September 12, 2007
INSHORE - The inshore fishing this week has been good with plenty of snook being reported around the local bridges in Ft. Pierce and also in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. The snook have been feeding on mullet and the only problem has been getting a fish inside the slot of 28 to 32 inches. The trout action has been steady for anglers throwing top water baits at first light in 2 to 4 feet of water. Try places like Bear Point, Harbor Branch or the Moorings Flats. After about 8:00am try using a live shrimp and fish it a little deeper in 3 to 5 feet of water. I have been getting a few reports of some redfish around Queen's Cove and they have been feeding on mullet. The best inshore action has been along the channel edges of the Intercoastal for the snapper and the bite has been both to the north and south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Try a live shrimp fished on a jig head. There has been plenty of snapper, black drum, sheepshead, jacks and ladyfish to keep you busy.
OFFSHORE - The seas have calmed down and this had made a trip offshore a little more fun. Over the weekend a good number of dolphin were caught in the 15 to 25 pound range. The only problem was you needed to be in 800 to 1200 feet of water and you had to endure the 6 to 8 foot seas with the occasional 9 footer thrown in. Trolling a ballyhoo was the way to go and I had reports of several different colored skirts being used. But, as the seas have laid down I am getting reports of dolphin in 90 to 150 feet of water. The kingfish bite has been steady for a while in 60 to 80 feet of water. Most of the fish are being caught on live baits and are in the 12 to 25 pound range. I did have several reports about small blackfin tuna in the same are as the dolphin were over the weekend. Still a good snapper bite up around Bethel Shoals and over the reefs in 60 to 90 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. The night fishing for the snapper has been the best bite and try using cut baits.
TEEN ANGLERS - The monthly inshore fishing tournament for the local chapter of Teen Anglers will take place on September 23rd at Jaycee Park in Ft. Pierce. The teens will fish from 6:45am until noon when they have their weigh in. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the middle and high school divisions. If you would like more info on Teen Anglers just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org.
CENTRAL FLORIDA OFFSHORE FISHING CLUB - The last monthly offshore fishing tournament for the 2007 season was held on Saturday -- September 8th out of the Dockside Inn & Resort on the Ft. Pierce Inlet. The C.F.O.F.C. holds a monthly offshore tournament starting in April and ending in September. The last tournament of the season was not the usual tournament the club is used to. With the seas running from 6 to 8 feet it made for a difficult day of fishing for the few boats that went out and a few boats stayed inshore. The big catch of the day went to Jarrod Naberhaus -- age 12 for the 28 pound wahoo he caught. His dad -- Mark said that they were using a ballyhoo with a black, red and green skirts. He said he wanted to cover all the colors. The fish was caught in 300 feet of water. On the Giddy Up crew members Alan Hall, Robert Waring, Wayne Stone and boat Captain Wally Schultz had 2 nice size dolphin as well as a few blackfin tuna and a small kingfish. They reported that the dolphin -- 23.1 pounder was caught by Wayne in 600 feet of water and the 16 pounder was caught by Alan in 700 feet of water. Alan Wilcox and Dave Tindell had an offshore slam with 3 dolphin -- 18.8, 10 & 9 pounds, 2 bonita, 2 cuda's, 4 blackfin tuna and 1 kingfish. All of the fish were caught on ballyhoo in 90 to 300 feet of water.
BRAGGING BOARD - I got an e-mail from Steve Strong about a recent wading trip he and his father -- Joe took at Bear Point. Steve reported that he and Joe were wading just before dark with the full moon and they caught and released 9 trout -- 5 to 9 pounds. They also caught and released 5 snook, 2 were in the slot and 2 were over the slot. They were using a red and white chug bug and also a chartreuse chug bug. Not a bad way for a father and son to spend some quality time!
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 always reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com.
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters
