Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report

[Captain Joe Ward]

OCTOBER 2, 2008

INSHORE - The water is getting a little better each day this week with the last of the incoming tide being the best. Look for the best trout action down around Blind Creek, Little Mud & Big Mud Creeks. Try using a soft plastic bait like a D.O.A. Shrimp or a jerk bait like a MirrOdine and fish them in 2 to 4 feet of water. The best place to find redfish this week has been the docks along North Indian River Drive. Try a GULP! crab, small live crabs or shrimp. These baits have been producing the most slot size fish. If you are looking for snook you will want to try a live mullet and fish in the Ft. Pierce Inlet, around the bridges and up in Taylor Creek. There were a good number of over the slot fish released this week. The bottom fishing has been good for snapper, sheepshead and black drum around most any structure. A small live shrimp has been hard to beat.

OFFSHORE - The offshore action is improving with everyone waiting on the dolphin bite to start and that should be any time now. The dolphin that came in over the weekend and that were reported this week all came from 225 to 400 feet of water. The dolphin were caught on ballyhoo and most of the fish were between 15 and 25 pounds. There is still a steady kingfish bite just inside the Offshore Bar in 70 feet of water. The best bait has been a live mullet. Quite a few snapper and other bottom fish were reported and they were coming from the reefs and wrecks. The Bethel Shoals area seems to be producing the best fish. Along he beaches the tarpon, jacks and sharks are chasing the schools of mullet.

If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com 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