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Fishing Report for Ft. Pierce, Florida
Capt. Joe Ward
December 8, 2004
Fort Pierce - Saltwater Fishing Report
December 9, 2004
INSHORE - The inshore action along the Treasure Coast has been good for just about anything you want to catch. The catch and release trout action has been real good during the first two hours after daylight and just before dark. Reports of good catches at Queen's Cove, Torphy Road and just to the north of the North Bridge in Ft. Pierce and on the East side of the river. Try using a live shrimp. With the water temps cooling a little you will need to try in 4 to 6 feet of water.
The snook action around the area bridges in Ft. Pierce and Stuart has been red hot on the tide changes. Most of the fish are feeding in live pinfish or mullet. Just a reminder -- snook season closes on December 15th. The redfish bite has slowed some but still a few nice sized fish are being caught along the dock lines of South Indian River Drive and around the catwalks of the South Bridge in Ft. Pierce.
Bottom fishing around the area bridges in Ft. Pierce and Stuart has also been producing a lot of sandperch, croakers, black drum, snapper and sheepshead. All of these fish have been feeding on small live shrimp. The big croakers are starting to show up around the Faber Cove area. Just look for the boats and you'll find the fish.
There have been plenty of jacks mixed in with spanish mackerel and bluefish around the Inlets. The pompano bite has been a little slow but look for it to pick up soon.
I got a call from a very excited dad on Sunday. Jesse Pfeiffer called to say that his son Ricky Pfeiffer -- age 7 just caught a 14.8 pound mangrove snapper while fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Ricky was using a big live mullet for bait. Now that is a big fish if you are 7 or 70.
OFFSHORE - The offshore fishing has improved over the last week with the bottom fishing for snapper and grouper being the best option. I had quite a few snapper from 6 to 12 pounds being reported in 80 to 95 feet of water. The grouper were coming from about the same depth with fish from 10 to 12 pounds being reported.
The dolphin fishing has still been hit and miss for most anglers. But, some anglers were lucky and found dolphin in the 10 to 15 pound range due east of the Ft. Pierce Inlet in 110 feet of water. And, out of the St. Lucie Inlet it was in 80 to 100 feet of water just to the south of the Inlet.
The sailfish action is still on the slow side but there has been scattered action all along the Treasure Coast. The kingfish action remains steady in 60 to 80 feet out of Ft. Pierce of water and also along the Six Mile Reef out of Stuart.
If it is spanish mackerel you are looking for then just look for the birds along the beaches. One of the hot spots for the mack's is Peck's Lake. Try any jig or spoon that flashes.
TEEN ANGLERS - The results of the Teen Anglers tournament held on December 5th at Jaycee Park is Middle School Division - 1st place - Luis Hernandez - Northport Middle School, 2nd place - Nathan Shaffer - Lincoln Park and 3rd was Chris Roberts also of Northport. In the High School Division -- 1st place and also biggest fish of the tournament was Chad Painter of Westwood High, 2nd was Justin Rader of Ft. Pierce Central, and 3rd was Taylor Purcell also of Westwood. The next tournament will be January 23, 2005 at Jaycee park in Ft. Pierce. For more info on Teen Anglers go to www.teenanglers.com
If you would like to report a catch, call me at 772-201-5770 or e-mail me at [email protected].
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters
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