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Fishing Report for Ft. Pierce, Florida
Capt. Joe Ward
July 21, 2004
Fort Pierce - Saltwater Fishing Report
July 22, 2004
INSHORE - There has been plenty of inshore action this week before the afternoon storms. The tarpon remain active at daybreak and are feeding on live mullet, live shrimp, and even a few hook ups reported by fly fishermen. The hot spot has been the channel at Big Mud Creek.
The catch and release snook action has been good for the smaller snook that have been up on the flats and feeding on the schools of small greenies. The bigger fish are still around the bridges and in the Inlets. Try using a live mullet and fish it on the bottom.
The trout have been all over the river and feeding the best in the early morning on topwater baits. Live shrimp or pigfish will get you some action and the best water depth has been in 3 to 5 feet of water. Yvonne Gorney of Gaffer's Bait and Tackle reported that there have been huge trout coming from the area of the Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart. The redfish have been on the move making them hard to catch. The best concentration has been the docks along Indian River Drive.
The snapper are starting their move to the channel edges along the Intercoastal. Just find some structure or go to one of the area bridges with some live shrimp or some small white baits and you should have a limit in no time. The bridges in the Stuart area are holding a good number of snapper and black drum. If you like to fish the North Fork of the St. Lucie River then there is plenty of fish to keep you busy. I got good reports of tarpon, snook and lots of big jacks -- once again the best bite has been in the early morning.
OFFSHORE - Most of the action this week is still all about the kingfish along the beaches of the Treasure Coast. Just look for the bait pods in 15 to 50 feet of water and slow troll a live bait.
The dolphin action has been slow again this week with fish scattered from 50 to 500 feet of water. There has been plenty of bonita and cuda's to keep anglers busy.
On Monday and Tuesday there was a lot of nice size cobia from 30 to 65 pounds reported in 50 feet of water just south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and also along the Six Mile Reef out of the St. Lucie Inlet.
The best sailfish bite has been out of the St. Lucie Inlet and to the South. I had a good number of sailfish releases report the first part of the week. Yvonne Gorney also reported that Trae Haggin celebrated his 14th birthday fishing with his dad, Joey, in 130 feet of water out of the St. Lucie Inlet. Trae released a 30 pound sailfish, caught a nice kingfish and a few sharks. Gorney also reported that Ian Spencer caught a 60 pound wahoo while fishing along the Eight Mile Reef and using sardines as bait.
Bottom fishing has also been good for anglers fishing the Offshore Bar in 90 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and out of the St. Lucie Inlet it has been the Six and Eight Mile Reefs. I had reports of snapper to 10 pounds, grouper to 30 pounds and cobia to 65 pounds.
Laura Hood, a local student at Lincoln Park Academy and also an active member of the National Teen Anglers fished in the Jr. I. G. F. A. World Championship last week in the Keys. Laura won all of the jr. girl prizes including jr. girl's high points -- day one, jr. girl's high points -- day two, jr. girls stringer award, and had a total of 221 points on the final day. Way to go Laura.
Good luck to all the anglers fishing the BoldWater SlamAThon this Saturday!!
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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