water and taking live baits. Biggest one reported this week was 35 pounds. The bottom bite for snapper has been great with fish to 8 pounds coming in to the docks. Both cut and live baits were used. There is also a good number of triggerfish and black seabass to keep you busy. Over the weekend we did have a few peanut dolphin come in and they were caught on live baits in 50 to 60 feet of water. One angler said there were schools as big as a football field with nothing but peanuts. Two boats did bring in small cobia on Sunday afternoon. One was caught on a Cobia Slayer Jig from Gulfstream and the other took a live greenie.
BRAGGING BOARD - On Friday of last week Darrell Cason was up from Ft. Lauderdale and went fishing with his friends. He caught a 25 pound kingfish which was his first. He caught him on a greenie on 25 feet of water. On Saturday I had the father and son team of Mike & Alex Romey on the boat with me. We had a great trip with snapper and trout being the fish of the day. Most of the fish were caught on live shrimp.
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: Trout, Sheepshead, Snapper & Snook Inshore
Slow season is here for sure. Seasonal residents have fled our heat and humidity until October and the economy is not producing our usual number of summer vacationers this year. On top of that, a low pressure system that hung over our area for several days was still in effect Monday, 6/29, when I fished a windy Estero Bay with Bill Maybrook and friend, Andy. We missed the rains and were able to catch six keeper mangrove snapper on shrimp. We released nine smaller snapper, two snook to 16 inches and four sheepshead that were just short of keeper size.
The weather remained pretty unstable most of the week, with rains likely both morning and afternoon. Seas in the gulf remained rough. The next time I got out fishing was Friday morning, 7/3, in Estero Bay, with Paul Rosenberg and Cory Knight. We did well, using shrimp to catch three keeper trout to 18 ½ inches, a keeper sheepshead and four keeper mangrove snapper to 13 inches. We released 15 smaller trout and crevalle jack.
Tim and Amy Harwood, nine-year-old daughter, Emily, and eight-year-old daughter, Abby, fished central Estero Bay with me Wednesday morning, 7/8. The backwaters are very warm and that tends to slow down the bite, but we had pretty steady action with trout, using shrimp and popping corks. We caught and released nine of those, along with nine mangrove snapper and a small permit.
I was back in Estero Bay Friday morning, when I fished with Jerry Robertson, his son, and grandson. We again had good action with trout and snapper on shrimp with popping corks. We kept two mangrove snapper and a 16 inch trout.
The photo shown is of anglers, Bryant and Gary Click, with a pair of redfish and a 23 inch trout, caught on shrimp on a recent inshore trip.
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
JULY 10, 2009
INSHORE - The snapper bite had been good this week along the channel edges to the north of the North Bridge with snapper from 1 to 3 pounds being caught on live shrimp. There has also been a good trout bite in 2 to 4 feet of water to the north of Harbor Branch and down to the south the bite has been around the Midway Road area. The key is to look for the schools of glass minnows and fish a live shrimp under a popping cork. I have also had a lot of reports of bluefish, jacks and ladyfish along the channel edges and they are hitting anything shinny. The catch and release snook bite is still strong in the Ft. Pierce Inlet on the first part of the out going tide. Fish a live bait on the bottom.
OFFSHORE - The best bite offshore has been the kingfish in 20 to 30 feet of water when fishing around the schools of bait fish. Try slow trolling a live bait. Not much else to report on dolphin with only a handful being caught this week and they were scattered from 60 to 600 feet of water. However, yesterday we did have two boats come in with nice dolphin and they were caught in 90 feet of water straight out the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Bottom fishing remains steady over the reefs and wrecks for seabass, snapper, AJ’s and plenty of cuda’s. We are still getting reports of sailfish in the area of the 12-A Buoy and they have been taking ballyhoo or live baits. Along the beaches look for the bait schools and you should find tarpon, kingfish, jacks and spanish mackerel.
BRAGGING BOARD - I got an e-mail and picture from Lee Way about his daughter’s 1st dolphin. Jordyn caught her 30 pound dolphin while fishing with her dad out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet a couple of weeks ago. They were using live 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 Charters
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
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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
