Fort Pierce Inshore Fishing Report – July 2013

Capt. Trae Sorensen caught this 33 pound cobia while fishing the South Beach. Photo credit: Capt. Joe Ward – Capt. Joe’s River Charters.

Rick Sorensen caught this 15 pound dolphin in 80 feet of water on a naked ballyhoo. Photo credit: Capt. Joe Ward – Capt. Joe’s River Charters.

Ryan Mesiner caught this 29 inch grouper in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Photo credit: Capt. Joe Ward – Capt. Joe’s River Charters.

The inshore fishing should be red hot this month. Look for a good trout bite on top water baits just around daylight and again just before dark. During the rest of the day, try a live pigfish or a shrimp fished under a popping cork. Look for the trout at places like Bear Point, the Midway Road area, and up at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. The redfish bite should also be good around the docks along Indian River Drive. Try using a live shrimp fished on a ¼ ounce Troll-Rite hook and make sure that you fish in the shadow of the dock. While using this rig, also check out the channel markers for tripletail. Pitch the bait at the marker and let it sink and wait for the bite. Snapper should be feeding around the local bridges and along the channel edges. Best is a live shrimp on a ½ ounce lead and 18 to 24 inches of fluorocarbon leader and a #2 hook. Also, look for a few tarpon to start showing up around the Ft. Pierce Inlet and in the Turning Basin. A live bait like a mullet will be hard to beat.

FORECAST BY: Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe’s River Charters
Phone (772) 201-5770 or (772) 461-1335
Email: CWard11605@aol.com
Website: www.captjoeward.com

[easy-social-share]

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.