MARCH 20, 2008

INSHORE - The inshore fishing this week has been tough to say the least. With all the wind you had to try and find a place to hide and also a place that had fish. Before the blow started we had several good charters from Thursday to Sunday and after that it was a day to day thing. On Friday we had our limit of mangrove snapper, 3 nice size sheepshead and a bunch of spanish mackerel and jacks. On Saturday we got into the Goliath Grouper -- one was about 25 pounds and the other was about 40 pounds. We also had the usual jacks, spanish and snapper. I did have a trip today and we had 12 nice snapper from 1 &1/2 pound to 3 pounds. The snook action remains good in the Ft. Pierce Inlet for those fishing the tide changes with a live bait. This week it seemed that all the snook wanted was a nice big pinfish. I got reports of several slot size fish and one that was estimated to be about 42 inches. The trout were active on the flats before the winds and several nice ones were reported. We got a report of one that was 32 inches and was caught to the north in the river on Tuesday. Only one report of redfish and that was on Monday and they only saw a handful and did not catch any. The sheepshead and black drum bite has been about the best thing going with these fish around just about any structure you can get to. They have been taking live shrimp fished on the bottom with a trol-rite hook.

OFFSHORE - Once again before the winds started the anglers that went out last weekend did OK. On Friday we had several boats go out and they all had kings, bonita's and a few small dolphin. On Saturday they went out again and had a good number of kings to 27 pounds, a amberjack, a good number of dolphin and several were 21 to 26 pounds. They also had the usual jacks, bonita, and sharks. The fish were caught in 150 to 300 feet with the bigger dolphin coming from the deeper water. Not much else to report but hopefully the winds will lay for the weekend and the anglers can get offshore.

TEEN ANGLERS - This past Sunday was the regular monthly inshore tournament for the local chapter of Teen Anglers. We held a 2 fish tournament and had great results.

In the Middle School Division
1st place - Shane Surrency - Lincoln Park Academy - 4lb 11oz. bag total
2nd place - Tyler Serio - Lincoln Park Academy - 3lb. 13oz. bag total
3rd place - Blake Brady - Sun Grove Montessori - 1lb. 7oz. bag total

In the High School Division
1st place - David Brasher - Florida Learning Institute - 3lb. 4oz. bag total
2nd place - Dillon Roberts-Louria - Westwood High - 1lb. 13oz. bag total
3rd place - Chris Matthy - Westwood High - 1lb. 11oz. bag total

Heaviest bag of the tournament went to Shane Surrency.

Our next monthly inshore tournament will be held on April 20th. If you would like more info on joining Teen Anglers or becoming a boat volunteer just go to the web at www.teenanglers.org.

BRAGGING BOARD - On Friday Donna Crespo had a 5 pound sheepshead and several snapper. On Saturday Ted Ohmer caught and released 2 Goliath Grouper while fishing in the Turning Basin. Wayne & Audrey Wilson, Jim & Barbara Flynn, John & Theresa Gilson and Al & Carleen Keesler have been reporting good catches of whiting, croakers, spanish mackerel and a few bonnet head sharks while fishing in the surf to the south of Ocean Village. The bait of choice has been fresh dead shrimp. Bob Sikes was very happy to show off a picture of a 32 inch trout that was caught on Tuesday. He was using a white soft plastic bait.

If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or 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 Charter