JUNE 6, 2008
INSHORE - The inshore fishing has been slow this week with the best action coming from the snapper around the bridges, channel edges and in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. The snapper have been feeding on small white baits or small live shrimp. A lot of the snapper that were reported were in the 1 to 3 pound range. The trout bite has been slow with only a few fish being caught on top water baits at first light in 2 to 4 feet of water. The redfish are here but getting them to eat is another story. Try a piece of cut up ladyfish and cast way ahead of the school -- this maybe your best bet. There is plenty of spanish mackerel around the Turning Basin and in the Inlet and they have been feeding on the glass minnows. Just a reminder that snook season is closed so try to handle the fish as little as possible and release him ASAP.
OFFSHORE - The dolphin action has slowed way down with only a few fish reported this week. Most of the fish were in the 12 to 25 pound range and were caught in 250 to 350 feet of water on a naked ballyhoo. I did have several wahoo reported and they were caught by anglers fishing for dolphin. Most of the wahoo were in the 12 to 15 pound range. The sailfish bite has been steady starting in 100 feet of water to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and caught on ballyhoo. The kingfish bite is still strong in 20 to 50 feet of water and a live bait has been the best. The bottom fishing for snapper remains good and even better at night over the reefs and wrecks in 50 to 80 feet of water. Both live and dead baits have been working well. There has been a lot of tarpon rolling around on the beaches and in the Ft. Pierce Inlet early in the morning and just after dark.
BRAGGING BOARD - On a recent visit to Ft. Pierce from Buford Georgia -- Jeff Tatum caught his 1st dolphin in 80 foot of water straight out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. He caught him on a live blue runner and the dolphin weighed 15 pounds. He also caught a 30 pound yellowfin tuna that same day. While visiting her from Winter Haven -- Jeanne Harrison made the big push at the end of snook season and it paid off for her. She caught a 32 inch -- 9lb. 7oz. snook. She caught the snook up on the flats by Little Jim Bridge and used a large live shrimp.
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
