Fishing Report for Ft. Pierce, Florida

Capt. Joe Ward
September 1, 2004
Fort Pierce - Saltwater Fishing Report

September 3, 2004

While Joe is out on his search for plywood and a generator I am going to fill in for him and write his report. Hopefully it will give you the info that you want.

INSHORE - The mangrove snapper bite along the channel edges has been very strong with snapper from 1&1/2 to 3 pounds being caught. These fish have been hitting live shrimp and small white baits and only when the water is moving. The most productive area has been along the channel edges around Harbor Branch in Ft. Pierce. On three charters this week Joe's clients got their limits in about 1 & 1/2 hours of fishing.

The trout bite has remained steady with trout to 5 pounds being weighed in. The hard part has been finding a spot of clear water to fish in. Most of the trout reported were caught in 3 to 6 feet of water and on a live shrimp or an artificial. The full high tide has had the cleaner water.

The opening of snook season was a hit and miss thing. Some anglers caught snook to 15 pounds and others had nothing. Most anglers were using live baits like shrimp and pinfish while others were throwing artificial's. We did not see too many people out after midnight.

OFFSHORE - The offshore bite over the weekend was good for cobia, sailfish, dolphin and kings. There were plenty of bonita and cuda's to keep you busy.

The kingfish bite out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet went from 30 to 80 feet of water and the kings were taking live baits like a good size blue runner. There were several in the high 30's caught around the Power Plant.

The sailfish bite has still been going strong with quite a few releases reported. Joe got a call about Katie Schwadeler of Stuart. Katie caught her first sail on Friday while fishing in 120 feet of water out of the St. Lucie Inlet. Katie's sail was 7 foot 4 inches and she caught it aboard the Venture.

We had several cobia come into the docks this past weekend with one weighing in at 45 pounds. All were caught to the South east out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.

Bottom fishing has been steady with snapper being the most active. Snapper to 14 pounds were taken while fishing along the Offshore Bar in 90 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.

I got an e-mail from Gaffer's Bait and Tackle in Stuart and they reported that Shelby Baker caught a 20 pound king while fishing near the Power Plant on the Your Own. Jim McNutly caught a 20 pound gray grouper while fishing on the Karen B. Rick DeMilt caught a 35 pound wahoo while fishing on the Your Own off of Jensen Beach. Russell Schoemer caught a 22 pound king fishing off Jensen Beach. Shannon Chaffey caught a 64 pound wahoo while fishing west of Push Button Hill. John Botelle caught and released a 45" -- 39 pound snook while fishing from the Jaw Breaker.

Make sure you are ready for the storm. You can never be too prepared. Hopefully it will make a turn and we will not get a direct hit.

Cammie Ward

(Mrs. Capt. Joe Ward)

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