DECEMBER 19, 2008
INSHORE - The inshore fishing this week has improved along with the weather. There has been a lot of catch and release trout being caught from the Midway Road area down to the power lines. Top water baits have been working early in the morning and then switch to a soft plastic bait or a live shrimp as it gets later in the morning. Remember that snook season is closed until February 1st -- but there has been good catch and release action being reported in the Ft. Pierce Inlet for anglers using live baits. I did have reports of a nice school of redfish just to the south of Bear Point on Tuesday morning. The only thing was that they were really feeding that much. The reds that were caught were feeding a pieces of cut up ladyfish. The action on the catwalks of the bridge has been good with sandperch, spanish mackerel, sheepshead and black drum in fairly good numbers and a few croakers and bluefish are in the mix. All of these fish were taking a live shrimp or a small greenie.
OFFSHORE - This is the time of year to catch that sailfish you have been waiting on. There has been a lot of action to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and starting in 95 feet of water. Most of the sails this week have been caught on ballyhoo. There are still plenty of dolphin being caught but, the action has been scattered from 65 to 300 feet of water. The dolphin have also been taking ballyhoo. The kingfish bite has been steady around the Offshore Bar for anglers trolling spoons or fishing a live bait. Most of the fish this week have been 15 to 25 pounds. The bottom fishing has also been good this week with snapper to 12 pounds being reported. Also, a few nice grouper to 25 pounds coming from the Bethel Shoals area. Along the beaches you can have all the fun you want playing with the spanish mackerel, bluefish, jacks and pompano. Nothing is better than using light tackle for these fish.
TEEN ANGLERS - Once again after having to reschedule the inshore tournament for the Treasure Coast Teen Anglers we will try for this Sunday morning -- December 21st. The Teen's will meet at Jaycee Park in Ft. Pierce at 6;30am. Hopefully they will fish until noon and then have a weigh in. Look for the results next week. For more info on joining Teen Anglers or becoming a boat volunteer just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org Teen Anglers is a not for profit organization and everything is done by donation or by volunteers.
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
Happy Holidays!
Capt. Joe Ward
Cap. Joe's River Charters
