Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report

[Captain Joe Ward]

JULY 19, 2007

INSHORE - Some of the best inshore action this past week is still coming form the snapper along the channel edges. They have been feeding on live shrimp or small white baits. If it's trout you are looking for you are going to have to get up early because the best bite has been over by 8am. And, the same thing with the tarpon -- it has been an early bite. The best bait for the trout has been a live pigfish and the best artificial has been a root beer colored soft plastic bait. The tarpon that were reported had been caught on a live mullet. I am still getting reports of redfish along the docks at St. Lucie village. Try a gold spoon or small crabs. The catch and release snook action has slowed down a good bit with only a few anglers reporting any fish. We did release a nice one up on the flats on Tuesday.and he was about 40 inches and took a large shrimp.

OFFSHORE - Plenty of peanut dolphin everywhere and most were under the size limit. Only a few keepers were reported and they were from 12 to 18 pounds. The dolphin were scattered in 100 to 300 feet of water. There is still a good kingfish bite in 70 to 90 feet of water and they have been taking live bait like a blue runner or a greenie. Slow trolling the live bait has been the way to go. The reports of sailfish have been steady and the fish have been from 100 to 150 feet of water and to the South of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and they have been taking ballyhoo. The wahoo bite has slowed down a little with reports of only a few small fish being caught in 120 to 130 feet of water. The bottom fishing for snapper, grouper, seabass and trigger fish has continued to be good in 30 to 90 feet of water. The fish have been taking both live and cut baits. Still some big tarpon along the beaches chasing the schools of bait fish.

BRAGGING BOARD - Tammy Ward caught a 28 pound kingfish last Sunday while fishing off the North Beach in 35 feet of water. Sam Clifton caught and released an estimated 90 pound tarpon on Wednesday morning. He was down by the Boils and using a live mullet.

If you would like to report a catch you can call me at 772-201-5770 or e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com. You can also reach me on the web at Indian River Lagoon Fishing Guide - Capt. Joe Ward.

Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters