Inshore
Look for the flats to be on fire with plenty of action at first light and just before dark. For trout try a topwater bait or a live bait like a pilchard, mullet, pinfish or pigfish and free line them under a cork. If you are looking for redfish try the mangroves along the shoreline and also the docks.Try using soft plastics, gold spoons,small crabs or a piece of cut ladyfish. The catch and release snook action should be good around the Ft. Pierce Inlet and on the flats. A live bait will produce the most action. In the Ft. Pierce Inlet try fishing your bait on the bottom. Up on the flats you will need to free line the baits. A 5/0 live bait hook will work for both. Look for a good snapper bite around the full moon. Try fishing around the bridges, along the channel edges and in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. A live shrimp or a small bait fish will be your best choice.
Offshore
Look for the long hot days and the normal summertime patterns. Look for scattered dolphin action for the anglers lucky enough to find a weed line, color change, or any floating debris. First try trolling ballyhoo and if that doesn’t work, try using a piece of cut bait–ballyhoo, squid or whatever you have. There will be some sailfish action and the depths will depend on the bait. Off the beaches, look for the bait and you will find the kingfish, bonita, tarpon and plenty of sharks. The best action, I believe, will be the bottom fishing over the wrecks and reefs from 50 to 150 feet of water.Try both live and cut baits for snapper, grouper and plenty of amberjack. The most productive time for the snapper, as it is inshore, will be around the full moon.
FORECAST BY: Capt. Joe Ward
Captain Joe’s River Charters
Phone: (772) 201-5770 or (772) 461-1335
Email: CWard11605@aol.com
Website: www.captjoeward.com