OCTOBER 18, 2009
INSHORE - This week's report hasn't changed a lot from last week's. Good trout action is being reported at places like Harbor Branch, Round Island to the north and to the south in the river the bite has been at Herman's Bay. Most of these fish were caught in 3 to 5 feet of water and a live shrimp or a soft plastic baits are working the best. I am still getting reports about redfish along the docks of South Indian River Drive. Most of the redfish are being caught on shrimp or crabs. Along the channel edges and around the local bridges you can look for a good black drum and snapper bite on the tide changes. These fish have been taking live shrimp. The snook fishing has slowed some but, there has been a few slot size fish coming from the Ft. Pierce Inlet when fishing a live bait on the bottom during the falling tide.
OFFSHORE - Finally -- some nice dolphin have been coming into the docks and have ranged from 15 to 30 pounds. Most of the fish were caught in 280 to 310 feet of water due east of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Both naked and skirted ballyhoo have been the way to go. There is a lot of bonita, cuda's and kingfish in 70 to 90 feet of water and they will keep you busy. Both live and artificial's are working well. We have been getting a good number of reports about the sailfish that were being caught to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet in about 100 feet of water. Most of the sailfish hook ups were on live bait. The bottom fishing has been steady for sea bass, snapper and triggerfish. Fish the shallower reefs and the snapper, grouper and aj's have been on the deeper reefs. Both live and dead baits are working well.
TEEN ANGLERS - The regular scheduled inshore tournament for the Treasure Coast Chapter of Teen Anglers has been rescheduled for next Saturday -- October 24th. For more info on Teen Anglers (12 to 18 age group) or Junior Teen Anglers (5 to 11 age group) you can call 772-201-5773 or just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org
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