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Fishing Report for Ft. Pierce, Florida
Capt. Joe Ward
February 18, 2004
Fort Pierce - Saltwater Fishing Report
February 19, 2004
INSHORE - Snook fishing has been good the first part of the week in the Turning Basin and around the local bridges in Ft. Pierce and Stuart. The best bite has been after dark and at the tide change. Try using a jumbo sized live shrimp. The trout action has also been good when fishing around the Bear Point and Middle Cove area to the South in the river or at Harbor Branch or Round Island to the North. It has been hard to beat a live shrimp fished under a popping cork, but when fishing to the North a soft rubber bait has been working the best.
The area bridges from Ft. Pierce to Stuart have been giving up some nice catches of sandperch, black drum and sheepshead. Small live shrimp have been the key to catching these fish. If it is pompano you are looking for then you need to try the area around Queen's Cove to the North in Ft. Pierce or try Hell's Gate to the South. Again you will need your three basic baits - small live shrimp, sandfleas or a Nylor Jig.
On Monday, cousins, 6 year old Brennen Tessier and 3 & 1/2 year old Savannah Ward went fishing on the Slow & Easy with Grandpa Joe Ward. Brennen caught his first groupers, an 18 and a 22 incher. After a quick picture they were released. Brennen also caught a snapper and 2 sheepshead. Savannah caught a 3 & 1/2 pound and a 3 pound sheepshead also a first for her. They were using live shrimp for bait.
OFFSHORE - The sailfish have been in as close as 50 feet of water and just south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Try a small ballyhoo or a live bait. I did get reports of kingfish being scattered all along the Treasure Coast. Most of the fish seemed to be in 60 to 75 feet of water.
Got reports of cobia under the rays starting in 40 feet of water. Most of the cobia that were boated were in the 35 to 45 pound range. I did get an e-mail from Bud Dawson and Debbie Liebl about a monster cobia that they caught. They stated that they went out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and headed south about a mile and found a bait school. Hooked on a menhaden to a bait caster with 60 pound test and no wire. After a 45 minute battle they gaffed a 57 pound cobia.
Bottom fishing has also been good when the seas would let you fish. Try places like the Offshore Bar, Bethel Shoals and along the Six and Eight Mile Reefs. These places have been producing some nice catches and the bait of choice has been cigar minnows.
There are plenty of spanish mackerel, bluefish and big jacks along the beaches from Vero Beach all the way south to Stuart. Just look for the birds. Also, I heard of some over sized redfish coming from the Boils at the Nuclear Power Plant. They
were taking large live shrimp.
If you would like to report a catch, call me at 772-201-5770 or e-mail me at [email protected]. You can also contact me on the web at www.captjoeward.com
Capt. Joe Ward
Inshore Fishing Guide
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