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
