South Indian River Fishing Report
August 27, 2009
INSHORE:
We have enjoyed some great weather this week. Afternoon rain has continued around the Treasure Coast, but mornings have provided good conditions for fishing. The wind picked up most days, but that has been a blessing to temper down the heat. It has been fun being on the water.
I had a very special charter this week. Seven year old, Justice Rodriguez, with his mom, Eufrasia and Grandma Lil joined me and my wife, Eva for a boat ride on the river. Justice had never been on a boat before and this was an honor for me to show him around the river. Justice was diagnosed with Autism when he was 15 months old. With the love and help from many people, Justice enjoys a lot of activities and has made great strides since those early days when he was first diagnosed. It was a fun day out on the water. Justice was excited about being in a boat for the first time. It was evident by his smile when we first got up on plane. We ran around the river and even let him practice fishing for a while. When he comes back to Florida again, we will make a fishing trip for sure. As soon as we got back, he decided that he wanted to go to boating school next.
Redfish are up on the flats in the shallow water. I found schools up to twenty strong and many lurking along the mangroves this week. The water was pretty clean. Fish around the schools of mullet. I found a number of reds that were cruising along with the mullet. DOA CAL jerk baits or grub tails are good choices in root beer colors. Move slowly and keep quiet or you will scare them off before you realize. I spent some time just drifting and there were some swimming around the boat that never knew I was there.
Trout fishing on the grass flats will be best in the early part of the day. Fish two to five feet of water and you should find some nice trout out there. Live shrimp or Deadly Combos are the best way to get some action. Top water at first light can also get you hooked up. Snapper continue to be plentiful around the river. Most of the nicer size are around the channel edges and bridges of the river. I found a dinner size flounder hanging around one of the docks that couldn’t resist a DOA TerrorEyz.
Snook season opens Tuesday. It’s a good time to check your license and snook permit to make sure they are current. Remember that fishing from land now requires you to have a license and snook permit as well. It’s one of those times of year that taking the chance isn’t worth the fines involved. The jetties and docks will be the best choice for hooking a slot snook along with the inlet area. Live bait, TerrorEyz or feather jigs are all good ways to get started. If the spillways are still running, you can bet it will be crowded next week.
Tip of the Week:
This week, I am letting Justice’s mom tell you about his adventure on the water this week. It was a pleasure for me to see his smile and joy on his first boat ride.
“This was Justice’s first fishing trip. Captain Charlie let him feel right at home. First by providing him with a life jacket, and then by showing him the beautiful Florida seascapes. He was able to see fish jumping out of the water. He especially loved feeling the wind in his hair as we cruised around on the boat. Fishing was an additional treat. Even though he didn’t catch anything Captain Charlie kept him enthralled with the casting and the quick, quick, slow of reeling the line back in. I think that Justice believed he caught the little shrimp on the line he was using for bait.
If you have an autistic child and would like to trying fishing, Justice 4 Autism highly recommends Captain Charlie’s Fish Tale Charters. It is not a huge party fishing boat which can be overwhelming for a child on the spectrum. Also you will have a personal experience that is sure to please every fisherman.”
Justice4Autism.com
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby….it’s an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
AUGUST 27, 2009
INSHORE - The inshore fishing has been fairly productive this week with a good number of trout being reported. There has been several hot spots like Herman’s Bay, the area around Pete Stone Creek, and Queen’s Cove to the north. At all of these places try a live shrimp fished under a popping cork in 2 to 4 feet of water. I did get reports of some redfish showing up around the Queen’s Cove area. The bait of choice has been a live shrimp or a chunk of ladyfish. There is still good catch and release snook action around the docks in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. A small white bait is the ticket. Just remember that snook season is closed for a few more days — September 1st is the opening date. If you are looking for a fish dinner — there are plenty of snapper and black drum along the channel edges and they are eating live shrimp.
OFFSHORE - Not much change in the reports this week. There are plenty of kingfish in 30 to 90 feet of water and they are taking live baits. There has been a lot of bonita’s and cuda’s to fight with and a few cobia were reported over the reefs and wrecks and they are also taking live baits. On Tuesday we had a boat get two nice wahoo. They were caught in 300 feet of water to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. The fish hit a red/black skirted ballyhoo. The boats that have been bottom fishing are reporting plenty of black seabass and triggerfish — but the snapper and grouper bite has been slow.
JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - This Saturday — August 29th will be the first from shore fishing tournament of the new school year. The Junior’s will fish from 9am until 11am and then we will award trophies and goodie bags. Junior Teen Anglers is for the 5 to 11 age group. You can get more info at www.teenanglers.org
TEEN ANGLERS - The local chapter of Teen Anglers will be starting their new season on September 12th when they have their first mandatory meeting. Their first inshore fishing tournament will be on Sunday — September 13th at Jaycee Park in Ft. Pierce. Teen Anglers is for the 12 to 18 age group. If you would like more info on joining Teen Anglers or becoming a volunteer just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org
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.captjeward.com
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe’s River Charters
SW FL-Bonita beach: Near-shore Report
Saturday morning, 8/15, I fished with Greg Sommesi and family at the reefs off Bonita Beach. With a 70% chance of rain predicted and seas beyond 20 miles at 3-5 feet, we decided the near-shore reefs might be our best bet, especially with three youngsters on board. We did well with snapper, catching thirteen keepers to 12 inches, and releasing lots of smaller ones, along with undersized triggerfish and flounder. We also caught a keeper lane snapper, Spanish mackerel and grunts.
Monday morning, I fished the reefs once again, this time with Mike and Noreen Weber. We limited out on keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches and released lots of others after we had our ten. We caught two keeper flounder also, as well as some grunts. We released three small goliath-grouper to 20 pounds. We used shrimp for all but the goliaths, which bit blue runners. Tuesday, Robert and Roberta Duhlberg and their two young children, Daniel and Rebecca, planned a ¾ day of fishing with me in the bay. Those plans were foiled when a surprise thunderstorm hit about 11:30 AM. We had to quit fishing and take cover as best we could until the storm slowed to a light rain. By that time, we were all wet and ready to head in. we did manage to catch three keeper mangrove snapper and a 16-inch trout, on shrimp.
The photo shown is of angler Dawn Croft, with a 21-inch red grouper, caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip.
South Indian River Fishing Report 8/12
August 12, 2009
INSHORE:
The Treasure Coast has once again enjoyed beautiful….but HOT weather this week. We have stuck with our plans of leaving at 6 am so we can get back off the water before the afternoon heat and rain arrive. It has worked in our favor and we have enjoyed lots of fantastic fishing on the river. As long as the bait schools are on the flats, the fish will continue to feed.
Trout and snapper are still the bulk of our catch. Top water lures early are still producing lots of fish. Live shrimp on DOA popping corks continue to keep you busy reeling in fish. Add a DOA shrimp to that popping cork and you have a great way to target good size trout. Work it aggressively and you will find the fish. DOA CAL jerk baits will work just as well. Watch for the bait schools and fish the edges for the best action. Lorenzo and sons, Eddie, Julian and Loren caught at least 75 fish on their adventure. Ranging from big trout, snapper, jacks to one big pompano for dinner. It was one of those days you keep hoping for. Joe Vennarini and brother, Charlie, also had lots of catching this week. We ended up the day with one huge school of jacks running through to hook up all lines on some great action. Bill Marino and Jessie were out with me and we once again had the fish cooperating. Jessie caught some of the bigger trout that day, but both had lots of rod bending action. Round Island, Harbor Branch and Queen’s Cove have all held good amounts of trout. Steve Brigham reported catching a 32″ trout this week while fishing some of the docks in the area. He was using an artificial shrimp. It sure has been a fun week out on the water!
Snook around the jetties can still find anglers fishing for them. Snapper are just about anywhere you choose to fish. Tarpon have been in the deeper waters of the inlet, Harbor Branch and the Moorings. I intend to try the new DOA BFL 5.5 out on them later in the week. Action has been excellent, so get out fishing soon!
Tip of the Week:
Reel care is an important, but often forgotten part of fishing. Making sure the gears are greased and bearings lubed can insure a longer life to any reel. Many problems with reel failure will relate to lack of proper care. Keeping drag washers in good condition is just another part of reel maintenance. Some reels have easy access to gears and make it simple to maintain them. Local tackle shops generally have a reel repair service to either clean and grease or repair many reels. Take a little time to give a some attention to your reels and they will give you many more fishing adventures.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby….it’s an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852
Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
AUGUST 13, 2009
INSHORE - The trout bite has been red hot in 2 to 4 feet of water both to the north and south in the river. Try a live shrimp and fish it under a popping cork at places like Bear Point, Midway Road, Harbor Branch and at the Moorings. The catch and release snook action has slowed a bit but, there are still some reports about fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Mostly it has been from anglers who are there when the bite turns on. Also, some over the slot size redfish are there too and taking live baits. The snapper bite along the channel edges continues to be good for anglers using small, live white baits. Also, there has been a good snapper bite around both the North & South Bridges.
OFFSHORE - I have had reports of a steady cobia bite around the bait schools and the near shore reefs. Try a live bait or a Cobia Slayer by Gulfstream. Most of the cobia caught have been between 25 and 50 pounds. There is still a really good kingfish action in 20 to 40 feet of water and the top bait has been a blue runner. We have had several dolphin come in but they have all been small. The biggest one was 13.11 pounds. The dolphin have been caught in 60 to 90 feet of water on a ballyhoo — both naked and skirted. The bottom fishing over the reefs and wrecks remains steady for snapper, sea bass and triggerfish. The biggest snapper coming in was 11.4 pounds. Look for tarpon along the beaches at first light and just before dark.
JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - The first from shore fishing tournament of the new school year will be held on Saturday — August 29th at 9:00am at Harbour Pointe Park in Ft. Pierce. Junior Teen Angers is for the 5 to 11 age group. If you want more info you can call 772-201-5773 or go to the web at www.teenanglers.org
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: Goliath Adventures & Table-fare Too
Wednesday morning, I fished about 17 miles west of New Pass with Harry and Melanie McDaniel and their daughter, Molly. We had steady action, which helped compensate for some prettyrough seas as we were on the storm-fringe much of the morning. We used shrimp and caught ten keeper Spanish mackerel to 24 inches, a keeper mangrove snapper and porgies and grunts. We released lots of just undersized mangs, yellowtails, and red grouper, along with a twenty-pound goliath grouper. Thursday, I headed out 19 miles from New Pass with Mack Wilson, his son, Jonathan and grandson, Scott, who was celebrating his eighteenth birthday. We caught fourteen nice whitebone porgies, which the group looked forward to cooking. We released lots of undersized gag and red grouper, as well as mangrove and yellowtail snapper. We also caught lots of keeper-sized Spanish mackerel that we released, since the guys much preferred porgies for table-fare. We did, however hook one of the Spanish macks on a heavy pole, to give Scott a chance at hooking a goliath grouper. Sure enough, moments after casting, he hooked a huge one, about six-foot long and three-foot high, and estimated at about 400 pounds. Scott reeled that fish in, released it boat-side, and required a twenty-five minute break to recover! But it was a nice thrill for him to feel something that big on the line and a great way to top off his birthday adventure. The next time I fished was on Monday, August 10th. David Conway, eighteen-year-old son, Kyle, eleven-year-old son, Will, and Kyle’s friend, Eric Legal, fished with me about 18 miles west of new Pass. Will caught a 14 inch hogfish and the group also caught two keeper mangrove snapper, 16 and 17 inches, keeper Spanish mackerel to 24 inches, and keeper porgies. We released lots of smaller mangrove snapper, yellowtail and red grouper. We also released two goliath grouper at 100 pounds and 175 pounds, along with a 3 ½ foot sandbar shark. We used shrimp for everything except the goliaths, which bit blue runners and mackerel. The photo shown is of the 100 pound sailfish I caught the end of July on a busman’s holiday to Marathon in the FL Keys…not a local catch where I usually fish but I just had to post it!
South Indian River Fishing Report 8/6
August 6, 2009
INSHORE:
Mornings have been fabulous this week on the Indian River. Getting out early has lots of rewards! Cooler mornings, gorgeous sunrises, light winds and great fishing await anglers on the Treasure Coast. We have had some really good days of fishing this week and it should continue to be productive.
In spite of the recent full moon, the snapper and trout have been on a rampage feeding on the glass minnow schools. Top water lures have been getting a lot of attention at first light and then switching to DOA popping corks and live shrimp or DOA CAL jerk baits has given us our best action on the flats. Two to five feet of water has been good and watch for the bait schools. Fish the edges of the bait and you should find plenty of trout. Dennis Kokemos, cousin James and son, Perry, found trout and snapper action pretty hectic this week. Pete Krutski had some nice trout as well. Pat Wells and son, Dalton “Birthday Boy” kept busy with them on their outing. Tom Hull had his share of trout, too. Round Island, Queen’s Cove and Harbor Branch have all been good this week.
Docks have held a variety of fish. Dennis, James and Perry got into some big jacks and had some line-stripping action. Mangrove snapper, black drum, croakers are some of the fish that we have caught lately around the docks. Dalton was hooked on his first big snook that wrapped around the dock pilings. After a good battle for a while, we inched up by the dock only to see a huge over slot snook sitting there next to the piling. Before we could try to get it out, it broke him off at the leader and scooted down the river. He had an exciting day of fishing for his birthday.
The inlet and jetties have held tarpon, snook and jacks. Bridges and channel edges have plenty of snapper action this week. It has been a fun and exciting week. Get out and back early before the afternoon storms get brewing. Have some fun soon!
Tip of the Week:
Something that I strongly believe in is taking kids fishing. They are the future anglers and what you teach them today will give them wonderful memories and good fishing habits. This week was very rewarding for me as my ol’ friend, Pat Wells, came down with his son, Dalton. Dalton has had an awful summer vacation this year. Breaking his arm shortly after school let out, he had six miserable weeks in a cast. Shortly after that, he had appendicitis and emergency surgery while on a Boy Scout adventure and vacation with his family. With school about to begin again and his birthday this week, we took him out for an exciting day on the water and at least some good memories from this summer. It was some great memories for dad and myself 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
-
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
