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

December 21, 2007

INSHORE - The weather this week has been better for the inshore fishing and I had a lot of catch and release trout and snook reported. Most of the trout have been caught in 3 to 5 feet of water and both to the north and south in the river. Most of the fish reported were caught on an artificial baits with one of the top baits being a 3 inch Gulp Shrimp in the Electric Chicken color and also a D.O.A. Glow Shrimp. The catch and release snook action has also been good in the Ft. Pierce Inlet when using live baits and fishing on the out going tide. The flounder bite has been steady around the Jetty as well as the sand bars around the bridges. Try using a live shrimp fished on a 1/4 oz. Trol-rite jig. There are still plenty of jacks and spanish mackerel around the Inlet and Turning Basin and they have been hitting just about any bait thrown at them. The pompano bite is still slow but most of the fish are coming from the south of the power lines and they have been taking sand fleas. The sandperch are still active on the catwalks of the South Bridge and a small piece of fresh dead shrimp has been the bait of choice. I did see a couple of small tarpon being caught and released up in Taylor Creek at the Spillway.

OFFSHORE - The sailfish bite has been OK now that the seas have laid down some. I had reports of fish both to the north and south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet -- depending on who you were talking to but, the most consistent thing was 120 to 160 feet of water. The sails were taking mullet and ballyhoo and the boats that caught fish were dragging a dredge made with fresh mullet. Yesterday afternoon I saw one boat come in with 3 flags flying and another with 5 flags. I did get a report about a handful of dolphin in that same area but nothing to brag about. Still plenty of kingfish in the 70 to 90 foot range and they are taking a slow trolled live bait or a Drone Spoon with strip bait. With the seas kicked back up the bottom fishing was tough the first part of the week but it improved on Wednesday and Thursday. The snapper and grouper were coming from the reefs and wrecks to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and they were being caught on live baits.

DOCK FISHING TOURNAMENT - The Dockside Inn & Resort -- 1160 Seaway Drive in Ft. Pierce will hold another Dock Fishing Tournament on January 25th and 26th. The catch and release snook tournament will be held from 9pm on the 25th and end at 6am on the 26th. The regular dock tournament will be from 7am until 4pm on the 26th. There is a division for Men, Women and Kids. There will be prizes and a BBQ on Saturday after the dock tournament. All you have to do to fish this tournament is be a guest at the Dockside Inn and Resort on those dates. For more info or to make your reservations call 1-800-265-1745.

TEEN ANGLERS - The regular monthly inshore fishing tournament for the local chapter of Teen Anglers was canceled last Sunday due to the weather and has been rescheduled for this Saturday -- December 22nd. The Teen's will leave Jaycee Park at 6:45am and fish until noon. We award trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the middle and high school divisions and also for biggest fish of the tournament. For more info on Teen Anglers just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org.

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.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters