April 24, 2008
INSHORE - Not a lot to report from the inshore this week due to the windy conditions. The anglers that did fish reported good snook action around the lighted docks in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. The top 2 baits were a small live shrimp and a pinfish. The bite has also been good during the late afternoon and after dark for the anglers fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet on the tide changes. However, most of the fish have been under or over the slot. I talked to several anglers who tried to get out of the wind and fished out of Round Island this week. They all reported a few small trout and some small snook. They also saw a few small schools of redfish but they couldn't get them to eat. As the wind switched to a more easterly direction the channel edges started producing a few nice size snapper, sheepshead and a few spanish mackerel. All of these fish were taking a small live shrimp. On the catwalks of the South Bridge the sandperch bite has picked up again. On Wednesday and Thursday of this week the reports were about good catches of sheepshead, spanish mackerel, snapper and black drum. Most of these fish were caught on a live shrimp.
OFFSHORE - The dolphin bite has been good for the bigger boats this week and was very good for all of the boats last Saturday. There were a lot of fish in the 12 to 40 pound range come into the docks. Every boat that left the dock on Saturday came back with several dolphin. Most of the fish were caught in 130 to 260 feet of water to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. The dolphin were taking both naked and skirted ballyhoo. There have been a few kingfish just inside the Offshore Bar and the best bait has been rigged ribbonfish. We did have several small wahoo come into the docks. They were all caught between 120 to 160 feet of water and they took a purple/black skirted ballyhoo. The bottom fishing on Friday and Saturday night of last week was great. We had several snapper to 10 pounds come in to the docks. The anglers were using pinfish and also cut bait.
TEEN ANGLERS - The local chapter of Teen Anglers held their last monthly inshore tournament of the school year last Sunday. Only 2 Teens brought in fish to be weighed -- it was a slow day.
In the Middle School Division
1st place - Shane Surrency - Lincoln Park Academy
In the High School Division
1st place - Dillon Roberts-Louria - Westwood High
Biggest fish trophy went to Dillon for his sheepshead.
The fish off for the Teen Angler of the Year will be held on Sunday -- May 4th at Jaycee Park in Ft. Pierce. If you would like more info on joining or volunteering for Teen Anglers just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org.
BRAGGING BOARD - On Saturday Danny Maness was fishing on the TEAM PURSUIT boat with Capt. Rob Ward & Jay Sizemore when he caught his 1st dolphin. They were fishing in 260 feet of water to the Southeast of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and dragging a naked ballyhoo. Danny's dolphin weighed 25 pounds and they also had 4 other dolphin from 12 to 18 pounds. Steve Gerwig & John Secor also had a nice pair of 30 pound dolphin on Saturday. They caught their dolphin in 220 feet of water and were using ballyhoo. On Saturday Jesse Pfeiffer on the Strait Shot and his brother in law -- Travis Scent made the catch of a life time. Travis caught a 34 pound snook while fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Jesse did a string measurement of the fish and it was 48 & 1/2 inches long! After a quick picture the fish was revived and released. They were using a pinfish for bait.
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11606@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
