October 4, 2007
Inshore:
Windy...wavy...wet....weather held the Treasure Coast hostage most of this week. Finally it cleared the past few days allowing many anglers the opportunity to get out on the water. Even with all the rain and wind, the water clarity wasn't quite as dirty as expected. The bait was all over the river and the fish were out there feeding. I managed to get out today to do some scouting around the area. It was a beautiful day on the water!
I fished mostly south for a nice change and found snook, trout, snapper and some big jacks on the flats. Using CAL jerk baits and suspending lures today, I found the fish hanging around the bait schools and docks to the south of Fort Pierce. The west shore held trout along the route down to the power plant. The water to the north was still pretty churned up, but south held up fairly well. It will still take a few days of calm weather to clean it up again. It was nice to get back out on the water again!
Trout cooperated again today as the weather cleared for a few days.
Live shrimp fished in two to four feet of water on the grass flats should find you some trout next week. Top water, suspending lures, DOA shrimp and live bait can help locate snook, jacks, ladyfish and redfish on the flats. Fishing along the channel edges with live shrimp can get you a limit of snapper. Hopefully, the next front goes through quickly and we can get back to some great fishing action out there.
Find the bait and you should find the fish. Look for agitated or nervous bait schools and fish around them. I found some big schools of big jacks cruising along the flats in search of an easy meal. Cloudy skies will help keep the fish on the flats longer chasing bait. Watch the weather for this weekend, another front is heading this way to stir up things again for several more days. Keep safe out there.
Tip of the Week:
Pre-planning your day on the water is a great way to be ready for that day of fishing. Checking weather forecasts and tides can help determine where you want to start fishing that morning. Rod prep will have the right rod with the right lure ready to make that first cast as soon as you get to your favorite spot. It gives you a chance to make sure equipment is in good working order prior to getting to the ramp. Check drags, line and leader condition, rod guides and tips to insure you won't find a problem when you make that first cast. It's a good idea to have a few second choices for fishing areas in case that first spot is already taken by another angler. It just makes good sense to take the time to prepare for that trip in advance.
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