JANUARY 17, 2008
INSHORE - The first part of the week was not so bad just a little windy but you could still fish. The trout action seems to be the best in 4 to 6 feet of water -- just off the edge of the flats. A live shrimp fished on a 1/4 ounce jig head worked and also a GULP! shrimp in the glow color or a D.O.A. shrimp in the root beer color was a good choice. I did get reports of a few redfish coming from the mangroves around the Round Island area down to Queen's Cove area. Most anglers reported that the bite was tough and the few fish that were caught were on a chartreuse MR17 MirroLure and it was fished very slow. The catch and release snook action has been steady around the bridges and in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. A live bait fished on the bottom has been your best bet. I am still getting reports of keeper size grouper and a lot of under size fish coming from along the channel edges of the Intercoastal. A live bait or a slow trolled plug in the orange color has been a good choice. There have been plenty of sandperch action around the catwalks of the South Bridge and they are being caught on a piece of fresh dead shrimp.
OFFSHORE - The sea conditions have not been the greatest but, the bigger boats are reporting sailfish to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and they have been starting in 120 feet of water. There were a few reports about scattered dolphin in that same area. But, the better dolphin bite has been in 100 to 140 feet of water to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. A pink/white skirted ballyhoo seems to be the ticket. The live bait is here one day and gone the next but if you find some try just inside the Offshore Bar in 70 feet of water. There has been plenty of kingfish action along with the bonita's and sharks. The bottom fishing for snapper and grouper has been steady over the reefs and wrecks.
TEEN ANGLERS - This Sunday -- January 20th is the next scheduled inshore fishing tournament for the local chapter of Teen Anglers. The Teen's will meet at Jaycee Park in Ft. Pierce and fish from 6:45am until noon. We award trophies for 1st thru 3rd place in the middle and high school divisions. If you would like more info on Teen Anglers just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org
JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - The next from shore fishing tournament for the Junior Teen Anglers is scheduled for February 9th. All Junior Teen Anglers tournaments are held at Harbour Pointe Park in Ft. Pierce. We will fish from 9am until 11am then award trophies. Junior Teen Anglers is for the 5 to 11 age group. For more info go to the web at www.teenanglers.org or call 772-201-5773.
BRAGGING BOARD - I got an e-mail from Curtis Toler about the catch and release snook bite. He has been wading just south of Midway Road and have been 4 or 5 snook each trip. He has been fishing in 2 to 3 feet of water and using a 4 ounce Cotee jig in the chartreuse color and with red eyes. Curtis did say that he had one that was about 10 pounds and he can't wait for the season to open. He also caught a nice redfish and sent a picture of it.
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
