JUNE 11, 2009
INSHORE - The inshore fishing this week has been on the slow side due o the water conditions -- all of the fresh water runoff. This has been making anglers have to search for pockets of cleaner water or wait until mid day for the high tide. I did get a few reports of a good trout bite in 2 to 3 feet of water and most of the fish are coming from the south -- down around the Midway Road area. The bait of choice has been a live shrimp fished under a popping cork. There are some redfish around the docks at St. Lucie Village and they have been taking small pinfish or pigfish. Again, the dirty water has slowed the snapper bit along the channel edges but, a few fish were reported on the last of the incoming tide and they were taking small live shrimp.
OFFSHORE - It sounds like the sailfish bite has been the most consistent with fish taking live baits or trolled ballyhoo in 80 to 110 feet of water. There have been some dolphin coming in to the docks and they were scattered from 60 to 400 feet of water and most of them were caught on ballyhoo. The kingfish bite on the beach has been a little slow. But, if you put in your time and use a live bait then you should bring back fish. The bottom fishing over the reefs and wrecks has been steady for snapper, sea bass, triggerfish and a few nice cobia. The only problem has been all of the cuda's. I got reports of several schools of tarpon in the 90 to 150 pound range up at the Cove and the were following the schools of bait fish along the beach.
BRAGGING BOARD - I got a picture and a e-mail from Steve Loudermilk about the 46.6 pound dolphin he caught while fishing the Blue Water Open. He said that they caught another dolphin too -- 17.2 pounder that took 3rd place. They were fishing between 100 and 200 feet of water to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. They also caught and released a sailfish. The big dolphin hit a naked ballyhoo and the smaller one took a live bait. Congrats to Leslie Pfeiffer for her 45.7 pound kingfish she caught last Saturday while fishing the Blue Water Open. She took 1st place in the kingfish division and also lady angler. She caught the king on a live bait at the Cove.
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
