SEPTEMBER 10, 2009
INSHORE - The first week of snook season was good for a lot of anglers with slot size snook coming from the Ft. Pierce Inlet and the local bridges. The finger mullet have started to show up and this has been the best bait this week. I also had reports of over the slot size fish coming from the same areas. Around the flats there are still plenty of trout being reported at Bear Point, Midway Road area and the old stand by -- Harbor Branch. Most of the keeper trout were caught on a live shrimp. If you want to hook up with a big fish -- try a live mullet and fish down at Big Mud Creek at daylight. There have been 100 pound tarpon there and they have been taking the live mullet. The bottom fishing along the channel edges has been good for snapper, sheepshead, black drum, jacks and ladyfish. All of these fish are taking live shrimp.
OFFSHORE - This past week it has been all about the cobia. With the big rays showing up -- along comes the cobia. The area between 10 & 12A Buoys has been the hottest. The fish are hitting on live baits as well as artificial. Cobia to 60 pounds were reported but most of the fish were between 20 & 25 pounds. Still a lot of kingfish in the 40 to 60 foot range and they are also hitting on live baits. We did have one wahoo come into the docks on Sunday and it was a 40 pounder. It was caught in 280 feet of water. The bottom fishing remains good over the reefs and wrecks for sea bass, snapper and triggerfish. And as always there is plenty of sharks and bonita to keep you busy.
TEEN ANGLERS - This Sunday -- September 13th will be the first inshore fishing tournament for the Treasure Coast Chapter of Teen Anglers. They will have a mandatory meeting on Saturday and then fish on Sunday. There will be trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the middle and high school divisions. Also, a trophy for biggest fish of the tournament. For more info on Teen Anglers you can call 772-201-5773 or go to the web at www.teenanglers.org
BRAGGING BOARD - On Sunday Christopher King caught a 40 pound wahoo in 280 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. On Friday Pam & Bill Lawson each caught a keeper snook. Pam's was 29 inches and Bill's was 31 & 1/2. Both were caught while fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. On Sunday Pam, Brock & Bill Lawson each caught a cobia in 50 feet of water while fishing the manta rays out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Brock's cobia was a 35 pounder. The coba hit on live baits and also on a bucktail jig in the blue/white color and also in the yellow/red color. On Saturday Clifton Jenkins caught a 57 pound cobia in 40 foot of water while drifting a live mullet. On Monday Kaitlyn Ward - age 4 caught her 1st cobia with a little help from her dad - Rob Ward. They were fishing in 40 feet of water and using a live bait. Kaitlyn's cobia weighed 20 pounds.
CATCH OF THE WEEK - Congrats go out to Justin King & his family. While his parents -- Christopher & Debbie King were here in Ft. Pierce catching a 40 pound wahoo -- Justin was planning his engagement to Ruth George -- he even send a pic of the ring to his parents. On Tuesday night Justin proposed and Ruth said yes! Justin & Ruth live in Indian Trails, NC. This was worth missing a fishing trip with his dad!
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or call em at 772-201-5770. You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters