Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offhshore Report

JANUARY 30, 2009 INSHORE - The inshore fishing this week has been good one day and off the next. The weather played a big part in it but, the water did warm up a little -- it was 58 degrees on Sunday. The colder temps have made the fish go deeper and move a lot slower. There has been a decent trout bite at Bear Point and up around Harbor Branch. Thy using a soft plastic bait like a D.O.A. Shrimp in the lighter colors or a live shrimp and put it on a light jig head. The snapper bite has also slowed along the channel edges but there has been some caught on a live shrimp. The sheepshead and black drum bite has been steady. Try fishing around just about any structure or along the channel edges and use a live shrimp or a fiddler crab. The catch and release snook bite has slowed too. Try fishing the bottom in the Ft. Pierce Inlet and use a live pinfish. Also, try around the docks and the bridges. Remember that snook season opens on February 1st. OFFSHORE - Over the weekend we had a good number of dolphin come into the docks. They were caught in 110 to 150 feet of water on a skirted ballyhoo. Most of the fish were 15 pounds or under. We also had a few sailfish releases. The sails were caught and released in 120 feet of water to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. There was also a handful of kingfish that came in and they were caught in 70 feet of water on a live bait. Bottom fishing for snapper and grouper has been steady when fishing over the reefs and wrecks. Both live and cut bait have been working well. TEEN ANGLERS - The Treasure Coast Chapter of Teen Anglers held their monthly inshore fishing tournament on Sunday -- January 25th. The Teen's meet at Jaycee Park at 6:30am and went fishing until noon. In the Middle School Division 1st place - Micah Begelman - Jackson Heights Middle - Oviedo - 2lb. 10oz. sheepshead 2nd place - Helen Kinchen - Stuart Middle - Stuart - 2lb. 4oz. sheepshead 3rd place - Dalton Logsdon - Samuel S. Gaines - Ft. Pierce - 1lb. 11oz. trout In the High School Division 1st place - Dylan Sholander - Westwood High - Ft. Pierce - 3lb. 9oz. black drum 2nd place - Tyler Serio - Lincoln Park Academy - Ft. Pierce - 3lb. 8oz, sheepshead 3rd place David Brashear - Vero Beach High - Vero Beach - 2lb. 10oz. sheepshead Biggest fish of the tournament went to Dylan Sholander for his black drum. If you would like to be a boat volunteer or would like to donate to Teen Anglers just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org Teen Anglers is a not for profit organization. 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