APRIL 12, 2007
INSHORE - The inshore fishing continues to be good for trout, redfish and snook. The trout have been in 2 to 4 feet of water and are taking a soft plastic bait and when the sun gets up a little switch to a popping cork and a live shrimp. Most of the fish we have caught this past week have been 5 pounds and under. Bear Point and the Midway Road area to the South have been very productive. To the North it has been Harbor Branch, Round Island and the Moorings Flats. The snook have been around the bridges and in the Turning Basin at night. I had several reports of slot size snook coming from the Turning Basin between the hours of 3:00am and 6:00am. A live pinfish has been hard to beat. The bite around the bridges has been just a little better at the North Bridge than the South Bridge. Same thing here a live pinfish or a small croaker have been your best bet. There have been a few snook up on the flats but most all of them were under sized. The redfish bite has been to the North in the river around Round Island and at Queen's Cove. A gold spoon or a chunk of ladyfish has been producing the most fish. The bite along the catwalks of the South Bridge has been from sheepshead, snapper, sandperch and black drum. A live shrimp has been the bait to use. The snapper bite along the channel edges is picking up as the weather has warmed up. The snapper have been taking a small live shrimp and have been under 1 & 1/2 pounds. On Tuesday we caught a few small pompano to the North around the Mooring's area. All of the fish were around 2 pounds and caught on a live shrimp. Still plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish to keep you busy.
OFFSHORE - The offshore bite is still improving especially for the kingfish. I had report of fish to 46 pounds coming in over the weekend and early part of this week. Most of the fish were caught in close with some on live baits and some on a rigged ribbonfish. The dolphin are still scattered but a few more are coming in to the docks. We had 2 come in today that were 25 pounds each and caught in 600 feet of water. Earlier this week they were getting dolphin in 100 to 140 feet of water. Trolling a skirted ballyhoo has been the best bet. I only had 2 reports of cobia this past week and both were under 40 pounds. They were both caught just inside of 90 feet. Last Sunday I got a report of 2 sailfish releases in 120 feet of water to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Along the near shore reefs and wrecks look for the snapper and grouper bite to pick up. I had reports of snapper to 10 pounds and grouper to 25 pounds. Along the beaches there are spanish mackerel, bluefish, sharks and all the big jacks you can catch.
JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - The local chapter of the Junior Teen Anglers held their last from shore fishing tournament of the school year on Saturday -- April 7th. In the 5 to 8 age group 1st place went to Hayden Mawhinney - age 7 - River's Edge Elementary. 2nd place was Shane Mercado - age 6 - Citrus Elementary. 3rd place was JR Martinez - age 5 - Loving Care. In the 9 to 11 age group 1st place was Dylora Kohler - age 9 - Village Green Elementary. 2nd place went to Sam Bennett - age 11 - Lincoln Park Academy. 3rd place was Ryan Causland - age 10 - Treasure Coast Elementary. The next from shore tournament for the Junior Teen Anglers will be held in August after the new school year starts. For more info on Junior Teen Anglers or for the old kids -- Teen Anglers just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org.
BRAGGING BOARD - It seems that Good Friday was an excellent day to go fishing. Rob Ward caught a 46 pound kingfish using a rigged ribbonfish and fishing in 30 feet of water. Teen Angler - John Haney caught a 53 inch kingfish and his sister Jennifer Haney caught a 43 inch kingfish while they were fishing in 35 feet of water about 4 miles north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Scott Norris reported 2 sailfish releases and several small dolphin while fishing to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. On Tuesday John Wilson caught a pair of snapper that were 8 pounds each while fishing along the Offshore Bar in 90 feet of water.
If you would like to report a catch you can 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