Captain Charlie's Inshore Fishing Report

[Captain Charlie Conner]

August 11, 2005



INSHORE:

It has been another gorgeous week watching the sun rise across the flats of the Indian River. light winds have left the water very calm in the early mornings along the Treasure Coast. The water in the Fort Pierce area has remained clean in most areas, especially above the bridges. The shallow flats are full of bait and have many predators following it for an early morning snack. Get out early this month to have the best opportunities of hooking up with one of them. Get you fishing in early and be off the water before the afternoon thunderstorms brew up. They have been pretty nasty of late, so you don’t want to get caught on the water in one of them.

Redfish are still coming up on the flats in the early morning. Top water, spoons and live bait have been the best choices for hooking up with a nice slot size redfish. They have been cruising one to three feet of water for several hours after sunrise and move off to deeper water as the sun warms things up. They are being caught on most of the flats along the river, with most catches coming off the eastern shore. Gary from Melbourne landed two nice slot sizes up to 27” and Dustin from Tampa boated a nice 21”. Stealth mode is mandatory while fishing on the flats with the cleaner water and clear skies.

Snook have been on the flats early and moving to the mangroves as the water heats up. Top water early and spoons or jigs later under the mangroves. Round Island and Harbor Branch areas have produced snook this week. Look for the deeper cuts along the mangroves. Remember, snook season is still closed until September 1st, so get a photo and release your catch unharmed. Ray from Port St Lucie boated a 23” snook this week around Harbor Branch.

The trout bite has been at sunrise and can last a couple of hours until things heat up out there. Use top water or spoons along with live shrimp on popping corks. East of Harbor Branch produced trout as well as the Moorings. Round Island also gave up some sea trout to top water lures. Also good reports of trout and snook around the flats of the Power Plant. It’s a short time span in the morning to fish for them so plan your mornings early!!

Some tarpon have been hanging around the inlets and channels. Big and Little Mud have some poons hanging in there also. Top water and live bait are the best presentations to use. Jacks and ladyfish have been all across the flats. Live bait, top water and the kitchen sink seems to work best on these aggressive fish. Have some fun, especially with the kids and put them on some of these fun fish. They sure are out there begging to be caught.

I had the pleasure of fishing with Captain Al Bernetti of Teen Anglers this week. We chased three schools of redfish for a couple of hours and after several short hookups, we boated a nice 27” beauty. It was a great day on the water. If you want to get involved with a great organization, contact Captain Al at the website at: www.TeenAnglers.org Check out the website and see how you can help. It’s a great organization and an even greater bunch of middle and high school youth that participate in the program. If you are going to the Orlando Boat show, stop by the Teen Anglers Fishing Zone on August 13th. Find out how you can help get a chapter organized in your area…you’ll be glad you did!

It was a privilege to have the opportunity to fish with some great guys on Saturday at Round Island in "The Little Tourney" put on by Doug from Florida Fish and Hunt. Everyone had a fantastic time out there on the water. From kayak to skiff to flats boat, we spread across the river in search of a good days fishing. Quite a few fish were caught in spite of the summer heat, but sea trout caught by Team Pavers were destined to win the tournament. To check out their website go to : www.floridafishandhunt.com

Tip of the Week:
How organized do you keep your boat? We all have lots and lots of STUFF that we need aboard. Some of it required and some of it our preference. No matter what you take out on your trip, keep it organized and stowed properly. I know that most of us don’t have the storage to hold everything that we bring, so make sure you have an area to stow equipment. Keep a clear pathway from bow to stern to prevent trip hazards. Make sure lures hanging on your rods aren’t in a position to impale anyone. Just simply have a little safety on your mind as you load your boat and as you use your equipment throughout the day. No one wants to end the day with an accident that could have been easily prevented.

Have a great week on the water. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE!

Good Fishing,
Captain Charlie Conner

email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

visit my web site at: www.fishtalescharter.com