Fort Pierce Inshore: Oct. 2017

Mr. Painter caught this 40-pound wahoo in 80 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Photo credit: Capt. Joe Ward.

Now that all the cleanup is finished from Hurricane Irma, let’s get back to fishing. As the weather starts to cool off some, you can look for the fishing to get better. The schools of bait fish should be coming in the Fort Pierce Inlet with plenty of action not far behind. The snook bite in the Fort Pierce Inlet should be good for anglers using live baits, like greenies and mullet, and fishing them during the outgoing tides on the bottom at places like Judy Rock or the cleaning station in the Fort Pierce Inlet. Also in the Fort Pierce Inlet, the Spanish mackerel and bluefish will be showing up and they will take anything shiny. Look for the trout and redfish in the deeper holes and channels around the flats. They will be taking a live shrimp fished under a popping cork and fish in five to seven feet of water when the water starts to cool down. The local bridges should be holding some nice snapper, sheepshead and black drum. Try fishing a live shrimp on a #2 hook and a half-to-one-ounce weight. Around the South Jetty there should be some flounder on the beach side. A large live shrimp or mud minnows fished on an eighth-ounce or quarter-ounce troll-rite hook. In the surf, the whiting and pompano bite should improve later in the month. Shrimp, clams or sandfleas will all be a good choice.

FORECAST BY: Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe’s River Charters
(772) 201-5770 or (722) 461-1335
Email: CWard11605@aol.com
www.captjoeward.com 

Capt. Joe Ward has been fishing the inshore waters of Fort Pierce for over 50 years. He provides guided fishing charters on the Indian River Lagoon in Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Jensen Beach, Port St. Lucie and Stuart, Florida. In his "spare time", Capt. Joe and his wife Cammie dedicate their time to running Capt. Joe's Bait & Tackle (located on the Fort Pierce Inlet at the Dockside Inn and Resort) and Treasure Coast Casters, a 501(c)(3) that teaches youth about fishing and the importance of marine conservation. To reach Capt. Joe, call (772) 201-5770 or visit his website.