INSHORE
This is the time of year when the inshore action gets interesting on the flats. Look for trout in the deeper cuts and channels and they will be taking a live shrimp fished slow. Look for the redfish on the flats in the warmer part of the day and they will be taking cut bait. The channel edges will be hot with snapper, bluefish, sheepshead, black drum and pompano. They will all be taking live shrimp. The inshore snook bite should be good until the season closes on the 15th. Try fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet with a live bait on the bottom. The inlet should also be red hot for Spanish mackerel, bluefish, jacks and croakers. They will be taking both live and cut baits. Don’t forget about a silver spoon as well. The flounder bite should still be good over the sandy spots in the Ft. Pierce Inlet and the flats to the south of the South Bridge.
OFFSHORE
This is the time of year when the weather dictates the offshore fishing as the cold fronts push through. On the nice days look for dolphin and sailfish starting in 80 feet of water and they will be taking ballyhoo. The kingfish bite will be in 50 to 90 feet of water and you will want to try a mullet or a ribbonfish. Look for the bottom fishing to be good over the reefs and wrecks starting in 50 feet of water. Along the beaches there will be plenty of jacks, pompano, bluefish and Spanish mackerel. The Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jacks will take just about anything shinny. For the pompano you will want to try a live shrimp or a sand flea. For the latest updates on the local fishing scene, check us out on Facebook at Capt. Joe’s Bait & Tackle.
FORECAST BY: Capt. Joe Ward
Captain Joe’s River Charters
Phone: (772) 201-5770 or (772) 461-1335
Email: CWard11605@aol.com
www.captjoeward.com