JUNE 12, 2008
INSHORE - The inshore fishing has picked up this week with a good trout bite at date break on top water baits. The bigger trout have been coming from the south end of the Intercoastal from the Midway Road area south to the power lines. There has been a steady redfish bite around the spoil islands to the north of the North Bridge and on the high tide. Soft plastic baits or cut bait has been working the best. Look for the mangrove snapper all along the channel edges as well as around the local bridges and in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Live shrimp or a small pinfish are both working well. If it is spanish mackerel you are looking for just go to the Ft. Pierce Inlet or the Turning Basin on the incoming tides and you will see all the big schools and throw a silver spoon for the best results. I had several reports of tarpon in the Ft. Pierce Inlet just after dark. But, they are feeding on the schools of small glass minnows and it makes it very hard to entice them with any other baits.
OFFSHORE - There has been plenty of sailfish action this week in depths fro 75 to 125 feet of water. Most of the fish reported are being caught on ballyhoo and to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. The kingfish have been providing steady action for anglers fishing in 30 to 50 feet of water and most of the kings have been from 12 to 25 pounds. Live bait has been taking most of the kings. The dolphin bite has been slow and scattered at best. The fish I have seen this week were small -- from 5 to 10 pounds and these were caught on ballyhoo. The bottom fishing for snapper ad grouper has been good over the reefs in 50 to 80 feet of water. Most anglers have been chumming and using cut baits. The Boils have been producing some over the slot snook for catch and release. Also, a few permit and tarpon there too.
BRAGGING BOARD - On a recent trip out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet Josh Kersey said that he and the crew on the Seawolf made a run to the other side of the Gulfstream in search of some big yellowfin tuna. After hours of catching small blackfin and skip jacks they decided to start dolphin fishing. They had several fish in the 30 pound range and the biggest dolphin they had ever seen -- it was 60.5 pounds. He said it was the best dolphin trip they have ever had. Other anglers on the Seawolf were Hal Kersey, John Hotten, Donnie Phillips & Paul Tousignant. I got an e-mail and picture from Karen Plante. She said that they went out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet in their pontoon boat and were fishing with live mullet. She said that something hit her bait and the fun began. After a 20 minute fight she had a 30 pound kingfish to bring back to be weighed.
CONGRATULATIONS - Just a quick congrats to our granddaughter -- Savannah Ward & Team Pursuit on her win in St. Augustine last Thursday. Savannah -- age 8 -- was fishing in the Kingbuster 400 in the Junior Division. Her king weighed 22.45 pounds and she took second place out of 100 kids. Not a bad birthday present for her.
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