FEBRUARY 14, 2008
INSHORE - With all the wind this week it has made the inshore fishing tuff. I did get reports from several anglers fishing around the Round Island area which was just about the only place out of the wind They did report some trout, several small snook and a few redfish. Most of these fish were caught on a live shrimp. Some of the other action reported was about the snook around the docks in the Ft. Pierce Inlet after dark. The bait of choice this week has been a live pinfish fished on the bottom. There have been a few keeper size grouper and a lot of shorts coming from the Ft. Pierce Inlet on the incoming tide. Both a live shrimp and a pinfish have been working the best. Around the local bridges in Ft. Pierce there are still plenty of sandperch, a few sheepshead and a few nice size black drum. Along the local beaches the reports are of pompano, whiting and a few spanish mackerel. Again, a shrimp has been the best bet.
OFFSHORE - The sea conditions have not been good this past week for most anglers but, a few of the bigger boats did go offshore. They reported scattered dolphin in 140 feet of water and also several wahoo in that same area. They were all caught on a ballyhoo. Look for the kingfish in 70 to 90 feet of water as well as plenty of bonita and sharks and they were feeding on slow trolled live baits. Just offshore of the local beaches there is spanish mackerel, bluefish and a lot of jacks.
JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - Last Saturday -- Feb. 9th was the from shore fishing tournament for the Junior Teen Anglers. The fishing was slow to say the least but the Junior's had a good time. A special THANK YOU to Pursuit Boats for sponsoring the tournament.
In the 5 to 8 age group it was
1st place - Trevor Walk - age 5 - Northport K-8
2nd place - Savannah Ward - age 7 - Lawnwood Elem.
3rd place - Carrie Loupe - age 7 - St. Lucie Elem.
In the 9 to 11 age group it was
1st place - Dylora Kohler - age 11 - Village Green Elem.
2nd place - Max Higgins - age 11 - St. Lucie West K-8
3rd place - there was no fish weighed in
Biggest fish of the tournament went to Trevor Walk for his snook.
The next from shore tournament for the Junior's will be held on Saturday -- April 5th at Harbour Pointe Park in Ft. Pierce. If you would like more info on Junior Teen Anglers for the 5 to 11 age group or Teen Anglers for the 12 to 18 age group just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org. You can also call 772-201-5773 for more info.
TEEN ANGLERS - This Sunday - February 17th is the monthly inshore fishing tournament for the local chapter of Teen Anglers. They will leave Jaycee Park in Ft. Pierce at 6:45am and fish until noon. We will hold a weigh in and award trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the middle and high school divisions. For more info go to www.teenanglers.org.
BRAGGING BOARD - Cammie Ward caught a 24 inch 6 pound grouper last Friday while fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. She also caught a 2 pound mangrove snapper. She was fishing with a live shrimp. On Tuesday Carey Drake caught a 24 & 1/2 inch grouper while fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. He was also using a live shrimp. Don Avery caught a 28 &1/2 inch snook on Wednesday night. He was using a live pinfish.
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