Fort Pierce Inshore – Nearshore: Sept. 2020

Brayden Adams with a very nice lobster he got during mini season. Photo credit: Capt. Joe Ward.

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 into 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 on the bottom at places like Judy Rock or the cleaning station and fishing on the out-going tides. 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 5-to-7 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 ½-to-1-ounce weight.

Around the south jetty there should be some flounder on the beach side. A large live shrimp or mud minnows fished on a ⅛- or ¼-ounce troll-rite hook.

In the surf, the whiting and pompano bite should improve later in the month. Shrimp, clams or sand fleas 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

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.