AUGUST 22, 2008

INSHORE - Not too much to report thanks to Tropical Storm Fay. Last weekend we did have a good run on mangrove snapper along the channel edges of the Intercoastal. A live shrimp or a small white bait was the way to go. The catch and release snook action was still strong on the out going tide in the Ft. Pierce Inlet. The bait of choice was a pinfish and fish it in the bottom. We saw a small school of redfish but nothing could get their attention and, we tried everything. The tarpon have been rolling in the Ft. Pierce Inlet but I haven't had any hook-ups reported. There were still a good number of sheepshead, black drum and sand perch around the South Bridge and a live shrimp was the way to go.

OFFSHORE - Over the weekend we had a couple of cobia - 1 was 28 pounds and the other 34 pounds come into the docks. They were caught in 50 feet of water -- 1 on a live greenie and the other on a chartreuse jig. The kingfish bite was still red hot as all of the boats that went out came back with kings. They were caught between 25 and 60 feet of water and a live bait was the way to go. Only 1 sailfish reported to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet in 120 feet of water and it was caught on a naked ballyhoo.

BRAGGING BOARD - I got an e-mail from Robert Kinchen about the 1st dolphin his daughter and son caught last weekend. He said that they went out of the St. Lucie Inlet on Sunday morning and headed towards the Six Mile Reef. They came upon a weed line and decided to troll it before bottom fishing. They headed north with no results and turned to head out to the reef. Within 5 minutes they had on 2 dolphin and a sailfish. Helen Kinchen - age 12 & Robert Kinchen Jr - age 9 had just caught their very 1st dolphin. Their dad went on to say that after that they went on out to Six Mile Reef and loaded up on the vermilion snapper. He did say that all the snapper were over 14 inches.

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 Charters