November 15, 2007
Inshore:
In spite of some windy and rainy days, this week has given us a few days to enjoy the fishing along the Treasure Coast. Looks like the weather should continue to be nice for us over the coming weekend. Expect the breezy days though the winter and plan your day based on what the weather has to offer. Today on the water, the wind died off and provided fishing opportunities throughout the river. It was a beautiful day out there and the fish were biting, too!
Early mornings have found trout, ladyfish, jacks and snook giving chase to the bait around the flats. I found plenty of bait schools. If you fished the pods that were getting bashed, you could catch a variety of species. Remember that trout are still catch and release the rest of the year. Snook season will close on December 15th. Try a top water lure at first light and you should find some nice hits out there. I found a few nice redfish up on the flats. There were hitting DOA shrimp on CAL jig heads.
This 30" snook was hiding under the Fort Pierce docks....
The inlet and bridges have been holding plenty of sand perch, snapper and black drum. Live or dead shrimp can help you catch dinner. There have been some nice sizes to some of the fish around the bridges. The Spanish mackerel have invaded the inlet. I found lots of them crashing bait around the turning basin. Shiny spoons or jigs should get you hooked up.
Redfish have been hanging on the flats around the mangroves....
Snook fishing has been mostly at night around the bridges and seawalls. I found a number of shorts feeding on the flats, but there are larger fish out there. too. Don't forget the docks around the river. I caught a 30" snook hiding under one this week. Live shrimp or mullet, DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits are great to use around the docks. You might also find redfish, trout and many other fish lurking underneath. Docks are a great place to target when the sun is high on the water. A number of anglers have caught snook and redfish out on the jetties and inlet docks lately.
Surf:
Most beach anglers have been targeting pompano, bluefish and whiting. With the winds letting up a bit, it's a good chance to hit the surf. Live or dead shrimp and sand fleas have been the baits of choice. Silver spoons can find bluefish, jacks and Spanish mackerel along the beach or along the jetties. There are a lot of surf anglers who have been using the big fish sabiki rigs along the beach for whiting. Tipped with shrimp, you have a greater chance at a hookup with several hooks in the water. It might be worth a try!
Tip of the Week:
This week reminded me that winter is fast approaching the Treasure Coast. Memories of cool mornings and hot afternoons in the coming months will bring out the warmer clothing for the water. On these cool mornings, dress in layers so you can be comfortable both early and later in the day. It will allow you to take off those layers as the day heats up and enjoy the weather. The water can sure bring a chill at first light and being dressed properly will let you enjoy it along with the great fishing out there.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852