FEBRUARY 8, 2007
INSHORE - The water temps have been cold -- low to mid 60's and this has been making things a little tough. For the anglers working the hardest and putting in their time the reports have been good. The best snook bite still seems to be around the Ft. Pierce Inlet and both day and night the fish have been very active. The bite around the bridges has been at night. The best baits have been pinfish, large shrimp and a Flair Hawk. The trout have moved to the deeper cuts and holes and the best baits for them this past week has been a live shrimp or a Gulp bait. I am still getting reports of a few redfish up around the Queen's Cove area. They have been feeding during the late morning when the sun gets up some. Try a piece of cut bait like a chunk of ladyfish, a live shrimp or a small jerk bait. Anglers fishing the catwalks of the bridges reported a steady catch of sandperch, sheepshead and snapper when using a live shrimp. There were a few black drum and croakers reported coming form that same area.
OFFSHORE - Finally a few nice days and the sea conditions were good. I got good reports of scattered dolphin in 140 to 160 feet of water. Most of the dolphin were in the 12 to 18 pound range. I did get a report about a couple of wahoo in 250 feet of water. The kingfish bite remains good around the 70 to 90 foot mark when slow trolling a live bait. The bottom fishing for snapper and grouper has improved some when fishing over the reefs in 60 to 100 feet of water and also over the deeper wrecks. Along the patch reef in 15 to 30 feet of water look for plenty of sheepshead and black sea bass. Still plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish along the beaches of the Treasure Coast.
JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - On Saturday, February 3rd the local chapter of Junior Teen Anglers held their from shore fishing tournament for the 5 to 11 age group. In the 5 to 8 age group 1st place went to Savannah Ward, age 6 of Lawnwood Elem. 2nd place was Collin Sealey, age 7 of Jensen Beach Elem. and 3rd place went to Hayden Mawhinney, age 7 of Rivers Edge Elem. In the 9 to 11 age group 1st place went to Dylora Kohler, age 9 of Village Green Elem. 2nd place went to Megan Miller, age 10 of Glendale Elem. in Vero Beach. 3rd place was Sam Bennett of Lincoln Park Academy. Biggest fish of the tournament went to Collin Sealey for his 2lb. 4oz. croaker he caught. If you have someone that would like to join Junior Teen Anglers you can go to the website at www.teenanglers.org or you can call 772-201-5773 for more info. The next scheduled tournament will be held on April 7th at Harbour Pointe Park in Ft. Pierce.
TEEN ANGLERS - The local chapter of Teen Anglers will hold their monthly inshore fishing tournament on Sunday, February 18th at Jaycee Park in Ft. Pierce. The teens will fish from 6:45am until noon. They will receive trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the middle and high school divisions. Teen Anglers is for the 12 to 18 age group and if you would like to join or want more info just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org
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