October 11, 2006
INSHORE - The inshore fishing has improved some this week for the anglers looking for snook. It is still not a red hot bite but the reports from the local bridges and in the Turning Basin are improving. The best catches are coming form the late night tide change and a live bait like a croaker, pinfish, mullet or a select shrimp have produced the most fish. In the Ft. Pierce Inlet a live bait fished on the bottom on the out going tide had produced some keeper size fish. The trout and redfish bite has stayed about the same this week. The West side of the Indian River from Midway Road south to the Jensen Beach Causeway has been steady for the trout. To the North from Queen's Cove to Round Island has been steady also. Try a soft plastic bait or a live shrimp or finger mullet. These baits have been working the best. I am still getting good reports about the flounder around the bridges and plenty of snapper around just about any structure.
OFFSHORE - I have had reports all week of dolphin and small tuna from the 12-A Buoy out to the 14 Buoy. Try slow trolling a live bait. The kingfish are still in the 70 to 90 foot range and hitting on an assortment of baits -- both live and artificial. Still a few reports coming form the South about the sailfish and small wahoo to 15 pounds in 160 to 300 feet of water to the south of the Power Plant. The bottom fishing for snapper and grouper has been good for the head boats that are fishing to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet -- up around Bethel Shoals. They have also been reporting a kingfish or two in that same area. Along the beach you will find plenty of mullet. The big jacks, snook and tarpon are feeding on the mullet schools.
JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - The 1st Junior Teen Anglers tournament was held last Saturday at Harbour Pointe Park in Ft. Pierce. In the 5 to 8 age group, 1st place went to Savannah Ward, age 6 of Lawnwood Elementary, 2nd place - Collin Sealey, age 7 of Jensen Beach Elementary, and 3rd place was Baillie Borland, age 6 of Fairlawn Elementary. In the 9 to 11 age group 1st place went to Ashlyn Powell, age 10 of Savannah Ridge Elementary, 2nd place was Rosa Ramos, age 9 of White City Elementary and 3rd place went to Robert Racine, age 11 of St. Anastasia. Collin Sealey won biggest fish of the tournament. The next Jr. Teen Angler tournament will be on December 2nd. If you would like more info on Jr. Teen Anglers or Teen Anglers just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org. Also, we are always looking fro volunteers with boat to take the Teen Anglers fishing once a month.
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