Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report by Capt. Joe Ward

NOVEMBER 26, 2006

INSHORE - The inshore fishing has been good even with the cold temps and the wind. The snook action has been good around both the North and South Bridges at night at the beginning of the our going tide. A live pinfish or a hand pick shrimp have been the way to go. I did get a report of an over the slot snook caught on a Flair Hawk in the Turning Basin. The catch and release trout have been in the deeper holes along the flats. Early in the morning use a top water bait and then as the day heats up switch to a shrimp fished under a popping cork. There are still a good number of small snapper along the channel edges and a small live shrimp has worked the best. If you just want to have fun and catch fish -- there has been school after school of jacks in the Ft. Pierce Inlet and in the river. The spanish mackerel and croakers are showing up but not in great numbers yet. The flounder bite has been steady on the sandy flats and bars along the Intercoastal. A finger mullet or a live shrimp on a Trol-rite hook has worked the best.

OFFSHORE - When the seas were a little calmer the boats that did go out caught fish. The dolphin have been scattered in 120 to 300 feet and the biggest fish we have had come into the docks went 25 pounds -- most were 15 pounds or under. A few cobia have been caught in 90 foot of water on the Offshore Bar. The sailfish bite has been to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet in 100 to 160 feet of water. Most of the fish were caught on naked ballyhoo. The kingfish bite has been in 30 to 60 feet of water and a live blue runner or a ribbonfish has produced the most fish. The bottom fishing has been OK on the days that you could get out. We had a few 10 pound snapper come into the docks and a few nice size grouper.

JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - The next from shore Junior Teen Anglers fishing tournament will be held this coming Saturday -- December 2nd at Harbour Pointe Park in Ft. Pierce. This chapter of Teen Anglers if for the 5 to 11 age group. If you would like more info and Junior Teen Anglers or Teen Anglers just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org or you can call 772-201-5773.

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