South Indian River Fishing Report

[Captain Charlie Conner]

January 12, 2006

INSHORE:

It must be winter here on the Treasure Coast.....one day you are wearing shorts and the next, you are rummaging through the closet in search of those elusive long johns! Cold fronts work their way through the area on a weekly basis now and the water temperatures continue to gradually drop. Looks like this weekend brings the next cold front to our way. Keep warm out there.

Trout have continued to bite well in the river. The west side of the river down around Walton Road, Harbor Branch and the east side around Bear Point have all been productive. Live shrimp on popping corks along with jerk baits have worked best when fishing for trout. Look for water two to five feet in those areas. Remember to slow down your lures now. Fish react slower as the water continues to cool.

Redfish are working the flats most of the day, becoming more active as the sun warms up the flats. Gold spoons, jerk baits and live shrimp have worked well on the reds this week. Try around the flats around the power plant, Round Island and Harbor Branch on the eastern side for some redfish action.

Snook action has been doing pretty well around the inlet jetties, docks and north bridge. Remember snook are out of season until February 1st. Smaller snook have been hitting along the mangroves on slow sinking lures, spoons and soft baits.

Croakers, black drum and sheephead have been the table fair around the bridges and structure along the channels. Some nice sized sheephead have been reported this week. Most have been caught on live or dead shrimp on a #6 long shank hook. Pompano have been scattered in the river, mostly south of the bridges in Fort Pierce. Some grouper are also being caught along the rocks piles.

Tip of the Week: Now is a great time to take a few minutes and check out the batteries on your vessel. Cold weather and batteries don't always mix well. When your engine is cold, it takes more cranking amps to start it. A weak battery can leave you stranded at the dock. Take a few minutes preparation and make sure your battery is fully charged and the connections are clean and free from corrosion. You will be glad you did!

Have a safe weekend. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE!

Good fishing and be safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com

To have my fishing report sent to you. Email me at: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com

772-344-3187 or 772-284-3852 (cell)