South Indian River Fishing Report

[Captain Charlie Conner]

October 6, 2006

Inshore:

Feels like fall has arrived here on the Treasure Coast. Mild temperatures have tamed the heat of summer for now. The winds have subsided for a few days, allowing for some great fishing weather this weekend. The water is still working on clearing up, but has improved over last week. The tides have been much higher this week, due to the full moon and an easterly wind to help. Many flats that are usually unapproachable were open to fishing. It should be a busy weekend on the water!



Josh Lukat can barely hold up his 30" (9 pound) redfish, while brother Kyle holds up his jack crevalle caught from the same school....

Snook fishing picked back up with the full moon. Night anglers were catching shorts and slot size snook around the usual haunts in the inlets. Live bait, jigs, Bombers and Rapalas were the most common baits used. Early morning fishing on the flats have provided snook hanging around the mangroves. You can hear them crashing bait as it cruises by them. We caught a number of shorts and lost a couple nice slot size snook this week. Top water, shallow runners and soft baits have been working best for us this week. It was easy to find mangrove cover this week due to the higher tides.



Josh holding up dad's 18" trout caught on the flats....

The redfish were out on the flats. It's been harder to find them most days with the winds blowing on the water. We found a school cruising along with jacks crashing bait. Josh Lukat battled a nice 30" (9 pound) redfish out of the school, while his brother, Kyle, was bending his rod on a nice jack crevalle at the same time. Shallow runners, soft baits and top water are the best options for catching a redfish this week. Round Island has been a great spot to seek out the redfish lately.



Flounder like this 21" flattie will be laying in wait for an easy meal....

Trout are becoming more active as the water temps slowly decline. Tom took home a nice 18" trout this week for dinner. Soft baits have worked for us this week. Look around Harbor Branch, Queen's Cove or south to the Power Plant for some clean water and trout.

We also boated a 24" flounder this week and missed another opportunity for another. Live shrimp or soft baits will get them off the bottom. Lots of jacks are blasting the bait out of the water. Bull sharks are still coming up on the flats in search of an easy meal! Snapper have continued to be caught in the channels and around structure. We should be seeing some bluefish in the river chasing bait soon.

Tip of the Week:
The Teen Anglers season has once again started here in the Treasure Coast. Today, I will be helping out the tournament for our newest members, the Jr. Teen Anglers. Teen Anglers are in need volunteers this year to help take the kids out fishing once a month for their tournaments. It only involves one Sunday a month to take the time to take a few kids out in your boat and share your knowledge of fishing with them. I am working on my fourth year with them and still looking forward to each months tournament. It's a great cause and the rewards of watch that child's smile when they catch a fish is enough! If you are interested in becoming involved, contact Captain Joe Ward at 772-201-5770 or go to www.teenanglers.org for more information.

As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com

email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-284-3852