INSHORE - The inshore fishing has been tough again this week for a lot of anglers with the water still dirty. The snook action is still off pace even with the mullet run in full swing. I am getting a few snook reported around the local bridges in Ft. Pierce when fishing at night. Also a few reports about the docks along the Ft. Pierce Inlet. The bait of choice seems to be a live shrimp at night or a mullet. During the day there has been reports of snook in Taylor Creek this last week when the spillway was flowing. Another place is to find the holes in the Ft. Pierce Inlet and fish them on the our going tide with live baits. The trout fishing has been steady but not red hot. The best bite seems to be early in the morning along the docks on South Indian River Drive. Fish a top water bait or a live mullet. Still getting reports of some redfish along the Queen's Cove area to the north and around Bear Point to the south but getting them to eat is another problem. You might try a gold spoon or a chunk of ladyfish. The snapper bite remains good all along the channel edges of the Intercoastal when using live shrimp. And, as always there are plenty of jacks and ladyfish chasing the schools of finger mullet.
OFFSHORE - There is not a lot going on offshore either. I had reports of dolphin in the 8 to 12 pound range and they we scattered from 100 to 300 feet of water. A few wahoo came into the docks at the Dockside Inn and Resort and they were caught in water from 300 to 400 feet. Most of the wahoo were in the 20 pound range. Look for the kingfish in 70 to 95 feet of water -- just on either side of the Offshore Bar. Slow troll a live bait or a ribbonfish. I did get reports of some small tune in 125 feet of water but most were 5 pounds. Also, a couple reports of sailfish action to the south of the Ft. Pierce between Stuart and Hobe Sound in 100 to 150 feet of water. The bottom fishing for snapper, grouper and black seabass has been steady and should improve as the water conditions improve.
TEEN ANGLERS - The 1st inshore tournament for the local chapter of Teen Anglers was held last Sunday at Jaycee Park in Ft. Pierce. In the high school division 1st place and biggest fish of the tournament went to Joseph Senneville of Westwood High. 2nd place was Paul Walden and 3rd was Kalib Guttler both of Westwood High. In the middle school division 1st place went to Luis Hernandez of North Port K-8 and 2nd place went to Tyler Serio of Lincoln Park Academy. If you would like more info on joining teen anglers or volunteering your boat to take the kids fishing just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org. The 1st tournament for the Jr. Teen Anglers is going to be on October 7th at Harbour Pointe Park in Ft. Pierce. Info for this is also on the website.
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.captjoeward.com.
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters