INSHORE - The inshore fishing for the most part has been a little slower this week with the best action coming from the snapper. They have been around just about every kind of structure, along the channel edges and in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. The best bait has been small live shrimp and they have been taking most of the bigger fish. The trout that were reported this week were small and came from the area to the south at places like the Midway Road area, Herman's Bay and the flats just to the north of the Jensen Beach Causeway. Most of the fish reported were caught on a live pigfish or a live shrimp. I got a few reports of redfish around Jack Island and the docks along St. Lucie Village. Cut baits or a soft plastic baits will work fine. And, as usual there are plenty of ladyfish, jack and catfish around and they will feed on just about anything.
OFFSHORE - Before the front pushed thru on Wednesday there were still plenty of dolphin action being reported in anywhere from 80 feet out and they were trolling ballyhoo or a live bait. Most of the dolphin were 25 pounds or under. Still a lot of kingfish along the beaches and they have been chasing live baits. I did get reports of kings to 35 pounds coming from off the North beach in 15 to 30 feet of water. The bottom fishing for snapper has been real good in 60 to 80 feet of water. Most of the fish have been between 3 and 10 pounds and they have been taking both live and dead baits. There were a few cobia reported by anglers bottom fishing. Still getting a few sailfish reports from 100 to 200 feet of water. And, I did get a couple of reports about several nice wahoo in the 15 to 30 pound range. They were caught in 180 feet of water and to the North of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.
TEEN ANGLERS & JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - The new season of fishing tournaments will be starting up in August. Check your e-mail for the dates. Also, our end of the year banquet will be held on September 22nd at the Pelican Yacht Club. If you would like more info on Teen Anglers for the 12 to 18 age group or Junior Teen Anglers for the 5 to 11 age group just go to the website at www.teenanglers.org. Also, if you would like to volunteer to take some of the teen's fishing just go to the website and sign up.
BRAGGING BOARD - On Saturday Savannah Ward -- age 7, with the help of her Dad -- Capt. Rob Ward caught a 25 pound cobia while fishing out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. They were slow trolling a live sardine on a down rigger. Savannah also caught a 7 pound snapper. Savannah is a member of the Junior Teen Anglers. Ron Tindall age 15, visiting here from Georgia caught and released a 7 foot sailfish while fishing in 130 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet last Thursday. This was his 1st sailfish and he caught it on a naked ballyhoo. Todd Whiten -- visiting here from Greenville, S.C. caught a good number of snapper and trout last Friday. Most of the trout were under 3 pounds and the snapper were between 1 &1/2 to 3 pounds.
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
