With the cooler weather arriving in October, the fishing should pick up. The Fort Pierce Inlet should be on fire with plenty of bait working in and out of the inlet with the tides. Following the baits, there should be plenty of Spanish mackerel, bluefish and big jacks. Just find the baits and you will find the fish. Try fishing spoons, flask jigs or a live bait. For the macks and blues you will need to use a small piece of wire leader. Around the bridges the snook action should be good for anglers using Flair Hawks or a live bait like a mullet, pinfish or a white bait. You’re are going to need some heavy tackle like a 40-pound leader and a #5/0 live bait hook. Most of the fish will be caught on the tide changes. Along the channel edges the snapper, black drum and sheepshead should be feeding on live shrimp and crabs. Use a 20-pound fluorocarbon leader about 18- to 24-inches long and a #2 long shank hook. Weight size will vary from a half-ounce to a two-ounce. It will all depend on the current. The redfish and trout should be around the deeper holes and cuts. Try using a finger mullet or a live shrimp fished under a popping cork and a 20-pound fluorocarbon leader and no weight. Hot spots should be places like Bear Point and Herman’s Bay to the south and Harbor Branch and Round Island to the north. Also, in the inlet following the baits in from offshore, there will be sharks as well as schools of bonito. These fish wlll be taking live baits or spoons. Use a light to medium action rod for the bonito and a heavy action rod for the bull sharks.
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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.
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