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Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report
Capt. Joe Ward
July 24, 2008
Fort Pierce - Saltwater Fishing Report
JULY 24, 2008
INSHORE - The tarpon bite has been good just inside the Ft. Pierce Inlet, at Big Mud Creek and to the north it has been around the Moorings. Most of the fish have been between 20 and 70 pounds and taking a live mullet at first light. Try a D.O.A. Bait Buster if you can't find any mullet. The trout bite continues to be steady just before first light and again just before dark. In the morning try a top water bait or just after daylight switch to a live shrimp. Late in the afternoon try a top water bait and then a live shrimp around the light docks along Indian River Drive after dark. The catch and release snook action has slowed down some but the best bite remains in the Ft. Pierce Inlet at the tide changes. Fish a live bait on the bottom and release the fish as soon as you can. Remember that snook season is still closed until September 1st. The snapper bite along the channel edges is steady with most fish in the 1 &1/2 to 2 pound range. A small live shrimp is the way to go but a small white bait will work just as well. The redfish bite ha been on one day and off the next with the docks at St. Lucie Village giving up the most fish. Try a small gold spoon.
OFFSHORE - The offshore bite has slowed some with the kingfish and cobia bite being the best thing going. The kings have been in 20 to 50 feet of water and taking a slow trolled live bait. Most of the fish have been between 12 and 25 pounds. The cobia have been free swimming and taking both live baits and chartreuse jigs. Most of the cobia that came in last weekend were between 21 and 30 pounds and caught in or about 50 feet of water. We only had 2 dolphin come in and they were 8 and 12 pounds. Both were caught on a ballyhoo with a blue/white Islander Lure in 150 feet of water. The sailfish bite has slowed way down and only 4 hook-ups were reported this past weekend. The schools of spanish mackerel and bonita coming into the Ft. Pierce Inlet has slowed way down too. Only a few schools have been in chasing the schools of glass minnows. The tarpon have been along the beaches and giving a few anglers a good fish.
BRAGGING BOARD - Sam Pederson went out with me last Friday and caught several nice snapper to 2 pounds, 2 sheepshead, and a small flounder. Kevin Fitts and his son went out with me on Tuesday and they caught a 6 pound flounder, several nice snapper and a sheepshead. Plus, all the big jacks they could bring in. Henry Goodman caught and released a 34 inch snook while fishing at the Ft. Pierce Jetty. He was using a pinfish for bait.
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at [email protected] or call me at 772-201-5770. You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters
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