Fort Pierce Offshore Fishing Report & Forecast: January 2014

Jeff and Jolene with a great day’s catch with Capt. Chris. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Chris Nelson.
Jeff and Jolene with a great day’s catch with Capt. Chris. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Chris Nelson.

The sailfish bite should be going strong right now with dolphin and blackfin tuna in the mix as well. Troll depths from 100 to 200 feet of water. Check your marine forecasts and fish in between the cold fronts when the seas are more manageable. Troll ballyhoo naked or with blue and white, pink and white or green and yellow sea witches or rattle jets.

Kingfish and cobia will be in depths from 40 to 90 feet. Use live baits such as pilchards, sardines and blue runners (the blue runners are thick on the south side of the water treatment plant in Fort Pierce). You can also troll deep diving plugs as well or drone spoons (use a #3 down planer to get the spoons down in the water column). Make sure you’re using at least #4 wire to prevent the kingfish cut-offs.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish will be feeding on the beach. Troll small flashy jigs or small spoons for these guys. If you see them schooling, cast these same lures on light spinning tackle and enjoy the fight. Make sure you tie at least a 30 pound leader to your main line or braid with a line to line knot and check your line in between bites for frayed line.

This time of year is great for catching sheepshead and snapper on the outside of the second beach reef in 17 to 30 feet of water, north or south of the inlet. Use small pieces of shrimp on a #4 circle hook and you only need about an ounce of lead weight.

Good luck and be safe!

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