FEBRUARY 26, 2009
INSHORE - There has been plenty of action on the bottom with sheepshead and black drum on just about any structure you can fish. A live shrimp or a small crab are the best baits to use. The local bridges are the place to be if you want sandperch. They have been feeding on both live and fresh dead shrimp. The spanish mackerel and bluefish have been on the Turning Basin and in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Try a 1&1/2 oz. sliver spoon for these two fish. I have gotten reports about snook and flounder from anglers fishing the South Jetty. These fish have been taking a live shrimp fished on the bottom with a 1/4oz trol-rite hook. Also, plenty of spanish mackerel, jacks, bluefish, whiting and a few pompano in the surf.
OFFSHORE - The only offshore reports came from last weekend with scattered dolphin in 180 feet of water and they were hitting a pink/white skirted ballyhoo. A few rays were spotted and they were holding a couple of small cobia. Most of the cobia were caught on a Cobia Slayer jig. The bottom fishing for snapper, black sea bass, sheepshead and black drum has been good over the reefs in 15 to 30 feet of water. Most of the fish were caught on live shrimp. And, along the beaches there are spanish mackerel, jacks and bluefish.
JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - The next from shore fishing tournament for the Treasure Coast Chapter of Junior Teen Anglers will take place next Saturday -- March 7th at Harbour Pointe Park in Ft. Pierce. If our child is between the ages of 5 and 11 years old and you would like for them to fish you can go to the website at www.teenanglers.org and sign them up. You can also call 772-201-5773 for more info.
BRAGGING BOARD - Last Saturday night Carroll Quinby caught and released a 44 inch snook that weighed 35 pounds. He was fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet and using a Red Tail Hawk. Last Saturday Jack & James Murray and their grandfather went out with me again and Jack had the biggest fish -- a 7lb. black drum. They also caught several more black drum, 4 nice sheepshead and a handful of spanish mackerel. Dave Collingwood caught a 39 inch grouper that weighed 13 pounds. He was fishing to the north in the river and using live shrimp.
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
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters
