August 16, 2007
INSHORE - It's summer time and not much changes from week to week this time of year. There has been a good trout bite early in the morning and both to the north and south in the river. Just find the schools of bait and the fish will be there. The three best baits for the bigger trout have been top water baits, pigfish or a live shrimp. And, the best depth has been 2 &1/2 to 3 feet of water. The snapper bite along the channel edges has also been good with the best bite coming on the first part of the out going tide. Try a live shrimp or a greenie and fish it on the bottom with a small weight -- just enough to hold the bottom. There is still a handful of redfish being reported around the docks along Indian River Drive. Again, early has been the best -- from just before daylight until about 8:00am. Try throwing a gold spoon or using a small crab. There are still schools of spanish mackerel, jacks, ladyfish and bonita following the schools of bait fish into the Ft. Pierce Inlet but there has not been as many as in the last three weeks.
OFFSHORE - The best action offshore is still coming from the kingfish in 60 to 80 feet of water. They have been hitting just about anything live and also trolled ballyhoo. Most of the fish have been in the 12 to 20 pound range with a few over 30 pounds. A good number of sailfish were reported over the weekend in 100 feet of water to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Trolling a live bait or a ballyhoo will work just fine. The dolphin bite has been slow unless you are fishing in at least 1000 feet of water. We had several fish over 30 pounds come into the dock this past weekend and also on Tuesday. The bottom fishing over the reefs and wrecks has been producing a good catch of bottom fish like snapper, grouper, sea bass and triggerfish. Cut baits or a live shrimp has been working well. There are still tarpon, spanish mackerel, bonita and sharks along the local beaches.
BRAGGING BOARD - On Saturday Doris Haigh caught a 30 pound dolphin while fishing 30 miles offshore from the Ft. Pierce Inlet. She caught the fish on a ballyhoo. On Friday I had Al Lucci on my boat and he made the catch of his lifetime. We were trout fishing when he hooked into a 32 inch 10.2 pound gator trout. The trout took a large live shrimp fished under a popping cork. Congratulations to our son and granddaughter -- Capt Rob & Savannah Ward and Team Pursuit for the 32.94 pound kingfish that Savannah caught last Saturday. The king got Savannah 3rd place in the Junior Angler Division and also 10th place in the general tournament. They were fishing the New Smyrna kingfish Classic out of new Smyrna Beach, Florida.
TEEN ANGLERS - This Sunday is the first inshore Teen Angler tournament of the new school year. The Teen's will leave Jaycee Park in Ft. Pierce and fish until noon. If you would like to volunteer to take a Teen fishing or would like more info on joining just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org
If you would like to report a catch -- call me at 772-201-5770 or e-mail me at card11605@aol.com. You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com.
Capt.Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters
