NOVEMBER 13, 2008
INSHORE - The inshore bite remains steady for anglers fishing from the catwalks of the South Bridge. They have been reporting good catches of sand perch, black drum, snapper, sheepshead and croakers. Most of these fish were caught on live shrimp. The snapper and black drum bite has been good along the channel edges and around just about any structure you can find. You will find a few sheepshead in the mix too. Again, a live shrimp has been the best bait. The snook action has remained steady for anglers fishing around the North Bridge and in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Fish the tide changes and use live baits like a pinfish or a mullet. The hour before and the hour after the tide change has been the best time to get a keeper snook. There are a lot of smaller snook just about everywhere you fish. Most of these fish are around 24 inches and must be released as soon as possible. Not much to report about the redfish. There have only been a few small fish reported and they were caught and released up around Round Island. The catch and release trout have been very active on the flats between Harbor Branch and The Moorings. A live shrimp fished under a popping cork has been hard to beat. Just remember that with the colder water temps the fish will be moving a little slower. There have been some spanish mackerel and bluefish in the Ft. Pierce Inlet and they will take just about anything you throw at them.
OFFSHORE - The seas did lay over the weekend and the fish were there. We had several boats come back to the docks with dolphin to 15 pounds, 2 wahoo to 30 pounds and several kings that went to 36 pounds. We did get one report from Christopher King about a marlin that they had come up and slap at his bait but the marlin never took it. The fish was in about 500 feet of water. Most of the dolphin were caught on a naked ballyhoo in 500 to 600 feet of water. The wahoo took a black/purple skirted ballyhoo and was in 300 feet of water. The kings have stayed in 70 to 90 feet of water but did move in to about 50 feet on Sunday. They were taking live baits and we had 2 caught on a ballyhoo. There were several sailfish releases too. They were all from 110 to 130 feet of water and both to the north and south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.
TEEN ANGLERS - This Sunday -- November 16th will be the regular monthly inshore tournament for the Treasure Coast Chapter of Teen Anglers. Everyone is hoping that the weather will cooperate and we will be able to fish. This is after having to cancel the October tournament twice. The Teen's will meet at Jaycee Park in Ft Pierce at 6:30am and fish until noon. We will have weigh in and then award trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the middle and high school divisions. If you would like more info on joining Teen Anglers or would like to be a boat volunteer and take a Teen fishing once a month you can go to the web at www.teenanglers.org for more info.
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or you can 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
