MARCH 14, 2008

INSHORE - The snook fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet with live baits on the tide changes has been good. A lot of slot size fish have been reported along with plenty of shorts and also a good number of over the slot fish. The best time to fish has been 1 hour before and until 1 hour after the tide change. The trout fishing has slowed down some with the fish reported this week coming from the deeper edge of the flats and the deeper cuts -- like the cuts at Harbor Branch or the Moorings. Most of the fish were under 2 pounds. Try a live shrimp on a 1/16 oz. jig head. The bottom fishing for snapper, sheepshead and black drum has been good along the channel edges when using a live shrimp. There has been a lot of spanish mackerel around the Turning Basin, the Ft. Pierce Inlet and along the channel edges and they have been feeding on anything shinny.

OFFSHORE - Not a lot to report with the sea conditions being what they have been this week. On the calm days you can look for dolphin in 140 to 160 feet of water. The kingfish are in 60 to 90 feet of water and feeding on live baits. The bottom fishing for snapper and grouper has been OK but not red hot. Try the reefs and wrecks in 50 to 150 feet of water and try both live and dead baits. There has been plenty of spanish mackerel, bluefish and spinner sharks along the beaches. We did have one boat go out today and all they got other than a rough ride in 4 to 6 foot seas were 2 bonita and 2 small kings.

TEEN ANGLERS - This Sunday -- March 16th is the regular monthly inshore fishing tournament for the local chapter of Teen Anglers. We will be meeting at Jaycee Park in Ft. Pierce at 7:15am and leaving as soon as the boats are assigned. For more info on Teen Anglers just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org.

BRAGGING BOARD - John & Theresa Gilson caught a total of 14 grouper on a charter with me on Wednesday. John kept one grouper that was 25 inches. Jim & Barbara Flynn caught 7 grouper, spanish mackerel, sheepshead and a sandperch on a charter with me on Thursday. On Tuesday Cammie Ward caught 2 sheepshead to 5 pounds, 3 grouper and all the jacks she could bring in.

If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or you can call me at 772-201-5770. You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com.

Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters