Fishing Report for Ft. Pierce, Florida
Capt. Joe Ward
September 2, 2001
Fort Pierce - Saltwater Fishing Report
On Saturday Sept. 1st 2001, the 9th Annual St. Lucie County Sheriff Explores Fishing Tournament was held here in Ft. Pierce. The Explores had a record turn out for both the inshore and offshore anglers fishing in the tournament. Sheriff Ken Mascara fished in the inshore tournament and also presented the winner with their prizes.
Before I give you my fishing report for this week I need to say WAY TO GO to a couple of people who fished in the tournament.
1st. My wife, Cammie Ward, took Top Female Angler for the inshore part of the tournament. She caught a trout early in the morning to land that title. Cammie is part of the Slow and Easy fishing team. Along with Cammie, Jay Sizemore and myself make up the fishing team. Team Slow and Easy is sponsored by Magic Tilt Trailers.
2nd. In the offshore part of the tournament, team Hook N Up took a 3rd place in the kingfish division. Team Hook N Up was lead to their 28.6 pound king by my son, Rob Ward. Hoss Perry and Billy Borland landed several kings with Billy landing the big one. They also won the manufactures award for the biggest fish caught in a Pursuit boat. Team Hook N Up is sponsored by Pursuit Boats, Magic Tilt Trailers and Raytheon.
Now for this fishing report. The word is SNOOK! Snook season opened on Saturday and there were a lot of snook being caught in the Ft. Pierce Inlet, Turning Basin and at both the local bridges. The snook were feeding on pinfish, pigfish and shrimp. The snook were the most active on the out going tide. It was hard to fish in the Inlet with all the holiday traffic and the other boats trying to anchor there. I saw 2 nice 30 inchers caught right next to us. I did get reports of snook in the 8 to 12 pound range being caught.
The trout have been very active on the flats to the south in the river. The best bite is just before daylight until about 8:ooam. Live pigfish and shrimp have been taking the most fish. Bear Point has been producing trout to 6 pounds over the last three days.
The snapper bite has been slow except at night. Both bridges have been giving up snapper to 5 pounds at night on live shrimp. The Ft. Pierce Inlet has been holding nice size snapper and live shrimp was the way to go there.
The sheepshead are along the channel edges. Live shrimp should get you one of these fish.
The tarpon are along the channel edges and in the Inlet. All you have to do is look and you will see them cruising around. There were several caught this week in the 25 pound range.
Until next week, good fishing.
Capt. Joe Ward
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