Fort Pierce Inshore Fishing Report and Forecast: Sept. 2013

Wade Hamlin and son Trent with a 40 pound cobia. Photo supplied by Capt. Joe Ward.
Wade Hamlin and son Trent with a 40 pound cobia. Photo supplied by Capt. Joe Ward.

Everyone is looking forward to the opening of snook season on the 1st. Look for some good action at places like the local bridges, the Ft. Pierce Inlet and in the surf along the. A live bait, such as a pilchard, pinfish or mullet, should be the baits of choice.

The trout bite should continue to be good along the flats for anglers using topwater baits like a Zara Spook or a Mirr-O-Lure during the low light and a live shrimp or pilchard later in the day. You will want to fish the live shrimp under a popping cork and free line the pilchards. Look for the grassy areas with the sandy pockets.

Parker, 3, caught this nice snapper off the dock at Capt. Joe's Bait & Tackle. Photo credit: Capt. Joe Ward.
Parker, 3, caught this nice snapper off the dock at Capt. Joe’s Bait & Tackle. Photo credit: Capt. Joe Ward.

There should be a good snapper bite along the channel edges both to the north and south in the river. Try using a live shrimp and fish it on the bottom. Don’t forget to check out the channel markers for a tripletail. Throw a large live shrimp on a ¼ ounce trollrite jig. There should also be some tarpon along the beaches, in the Ft. Pierce Inlet and in the Turning Basin. Best bait bet is to try is crab or mullet.

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.