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Fishing Report for Ft. Pierce, Florida
Capt. Joe Ward
March 10, 2004
Fort Pierce - Saltwater Fishing Report
March 10, 2004
Before I get to the fishing report I would like to take a personal minute to say what a sad day it will be at the Ward and Parramore households this Saturday. Our son in law, Jeff Parramore, has been called to active duty and is leaving for 18 to 24 months in Afghanistan. The National Guard has asked that everyone line Okeechobee Road in Ft. Pierce from Hartman Road to the entrance of I-95 at 8:00am on Saturday, March 13th to give these guys a warm send off. The entire unit from Ft. Pierce is going except one person. We wish them a safe and timely return home.
INSHORE - The snook fishing remains steady around the local bridges and the Turning Basin in Ft. Pierce after dark. Big live shrimp or big greenies caught offshore have been the way to go. I also have been getting reports of big snook being caught around the by anglers throwing a chartreuse colored Flair Hawk. Most of the day time snook action is coming from both the Ft. Pierce and St. Lucie Inlets on the last part of the out going tide and when using live baits.
There has been a lot of trout reported on the days when the wind wasn't blowing like a hurricane. Try around the spoil islands near the Harbor Branch area, or on the West side of the river just north of the Jensen Beach Causeway. Try free lining a large live shrimp.
The sandperch, croakers, sheepshead and black drum are everywhere from Ft. Pierce to Stuart. Just go to one of the area's bridges with live shrimp and you should do well. Reports of scattered pompano from the Mooring in Vero Beach to the North to the flats at Sailfish Point to the South. Try using sand fleas or small live shrimp.
Last Sunday the local chapter of the National Teen Anglers held their monthly fishing tournament. They had a first for the chapter, it's first female trophy winner. Hannah Kline of Forest Grove Middle School won the middle school division and also took home another trophy for biggest fish of the tournament. Second place went to William Cantrell of North Port Middle School and third was Justin Rader also of North Port. In the high school division it was all about Westwood High School. David Adam's took first place followed by Chad Painter in second and Taylor Purcell in third. The next local tournament will be April 17. There is also a Saltwater Regional Tournament on March 20 out of Shepherd's Park in Stuart. For more info on Teen Anglers go to the website at www.teenagnelrs.com
OFFSHORE - Offshore fishing has been a hit for some and a miss for others - just like the weather. Reports of kingfish in 60 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and along the Six Mile Reef out of the St. Lucie Inlet. The best bait has been blue runners. There were reports of scattered dolphin up and down the Treasure Coast in 130 to 220 feet of water and they were taking yellow and green skirted small ballyhoo. Most of the dolphin were under 15 pounds.
Bottom fishing remains good for snapper and grouper and the occasional cobia. Most of the bottom fishing action was on the Offshore Bar in 90 feet of water out of Ft. Pierce and along the Six Mile Reef out of the St. Lucie Inlet. Not much to report about the sailfish action with only three boats reporting sailfish releases last week. And as always there are plenty of bonita and sharks being reported.
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
Capt. Joe's River Charters
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