JULY 3, 2008
INSHORE - There is a lot going on this week to keep anglers busy starting with the schools if bonita and spanish mackerel around the Ft. Pierce Inlet and in the Turning Basin. A small silver spoon fished on light tackle will give you all the fight you need. And, I am still getting reports of kingfish mixed in with the bonita and spanish. The catch and release snook action has been good with most of the fish coming from the Ft. Pierce Inlet but, I am getting reports of some nice snook on the flats and a live bait seems to be the ticket If it is trout you are looking for then you need to get up early and be on the flats and ready to fish before daylight. The bite has been in 2 to 4 feet of water at places like Bear Point, Harbor Branch and at Big Mud Creek and use a top water bait at first light. The redfish reports are coming from the east side of the river and to the north of the North Bridge and they have been taking gold spoons or jerk baits fished shallow. The bottom fishing remains steady for snapper, sheepshead and grouper. These fish have been taking live shrimp. There has been a lot of tarpon seen rolling around but not many have been hooked up.
OFFSHORE - The kingfish action has been about the best thing going with fish from 12 to 36 pounds coming into the docks. A blue runner or a ribbonfish have been the two best bait choices. The bite has been anywhere from 30 to 80 feet of water. I have had reports of some nice cobia popping up around the reefs and wrecks like the ones we had come into the docks last weekend. Try using a squid or a chartreuse colored jig like the Cobia Slayer from Gulfstream Lures. There are still numerous reports of sailfish action in 75 to 105 feet of water to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet for anglers trolling ballyhoo or a live bait -- the reports are about equal on the baits used. The only dolphin that were reported this week were caught anywhere from 75 to 400 feet of water and ballyhoo seemed to be the best bait. The bottom fishing for snapper in 50 to 90 feet of water remains good. Again, the best bite has been at night. Look for the big tarpon rolling along the beaches. Try fishing a live silver mullet for the best results.
BRAGGING BOARD - Emery Bennett visiting here from Wyoming made 2 great catches this week while fishing with Jesse Pfeiffer aboard the Strait Shot. He caught a 35 pound jack and also a 34 inch snook which was released. They were using live greenie's as bait and fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Bobby Thorlton on the Buckfin lead his anglers -- Kyle & Kevin Prince and Logan Dressel to a nice catch of dolphin and cobia. They were fishing in 90 feet of water and using live pilchards. The cobia was 35 pounds and the dolphin was 25 pounds. Rob Ward and Danny Maness caught two nice cobia to 25 pounds and several kings with the biggest one being 36.7 pounds. They were in 80 feet of water and using live bait. I got an e-mail and picture from Adrian Lusardi about an over the slot snook be caught and released at the Ft. Pierce Jetty. He guessed the fish to be 36 to 38 inches and weigh in the mid twenties. He caught him on a shad rap. Justin King visiting here from North Carolina caught a nice sailfish while fishing aboard the King's Ransom. They were fishing to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and he was using a live bait and fishing in 90 feet of water.
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or call me at 772-201-5770. You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com.
Have a HAPPY & SAFE 4th of July!
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters
