June 14, 2007
INSHORE - The inshore fishing for trout had been hard to beat with a lot of fish in the 2 to 4 pound range. Also, there have been good reports of trout over 5 pounds. The bigger fish have been caught early in the morning in 3 feet of water. A live pigfish has been the way to go. I am getting a few good reports about the redfish bite along the docks at St. Lucie Village. Most of the reds have been in the slot and a jerk bait or a gold spoon have been the bait of choice. The snapper bite along the channel edges has been getting better and better. These fish have been as large as 2 & 1/2 pounds. The snapper bite has also been good around the bridges on the out going tide and a small live shrimp or a small live greenie being the best baits. The catch and release snook action has been the best it's been all year. There have been smaller snook up on the flats and the bigger fish have been around the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Most live baits have been working on these fish but remember to handle them as little as possible and get them back in the water ASAP. I did see a few tarpon rolling down around the Big Mud Creek area in the last few days.
OFFSHORE - The dolphin bite slowed down on Monday and Tuesday but picked right back up on Wednesday. The dolphin have been scattered from 80 to 300 feet of water and taking both skirted and naked ballyhoo. If it is kingfish you want then get yourself some live some live baits live a greenie, mullet or a blue runner -- it doesn't seem to matter. Go to the North Beach and fish in 15 to 30 feet of water. On Wednesday the kings were in big schools and sky rocketing every where. Most of the fish have been from 12 to 36 pounds. There have been plenty of sailfish hook-ups reported in 80 to 110 feet of water. The bottom fishing for snapper and grouper has been good over the reefs in 90 to 180 feet of water. Most of the snapper have been under 9 pounds and the grouper have been in the 15 to 25 pound range. I did get one report from out of the Jupiter Inlet about 2 sailfish hook-ups in 80 to 100 feet of water. They were caught on a pink and white and also on a green and white skirted ballyhoo. I also got a report about a 9 foot hammerhead and 2 bull sharks being caught in 145 to 300 feet of water on strips of bonita.
BRAGGING BOARD - Capt. Al Bernetti on the Blackjack lead the father and son team of Al and Taylor Willis to a 5 dolphin catch on Saturday. Al Willis caught one dolphin and Taylor caught the other 4. The biggest dolphin was 18 pounds and all of them were caught on ballyhoo in 265 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Also, on Saturday Capt. Bobby Thorlton and his brother Ryan caught fish big enough to win the monthly offshore tournament for the Central Florida Offshore Fishing Club. Ryan caught a 25 pound dolphin and Capt. Bobby caught a 22 pound kingfish. Both fish were caught in 80 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet on sardines. On Monday Trae Sorensen reported a sailfish hook up in 110 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.
If you would like to report a catch -- call me at 772-201-5770 or e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com. You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoe.ward.com.
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters
