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Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 145
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 4:55 pm: | |
May 15, 2008
INSHORE:
May has brought us some great fishing around the river and the usual conditions to test your fishing skills, too. I had to get out today in spite of what the weather predicted for winds. It was a mostly a scouting trip for redfish. Mornings aren't too bad to fish around the river and top water works well this time of year. Look to the islands to give you plenty of areas to fish and use the wind to your advantage. May will continue to give us warmer water and great fishing action on the Treasure Coast.
Redfish was my target this week and I found several small schools feeding around on the flats. Look in the shallow water this time of year. They will most likely not show themselves and slip off unseen, but whenever the opportunity for sight casting come up.....it's a very exciting way to fish! I lost one upper slot redfish near the boat and watched three lazily swim in front of the boat and boated one 28" redfish while sight casting to them. I only stayed a couple hours, but did find my target to try this weekend. I like to use smaller soft baits, like the DOA CAL grub tails when fishing shallow. The fish are rooting around on the bottom and these lures can entice them into a strike. May and June have traditionally been very good for redfish on the river. Stealth and patience can provide some good rewards!
Snook feeding on the many baitfish around the river. Watch for bait being chased and it will more than likely be a snook, trout or jack creating the havoc on the flats. Only a short time left this month to catch that slot snook! There have been some snook taken around the bridges and inlet at night, but with the weather it has been a little quieter this week out there. Live pinfish or mullet has been a good choice for bait.
Trout have been caught up around Queen's Cove and Round Island. I spoke to an angler at the ramp who had caught several nice trout on top water at first light. Watch for nervous baitfish on the flats. There is usually something lurking around them! Top water early and jerk baits as the sun rises will give you a good chance at a hookup.
Bridges have been slow this week. Some sheephead and snapper, but a quiet week for fishing those areas. Jetties have held mackerel, bluefish and jacks. The Surf has produced whiting ,bluefish and a few scattered pompano when fishable. As the winds finally die off for the summer, look for fishing to continue to improve around the river. I love this time of year on the river!
Tip of the Week:
I plan each trip around weather, tides and winds. I set up the equipment for my first two stops on the water. Always a top water, soft bait and suspending lure ready for any opportunity that presents itself. You already know where you plan to start fishing and being ready for that first cast can save you valuable fishing time. When I am done fishing an area, I have the gear set up for the next place I plan on fishing. Certain colors or lures for redfish flats and different set ups for trout flats. A little preparation ahead of time can give you more fishing time on the water. Have a great May out there!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 144
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 9:57 am: | |
May 9, 2008
INSHORE:
We have enjoyed some great weather lately here along the Treasure Coast. The windy days are beginning to lighten up and early mornings can find some great conditions for top water lures on the flats. Lots of baitfish have been filtering into the river and you can look forward to the predator fish chasing them around the waters. Redfish, snook and trout are in the shallows and I love fishing the Indian River in May!
I was able to get out and cast a rod myself this week and found the fish feeding in the shallows in less than two feet of water. Two snook at 26" and 27" were fooled by a DOA CAL shad tail around the mangroves of the flats. Look for snook and trout to continue to chase the bait this month. Don't forget that snook season will close the end of May, so there are just a couple more weeks to try and get that slot snook for dinner.
Trout fishing slowed some during the week, but with the warmer water the action will pickup. Bob Bergen and Bob Whitbold were out fishing on Thursday and reported several nice size trout had hit their soft baits that day. Gail and Ralph Rounds were out with me that day and also caught several trout on both live bait and soft plastics. Queen's Cove, Harbor Branch and the west shore to the south have all been holding trout on the grass flats.
Redfish have been traveling in schools around the river. We missed our chance with Ralph and Gail as the wind and sun gave the fish the advantage and we couldn't get a good cast to them. They have been feeding very shallow around high tide. Soft plastics like a DOA CAL grub tail has worked well so far this month. Look for the fish to continue to school and travel the flats this month.
Bridges have held some sheephead with fewer anglers out there fishing this week. The inlet has continued to hold Spanish mackerel, bluefish and loads of Jacks. Jacks are all over the river! The beaches have started to produce snook, bluefish and jacks with the bait moving along the coast. It's a great time of year to fish the Treasure Coast!
Tip of the Week:
It's time to head up on the flats in search of snook, trout and redfish. A quiet and stealthy approach will give you many more opportunities at catching these fish in May. The predators will travel in shallow water to feed on the many baitfish that have infiltrated into the river. These fish are never comfortable in shallow water and will seek shelter at the slightest sound or movement that isn't normal. I look forward to poling the boat across the flats during this time of year. It can give you fantastic views and a very quiet approach to the flats. Get out there and chase some tail this month!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 143
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 03, 2008 - 5:50 am: | |
May 2, 2008
INSHORE:
May continues to be a transition month here on the Treasure Coast. Weekly weather fronts moving across the state and water temperatures working their way towards the mid to high 70's signal that spring has arrived and summer is just around a short corner. You can see more baitfish entering the river and the activity on the flats will increase during May. Fishing this week was up and down and the windy conditions dictated on where you might fish on any given day.
I fished with some great people this week and we sure enjoyed the Indian River. Tom Hull (the Lazy Spirits Fishing Team) was down to visit and enjoy some fishing and relaxing on the river. Jay Smith and his girlfriend, Melissa, was also down and enjoyed a sunny outing on the river. The latest front slowed down the fishing mid-week, but the bite had started to pick back up by Thursday.
Trout have been hitting soft plastics, like DOA CAL jerk baits in pearl and rootbeer colors. Live shrimp and pinfish will also entice some trout into biting, like Melissa proved this week. Harbor Branch and Queen's Cove have been the best spots to target lately. The snook bite has begun to move to the flats. Brennan Smith reported catching a number of snook south of Fort Pierce along the mangroves and Bob Bergen reported similar results to the north of Fort Pierce the latter part of the week. Live bait, top water and soft plastics were the best choices of baits. Redfish were biting earlier in the week and should pick back up by this weekend. We have seen some big reds this year and look forward to some great catches in May. Soft plastics in a new penny color are hard to resist. Both the flats and docks around the area should hold slot or larger redfish all this month.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008002Sm all-2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008001Sm all-2.jpg[/IMG]
Jay Smith with Melissa show off a couple trout while fishing the Indian River this week....
May will provide some fantastic fishing opportunities around the river and even better weather for Treasure Coast anglers. It's a wonderful time of year to be out on the water. Plan on heading out one day soon!
Tip of the Week:
It is the responsibility of each of us to do our part to help preserve the fishing environment that we all get out and enjoy. Each week, I see new and deeper prop scars across what used to be pristine grass flats on the river. Prop scars take years to heal and replenish. More scars mean many more years to try and recover. Too many people in too much of a hurry have already taken a toll on our grass flats. This wonderful eco-system that we are fortunate to have around us is already under pressure from pollution and mother nature along. Help keep our fishing preserved for our children, grandchildren and beyond. It is all of our responsibility!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 142
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2008 - 2:16 pm: | |
April 24, 2008
INSHORE:
The past week presented a variety of conditions to anglers fishing the waters of the Treasure Coast. Most days found good fishing for us, but you had to fish according to which way the wind blew. Spring has definitely arrived and the fishing has been improving as the water has warmed up. I love fishing this time of year!
Redfish have been on the flats and they got hungry this week for us! Adrian and Phil Lucanis were back fishing this year. We were poling along the flats and found a school of redfish feeding in a foot of water. Adrian and Phil hooked up on four 25" - 26" reds and boated three of them. We were using darker color soft baits like DOA CAL rootbeer grub tails. All were released unharmed.
Trout fishing continued to be productive. Steve Dickman was down and while he caught a good number of trout up to 19", we couldn't break the 20" barrier that day. Adrian boated a 20" and 26" in the midst of quite a few blowups on their top water lures. The trout this week were in one to three feet of water and lurking in the sand holes along the flats. Top water has been very productive on enticing a sea trout into biting this week. Harbor Branch is one good area to try.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008006Sm all.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008001Sm all-1.jpg[/IMG]
Adrian Lucanis caught this 26" trout and 26" redfish while fishing the Indian River flats....
Snook fishing slowed down right after the full moon, but was hectic for night anglers for a few nights around the bridges and jetties. Sizes from many shorts to slots and some slob over size were taken. You can also find snook on the flats in the early part of the day. Top water or suspending lures are great choices.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008003Sm all.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008002Sm all-1.jpg[/IMG]
Phil Lucanis caught and released this 26" redfish this week on a DOA CAL grub....
Bridges have been slow this week, but sheephead and snapper are out there to be had. The Surf has produced whiting, bluefish, jacks and mackerel to those beach anglers. I had Dillon Roberts-Louria on board for the Teen Anglers Tournament on Sunday. He fished hard all morning and ended up with a mackerel, snapper and sheephead to weigh in that day. He won first place in High School and biggest fish. Congrats Dillon! Jules Knapp and his wife were out also that day and we had a short but fun trip on the water.
Tip of the Week:
Fishing will always be a challenge to anglers. You can use any lures or bait, but presentation continues to be the biggest factor to the success rate of catching fish. Colors, types and sizes might have some effect, but how you present it will determine if you can be successful or not. Give two anglers the same lure and one might catch fish while the other goes nil. Top water lures are a great example. I work them different ways until I get a strike to see what might work that day. Fast, slow, erratic or barely moving can result in catching or missing the fish out there. Vary how you work your lures and find what works that day. Fishing is lots of fun and challenging!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 141
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2008 - 4:04 pm: | |
April 17, 2008
INSHORE:
We enjoyed some great fishing weather this week. A few cool and windy days to keep you home, but overall spring has arrived here on the Treasure Coast. Look for nicer weather as May nears and fishing to continue to improve for trout and redfish on the flats. We had some great fun out there and look forward to much more in the coming weeks!
We fished for a variety of fish this week from grouper to trout. While we got busted by some nice grouper, finally Lawson Taylor muscled in a 27" gag grouper from around the seawalls in Fort Pierce. Both 14 year old Megan Lundy and 10 year old Rachel Taylor had big grouper bites only to lose the battle with them. We used live pinfish for our action this week.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008001Sm all.jpg[/IMG]
Lawson Taylor muscled in this 27" gag grouper from the seawalls...
Trout was the other species we went out in search of. Rachel and Patrick Taylor both landed some trout off the flats that were all in slot size. Patrick even boated a good size bluefish around the docks this week. Live pinfish or shrimp along with DOA CAL jerk baits are the best options for trout lately. The winds allowed us to drift the flats at a leisurely pace and fish them thoroughly. Queen's Cove and Harbor Branch has been good producing sites and when Bear Point is fishable....give it a try also.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008004Sm all.jpg[/IMG]
10 year old, Rachel Taylor caught several trout from the flats...
Redfish have been pretty quiet this week. It's been hard to fish with the windy weather, but we have seen a number of them in the shallows and it should turn on at any time out there. Snook has been mostly a nighttime adventure. I talked to several returning anglers in the early morning that have caught some slot size along with some oversize and a good number of shorts. Live bait or jigs have worked best.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008002Sm all.jpg[/IMG]
Patrick Taylor found this bluefish hiding under a Fort Pierce dock...
Catwalks and jetties have been pretty quiet with all the winds to keep anglers from venturing out. Lots of jacks around the river and some bigger ones in the inlets. Young Megan battled several 20 to 25 pound jacks, but they got the best of her in the end. It was fun to fight those bruisers though! The surf has produced whiting when the beachers could get out there. A lot of days was more like fishing in sandpaper. It has been a good week and this weekend should be great weather to venture out on the river and even the ocean.
Tip of the Week:
Lots of smaller pinfish and pigfish have been around the flats. It's time to get out the ol' fish traps and use some of these plentiful fish for some great trout action. Floating a pigfish on a popping cork will keep some of the daredevil bait snatchers from bothering you like they do on live shrimp. Lots of fish around the flats will take the opportunity for an easy meal. Have some fun soon, especially with the young anglers.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 140
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 2:34 pm: | |
April 11, 2008
INSHORE:
Spring has arrived along the Treasure Coast. Even though we still have some windy days, the weather has been super for fishing the Indian River. Look for warmer water temperatures and hungry fish as the sun continues to shine down on us. I love April and May fishing!
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008001.j pg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing200800 1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Arthur Cary with a big jack crevalle caught in the Fort Pierce Inlet...
The trout bite was good one day and slow the next, but the trout we have caught have been healthy and nice sized ones. Soft baits have worked the best with DOA CAL jerk baits working great out there. We have been using some of this years new colors lately and they work! Queen's Cove and Bear Point have been the best spots for us recently. Anthony Penny took home a few for dinner this week.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008003.j pg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing200800 3.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Sean Conway also caught this jack crevalle in Fort Pierce...
Snook and redfish continue to haunt the flats. The bite has still been on the slow side, but look for it to turn loose any day as the water warms up. Most of the snook action has still been around the inlets and bridges with night anglers doing most of the fishing. I did get a good lesson from a snook this week around the docks of Fort Pierce. After making a 360 degree run around the dock, I was left with nothing but a leader. Fish the docks with soft baits like a DOA Shrimp and work it slow for your best chance at hooking up with a snook. Once hooked.......hang on and you are on your own!
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing2008002-1 .jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing200800 2-1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
April sunrise across the Indian River....
There has been some good grouper action around the river, especially around docks. We have been busted, bruised and battered by some of the big ones, but have boated several gags that were just an inch below the 24" mark. There have also been some big jacks around the inlets. Ian, Arthur and Sean were out on saturday and after being hit several times, Ian and Arthur boated some nice sized jacks for their efforts. Live pinfish has been the best bait to use. Bridges have been slow lately. The beach was like fishing in a sand blaster and the jetties were rough. But that's Florida in April, so you look for it to improve soon.
Tip of the Week: It's time for me to clean out the boat. Spring is here and spring cleaning is in the mind of many as they wait for winds to die down and wanting to get out on the water. You will be surprised at what you will find buried in the boat. Lures that you had given up on finding or that jacket you thought you had lost. And while you are going through organizing and cleaning.....check dates on flares and condition of fire extinguishers and life preservers. Safety equipment is important so make sure you have everything required and that it is in good working condition.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 139
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 04, 2008 - 3:48 am: | |
April 3, 2008
INSHORE:
March went out with all the gusto is could muster and April has kept in step with the winds blowing so far this month. It has been a hard week to fish on both the river and ocean along the Treasure Coast. The fish have been biting if you can get to them out there. The dolphin bite has been good offshore and trout have been feeding along the river. As the winds die off, look for fishing action to really heat up this month!
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_0668Small.jp g[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_0672Small.jp g[/IMG]
Andrew caught this shark on the flats and with Matthew they show off a couple of pompano caught along the channel.
We found some trout out there earlier in the week. Use live shrimp on corks, soft plastics (like DOA CAL jerk baits) or top water in the early mornings. Queen's Cove, Bear Point and Harbor Branch have been the best areas around Fort Pierce with the Power Plant and docks to the south good places towards Jensen Beach.
Snook fishing has been mostly done around the bridges, inlets and jetties. At least you had a chance at beating some of the windy conditions. Live pinfish or large shrimp has worked best lately. Nighttime fishing has produced the best bites on the outgoing tide. We have been seeing some big snook on the shallow flats recently and the top water action will start improving as the water continues to warm up.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Chloe2008130Smal l.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Chloe2008135Smal l.jpg[/IMG]
Some quality time with Gramps....Chloe with one of her snapper and my new mate on the boat!
I was out with Mark Amorello on Saturday and we found a nice school of redfish on the shallow flats. The only problem was that we couldn't get within casting distance of them before they moved off to deeper water. This is the time of year to spend some time watching and reading the water. Patience and moving slowly along the flats will pay off in April. We had two other boats out there that didn't realize that there were redfish around the area. I like to use soft plastics when sight casting to redfish. DOA CAL jerk baits or DOA shrimp are two great choices out there. Fish them very slowly when sight casting.
Bridges have been pretty much left out of the picture of late. There are still black drum and sheephead if you can stand it out there. Beaches have been pretty much blown out as well. Look for whiting and a few pompano once you can get back out there. Live or dead shrimp and sand fleas are baits of choice. There are still snapper, ladyfish, jacks and mackerel along the channel edges to create some fun. I had a wonderful adventure with my wife, Eva, and our granddaughter, Chloe, recently. Three year olds are easy to please when fishing so we anchored up on a spot that held more small snapper than you could catch and let Chloe have fun with the fish and even playing with the shrimp. Always a joy to watch a child around the water!
Tip of the Week:
Time to check out the contents of the boat and make sure you have your rain gear stowed and ready. Showers will become more likely now and you can keep drier if you have your gear aboard and not back in the garage! We have had a good chance at rain every day of late and it will most likely continue this month. Be careful to watch for lightening! It's never a good idea to be on the water in a thunderstorm. Have a safe and bountiful April!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 138
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 3:57 pm: | |
March 27, 2008
INSHORE:
The Treasure Coast was alive this week....with wind, cold and yep.....the fish were out there most days, too! We had some great fun out there on the water and caught a variety of fish. I met some wonderful anglers this week and also had a few friends back to fish again. Other than the cold front, it was a super week to be on the water. The winds were a bit milder and each day was fishable if you used it to your advantage.
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Tom Lukat found this fat 26" trout lurking around the Indian River flats this week....
Trout fishing was good earlier in the week, but slowed down as the water cooled off from the latest weather. I even had to dig out the long johns one day! The catch of the week went to Tom Lukat, who ended up the day with a fat 26" trout. We had a good day with Josh and Barbara adding fish to the catch. Live bait, jerk baits and suspending lures worked best for trout this week. We have lost a number of fish using live pinfish on the flats this week.
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Josh Lukat caught his bluefish on live bait....
Keith Mullins and sons, Turner and Frank, were out with me again and this time we beat the weather and the kids caught ladyfish, jacks and a big bluefish before the rains set in for the day. Greg was back down to Florida and we had a good day in spite of the weather. Fishing was slower that day, but we did catch fish. Frank bought his two sons out on the coldest day of the week....and in a while, too! The water had cooled off quite a bit. The guys caught fish in spite of the conditions. Young Frank caught a nice flounder to end the day. Jim Senker, Matthew and Andrew was out today and we caught a variety of fish. Flounder, pompano, ladyfish, jacks and a bonnet head shark.
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Young Frank Van Leer ended up the day pulling a flounder from under the Fort Pierce docks...
Snook fishing has still been best at night this week. Live bait or jigs around the inlet, jetties and docks have been the best choices. If the docks are fishable, there have been some large snook hanging around some of the deeper docks. Barbara caught her first snook on the flats this week.
Redfish have been on the flats. We hooked two on Saturday, but lost them before they came to the boat. Look for action to improve as the water warms up. The bridges have been slow this week, but sheephead and black drum can still be caught off the catwalks. The jetties have been busy at night with snook and jacks feeding off the full moon. Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jacks have been around the inlet. The channels have held mackerel, ladyfish, jacks and snapper. The surf has been hard to fish most days with an easterly wind. Whiting action will continue once you can get back on the beach. A few pompano are still out there as well.
Tip of the Week:
If you are fishing lately, make sure you keep a good sunscreen on in this weather. Not only will the sun give you a good burn, but the winds can also to some damage to you. Together, they can make the end of a good day a little brighter....red that is. Remember to use your sunscreen when on the water and keep your self protected from the harmful rays of the sun and those strong winds as well.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 137
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 1:37 pm: | |
March 20, 2008
INSHORE:
Well, another windy week along the Treasure Coast to test your skills at fishing. Offshore has been difficult for most boaters to venture out. The river has been fishable on most days if you could find areas to stay out of the worst of the wind. I was fortunate to meet some really great people this week and we had some fun in spite of the blustery conditions!
Friday had Ralph and Cynthia Stinnler looking for snook. Cynthia lost one big fish under the boat and later caught a big jack around the jetties. We drifted into a number of big snook on the flats later in the morning. Harry Beaber took John and Peter out that afternoon and we found trout, jacks and a nice black drum on the flats. Joni and Paul Warner were out Sunday and found trout up to 21". Joni caught her first snook on the flats along with ladyfish and jacks. Jeff Olson and Elise were out on a windy monday. We found trout, ladyfish and jacks again. Elise caught two nice trout in the 18 - 20" size. Bob Alteri was back with friends, Tony and Mark. With a day that was too windy to stay on the water, Mark Roth managed to battle a fat 33" snook (on a DOA CAL Morning Glory shad tail) to the boat for photo and safe release. It has been a good week, in spite of challenging conditions!
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos00 322Small.jpg[/IMG]
Mark Roth admiring his 33" snook caught on the Indian River flats....
Trout have continued to bite well as long as you can fish the grass flats. Queen's Cove and Harbor Branch have been the best producing areas on DOA CAL jerk baits in both light and dark colors. Work your soft baits slowly along the bottom for your best chance at a trout. We tried several days for redfish and found them on the flats, but just not willing to bite those days. Most we have seen are in less than two feet of water. Snook fishing around the jetties has been good with live pinfish for those brave enough to tackle the conditions. It will be nice to have a break in the wind until the next front arrives!
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos00 1Small-1.jpg[/IMG]
Joni Warner caught her first snook this week along the mangroves....
Bridges were quiet most of the week. Still sheephead and black drum around them, but hard to fish in this weather. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still around the inlet area and chasing bait. The surf has also been quiet for now. Look for whiting and some pompano around when you can fish the beach. March has proven to live up to it's reputation of being a lion of months. Let's wait and see what surprises April will bring!
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos00 2Small-3.jpg[/IMG]
Paul Warner caught this trout on the grass flats north of Fort Pierce...
Tip of the Week:
We were drifting along the flats this week and witnessed yet another boater run aground in six inches of water on the flats at a high rate of speed. Standing in ankle deep water, they tried to figure out how they were going to get off. It's bad enough to take a chance at damaging your boat or harming yourself or a passenger out there. You are also damaging a very fragile eco-system that is having enough trouble surviving without us harming it more. Once you leave a channel, know the area that you are entering. Tides vary greatly with many conditions that affect it. On this particular day, the tides were lower than normal. I have certain tide marks on flats that I frequent to let me know what the tides are doing on any day I might be out there. It might be an oyster bar, mangrove tree or shallow sandbar. Protect yourself, your property and our environment and be aware of your surroundings.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 136
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 4:20 pm: | |
March 20, 2008
INSHORE:
Well, another windy week along the Treasure Coast to test your skills at fishing. Offshore has been difficult for most boaters to venture out. The river has been fishable on most days if you could find areas to stay out of the worst of the wind. I was fortunate to meet some really great people this week and we had some fun in spite of the blustery conditions!
Friday had Ralph and Cynthia Stinnler looking for snook. Cynthia lost one big fish under the boat and later caught a big jack around the jetties. We drifted into a number of big snook on the flats later in the morning. Harry Beaber took John and Peter out that afternoon and we found trout, jacks and a nice black drum on the flats. Joni and Paul Warner were out Sunday and found trout up to 21". Joni caught her first snook on the flats along with ladyfish and jacks. Jeff Olson and Elise were out on a windy monday. We found trout, ladyfish and jacks again. Elise caught two nice trout in the 18 - 20" size. Bob Alteri was back with friends, Tony and Mark. With a day that was too windy to stay on the water, Mark Roth managed to battle a fat 33" snook (on a DOA CAL Morning Glory shad tail) to the boat for photo and safe release. It has been a good week, in spite of challenging conditions!
Trout have continued to bite well as long as you can fish the grass flats. Queen's Cove and Harbor Branch have been the best producing areas on DOA CAL jerk baits in both light and dark colors. Work your soft baits slowly along the bottom for your best chance at a trout. We tried several days for redfish and found them on the flats, but just not willing to bite those days. Most we have seen are in less than two feet of water. Snook fishing around the jetties has been good with live pinfish for those brave enough to tackle the conditions. It will be nice to have a break in the wind until the next front arrives!
Bridges were quiet most of the week. Still sheephead and black drum around them, but hard to fish in this weather. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still around the inlet area and chasing bait. The surf has also been quiet for now. Look for whiting and some pompano around when you can fish the beach. March has proven to live up to it's reputation of being a lion of months. Let's wait and see what surprises April will bring!
Tip of the Week:
We were drifting along the flats this week and witnessed yet another boater run aground in six inches of water on the flats at a high rate of speed. Standing in ankle deep water, they tried to figure out how they were going to get off. It's bad enough to take a chance at damaging your boat or harming yourself or a passenger out there. You are also damaging a very fragile eco-system that is having enough trouble surviving without us harming it more. Once you leave a channel, know the area that you are entering. Tides vary greatly with many conditions that affect it. On this particular day, the tides were lower than normal. I have certain tide marks on flats that I frequent to let me know what the tides are doing on any day I might be out there. It might be an oyster bar, mangrove tree or shallow sandbar. Protect yourself, your property and our environment and be aware of your surroundings.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 135
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 3:09 pm: | |
March 12, 2008
INSHORE:
March is living up to its reputation as a wind month. The river has remained fishable most days in spite of the blustery weather. Plenty of places along the channel to get out of the worst of it and enjoy a day fishing. It's almost springtime and the fishing will just keep getting better along the Treasure Coast!
Trout fishing turned back on this week. Tom Kemp and his friend Anton were fishing this week and boated around 20 trout up to 22". We also found plenty of ladyfish and jacks to bend some rods. Capt. Pat Wells and his son, Dalton, were down and we fished on Sunday. Dalton stole the show with more trout than we could keep track of and a pompano for his dinner that night. Windy or not, it has been a fun week out there.
Look for trout on most flats both north and south of Fort Pierce. Up towards Vero Beach, try Round Island or the Moorings and try Bear Point or the Power Plant to the south. We have had our best luck on DOA CAL jerk baits in glow colors. Live shrimp on popping corks will also get you some great action. Two to four feet has been a good depth to target the trout.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos00 2Small-2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos00 3Small-1.jpg[/IMG]
Dalton Wells with dad, Capt. Pat, holding a pompano and one of many trout he caught this week....
Redfish action should start picking up this week. I've seen lots of them on the flats and will be targeting them this week. Water temps have begun rising and the fish will be getting hungry now. The east shore to the south of Fort Pierce should start providing redfish action and Queen's Cove up north is also a well known redfish hangout. I like using DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits in new penny colors this time of year. Good luck and let me know how you do out there.
Snook fishing has continued to be mostly a nighttime adventure. The bridges, seawalls and jetties have been the most active with live bait or feather jigs being the choice ways to fish. Try the first part of the outgoing tides. Mackerel have been along the channel edges and around the inlets. The jetties have had their share along with bluefish, jacks and tarpon. The Surf has the usual whiting, pompano and bluefish cruising along the beaches. Bridges have held sand perch, sheephead and black drum on live or dead shrimp.
Tip of the Week:
It's time to gear up for some great spring fishing action. Check out rod tips and guides, replace that old fishing line and stock up on those favorite lures. Reels should be cleaned, oiled and greased. Make sure that your equipment is ready. It's all you have between you and that fish on the other end. If you keep you gear in good working order, you will have better success landing that finned creature pulling your line. Good luck and good fishing!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 134
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 4:04 pm: | |
February 28, 2008
INSHORE:
In spite of the latest cold front that cruised through the Treasure Coast, it's really been a mild winter. I think I only had to dig out the ol' long johns once this season. The coming weekend should bring some mild temperatures and great fishing weather. Let's go fishing!
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos00 5Small.jpg[/IMG]
Bob Alton caught this 24" trout at first light...
Trout was our best fish to target again this week. We totaled over a hundred trout in three outings over the past week. Bob Alton topped off the trout catch with one around 24" at first light. The majority were caught on DOA CAL jerk baits and shad glow and root beer colors. As long as the water temps stay up above 70 degrees, look for the action to continue in 2 - 5 feet of water.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos00 6Small.jpg[/IMG]
Bob also caught two pompano on the flats....
Bob also boated two pompano that went over three pounds each. They were in the same water as the trout and hit the same baits. We had picked up a couple of flounder on the same flat a few days before. Louie took home a nice flounder for dinner.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos00 4Small.jpg[/IMG]
Louie took home this flounder for dinner...
We managed a few short snook from around the mangroves. Most of the snook fishing has been at night with live bait or jigs. Action around the bridges and jetties has been good during February and should continue into March. The redfish are still in shallow water during the warmth of the day, but not biting like they will next month. We will see more action as the spring temperatures warm things up.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2008fishphotos00 2Small.jpg[/IMG]
Dave found this mackerel cruising the flats....
There are still black drum, sheephead, snapper and sand perch to catch around structure, docks and off the bridges. Live or dead shrimp will work best. The beaches will continue to provide whiting and pompano along the surf. Mackerel are still holding around the inlet and channels. And once again, the ladyfish and jacks are just about anywhere you can toss a lure.
Tip of the Week:
Popping corks are a wintertime staple for fishing. Whether you use live shrimp or soft baits, you can usually stir up some action when those corks start popping! A quick, short jerk on the line will make the popping action and the noise will make a nearby fish look to see what is going on. That's when they see the shrimp or soft baits hanging there looking like an easy meal. As always in the river, you just never know what might decide to strike at it. You will find a great many anglers out there using them, so join in on the fun!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 133
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 3:41 pm: | |
February 21, 2008
INSHORE:
Well, this week, we must first get to the CATCH OF THE WEEK! We welcomed our newest grandson, Brody, into the world last Friday and couldn't be more excited. I already gave him his first fishing rod and reel, but I guess he will just have to grow into it. Congratulations to Dena and Rick for such a wonderful grandson!
[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Brody02750.jpg[/img]
Grandma and Pop with grandson, Brody!
We had some very nice weather most of the past week and some good fishing adventures out on the Indian River. I had Kyle Collins and his five year old son, Kameron, along with Grandfather Bernie earlier in the week. It was such a joy watching Kameron's excitement while he battled numerous fish to the boat. It was a great day out there. Todd and Rhonda Monzeglio joined me this week and they caught 40 plus trout on the flats. Louie and Louis Natale along with Dave Backer also had some great action with 40 plus trout around the Indian River flats. It was a fantastic week to be on the water!
[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Kameron_ladyfish 50.jpg[/img]
Five year old Kameron won his battle with this ladyfish!
Trout action really heated up this week. Warmer water around some areas of the river helped get the trout active. Most were caught on DOA CAL shad tails or jerk baits in lighter colors on the grass flats. Remember........fish them slowly! Dave topped the catch with a nice 24", while most were in the 14 - 16" range. It was a fast and furious bit of action. Live shrimp on popping corks and jerk baits were our best producers out there. We fished both north and south of Fort Pierce on grass flats that were 3 - 4 feet deep.
[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Bernie_with_pomp ano_28dinner2950.jpg[/img]
Bernie took home a nice 3 pound pompano for dinner...
Snook action has been mostly a nighttime affair with the turning basin, bridges and jetties the best place to fish. Pinfish, live shrimp or feather jigs have been the hottest options. Charles Galley reported catching five nice snook up to 41". He is still trying to get that magic slot size landed! As the water warms up, look for action to continue.
Redfish are still on the flats, but need the temps to warm up a little to become more active. It won't be long and they will be out there hungry and chasing your lures again. Look for them up on the shallows as the sun warms up. Flounder have been around the river this week. Louie boated a nice 4 pounder for dinner and we landed another 12" one that day. Pompano are still out there also. Bernie boated a 3 pounder for dinner also. It's been a good week and provided lots of fun.
[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt0021.jpg[/img]
Kameron also caught this trout on the flats....
Bridges have held black drum, sheephead and snapper. Live or dead shrimp will get you some of that action. The SURF has been mostly whiting and pompano. The pomp bite has been much better this year and lots of anglers have been enjoying the tasty table fare. Shrimp and sand fleas are the best baits out there.
Tip of the Week:
Water temperatures have a noted affect on fish during winter and early spring. Look for the warmer water out there. It can change due to weather, tides and temperatures, so be prepared to look for other places. Cooler water can make fish lethargic and less likely to feed. The trout bite was hot where the water had warmed up to the mid 70's. It's hard to say where to fish as it changes often each day. A simple pool thermometer can give you enough information on where to fish or when to move on. Have fun out there!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 132
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 - 4:08 pm: | |
February 15, 2008
INSHORE:
Once the latest weather front moved through the Treasure Coast, the summer like conditions returned to the area. We were fortunate to have some very nice days to fish the Indian River this week. Some windy days are still ahead of us, but the coming weekend should be pretty nice to get out fishing again. We did have some fun this week on the water.
I had Mark Boucher with dad, Fred, and seven year old Cody on the boat this week. Cody had a good day fishing and bought in the biggest trout, along with his fair share of ladyfish and jacks. Jay Fields and Gerry Sniffen were on the boat today. We saw lots of fish, but could only muster the jacks and ladyfish to cooperate. We had numerous shots at redfish, but they were keeping tight lips today.
Trout have been on the flats, but harder to coax into biting the past several days. The water is clearing up nicely and I expect the bite to improve with better water quality and an increase in temperature. We saw several over 25" cruising the flats today. Young Cody did pull in a fat 17" trout this week.
Redfish are on the flats in shallow water. We drifted up on a couple tailing and found a good number under the mangroves and in the shallow flats. They are picky this time of year, but keep on fishing and they will bite sooner or later once the water temps begin to rise! I'll be after them again next week.
Snook fishing has been mostly around the inlet and bridges. You can still find some under the docks when the weather permits fishing them. Live bait has worked best along with pink feather jigs around the bridges and inlet.
Most of the bridges have held black drum and sheephead. Live or dead shrimp is the bait to use. The jetties have produced some snook, jacks, mackerel and bluefish. The SURF anglers have been catching whiting, pompano, bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Shrimp or sand fleas on the pomps and whiting and shiny lures for the rest. We continue to find ladyfish and jacks all over the river.
Tip of the Week:
Bring something back to the ramp each time you are on the water. There is always the trash of the inconsiderate out there floating around the river. Yes, sometimes it's blown out by accident, but it's our responsibility to keep our waterways clean. When you see a bottle, can or bag floating nearby....pick it up and bring it back to a trash container. Make sure your own trash is secured in the boat to keep it from blowing out. We can all do a little to help out a lot........
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 131
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 08, 2008 - 6:10 am: | |
February 8, 2008
INSHORE:
What a great week on the water. Not only did we have some fantastic summer-like days to fish, I saw a number of friends again and met some new ones on the boat. Fishing was great most days and we did catch a variety of species. Dolphin were all over the river to put on their show and lots of wildlife to enjoy out along the Treasure Coast. What a wonderful area we live in!
Keith, Bob, Turner and Frank were visiting again and we had a wonderful time watching the boys, Turner and Frank, have fun with the ladyfish and jacks. Dave was back in town again and we had a good time catching up on a years worth of news and catching fish in between. I met Bob and Haley and enjoyed the weather and fishing on a bright Sunday morning. Scott and his son, Jeremy, were out with me and I believe that Scott won the battle with the fish that day. Ray, Danny and Mike were having a great battle on who would catch the most fish. Emmet was down on Thursday and we tried our best on a fly rod, but only got a number of rolls on it. It turned out to be fabulous weather and great fun fishing out on the Indian River.
Snook fishing has been pretty good around most of the docks. We caught several nice ones and lost a few others when we could reach the docks. Dave did catch one nice linesider that was a couple inches short of slot. DOA shrimp have been very productive around the docks. Night anglers have continued to catch some nice snook around the bridges, turning basin and Taylor Creek area. Live bait or feather jigs have worked best.
Trout fishing was good some days and slower another day. It picked up on Wednesday, but slowed down again Thursday for us. We did manage trout on several days out there. Live shrimp on popping corks or soft baits have worked best. As the water clears back up from the latest winds, look for the bite to improve again. Redfish were quiet this week, but Keith did manage to pull one out from under the mangroves.
Pompano have been cruising around the river and we caught several nice slab sides for dinner. Dave caught the largest, with Ray coming in a close second for the week. Live shrimp or small jigs tipped with shrimp have worked the best in the river. Still a lot of sheephead out there around the area. Bob boated three that would go 2 - 3 pounds each. A lot of schools of them around the flats, docks and bridges are keeping anglers, who are targeting them, busy. Croakers and black drum have been around the catwalks and along channel edges. Spanish mackerel are still around the inlet and a few in the channels. Ladyfish, jacks and bluefish have continued to be everywhere. They provide lots of fun, especially for the young anglers!
Surf:
Whiting, pompano, bluefish and mackerel have been patrolling the beaches. The pompano bite has been good again this week and many anglers have had some nice catches. Shrimp or sand fleas for the whiting and pomps, and shiny lures for the toothy guys. The lighter winds have given us some good days to enjoy the beach.
Tip of the Week:
You hear me talk a lot about kids and fishing. Those days when I see parents like Keith and Bob who share a day fishing with their children make it all worth while. I watched as Bob with his daughter, Hailey, and Keith with sons, Turner and Frank, took the time to make sure that the kids have a time to remember for a long time. It's parents like them that keep the fishing spirit alive in all of us and are creating the future for the generations to come. I am proud that Bob and Keith were on my boat!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852
CATCHES THIS WEEK:
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt004-1.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt004-1. jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt003-1.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt003-1. jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Dave with a nice pompano and snook....
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[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt002-1.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt002-1. jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Ray with a nice pompano and Bob with one of several nice sheephead... |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 130
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 31, 2008 - 4:47 am: | |
January 31, 2008
INSHORE:
Winter weather patterns have continued around the Treasure Coast this past week. Windy days and a few cool nights have made it the usual challenge to get out fishing. We were rewarded with a couple of days that reminded me of summertime fishing. Tuesday was one of those few calm days out there and it was a fantastic day to be on the water!
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt004.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt004.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
Summer-like morning on the Treasure Coast this week!
Once again, Snook Season opens along the Atlantic and the Treasure Coast of Florida on February 1st. Many anglers will be out at midnight tonight in an attempt to catch that elusive slot size fish. Most of the bridges around the area have been holding lots of snook. Live shrimp or pinfish is the popular bait of choice, but feather jigs, DOA Terroreyz, or Bomber lures are also local favorites. Fish the outgoing tides around the bridges or seawalls for a chance at your snook. Local docks are another area that snook tend to inhabit. I was able to pull a slot size from under a dock this week south of Fort Pierce.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt008.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt008.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
A DOA shrimp fooled this slot snook....
I saw more redfish on Tuesday than I have seen since summer. With the water so flat out there, you could see the action too good. The water was clear and the fish could see the boat too well. I managed two hookups and saw easily over fifty reds along the mangroves in less than two feet of water. Most were in small packs of three to six fish. With the water so clear and too quiet out there, they are easily scared. Move silently and slowly to get your chance. If you drift to quickly, you will usually drift on top of them. DOA rootbeer shrimp are a great choice, along with cut bait or dark jerk baits.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt007.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt007.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
This 20" gag grouper was a sucker for a DOA!
Trout were scattered, but with an early morning top water or suspending lure, you can coax one into striking. I found trout in two to five feet of water. Later in the mornings, switch to jerk baits or live shrimp. Harbor Branch or Queen's Cove are good places to start. I saw a number of small schools of nice size bluefish up to five pounds. They are agressive and put up quite a good fight on light tackle.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt009.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt009.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
Another snook that was patrolling the flats....
Bridges have held lots of sheephead. I saw many schools of them on the flats this week that held from a half dozen to at least fifty fish. Black drum have also been biting around the catwalks. I had a few reports of sand perch, snapper and croakers around the bridges. Live or dead shrimp have been the best baits on a number four or six long shanked hook. Jetties have yielded mackerel, bluefish and jacks. Ladyfish and jacks continue to rule the water just off the edges of the flats.
Surf:
Whiting and pompano are what the beachgoers have been targeting. Shrimp or sand fleas can provide dinner for you along the surf. Those that want some other action can fish a shiny lure, like a silver spoon, and have a chance at jacks, bluefish or mackerel. The weather has given us some nice opportunities along the beach this week.
Tip of the Week:
I spoke to a man this week, who said he hadn't been fishing in a while. He told me that he had guessed at sizes and limits of fish recently and ended up keeping both undersized fish and over the limit. After having been checked by an officer, he received a ticket for his wrong guessing. I don't know what it cost him, but I am sure it was more than he wanted to pay for his guesswork. Know your sizes and limits when you go fishing. It's not worth the cost of a fine to take the chance at keeping illegal fish!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 129
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 1:40 am: | |
January 25, 2008
INSHORE:
While the winds picked up....the fishing slowed down this week along the Treasure Coast. It has been a pretty windy week and hard to find areas that are fishable. The water quality isn't too bad in spite of the rough conditions. It's been hard to spot bait or action lately with the water rough all over the river. Not many anglers have braved it out there. Hopefully, a reprieve is in short order!
Most of the action consisted of ladyfish, jacks, black drum, sheephead and a few trout. Most of the river has been hard to fish so we have concentrated on areas that have been somewhat protected. Each day will be different on those areas, so watch the winds and plan your day.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/HogHunt.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_HogHunt.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
John did catch this nice trout on the flats....
John Musial was down this week and we fought winds all day, but did manage a number of jacks and other fish, including one nice trout on the flats. Most of the fish have come from 2 - 5 feet of water. Live shrimp has been our best bait for now. Once this weather relaxes, it should get back to some good winter fishing opportunities.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/000_0063.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_000_0063.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
A few scattered redfish can be found around the mangroves.....
Bridges have been holding sheephead, black drum and croakers, while the inlet and jetties have Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jacks. The anglers, who have been braving the beaches, are catching whiting and some pompano on shrimp or sand fleas. It's been a tough week and we all are looking forward to some nice weather again.
Tip of the Week:
Rain gear is essential not only in the rain, but can sure come in handy on those windy days on the water. Water spray and wave action can bring a lot of water into the boat. Those cold days can make it even worse. Break out the rain suit and it can keep you dry and warm on the tough days of fishing. Keep dry out there!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 128
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 11:31 am: | |
January 17, 2008
February Forecast
INSHORE:
As another front has come whisking through the Treasure Coast, it's the first week in a long time that I haven't been on the water. Catching up on a few things around the house and anxiously waiting for my Mother and Brother to arrive from West Virginia.....yep, I'm a hillbilly from long ago! Let's take a few minutes and look ahead at what will be happening around the Indian River for February.
Snook season will once again open on the Atlantic Coast and anglers will be out there seeking the slot size fish around the river. It might just be a good time to check the dates on your snook permit. Fishing around the bridges in both Fort Pierce and Stuart will be a good bet on a hookup. The turning basin around the Fort Pierce inlet will also be holding snook along the seawalls. Don't forget to fish some of the deeper docks around the area. Live bait, feather jigs and DOA Terroreyz are good choices to entice a snook to bite.
Redfish have been a bit scattered as the water turns cooler. They will be hanging on the edges of the flats and moving up into the shallows on sunny days to keep warm. Try some darker color jerk baits like the DOA CAL rootbeer 6" on a CAL jighead. Fish around the deeper mangroves for a chance at a slot size redfish in February. Work your lures slow....slow....slow... Try cut bait or live pinfish on the deeper areas of the flats. You can catch a red during the middle of the day on the flats during winter. Patience and persistence sometimes pays off out there.
Trout should be the most prevalent bite in February. Find some good grass flats in 2 - 5 feet of water and use live shrimp on popping corks. Harbor Branch and Queen's Cove are good areas north of Fort Pierce and the Power Plant to the south also can provide some good action. Jerk baits are good artificials along with shallow running MirroLures.
If you plan on fishing the jetties or bridges, look for croakers, sheephead and black drum to be hanging around the catwalks. Bluefish, mackerel and jacks will usually be crashing bait around the jetties. Winter conditions can be challenging some days so plan your day around the weather. It can be gusty most days, but there are many places to fish depending on the direction of the wind.
The SURF will continue to hold whiting and some pompano. The pomp bite has been better this year, Use shrimp or sand fleas along the beach for these fish. Silver spoons or shiny lures can coax a bluefish, mackerel or jack to bite. It can get tough to fish on the easterly blow in winter, so watch the weather before heading out.
Tip of the Week: Water temperature varies throughout the river and can affect the fishing. The warmer the water in winter, the more chance you have at catching fish. Deeper water will be the best bet in early mornings and on sunny days the flats can come alive as those temperatures begin to rise. Watch for bait.... Fish will follow the bait and you will have an even better chance at hooking up. There are a lot of variables out there this time of year. Be aware of conditions and use them to your advantage in winter.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 127
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 11:51 am: | |
January 10, 2008
INSHORE:
The Treasure Coast was rewarded this week with fantastic weather for fishing! Light winds and warm sunny days beckoned anglers to venture out on the water. It looked like summertime out there. Hope you enjoyed the nice days and had a chance to get out fishing. Fishing was great over the weekend and the first part of the week. Later, the fish were out there, but the bite was a little slower.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec008.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec008.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
Look for redfish along the edges of the flats.....
Trout was the main catch most of the week. Fishing the flats in two to four feet of water will give you the best opportunity of boating some spotted sea trout. Live shrimp on popping corks or soft plastics like DOA CAL jerk baits can help get you hooked up. From south around the power plant to north towards Round Island, you can find some trout hanging out feeding on the many schools of glass minnows. Don and Dave managed a few trout this week among the many jacks and ladyfish that are cruising around for a quick snack.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec002-3.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec002-3. jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Trout can be found in deeper water along the flats.....
Redfish were hitting earlier in the week on soft baits along the edges of the flats. Darker colors of jerk baits seemed to work best for them. Most are slot size and full of fight. Brennan from the Fishing Center reported catching four nice reds up to 30" while fishing south of Fort Pierce on the flats.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec001-3.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec001-3. jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Some larger bluefish have been cruising along the flats this week....
Not a lot of reports of snook fishing lately, but I did managed some shorts around some of the docks this week. Some big boys are also hanging around so move up slowly when approaching docks to fish. You can find some fish hanging along the front sides of the docks. Soft baits also worked for the snook this week. The weather has provided great fishing along both sides of the river and almost felt like summer out there.
Ladyfish, jacks and bluefish have been all over the river as usual. Some nice size ladyfish and bluefish can give a good fight on light tackle. Look along the edges of the flats in 3 - 5 feet of water for some exciting action. Bridges have been holding croakers, black drum and sheephead this week. Live or dead shrimp are the bait of choice along the catwalks and docks. There are still Spanish mackerel, jacks and bluefish around the inlet and jetties. There are plenty of fish out there, even if not what you would like to target. Look for the action to continue if the mild weather continues.
Surf:
Whiting has been the fish to catch lately. Live or dead shrimp can get you in on the action. Some pompano and bluefish are also out there. Take a silver spoon out early in the mornings and you will usually find something out there hungry for something shiny.
Tip of the Week:
Watch for the birds and bait. There are plenty of glass minnows in the river now and fish love feeding on them. Keep an eye open and fish the bait schools. Many species follow the bait and you can find some great fishing around the schools. Birds can give you a clue on where to find the bait. If there isn't any action around where you are fishing.....move on to another area.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 126
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 12:43 pm: | |
January 4, 2008
INSHORE:
The new year was welcomed by Ol' Man Winter this week on the Treasure Coast! Cool temperatures and lots of windy weather has reduced the options of fishing around the area and left most anglers wishing for a chance to get out on the water. The winds will be around for a while, so plan your adventures carefully and safely if you plan on venturing out to fish. Depending on the direction of the wind, you can find places in the river. Offshore will be another challenge for a while.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec003-1.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec003-1. jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Mike Mirando caught a released a limit of trout this week....
I did get out prior to the front moving into the area and the fishing has been good on the river. Trout has been the most prevalent bite. Now that they are back in season, many anglers will be targeting them for table fare this month. Some big trout have been on the flats, but look for them to move into deeper water as the area cools down now. Live shrimp on popping corks, DOA CAL jerk baits, top water and suspending lures can all get you some trout in the boat. Most grass flats have held trout, if you can get around the ladyfish and jacks to find them.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec014.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec014.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec010.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec010.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
The redfish bite was on prior to the cold front moving into the area....
Redfish have continued to bite along the flats. Lots of reports of redfish from the Power Plant to the Moorings from anglers. Live shrimp, Gulp shrimp, DOA shrimp or jerk baits have all been working out there. The water is getting churned up this week and will take several days to clear back up once the weather clears up. Look for grassy flats with sand holes scattered through it for some opportunities for a redfish.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec001-2.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec001-2. jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Early morning on the Indian River flats.....
Snook fishing has slowed for now. Since the season closed, anglers have mostly been targeting fish that they can keep. Make sure you practice a safe catch and release on any snook you catch this time of year. Ladyfish and jacks are everywhere again. They will attack just about anything moving and are great to keep the kids occupied. Still lots of mackerel around the inlet and channels of the river. Croakers have been biting around the bridges and catwalks lately, along with some black drum. Still some flounder around the inlet and docks. Most of the reports are prior to the cold front moving in, so things could change as the weather clears. Hopefully, the pompano bite will improve with the cooler weather.
Surf: Some anglers are venturing out on the beach in spite of the windy weather. Look for pompano, whiting, mackerel, bluefish and jacks along the surf if it is fishable. Shrimp, sand fleas, small bucktail jigs and silver spoons are good choices along the beach. Good luck and keep warm!
Tip of the Week: As winter settles in on the Treasure Coast, windy conditions will be the norm on most days for the next several months. Small boats that cruise the river in search of a good fishing spot can be especially vulnerable to water blown around in the boat from choppy waves and blustery winds. Make sure cell phones or any things that could be damaged by salt water are stowed secure and dry from the conditions. Dry boxes or zip lock bags can save a cell phone or car keys from sure disaster from the effects of saltwater. Keep them safe and dry before you leave the dock!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 125
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 27, 2007 - 3:00 pm: | |
[size=24][color=red]Happy New Year![/color][/size]
December 27, 2007
INSHORE:
It's hard to believe that another year has come and gone so fast. Lots of great fishing memories from 2007 and hopes for a fantastic fishing 2008. I appreciate everyone that I had the privilege to have on the boat this past year. Thank you! It looks like we will have some nice weather bring in the new year. Have a safe and happy New Year!
Fishing had slowed down some over the past weekend with the winds and rain that filtered into the area. As this week progressed, the weather cleared and it was like summertime out there. The fishing picked up as the winds died off opened up the river to anglers. I hope you had a chance to get out this week. Lots of boats in the water this week, so be careful and aware of your surroundings.
Snook, trout and redfish have been hanging around the flats. The windy weather kept many areas hard to fish, but the fish have been there. I fished north of Fort Pierce over the weekend and found trout hitting soft plastics in the usual areas. Mike Lazorik and his dad were on the boat this week. Mike managed a nice snook in spite of the windy weather. I had Alex West and Kalib Guettler out from Teen Anglers. The guys caught a lot of fish and had a great time, even though they caught none from the fishing list. The weather wasn't the greatest, but the guys had a good day fishing.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec001-1.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec001-1. jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Alex West caught this trout on his special diving lure!
I found a lot of trout later this week to the south of Fort Pierce. Even though they are catch and release, there have been some big trout cruising in two to five feet of water. Soft baits, like DOA CAL rootbeer jerk baits have worked well out there. Fish them slow along the bottom and you could also find some redfish in the same area. Today produced four redfish, over a dozen trout, a few small snook and more ladyfish and jacks than you care to count. It was a soft plastic day out there!
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec002-2.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec002-2. jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Mike found this snook hiding along the mangroves....
Bridges have yielded black drum, sheephead and flounder. Spanish mackerel have continued to be around the inlet and hitting small Clark Spoons. I did find a few flounder around some of the local docks. Bluefish are around the river as well. It's been a wonderful Holiday Season and many anglers have been enjoying a day or two fishing around the river or ocean.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec009.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec009.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec006-1.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec006-1. jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Gator trout are out on the flats.....January outlook is great!
Surf: Most beach anglers have been targeting whiting and pompano. Shrimp and sand fleas should get you some bites out there. You can still find some bluefish, jacks and mackerel along the beaches. I like a silver spoon for these guys. Make sure you use some sunscreen out there on the beach!
Tip of the Week: Holiday weekends traditionally bring out lots and lots of boaters. Plan on the ramps being filled beyond capacity and wait times to be longer. Take along a survival bag that includes: A large bottle of patience, a six pack of awareness, a bucket full of safety, a couple of caution tablets and a cooler full of smiles! Have a safe and happy New Year!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Happy Holidays,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 124
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 21, 2007 - 4:05 am: | |
Happy Holidays!
December 20, 2007
INSHORE:
With the Holidays already here, I want to take a few minutes and wish everyone a wonderful Holiday Season from myself and my wife, Eva. We thank all of you for making this a year full of great fishing adventures and memories. We made a lot of new friends and were visited by many old friends. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! I wish you the best for 2008 and hope your fishing adventures are fantastic. Be safe and happy!
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec006.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec006.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec004.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec004.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
First light can bring great fishing action on the flats....
The latest cold front has passed by and warm, mild weather has prevailed most of the week. Sunshine and light winds along the Treasure Coast enticed a lot of anglers to venture out on the water and enjoy some great fishing. The water temperatures have continued to cool off, but the fish have been hanging on the flats a good part of the day. Looks like the coming weekend should continue with the mild weather patterns.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec008.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec008.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec007.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec007.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
Redfish and trout action was great on the flats this week!
I found fish on most flats this week. Redfish, snook and trout were patrolling the flats in two to three feet of water as the sun came up over the water. Top water will get you some early morning hits and soft baits on the flats will give you a chance as the day wears on. I found redfish both north and south of Fort Pierce. Jerk baits worked well for the reds and trout as well. Snook will also be in the same areas looking for an easy meal. I found quite a few schools of glass minnows in the river and this should help find good areas to fish. Fish around the bait schools for a good chance at hooking up. Work your lures slow.......you will have better results.
Still good reports of pompano down south of Fort Pierce. Shrimp, sand fleas or small jigs are good baits. Flounder along the edges of the inlet have continued to bite. Try a live shrimp on a jig and fish it slowly along the bottom. Sheephead, snapper and black drum have been biting around the bridges and catwalks. The jetties have produced a lot of large jacks and Spanish mackerel. Hope you get a chance to fish soon!
Surf:
Whiting and pompano continue to feed along the beaches. Shrimp and sand fleas are hard to beat for them. You can also find some jacks, mackerel and bluefish also if you use a silver spoon or anything shiny. It should be a nice weekend to hit the beach.
Tip of the Week:
Looking for redfish on the flats is always fun and exciting. In winter, I like to fish along the edges of the flats early and move onto the shallow areas once it warms up a bit. Cool water temperatures don't seem to affect the reds as much as other fish. They will lie in very shallow water to keep warm in the sun's rays. Moving slowly and quietly is essential this time of year. Work across the flats too fast and you will find yourself spooking the fish. If you are fishing lures as slow as possible, it give you more time to fish the shallow areas and have a better success rate. Slow 'er down!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Happy Holidays,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 123
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 - 2:52 am: | |
December 14, 2007
INSHORE:
Today is the last opportunity to catch that slot size snook until next year. The season closes today and won't open again until February 1st. A lot of anglers have been fishing around the jetties with live bait and having success in catching....not necessarily a slot size though. Bridges have continued to hold snook for night anglers with live bait or feather jigs. Early mornings can find them cruising along the flats. Joe Novak emailed me and caught a nice snook around the Jensen Beach Causeway that was just a little short of slot size. After today.....catch and release them with care.
Trout fishing picked up this week, even though they are still out of season. The have been hungry for live shrimp or soft baits along the flats. Most have been in the slot size with a few above the 20" size. Fish the edges of the flats where the water drops off to 3 to 4 feet of water. It will be a couple more weeks until the season opens on January 1st, so again catch and release for now. Harbor Branch and Round Island has been good for trout lately.
Redfish action continues to be good on the flats. They have been hanging around the shallows in the warmth of the sun and you can find a few hungry ones if you use soft plastics and fish them slowly along the shallows. Bobby found his nice redfish on a soft baits and boated it after being chased around the boat a few times. Again, fish your lures slowly and then slow it down some more. Redfish can be lazy this time of year and slow to move around. Cooler water slows the metabolism and reaction time is like.....do I want to get off the couch and get myself a snack or wait here for my wife to come through the kitchen????
Other action around the river has been around the inlet with Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jacks cavorting most days on the bait schools. Shiny spoons or diamond jigs can help you find them. You might consider a short wire leader if you want to keep that lure very long. Jacks and ladyfish are everywhere again. Ten year old Michael wore himself out on ladyfish this week. He lost count, but kept on fishing for them. He sure kept me busy! Sand perch and flounder have been reported around the bridges along with black drum and sheephead. Docks have held many species for those wading or drifting along them. It's been a great week on the water!
Surf:
Whiting and pompano are again the fish being most sought after on the beach. Shrimp or sand fleas are the bait of choice. Silver spoons and pompano jigs are good artificials to be working along the surf. I have heard of bluefish and a few mackerel also being caught by the beach anglers. The nice weather has made it great along the Treasure Coast surf.
Tip of the Week:
Cooler water temperatures in winter brings clean water on the flats. As the water clears, it's more important than ever to move quietly and slowly across the flats. Fish usually more skittish in clean water. Start on the edges of the flats. I watch many boats motor up on the flats and start fishing. Most of the fish around them have already moved off that area. Redfish will lie in very shallow water to soak up the sun's rays. Noises will send them off the flats in a hurry. Drifting across the area will allow you to keep the noise down and have time to fish your lures slowly. I keep a mushroom anchor in the boat to allow me to stop on any given spot to fish it more thoroughly. Slow down and you should have better success this winter.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 122
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 07, 2007 - 3:17 pm: | |
December 7, 2007
INSHORE:
Isn't it great to live on the Treasure Coast in December??? Wonderful weather......great fishing.....it's a fantastic place to live! Hope you had an opportunity to enjoy this week and have plans to get out over the weekend. I spent last weekend on my annual voyage to Dolphin Stadium with my buddy, Pat. Not quite the same this year, but we had a fun weekend in spite of it. The fishing this week has been good for most species out there.
Snook fishing around the inlet in Fort Pierce has produced an assortment of sizes. Some slots taken while most were shorts along with some oversize. Most fish are being caught on live bait or feather jigs at night. The outgoing tide has been the best time to fish. We found some shorts along the flats this week. Don't forget you only have till December 15th to catch that keeper fish.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/2007dec002.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_2007dec002.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
Bob Bergen caught this 30" gator trout on the flats at first light....
Trout season is still closed this month, but has been good this week for the catch and release anglers. Bob Bergen was aboard this week and boated a sweet 30" trout on the flats and released it to fight another day. Soft plastics has been good for trout along with suspending lures and live bait. January 1st, you can keep your slot trout.
We ran up on a small school of redfish today and missed our chance at a hookup. Look for them to hang in the shallow flats during the day to soak up the warmth of the sun. Move along slowly and quietly for your opportunity. Soft plastics, like DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits are good choices when fishing for reds this time of year.
The pompano bite has picked up down towards the south of Fort Pierce. Live shrimp or sand fleas are great to use if you happen on a school. The flounder bite has started along the jetties and docks of the inlet. Look for them to be hanging around the docks and sandy flats of the river. Live shrimp is the usual bait of choice, but they will hit a soft bait, too. Spanish mackerel have been all over the river, especially the inlet area. We have found large numbers of them in the turning basin and along the channel edges. Live shrimp or shiny spoons will usually do the trick. Some are running in the five pound range this week. And, of course, the jacks and ladyfish are everywhere and anywhere. We found them up on the flats rolling like tarpon and hitting anything in sight. Great fun for the family!
Surf:
It has continued to be pompano and whiting along the beaches. Some bluefish have been caught along with jacks. Get some shrimp or sand fleas and head down to the surf for some great fishing weather! The surf near the jetties can also hold some flounder. Early mornings with a silver spoon can provide some exciting action and sometimes a snook or redfish cruising the beach.
Tip of the Week:
As winter creeps into the Treasure Coast, the water temperatures will vary day to day. As water temps fall, look for fish to be in deeper water in the early part of the day and head to the shallower areas as the sun warms. Trout will usually move to deeper water as it cools down. Vary your patterns to find where the fish are comfortable. Redfish will sit on the flats to warm up most of the day. Winter days can affect where and how you want to fish. Don't always keep the same routine and change things up if you aren't finding fish.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 121
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 30, 2007 - 5:52 pm: | |
November 30, 2007
INSHORE:
Another beautiful week of fishing weather allowed holiday anglers to embark on adventures along the Treasure Coast. The seas calmed down enough for boats to venture out on the ocean in search of fishing action. It looks like we can expect good fishing weather throughout the week. December brings the close of snook season on the 15th and trout season will continue to be closed during the month. There are lots of other species out there to keep you occupied. Plan a trip on the water soon!
Snook fishing on the flats has produced shorts mostly, but some larger fish are patrolling also. The inlets have continued to hold bigger fish around the bridges, docks and seawalls. Mostly night anglers have been seeking those fish with live bait or feather jigs. We found snook on the flats early in the day and some hanging under the docks in the shade during the middle of the day. There is still a couple weeks to try and get that slot fish. Randy Jagielo caught his first snook this week, even though it was short of the slot.
We found a few redfish on the flats, but spooked them as we were poling across the area. I have found them hanging near the drop offs and around the mangroves. We did have one hooked up for a while until it tossed the hook on us. Live bait, gold spoons or soft plastics, like DOA jerk baits fished slowly can give you a chance at a hookup. There have been several reports of reds being caught around the jetties this week.
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Randy took home a nice pompano for dinner...
Trout action has been spotty, but we haven't been targeting them since the season has been closed. We did manage to skip some pompano in the river to the south of Fort Pierce. The pompano bite has picked up the week and should continue to improve. Randy boated a nice pomp this week for dinner. He also battled a nice size tripletail next to the boat before losing the fight as the fish got off. There are still some tripletail around the river down towards the power plant and Jensen Beach. Some reports of flounder around the mouth of the inlet and I expect to hear of a better bite soon.
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Pompano provide great table fare during the cooler months....
Jacks, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel have been all over the inlet. We found schools of them harassing bait and hooked up numerous times with fish. It's great action and plan on losing some lures while you fish. Great fun for the kids to keep the smiles on their faces! Bridges have held some snapper, sheephead, black drum and sand perch. Live or dead shrimp is the favorite table fare for these fish.
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Still a little short of slot size...Randy did catch his first snook.....
SURF:
The pompano bite has been improving for those using shrimp or sand fleas. Whiting are still hanging along the beach. A silver spoon could net you jacks, bluefish or Spanish mackerel. Sand fleas have been spotty to find so you might have to take some with you as a backup. Lighter winds have made it much more enjoyable to fish the surf.
Tip of the Week: With a number of different species available both in the river and on the ocean. Most anglers keep rods rigged to be ready for encounters with these fish. Many fish require using specialized rigs or lures if you want a chance at a hookup. With a chance at pompano, flounder, redfish, etc....etc....it's important to be ready for any opportunity. If you happen to skip some pompano while heading to your fishing spot, will you have a rig ready to cast at them and fish the school? Most offshore boats keep a rod handy for cobia should they happen to run across one. Sometimes you only have seconds to make that cast to a fish. It pays to be prepared!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 120
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 22, 2007 - 4:45 am: | |
November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
Inshore:
Fantastic weekend weather found many anglers hitting the water to enjoy both the sun and fishing. Monday bought some rainy and windier days to the Treasure Coast. It's still great to live and fish in Florida! Looks like some nice weather for the holiday weekend ahead of us. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!
We found ourselves in some great weather this week. Sunday I had Vincent Serio and David Brasher on the boat for the Teen Anglers Tournament. They both caught a good number of fish, but David ended up with the better day. Two nice slot redfish, flounder and a number of other fish that day. Vincent caught trout, snook and snapper. We had a great time out there. David ended up taking first place in the high school division and biggest fish with his 24" redfish. The flats have continued to hold redfish. They are scattered about this time of year, but try around the mangroves in two to three feet of water. Fish slowly........with soft plastics or live bait. We have also caught reds under some of the docks of late. Live bait or soft plastics there as well. All have been slot size that we have boated.
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David Brasher caught this 22" redfish along the mangroves....
Snook have continued to bite around the inlet. Night fishing has been the most productive. While most are shorts, a number of slots have been taken and some over size fish as well. Live bait has been the choice. Either large shrimp or finger mullet can get you some hits. The outgoing tide has been the best bite. Don't forget to hit a few docks for another chance at a hookup. A lot of shorts have been feeding on the flats. We have found most in two to three feet of water. Watch for nervous bait schools and fish around them. Soft plastics or Mirrolures have worked well for us. Snook season will close on December 15th.
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Vincent Serio boated his snook from under a Fort Pierce dock....
Trout are still out of season and we haven't targeted them, but have caught them on the flats hanging in the same areas as the snook. Remember to handle them carefully and release them quickly and unharmed. January 1st will bring the opening of trout season again.
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A winner with his 24" redfish! David Brasher
Bridges have been holding sheephead, black drum, snapper, sand perch and a few flounder. Live or dead shrimp is always the best choice for baits along the catwalks. Still waiting on the pompano and flounder bite to pick around the area. So far, just spotty reports of catches. Lots of jacks and ladyfish in the river to pull out some drag, especially for the youngsters.
Surf:
Whiting has been the best catch on the beach. Many anglers are fishing for pompano out there with mixed results. Live or dead shrimp or sandfleas are the best choices of baits. Just keep trying and they should turn on anytime out there. Sand fleas have been a little scarce in a lot of areas recently. Keep digging!
Tip of the Week:
Keeping your vessel organized is as important as tying on that favorite lure. Keep decks and walkways open. When battling with a fish, you don't always have the time to look around and make sure you have room to move about the vessel. Have equipment, whether fishing or emergency related, stored where everyone knows it's location. Reduce your risks and increase your fun out there on the water!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 119
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 4:43 pm: | |
November 15, 2007
Inshore:
In spite of some windy and rainy days, this week has given us a few days to enjoy the fishing along the Treasure Coast. Looks like the weather should continue to be nice for us over the coming weekend. Expect the breezy days though the winter and plan your day based on what the weather has to offer. Today on the water, the wind died off and provided fishing opportunities throughout the river. It was a beautiful day out there and the fish were biting, too!
Early mornings have found trout, ladyfish, jacks and snook giving chase to the bait around the flats. I found plenty of bait schools. If you fished the pods that were getting bashed, you could catch a variety of species. Remember that trout are still catch and release the rest of the year. Snook season will close on December 15th. Try a top water lure at first light and you should find some nice hits out there. I found a few nice redfish up on the flats. There were hitting DOA shrimp on CAL jig heads.
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This 30" snook was hiding under the Fort Pierce docks....
The inlet and bridges have been holding plenty of sand perch, snapper and black drum. Live or dead shrimp can help you catch dinner. There have been some nice sizes to some of the fish around the bridges. The Spanish mackerel have invaded the inlet. I found lots of them crashing bait around the turning basin. Shiny spoons or jigs should get you hooked up.
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Redfish have been hanging on the flats around the mangroves....
Snook fishing has been mostly at night around the bridges and seawalls. I found a number of shorts feeding on the flats, but there are larger fish out there. too. Don't forget the docks around the river. I caught a 30" snook hiding under one this week. Live shrimp or mullet, DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits are great to use around the docks. You might also find redfish, trout and many other fish lurking underneath. Docks are a great place to target when the sun is high on the water. A number of anglers have caught snook and redfish out on the jetties and inlet docks lately.
Surf:
Most beach anglers have been targeting pompano, bluefish and whiting. With the winds letting up a bit, it's a good chance to hit the surf. Live or dead shrimp and sand fleas have been the baits of choice. Silver spoons can find bluefish, jacks and Spanish mackerel along the beach or along the jetties. There are a lot of surf anglers who have been using the big fish sabiki rigs along the beach for whiting. Tipped with shrimp, you have a greater chance at a hookup with several hooks in the water. It might be worth a try!
Tip of the Week:
This week reminded me that winter is fast approaching the Treasure Coast. Memories of cool mornings and hot afternoons in the coming months will bring out the warmer clothing for the water. On these cool mornings, dress in layers so you can be comfortable both early and later in the day. It will allow you to take off those layers as the day heats up and enjoy the weather. The water can sure bring a chill at first light and being dressed properly will let you enjoy it along with the great fishing out there.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 118
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 09, 2007 - 4:06 am: | |
November 9, 2007
Inshore:
Hooray for sunny weather! After what seems like an eternity, the sun came out and the winds died off to let local anglers venture out on the Indian River for some much needed fishing and boating. Offshore still hangs tough for most boaters and many enjoyed the river starting on Sunday. Oh, there is still a breeze out there, but very fishable conditions. Water quality is still down, but the fish have to eat and they did that most days for us this week.
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Dale caught this 34" gag grouper around the Fort Pierce docks....
Snook turned out to be our target even though the slots avoided the hook. Dale Oosting, Alan Miller and Kathleen Hall all caught some nice snook from around the bridges and docks this week. Live bait worked best for us. The outgoing tides favored the most bites, though incoming kept us busy as well. Lots of different species are hanging around the docks and bridges and we caught our share of them. The better snook bite has continued to be at night around the inlet. Live mullet or shrimp has been the first choice of bait along with feather jigs and bomber lures.
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Kathleen Hall with her first snook.....
We found trout hitting early on live bait. Most were up to 22" and hungry. Alan caught all of his around the bridges. Also try deeper water with a popping cork and live shrimp. Try to find some clean water for the best opportunity. Later in the day, Alan, from Scotland, pulled a nice redfish from under the docks to finish off his inshore slam. A reminder that trout season is closed November and December, so catch and release is in effect now. Handle your fish carefully and release them unharmed.
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Alan with a trout and redfish this week....
Speaking of dock fishing, Dale was down from Michigan and finally caught one of those fish that continually break you off around the docks. He topped off the day with a 34" Gag grouper that he horsed away from the structure with quite a lot of effort. Alan and Kathleen had a lot of fun catching a wide variety of fish around the docks. The catwalks have been yielding some sand perch and lots of anglers are also fishing around the seawalls around the library in Fort Pierce for them. The black drum have also filtered into the inlet and are holding the same areas. Live or frozen shrimp have worked best.
Surf:
Wind has left the beaches pretty dirty for now. Those anglers who are fishing the surf have found some whiting and pompano scattered along the Treasure Coast. Shrimp or sand fleas has been the best bait for now. Watch for bait schools that run along the beach and fish live mullet or cast a top water for a chance at snook, jacks or maybe a tarpon. I heard of a few pompano north of Fort Pierce, but it can change quickly. We should start seeing some Spanish mackerel soon.
Tip of the Week:
It's hard enough to remember fish, limits, slots, etc....etc... It is important to be able to identify the fish you catch and have some way to measure and know the sizes and limits if you plan on keeping any fish. One of the hardest for many anglers to identify is the difference between lane and mutton snappers. There are distinct differences in each, but still hard for many to distinguish. The legal size for each is enough to make it important to know your fish. Lane snapper has an 8 inch minimum, while mutton snapper must be at least 16 inches. Stop by your local tackle shop and check out some pictures of them so you can correctly identify your fish.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 117
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 02, 2007 - 4:51 am: | |
November 2, 2007
Inshore:
Just when you think things are going to improve......here comes the wind, waves and wetness in force to keep most anglers inside rather than on the water. Strong winds have prevailed this week along the Treasure Coast bringing rain along with it. The only fishing I did was walking along the mosquito ditches in search of water that wasn't white capping! Oh, the fish are out there, but it's been hard to find a day where you can fish out of the weather. Looks like things might soften up over the weekend and we might get some days next week to check out the water.
There hasn't been much to report on this week. A few snook and trout catches on the river. There have been a lot of jacks and ladyfish around. As I was walking the mosquito ditches, I spotted a huge school of jacks out in the river wreaking havoc on the bait schools. Looks like the action should be there when the weather is suitable to get out safely. Some of the hard core bridges anglers have been catching black drum, snapper and a few scattered redfish on the catwalks and jetties. Anywhere you can find to get out of the wind has been a good place to fish!
It's gonna take several days for the water to start clearing up again. It looked pretty good late last week, but with the blowing winds and rain, it will remain dirty for a while longer. The culverts around the mosquito impoundments are flowing strong and should be a good place to fish for snook in the early mornings. Early mornings around those areas are good for top water lures and can keep you out of the wind until it settles down again. The water has cooled off quite a bit, so expect the trout bite to improve along with the flats fishing in general. See you out on the water!
Tip of the Week:
With the weather conditions, I spent some time cleaning out the boat. It's always a good idea to do that several times a year. You find things you thought you had lost.....find things you forgot you owned.....find things you thought you had got rid of.....and have a chance to make sure everything is in working order and ready for the next trip. Check out your favorite lures and change the hooks when they get corroded. Make sure things are dry and not mildewed. Locate safety equipment and have it easily accessible if needed. Foul weather allows you to take a few minutes and do some much needed housecleaning....er.....I mean boatcleaning!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 116
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 26, 2007 - 4:22 pm: | |
October 26, 2007
Inshore:
I spent the most part of this past week visiting my family way up in
West Virginia. With all the nasty weather lately, it was much better
than trying to fish! As some of you remember, my dad passed away
back in June. I spent this last weekend with my mom and family to
remember his birthday. We went to visit the National D-Day Memorial
in Bedford, Virginia. My dad was in the first waves on Omaha Beach
on D-Day and was only one of three survivors on his landing craft of
thirty soldiers. It was a great trip and nice to spend some time
with my mom and family.
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National D-Day Memorial
Looks like the weather held a pretty good grip on the Treasure Coast
with windy, wet conditions most days. In talking with some of the
local anglers, snook was probably the most exciting action. Those
fishing around the docks and bridges managed some slot size along
with a good number of shorts for their efforts. Live shrimp or
mullet has worked best for snook. I had a few reports of redfish
around the river. Most came from along the docks or bridges with a
few reports from the flats. Trout was again slow due to the poor
water conditions. Bridge anglers have been rewarded with black drum,
redfish and some sand perch for their efforts. Live shrimp has been
the best choice of bait.
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Trout action will improve as the water clears....
I managed to get out today to check out the river and found that the
water clarity had already improved and you could see the bottom on
the flats that I fished. It will take a few more days of good
weather to help clean it up again. I found plenty of bait on the
flats and that's where I caught my fish. Snook, trout, jacks and
ladyfish was that catch today. A couple of nice trout up to 23" and
the snook were shorts, but put up a good battle. I found some fish
hanging around some glass minnow pods also. Top water and suspending
lures gave me some good action today. Of course to stay in sync
with the recent weather.....it rained all morning!
If the water conditions continue to improve, look for the action to
get better on the river. The fish are out there and some clean water
goes a long way to getting them in the mood to feed. You will have
to search out the better water. The grassy flats like Bear Point and
other areas to the south generally clean up quicker. Hard bottom
flats will also clean up better. Have a good week out there!
Tip of the Week:
Rain gear can make the worst rainy day a little less miserable.....
Make sure you have your rain gear with you out on the water. Showers
like this week can sneak up on you quickly. It's a good idea to keep
a few Ziploc bags on board to keep cell phones, keys, wallets,
cameras....etc from getting wet. Water can find it's way into most
places, so always be prepared for foul weather. Keep dry out there!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an
ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 115
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 4:38 pm: | |
October 18, 2007
Inshore:
Early morning fishing remained good this week on the Treasure Coast. First light bought us some nice action around the bridges in Fort Pierce as the snook continued to gorge themselves on the bait schools. Getting out early for that first light bite or fishing the tides around the inlet can help your chances on hooking up. Looks like the weather will cooperate this coming weekend, so plan on getting out on the water soon!
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Mark Amorello caught this slot snook in the Fort Pierce inlst....
We had some good action on snook in the early part of the days while fishing around the inlet in Fort Pierce. Lots of shorts out there to give you some action and we also missed a couple of good hits. Mark Amorello ended up with a slot size after a number of shorts at first light. The bite has been good on both tides as long as the water has been moving. Warren and Jerry also got in on some of the action around the bridges. Live bait has worked best with either live shrimp or mullet. We fished around some bait schools on the flats and found some shorts hanging around there also.
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Mark also caught this four pound snapper under the bridges....
We found a few trout out there, but the bite was off most of the week with all the dirty water around the river. Look around the usual trout areas to find some clean water. We did catch a few around Bear Point and north of Fort Pierce. Live shrimp on floats will give you the best opportunity. Try some top water at first light. The water should start clearing up a bit by the weekend with the wind laying up some.
We found a few redfish, but they were just short of slot size. Try along the mangroves or around the docks and you might just catch a keeper redfish. Karl missed a couple good hits around one of the docks this week. Live bait or a DOA shrimp can give you the edge on getting a bite. We did find some glass minnows out on the flats and found fish feeding on them. I had a few reports of reds around the jetties this week. With the dirty water, it's a good time to break out the gold spoon on the flats.
Snapper around the bridges and channel edges are still a mainstay for anglers out there. Mark Amorello nailed a nice 4 pound snapper at the north bridge. Most are in the pound range, but great table fare! Ladyfish and jacks are just about anywhere you look. We found some big ladies around the bridges this week along with a few grouper.
Tip of the Week:
It's always a good idea to clean out the ol' boat a few times a year. Dampness, especially like we have had lately, can creep into compartments and end up with mildew in and on things. Life preservers can mildew quickly when damp. Flares, if not protected, and draw dampness and not work properly. You might find that favorite lure buried somewhere with rusty ol' hooks. Boats are made for water.....but water isn't always good for boats.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 114
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 13, 2007 - 1:56 am: | |
October 11, 2007
Inshore:
After another week of wild, windy weather, it finally calmed down a few days this week. We managed to fish in spite of the conditions and caught fish each time we were out there. The water is still dirty and will take a while to clean back up again. It's time to change tactics and fish the bait rather than fish the usual spots. The bait schools are still all over the river and we have found fish chasing it around the area. I found a number of glass minnows around the river and fish were hanging around them. Docks have been productive when the wind lets you fish them. Bridges have been very active in the early mornings and on the outgoing tides.
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Jon and Jerry with a couple of snook caught in Fort Pierce this week....
Snook fishing has remained fairly productive. We managed a number of shorts around the bridges and missed a few bites from larger fish. Live shrimp worked best for us. Lots of bait schools have been hanging around there and the fish have been having a feast on them. Expect the grouper, bluefish, ladyfish and jacks to keep you busy also. The jetties have also been holding their share of snook for those anglers. Jon and Jerry had some fun around the bridge with snook, grouper and ladyfish this week.
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Alan with his 23" trout caught along the flats...
Trout fishing has been on and off. If you can find some cleaner water, you will probable find some trout there. North of Fort Pierce has been pretty dirty the past several weeks. South of Fort Pierce should clean up quicker and you can look to find trout from Bear Point south to the power plant as the water quality improves. Try top water early and switch to live bait in two to five feet of water. Alan and Tom were out with me this week. Alan caught a nice 23" trout on the flats.
Redfish have been on the flats, but scattered and we spent more time fishing for trout and snook this week. We will be looking for them over the weekend again. There have been some caught around the docks and jetties in Fort Pierce with the bait schools moving around the inlet. Live shrimp fished under the docks will increase your chances at catching that redfish this week.
Snapper have continued to bite along the channel edges and the bridges. Jacks, ladyfish and bluefish have been all over the river chasing the bait schools. It's a great time to take the kids out and have some fun with them. There were a few reports of flounder prior to the weather churning up the river, but none this week.
Tip of the Week:
It's very easy this time of year to get sunburned out there on the water. Not only the sun, but wind can make it worse. Always use a good sunscreen when on the water. Once you realize that you should have put some on....it's usually too late by then. Make sunscreen part of your morning prep before you hit the water and use it throughout the day to keep those harmful rays from damaging your skin. It's much more fun telling fish tales that evening without a beet red face to go with it!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 113
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 3:28 am: | |
October 5, 2007
Inshore:
Windy...wavy...wet....weather held the Treasure Coast hostage most of this week. Finally it cleared the past few days allowing many anglers the opportunity to get out on the water. Even with all the rain and wind, the water clarity wasn't quite as dirty as expected. The bait was all over the river and the fish were out there feeding. I managed to get out today to do some scouting around the area. It was a beautiful day on the water!
I fished mostly south for a nice change and found snook, trout, snapper and some big jacks on the flats. Using CAL jerk baits and suspending lures today, I found the fish hanging around the bait schools and docks to the south of Fort Pierce. The west shore held trout along the route down to the power plant. The water to the north was still pretty churned up, but south held up fairly well. It will still take a few days of calm weather to clean it up again. It was nice to get back out on the water again!
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpic001-1. jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpic001 -1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Trout cooperated again today as the weather cleared for a few days.
Live shrimp fished in two to four feet of water on the grass flats should find you some trout next week. Top water, suspending lures, DOA shrimp and live bait can help locate snook, jacks, ladyfish and redfish on the flats. Fishing along the channel edges with live shrimp can get you a limit of snapper. Hopefully, the next front goes through quickly and we can get back to some great fishing action out there.
Find the bait and you should find the fish. Look for agitated or nervous bait schools and fish around them. I found some big schools of big jacks cruising along the flats in search of an easy meal. Cloudy skies will help keep the fish on the flats longer chasing bait. Watch the weather for this weekend, another front is heading this way to stir up things again for several more days. Keep safe out there.
Tip of the Week:
Pre-planning your day on the water is a great way to be ready for that day of fishing. Checking weather forecasts and tides can help determine where you want to start fishing that morning. Rod prep will have the right rod with the right lure ready to make that first cast as soon as you get to your favorite spot. It gives you a chance to make sure equipment is in good working order prior to getting to the ramp. Check drags, line and leader condition, rod guides and tips to insure you won't find a problem when you make that first cast. It's a good idea to have a few second choices for fishing areas in case that first spot is already taken by another angler. It just makes good sense to take the time to prepare for that trip in advance.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 112
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 5:08 pm: | |
September 20, 2007
Inshore:
Other than some daily thunderstorms that have loomed over the Treasure Coast, the fishing has been good out on the river. Some breaks in the daily routine of rain, have provided a mixed bag of fish for anglers braving the conditions. Mullet are all over the river now and the predators are all out there giving chase. It's not hard to find fish....just watch for nervous or excited bait schools and you can find fish hanging around them.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures0 02.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpictur es002.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures0 01.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpictur es001.jpg[/img][/URL]
Eva with trout and bluefish to begin a morning on the water....
I managed a couple days on the water in between the weather this week. My wife, Eva, accompanied me on Saturday for some great fishing action on the Indian River. Fishing around bait rewarded us with catches of snook, trout, redfish,ladyfish, bluefish, jacks, snapper and grouper in our morning excursion. Eva finally got tired of reeling in fish, so we called it a day.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishingpictures0 03.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishingpictur es003.jpg[/img][/URL]
Topping of the day with snook.....
With all the bait available, there will be a nice assortment of fish to be sought in this time of plenty.
Early morning will find snook, trout, ladyfish and jacks up on the flats seeking an easy breakfast. A good top water lure will give you plenty of action in the wee hours of morning. Switch to soft plastics or sinking lures once the sun rises and start moving to the deeper edges of the flats. Washed out sand holes on the flats are a favorite hiding spot for large trout during the morning also. Live shrimp is always a great way to catch dinner around the river. The entire river is alive right now!
Snook fishing has provided some nice slot size fish to the night anglers around the bridges and inlet area. Live shrimp is usually the bait of choice, but finger mullet is another good bait for snook fishing. Docks around the river have held snook, redfish and snapper. We fished several this week with good success. Live shrimp or soft baits will let you know if something is lurking under a dock.
Redfish are still hanging on the flats. I was slammed by a couple nice reds while fishing the bait schools. Soft baits have always worked great for me and I use them on the flats most of the time. All the rain has raised the water level in the river for a few days and allows you to fish areas normally pretty shallow.
Tip of the Week:
Take the time to watch the bait. Nervous bait means fish, lazy bait might be a sign to move on. Birds are cruising the skies looking for bait being chased. Learning to read the water can give you a good insight on where to fish or when to move to another spot. Take a little time and watch what is going on around you. The river is an exciting place to fish. Letting the fish, bait and birds tell you what is happening can help make your trips more successful!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 111
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 13, 2007 - 2:41 pm: | |
September 13, 2007
Inshore:
Another beautiful week of nice weather on the Treasure Coast has provided some great fishing opportunities on the Indian River. Tides have been running higher than normal this week, allowing anglers to fish areas that are usually too shallow for most boats. The water has remained fairly clean to the north of Fort Pierce, even with the showers we have received this week. South of Fort Pierce has been clear and the mullet have invaded the river. Fish the bait and you will find the action!
Trout has continued to be very productive in the early mornings on soft baits, top water or live shrimp. Get out early for the best action. Fish the shallow grass flats first and move to the deeper edges once the sun rises. Mike Smith and his friend, Terry, were out with me over the weekend and we got into some nice trout action in the early morning. They caught two over slot trout, but Terry had a huge gator trout explode on his top water, only to miss. I was out scouting a couple days this week and landed a 27" to top off the day. Harbor Branch and Bear Point have been good to us most days out there.
Snook fishing has been good at night along the inlet, docks and bridges. Not many slot size reported, but many shorts and some over-size snook were reported. Live bait is the first choice. Large shrimp, when available, or live mullet will do the trick. Don't forget to give the surf a try this time of year. Lots of snook will be patrolling the beaches while chasing the mullet.
Not a lot of redfish reports this week. They were on the flats the week prior, but evaded us this week. I will be after them again next week! With all the mullet filtering into the river, look for the action on the flats to continue to heat up next week!
Hoards of ladyfish and jacks are chasing bait all over the river. Some nice size jacks are out there to keep your rod bent. It's a great time of year to fish the Indian River. Still lots of snapper on the channel edges to keep you busy. Plan a trip on the water soon.....
Tip of the Week:
With all the bait in the river, it's a great time to drift the flats in the early mornings. It's always a good idea to use the tides and winds to your advantage when fishing the flats. Set yourself up to drift across your favorite fishing area to let the winds and tide move you silently across it. I always carry a small bell anchor along to drop over the side if I want to stop in any area to fish it, before drifting along again. You can use a zigzag pattern to fish flats by drifting and moving back for another drift along a different path. It works well for early mornings on the flats.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 110
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 06, 2007 - 4:24 pm: | |
September 6, 2007
Inshore:
A little cooler weather has eased up some of the heat on the Treasure Coast this week. Along with some afternoon showers, it has helped cool off the water temperatures on the flats. You can see the first signs of the mullet invading the river to begin the fall mullet run along the eastern Florida. It's a great time of year to fish the Indian River!
Most weeks, lately, it has been a trout and snapper report. I was on the water today fishing the shallow waters of the north of Fort Pierce. As I saw a flash in front of the boat, I looked out on a nice sized school of healthy redfish working their way across the flats. All were in the upper slot range and with one cast, I had on a 27" bundle of angry fish. The whole school lingered around while I fought the red and there were even several that continued to swim next to the hooked fish as it neared the boat. The redfish are back on the flats!
Trout fishing has continued to be most productive in the early mornings on top water or live bait on a float. Look for them to stay on the deeper edges of the flats for now, but they will begin to head up in the shallows once the mullet are in the river. As the water temps lower a bit, the trout will spend more time on the flats.
Snook fishing has been good for the night anglers around the bridges, jetties and docks. Most have been shorts and some nice over-slots have been taken. It's been a challenge to get in the slot so far this season for a lot of anglers. Early mornings on the flats will find snook feeding at first light and a top water lure can get a strike. Large shrimp or live bait works well around the bridges and jetties.
There are still snapper, jacks and ladyfish being caught around the river. Hit the channel edges for snapper. Jacks and ladyfish are all around the river this time of year. Look for things to heat up as the mullet continue to filter their way into the river. It's time to get out the cast net and be ready for some great fishing action!
Tip of the Week:
I fish a lot of soft baits on the flats. One thing that I do to keep my baits hopping along the grass is to hold the rod tip high while popping my baits up over the grass. Use short twitches to work the bait slowly along the bottom. I like to use CAL jigs on my soft baits and if you use short, sharp pops with your rod tip high, it will keep the bait jumping up before settling back on the bottom. If you practice, you will seldom pick up grass as you fish the flats. You can use weedless set ups also and use the same technique to work your lure.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
CaptainIDS (Captainids)
New member
Username: Captainids
Post Number: 18
Registered: 9-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 05, 2007 - 10:03 am: | |
Are you a Licensed Coast Guard Captain?
This is for you
http://www.captainids.com/ |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 109
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 4:23 pm: | |
August 23, 2007
Inshore:
Dog Days of summer are upon us still and it's been hot around the Treasure Coast this week. Getting out early or late in the day offers the best opportunities to fish and a little comfort to go along, too. Fishing has continued to be productive for those early birds on the water.
Trout and snapper has been the best bite along the river this week. I had Tyler Serio, Chad Merrill and Jason Horn on the boat Sunday for the first Teen Anglers Tournament. While the big fish evaded us, they caught a number of trout, snapper, look-downs and a variety of fish for the day. It was a great day of fishing for the guys. I always look forward to the tournaments and taking the guys out. All three of them were awarded trophies for their catch.
The not hard to find the secret to fishing in the heat of summer. Look for the bait schools and you should find fish hanging around them. Snook, redfish and trout have been chasing the bait in the wee hours of the mornings and a good top water lure can get you a strike. Vary the way you work your lures until you get that hit and keep working it around the bait. Once the sun rises, switch to a suspending lure or live bait on a popping cork. The trout have been hitting mostly in the mornings, but you can still get a few to bite around the bait schools. There has been a good bite down towards the Power Plant and up north from Queen's Cove to Round Island.
Snapper have continued to bite along the channel edges with live or dead shrimp. Fishing around structure on the bottom can get you a good mess for dinner. There have also been sheephead and black drum hanging in the same areas. Use small hooks to have the best chance for them. We have had success on both tides. I heard from several anglers who have had some good luck this past week catching some nice snapper.
Snook have been on the flats in the early hours chasing bait. Also look for snook and redfish to be lurking along the docks south of Fort Pierce. Lots of other fish around the river this time of year. We have been catching jacks, ladyfish, look-downs, barracuda and variety of other species that have invaded the river in search of a meal.
Tip of the Week:
Snook season open September 1st and is almost here already. It's a good time to check things and make sure you are ready for it. With the new regulations in effect, make sure you have something to measure your fish. Have you checked your snook stamp? Might just be time to do that, too. A lot of snook fishing gear isn't used as much during the off season, so it's time to check your rods, reels and line. It's usually pretty busy around the bait shops, ramps and inlets that first week. Make your plans and include alternate fishing spots if your favorite haunt is taken when you head out. It can get crowded, so a little patience, friendliness and awareness can help make for a fun experience.....hopefully a successful one, too!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 108
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 12, 2007 - 2:49 am: | |
August 10, 2007
Inshore:
It has been a wonderful week of warm weather and light winds. Watching the sun slowly rise over the mangrove islands truly a sight to behold. It's a fantastic time of year to get out on the water. Drink plenty of fluids and head out to your favorite fishing spot! Fishing slowed down the first part of the week, but picked back up the latter part. It looks like a great weekend ahead of us here on the Treasure Coast!
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing003-1.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing003-1. jpg[/img][/URL]
Rick Monterosso with his 23" trout caught along the flats....
Trout fishing picked back up by the last of this week and we had some really nice catches on both top water and live bait. Geoff Kahler topped off this weeks trout with a huge 29" gator trout on a top water lure. Rick Monterosso added a big 23" and Joe Vennarini added his share to the catch, too. Get out early for the best bite. Look to the usual trout spots like Round Island, Harbor Branch and the east shore to the south of Fort Pierce.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing004.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing004.jp g[/img][/URL]
Eric Turgeon with a nice 27" redfish caught on the flats....
With the heat and water temps much higher, the redfishing slowed down for us this week. Look the deeper water off the flats to find some hanging around. I believe once the water cools off some next month, we will find them back in their old haunts again. Eric Turgeon boated a very nice 27" redfish on a soft bait in three feet of water around the flats.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing001.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing001.jp g[/img][/URL]
Joe Vennarini with a fat 26" snook caught before sunrise....
Snook fishing has been an early bite and not many reports this month as they are still out of season. Joe Vennarini boated two snook this week with the largest at 26" on an early morning top water. They will continue patrolling the shallow flats before the sun rises for an early morning meal. The bridges and docks will also hold snook during the daytime. Live bait will be the best choice once the sun comes up.
We had two huge fish lost around the docks this week. Todd Dziak and Rick Monterosso both had large fish hit a live pinfish and take off to parts unknown. From the way they fought, it was most likely a big grouper or black drum. Lots of snapper are still around the river along the channel edges and docks. We have still found some ladyfish and jacks around the river and some bluefish have continued to cut lines off. Get out there early!
Tip of the Week:
Keep cool out there on the water! Easier said than done I guess. Drinking lots of fluids, wearing a hat and getting out on a plane once in a while can all help. A lot of boats, like mine, don't offer shade or cover and keeping cool in 90 degree weather is very important. Wetting a towel in cool water and putting it around your neck can help keep you cooler. Getting on the water early and off the water before the worst of the days heat arrives can also help. The fishing is great this time of year, so keep your cool out there while you are fishing!!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 107
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 03, 2007 - 5:59 am: | |
August 2, 2007
Inshore:
Summertime weather patterns have continued here on the Treasure Coast, bringing afternoon thunderstorms through the area on most days. It's a great time to get out early and get your fishing done before noon. We have had our best luck at first light this week. Once the sun comes up....lather up with sunscreen and head for deeper water around the flats to find the fish. Thursday it was so foggy that you almost needed the compass to find out what direction you were facing.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing007.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing007.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
Steve Krac caught this 22" trout along the Indian River flats...
Trout was our mainstay this week. Some nice sized ones have been feeding on the bait around the river. We have found most bites in two to four feet of water. Top water worked well for us most days. Capt Pat Wells found some nice trout hitting in the shallow waters with me this past week. Steve Krac and his friend, Warren found a few trout up to 22" with a top water lure early. Live bait on popping corks will work once the sun rises high. Harbor Branch up north and most of the flats to the south of Fort Pierce has been producing trout.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing005.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing005.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
First light and top water results for Capt Pat Wells.....
We found some nice snook hanging around the docks this week. Steve lost one nice one that headed under the docks and broke us off. Warren boated a smaller snook with a live shrimp also. We did see several large snook lurking around the docks to the south. Live bait has been our best option for the dock areas.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing006.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing006.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
Warren with another top water trout....
Some redfish up on the flats this week. They have scattered for now. Emmett and his wife found some tailing but didn't to cast at them as another boat cut in front of us within twenty feet of the boat. Of course, the fish headed out off the flats. Jerk baits and gold spoons have been our choice of lures for reds. There are still some nice snapper along the channel edges also for those anglers.
The inlet and turning basin has still been loaded with glass minnows and all the critters that chase them. Huge schools of mackerel, jacks, ladyfish and bonito have continued to follow the bait into the inlet area with the rising tides. Steve and Warren hooked up on several 10 pound bonito and boated one of them with much effort. Two were cut off by sharks.....we watch one big bull shark slash beside the boat and inhale a bonito that Warren had fought boatside. It's tiring fun!
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishing.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishing.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Warren and Steve shared the results of a battle with this bonito....
Tip of the Week:
Top water lures can bring much fun and excitement at first light on the river. I can't think of much that can get your blood pumped up, when a big trout crashes the surface in the quiet of the morning. With the full moon recently, I tend to go to a dark color lure to stand out under the moonlight. I will go to lighter colors as the sky darkens with the moon phases. Vary the way you work the lure, if you aren't getting a strike. Sometimes you have to work if very slowly with short pops, while other times you might need to work if frantically across the water. Have some fun soon with a top water lure!!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 106
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 4:47 am: | |
July 25, 2007
Inshore:
The Treasure Coast has come alive this past week as the bait moves into the river. Acres of glass minnows have invaded the area bringing lots of fantastic fishing with them. The Fort Pierce inlet has been frothing with ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, bonito, tarpon, snook, sharks and many other species lurking for an easy meal. You can find them around the beaches, jetties and filtering into the inlet as the tide rolls in. Tie on something shiny and hold on!
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishpic001.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishpic001.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
Sarah DeHart caught this nice trout while fishing this week.
All the charters this week enjoyed some fast, exciting action to end the day. I had Dave and Alex with me and we thought we were watching Jaws as an 8' bull shark kept chasing Dave's fish. Finally it took a huge ladyfish at the other end of Dave's line and we broke him off as he was stripping line off the reel. Bob Bergen was with me and the 8-10 pound bonito wore us out around the jetties, so we came inside and toned down on some Spanish mackerel. Jerry from Melbourne was also with me when the big ladyfish were boiling the water. It's a great time of year to enjoy fishing!
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fishpic002.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fishpic002.jp g[/IMG][/URL]
Jerry caught this snook while searching for redfish....
Trout were off one day and on the next. We caught a few nice slot trout in spite of the hot weather. Live pinfish, pigfish or shrimp can get you a nice trout on the line this time of year. Top water can work early mornings. Move to deeper flats as the sun heats things up.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/cappat.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_cappat.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Capt Pat Wells showing off one of the many bonito that have invaded the inlets....
We found redfish on the flats a few mornings. The super low tides kept the area to a minimum during the days. I did get a few reports of redfish catches south towards the Power Plant. The water has remained very clear recently and that give the fish a chance to see you well beyond casting range. Stealth is a must this month. Soft baits are working well on the flats.
Snook are being caught around the inlet with the baitfish feast. Some large snook have been caught from the jetties to the bridges. Live bait or plugs have worked best of late. Remember to handle them with care and give them a safe, quick release.
Lots of snapper have continued to be caught along the channel edges and structure. The surf has been holding whiting and the tarpon have been off the beaches. It's time to gather up the kids and show them some of the fishing fun we have around the area. Take some time to enjoy the great fishing out there! Look for August to continue to be HOT and lots of afternoon thunderboomers. Get out early or late and drink plenty of fluids.
Tip of the Week:
It was a pleasure to watch all the boats around the inlet fishing beside each other with courtesy and friendship. People waving and getting excited with each catch. Everyone was having fun together and enjoying the great fishing. There have been lots of boats around the inlet lately and it was nice to watch all the boaters sharing the spoils together. It's times like these that make you proud to live in the area. Hats off to everyone on the Treasure Coast!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 105
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 9:22 am: | |
July 20, 2007
Inshore:
Imagine being out there on the river and suddenly finding yourself surrounded by over a hundred redfish. Well, that's just what Mike Mixon and Mike DeRosa experienced this week. We were fishing along the flats and they had already boated three nice reds. I knew the reds were still sitting ahead of us, but once they had turned and moved towards us.....we froze as more than a hundred redfish swam around us and headed south. We had been fortunate that some pesky dolphin had came onto the flats and happened to stir up the sunning reds. Lisa Weston and Johnny also witnessed the many redfish that have populated the Treasure Coast this year. I love fishing this time of year!
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1294Small.jp g][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1294Small .jpg[/img][/URL]
Mike Mixon holding up a 27" redfish caught on the flats....
I guess you have figured out that redfish was out target fish this past week. Mike and Mike teamed up for three reds from 22 - 27" this week. The water has become very clear and the fish are easily scared now. Stealth is a must to approach any redfish that you might find on the river. Soft baits have worked best for us. Fish them slowly to have a chance at a hookup.
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Lisa Weston with two nice trout for dinner....
Trout have been biting in the deeper water both early and during the day as the tide moves. Lisa Weston caught a couple nice trout in the 18-20" range on live pinfish. Look for grass flats that run 3-5 feet deep and use some live baits to get some trout action. Harbor Branch and Round Island have been productive recently.
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Mike DeRosa caught this nice snook fishing the trout flats....
Snook fishing around the spillways and bridges has continued to be good. I don't target snook this time of year as they are out of season. Mike DeRosa did catch a nice 24" snook though while we were fishing on the trout flats. There are many large fish in the shallow flats this time of year. Live bait has worked best for us.
Snapper are still being caught on the channel edges and around the bridges. Bonita, spanish mackerel and jacks have been around the inlet feeding on the glass minnows. Shiny spoons or something similar can get you hooked up with a good fight. Tarpon, snook and jacks have been along the beaches chasing bait. Early morning fishing can give you a good chance at a hookup in the surf.
Tip of the Week.
Temperatures have been in the 90's lately and it can get mighty hot out there. Make sure you are using good sunscreen to keep from getting a bad sunburn. Find one that is waterproof and use it several times throughout the day. There are many brands and types. Use an SPF that will keep you safe from the sun's rays. Make sure your fishing adventure doesn't end up bright red!
As always remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE!
Good Fishing,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 104
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2007 - 3:51 pm: | |
July 12, 2007
Inshore:
CATCH OF THE WEEK:
It was another great week on the water. Fantastic summer weather along with some great fishing. I enjoyed a wonderful thrill over the weekend. We took our granddaughter, Chloe, out for her first fishing trip. She is just about two years old now and we have been anxious for this first trip with her. With the help of Grandma and her dad, Rick, we thoroughly enjoyed this first fishing adventure with Chloe. She reeled in two nice catfish and was so excited at seeing a live fish in the water. I am sure she will be ready for another trip soon! Grandkids are a wonderful thing!!!
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Granddaughter Chloe with Grandpa and her very first fishy....
Another week of redfish out on the flats awaited us. Don White and Mike Mapps were out with me over the weekend and we found the redfish cooperating. Mike and Don combined for ten hookups with reds and boated six nice ones from 22 - 29 inches. It was a fun filled day on the water. Rick Flynn was out with me also this week and after three hookups, he landed a nice 27" redfish on a low tide. Look in deeper water during the heat of the day to find some redfish. Jerk baits worked great for us this week. Round Island and north of there have reports of reds schooling in that area.
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Don White and Mike Mapps with a double hookup on redfish....
Snook have been hanging near the flats in early mornings. The deeper water near the Power Plant has held some nice snook and trout lately. Top water at first light is a great way to get a chance at a hookup. Remember, they are out of season and handle them carefully. Lots of reports of snook around the spillways and bridges recently.
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Mike Mapps with another nice redfish this week....
Trout is an early morning bite using top water. Look for them to move into deeper water as soon as the sun comes up. Live pinfish or pigfish works great on a float. We found some up near Round Island and Harbor Branch this week. There have been some large trout caught this month.
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Rick Flynn with his first redfish catch....
Jacks and tarpon are cruising around the jetties. Live bait, top water or diving plug can get you something biting at first light. I had a couple reports of Bonita coming into the inlet to feed also. Ladyfish and jacks are also around the river as is the norm this time of year. The bridges have been yielding some snapper to those anglers. Have some fun and go fishing!
Tip of the Week:
A number of new regulations went into effect on July 1st with the FWC. Some sizes and bag limits on several fish have been changed and it's your responsibility to know the laws. The new regs haven't hit many tackle shops yet, but you can find them at http://myfwc.com/marine/regulation.htm and print your own copy. While snook is well know for the changes there, some other offshore species are now changed. Be aware of the new changes.......
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1286Small.jp g[/IMG]
Mike and Don battling a double hookup on redfish.... |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 103
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 06, 2007 - 6:33 am: | |
July 4, 2007
Inshore:
It's great to be back on the water again. July has already arrived here on the Treasure Coast, bringing much needed afternoon showers to the area. Be careful out there on the water, as thunderstorms have been the norm most afternoons lately. Be aware of your surroundings and be prepared to head for cover if one should pop up in your area. Mornings will bring light winds and great opportunities for top water fishing around the river.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_0790.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_0790.jpg[/img][/URL]
July is a great month to look for redfish schools....
I had a chance to get out a couple days this week to reminisce memories of fishing with my dad. I will miss sending him my report each week. Redfishing in July can provide some exciting moments on the river! I drifted around the flats and found several schools of redfish still roaming the river. I picked up a couple nice slot sized reds on soft baits. I fished the flats north of Fort Pierce up to Round Island on these trips. My largest was 28" this week.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Trout1.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Trout1.jpg[/img][/URL]
Trout, like this 30" gator, are cruising the flats this month...
There are large trout and snook in the shallow flats most mornings and on those overcast days. The largest trout this week was a fat 30" one that was hiding in about a foot of water. All the trout were caught on soft baits fished slowly along the bottom. Pinfish or pigfish will be the bait of choice for most trout this time of year. Get some popping corks and give it a try soon. Snook will hit live bait or soft baits. I did lose one large one this week in the shallows. The snook were cruising in two to three feet of water and chasing bait. Fish around any bait pods you come across as the predators will usually be near.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/redfish.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_redfish.jpg[/img][/URL]
Another redfish released for another day....
Ladyfish and jacks are still hanging around the river. I have heard of some snapper being caught along the channel edges and around the bridges. The surf has been holding whiting and a few pompano. Jacks and tarpon are being caught around the inlet jetties in the early mornings. A lot of large Goliath grouper are holding around the rocks at the jetties. It's a great time of year to go fishing!
Tip of the Week:
With summer upon us, I hope many anglers are sharing a fishing experience with their children or parents. It is a great way to spend time together and learn that there is more to fishing than just holding a rod and reel. Fishing is always more exciting and fun when shared with someone else. It makes for memories and tales that will keep those experiences alive forever!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 102
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 2:25 pm: | |
June 13, 2007
Inshore:
Hope you have been enjoying the nice weather finally! Thought the winds would never give us a break, but it's been pretty nice out there on the water. Lots of anglers were out this weekend to test their skills against the fish world. We should be starting our summer patterns of nice mornings and afternoon chances at rain. Now this is starting to look like Florida!
Redfish were, again, cooperative to us this week. Greg Schroeder boated five reds in the 26-30" size range in a few short hours of fishing. I was out again Saturday and found three willing to take an artificial. As I said last week, work your baits slowly out there. Soft baits have been the best producers. Twitch baits have come in second in catching reds.
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Greg Schroeder with three of his five redfish caught on the flats of the Indian River....
Snook fishing has been much quieter with the closing of the season. You can have a good chance at a photo release on the flats at first light. Top water is always the choice lure early in the mornings. There should be a few hanging around the Bear Point area and under some of the docks also. Handle the fish carefully and release them quickly so they can be there this fall.
Trout were a little slow this week for us. Bob Bergen did report catching a nice fat 24" trout that weighed in at 7 pounds. Early mornings on the flats and move off the edges as the sun rises. Top water early and live shrimp on popping corks later in the day. Queen's Cove and Round Island should continue to hold some nice trout.
Some nice snapper have been caught along the channel and around the bridges. Some reports of decent size sand perch around the bridges have come in this week also. I heard of some pompano being caught along the beach south of Fort Pierce. Whiting will be hanging in the surf, too. Plan a fishing trip soon and enjoy what the Treasure Coast has to offer out there on the water....
Tip of the Week:
As summer arrives, trout will become a little harder to target. They will be feeding on pigfish throughout the river and not much else will attract their attention. Get out those dusty fish traps or get you one to set out and catch some of those little guys that the trout will be cruising the flats for. A pinfish or pigfish on a popping cork will be a great way to catch some summer trout. And the little critters out there won't be as much a bother as they are on live shrimp. Good luck fishing out there!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 101
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 4:16 am: | |
June 8, 2007
Inshore:
With the exception of a few days of less than desirable weather, conditions have been great to get out fishing this week! Winds have died off and visions of summertime have entered into the latest fishing dreams. Look for nicer weather to continue with scattered rains. It's a great time of year. The fish have been feeding and lots of catching going on around the river. The water has come alive, so plan a trip out soon and enjoy some fishing adventures....
Redfish have continued to reward us with some nice catches around the river. Tom Clancy boated two nice redfish in spite of a rough weather day. Ed Killer was my guest this week and in a couple hours of fishing, he boated four nice reds up to 27". Greg Schroeder landed five redfish in the 26-30" range later in the week. Soft baits, suspending baits and gold spoons gave us our success this week on the flats. Bob Bergen reported catching several nice reds including one on his fly rod.
Snook fishing has tapered off with the closing of the season, but anglers are still out there catching them on the flats. Tom Hull reported catching several nice snook along the mangroves north of Fort Pierce. Top water lures will be great choices now that you can fish them early. Look around the mangroves in deeper cuts as the sun warms things up out there.
Trout have also been hitting early most days. Capt. Pat Wells fished with me on Sunday and we boated several nice upper slot trout. Tom Hull also reported nice catches of trout around the 20" size. Soft baits and suspending baits have worked the best of late. Grass flats with sand holes are good areas to target trout.
The jacks are invading the river and we found some bigger 8-10 pound jacks crashing bait this week. Lots of excitement on light tackle and they love slashing top water lures! Sand perch and some bigger snapper are around the river and the bridge and jetty anglers have reported some nice catches this week. Frozen shrimp has been the bait of choice. Along the beach, look for tarpon to be feeding along with whiting and some snook in the troughs. Watch for tarpon along the river channels and in deeper areas of the river.
Tip of the Week:
If you are targeting redfish this season, remember to fish your baits along the bottom. Redfish are bottom feeders and usually have their heads buried in the sand trying to stir up a snack. For soft baits, I use a light jig head when rigging. I hold the rod tip up and slowly pop it along the bottom slowly. By holding the rod tip high, it will bring the lure up out of the grass as you pop it. Let it settle back down into the grass before you give another pop. Most of us will start off fishing slow, but end up working it faster in anticipation of that next cast. Slow it down for more catching opportunities. Hope you are successful in catching a redfish this season!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 100
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 02, 2007 - 4:55 am: | |
May 31, 2007
Inshore:
Well, June has arrived here on the Treasure Coast and we are still battling with the windy weather out there. Offshore has really been tough to get out for those anglers and the river hasn't been a piece of cake either. The fishing has improved in spite of the conditions out on the flats. Most anglers have been hugging the eastern shorelines or drifting across the flats in search of fish. It's gonna stay that way most of this week and into next week, so adjust your plans out there and catch some fish!
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1248.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1248.jpg[/img][/URL]
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Laura and Robert with three of their four redfish caught this week....
Redfish was our fish this week. Robert Strang and Laura Colon boated four redfish in the 24-28" range, with a double hookup on two of them. Nick Palladino took out Tim Keck for his birthday and each of them caught two redfish that were in the 22-28" size. Tim lost a larger redfish that would have topped the 28" one. Chris was out with me and boated three reds in the 26-28" range. All were caught on soft baits or spoons this week on the flats. The water has been churned up somewhat, but the fish are still out there. We fished the areas from Bear Point to Round Island this week.
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Nick with a huge gator trout and Tim with one of his redfish......
Trout came in number two on our catch this week. The bite has held steady and there are some nice sized trout on the flats. Nick caught some really nice trout while drifting the flats. The usual areas have been holding trout along the east side of the river. Soft baits, live shrimp or twitch baits have worked for us most days.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1259.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1259.jpg[/img][/URL]
Chris with one of his three redfish caught along the flats....
Snook season closed at midnight on Thursday, May 31st. The fish will still be there after that, but bring a camera for a good photo. Handle the fish and release them carefully to keep them healthy. Most action has been around the bridges and turning basin. Nick Palladino caught his snook on the flats to end up his day with a slam.
Bridges has been slower and less anglers lately. Look for sheephead and black drum around the catwalks. Snapper have been hanging around the channels edges. Look for some bluefish and mackerel around the jetties and if you dare fish the surf, look for some whiting and a few pompano around the beach areas.
June will bring more action out of the redfish on the flats and trout will continue to hit early mornings. Keep an eye peeled for schooling redfish around the favorite flats. As the winds die off, look to top water early and soft baits as the sun rises. Docks will hold some a nice assortment of fish both early and throughout the day. May bought us all a challenge and I think everyone is looking forward to a great June fishing experience!!
Tip of the Week:
If you regularly fish the flats, here is a little tip I use myself. I keep a small mushroom anchor on the boat to hold position if I drift into an area I want to fish more thoroughly. It doesn't take up much space and is easy to use. If you are fishing an area and start catch fish, drop the anchor and take the time to fish it before going on across the flats. You can weigh it easily and start your drift again. It's a simple tool that I use often out on the water.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 99
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 4:24 pm: | |
May 17, 2007
Inshore:
Luckily, the fish don't realize a windy day from a calm day. If you could get out fishing this week...the fish were there. Looks like these conditions will remain for a little while longer. We did manage a few much needed rain showers this week and the grass is sure relieved for now. Water conditions are cloudy in a lot of areas and remained relatively clean in others. You will have to look around to find some clean water for a few days.
Redfish were again roaming the flats for us this week. Glen was down and boated a nice redfish this week. Dave was down from New York and boated two nice slot sized reds. We had a few get off on us, but enjoyed the hookups anyway. Look in shallow water to find some redfish cruising. Soft plastics and gold spoons worked best for us. All our redfish this week were slot size fish.
Trout are feeding early and will move to deeper water as the sun rises in the sky. Top water or live bait usually works well for early morning trout. Clean grass flats are the areas to look for to find some trout hanging around. You can't beat shrimp on popping corks this time of year.
Snook anglers are catching a few slot sizes lately around the inlet and bridges. Live bait is always the best choice. Most of the fishing has been at night or early mornings for snook. Larger shrimp has been scarce, so pinfish or mullet is a good choice for baits.
Mike hooked up on a nice flounder on the flats this week. We have found a few scattered around the river lately. Ladyfish and jacks continue to patrol the flats for an easy meal. The jetties have continued to hold bluefish and mackerel along with the usual jacks. Not a lot of action lately on the catwalks. A few reports of snapper and sheephead around the bridges and structure of the river.
Tip of the Week:
Memorial Day is almost here and lots of boaters will be heading off on the water. Many don't get out often and this is an excellent time to check out the ol' boat and make sure it is seaworthy. It's never good for a boat to sit and there are too many things that can go wrong. Batteries go bad.....electrical problems can occur.....fuel.....trailer issues.....and many more. Don't wait until you have launched you boat at the ramp and find out you have a problem. The ramps will be super busy and it is better to find out now if you have a problem and get it fixed.....rather than tying up the boat ramp trying to find out why you can't get the boat started. Prepare now and make your holiday on the water an enjoyable one!!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 98
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 1:50 pm: | |
May 10, 2007
Inshore:
Weather played a factor in this weeks fishing with fronts and storms in the area playing havoc with the barometer. Fish are still being caught, but some days have been spotty at best on the river. We are still wondering how the looming depression will affect our area. Already pushing water on the ocean, we have experienced higher than normal tides. Surprisingly, I am amazed that the river has remained fairly clean in spite of winds and weather.
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Tyler Serio with a nice sea trout caught along the flats....
Trout fishing occupied most of the weeks fishing. It has been an on and off week for the sea trout. We have managed some decent trout in spite of the odds. Tyler Serio caught a nice trout on the Teen Anglers Tournament on Sunday and Glenn from Canada boated a nice trout also. Tom Hull reported a sweet 28" gator trout landed this Thursday. Round Island and Queen's Cove have consistently been holding trout.
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Bob Wittbold with a nice 24" snook caught on a top water lure....
Most of the snook fishing activity has been around the inlet area. Night anglers have caught some nice slot sized snook on live bait around the sea walls and bridges. Day anglers are using mostly live pinfish or mullet in the same areas. Once the weather returns to a more normal state, look for snook to be actively chasing bait around the flats. David Brashear fought a large snook this week, until it broke him off on the flats. Bob Wittbold also landed a fat 24" snook on a top water lure this past week.
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I landed this 26" redfish recently feeding on the flats....
Redfish have remained around the flats most days. Glen Akselrod boated a nice 22" redfish on a soft bait while fishing along the flats. We have seen many out there of late and they should become more active as the water warms up. Spoons, soft baits and top water will be great choices on the flats. Most areas I have fished have been holding redfish.
Catches of sheephead, snapper and black drum are being taken around bridges and docks in the river. Live shrimp has been the best baits for these fish. Tarpon have been filtering their way into the river and should be showing up at the deeper creeks and channels of the river. The catwalks have been pretty sparse lately of anglers.
Tip of the Week: Weather can change rapidly here on the Treasure Coast of Florida. Keep an eye on what is happening around you in the sky while fishing or enjoying the water. Know what you will do if a thunderstorm suddenly closes in on you. What will you do? The ocean can provide a challenge to some boats, while others can steer around bad weather. The river can offer many places to run for cover. Don't get caught in a bad situation this summer. Plan what you will do if severe weather approaches unannounced!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 97
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 4:35 pm: | |
May 3, 2007
Inshore:
Lots of sunshine and great fishing weather arrived here on the Treasure Coast this week. The winds eased up to let anglers enjoy themselves both inshore and offshore. It was nice not to hide out among the islands for a change. Lots of baitfish have invaded the area and the fish are out there chasing them. May is always one of my favorite months on the water.
Trout fishing was spotty some days, but we managed to catch some each day on the water. I had David Brashear and R J Swinford on the boat Sunday and each caught a nice trout in the Teen Anglers Tournament. Tom Hull was down from Melbourne and we caught a nice number of trout. Tom boated a huge 26" gator trout along with several others in the slot range. I managed a 23" fat trout also. Bob Whitbold reported another big gator trout catch this week. The usual flats were holding trout and we used jerk baits and gold spoons.
Redfish were hanging on the flats again this week. After scattering several small schools we found a few in the mood to eat. Tom Hull battled a fat 26" redfish that he caught on a twitch bait. Spoons and soft baits are also good choices when seeking a spot tail on the flats. Some are hanging very shallow, so keeping a stealthy approach is a necessity. I have found redfish on most flats lately so they are out there cruising around.
We caught a few snook this week, but they weren't our target most days. Most of the snook anglers are fishing at night along the bridges and seawalls around the inlet. I did talk to several who caught legal size snook this week. Live pinfish or large shrimp (when available) are the ticket for fishing these areas. Now that the winds have given us a break....try around the docks in the early mornings. Tom Hull completed his slam this week after catching a snook hanging around the flats.
Bridge fishing was slower this week. While sheephead and some snapper are being caught, many anglers took a break in the action. Lots of Spanish mackerel are still around the inlet. Some big jacks have been around the jetties along with bluefish. The surf has continued to hold whiting, bluefish and some pompano for those beach anglers. I keep seeing more and more sharks around the flats. As the bait continues to show up on the flats, they will seek the shallows in search of an easy meal.
Tip of the Week:
Wade fishing is lots of fun and many people around this area take the opportunity to get out fishing on the shallows. We continue to see many large stingrays and sharks coming up on the flats in very shallow waters. Just a note of caution to be careful when wading around the river. I had a number of reports of sharks attacking fish as anglers were reeling them in and experienced it myself. Sound, smell and sight of a fish can bring a reaction from these creatures.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 96
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 2:14 pm: | |
April 26, 2007
Inshore:
April sure isn't going out quietly. Lots of windy weather this week to keep you guessing about the weather patterns. We faced lots of wind this week, but fishing has been good if you can fish in these blustery conditions. Looks like the weekend will be a little on the windy side, but this won't last much longer as summer nears the Treasure Coast.
Redfish are back and gathering for their summer jaunts around the flats. We encountered a good number of redfish in small schools this week and Tim Freeman and his uncle, Paul, boated three nice reds, including a double hook-up on the flats. Live bait, soft baits and twitch baits worked best for us and most of the favorite redfish flats should be showing signs of activity now. As the water warms up, look for an increase in redfish sightings around the river.
Snook fishing around the bridges has been spotty most of the week with all the windy weather. Fewer anglers braved the conditions so reports are fewer of late. Tim and Paul each had a nice snook while enduring the windy stuff out there. We lost another good sized one down south on the eastern flats on a top water lure. Live bait is best around the inlet area, while top water or live bait works well along the flats. Early mornings have been best on the flats.
Trout slowed down earlier in the week or at least you could find few places to fish for them. We found one day that we could slowly drift the flats. Paul and Tim caught a number of very nice trout from 18" up to 22" in just a few hours. Most were hitting soft baits and twitch baits for them. Look for clear water flats that hold sandy area around the grasses. A lot of areas were difficult to fish most of the time.
We did manage the usual smorgasbord of the varied aqua critters that also inhabit the river. Ladyfish, jacks and a host of others are out there more than willing to take your baits and lures. Bridge fishing slowed down, but some snapper, sheephead and black drum are still being taken off the catwalks. Bluefish, spanish mackerel and jacks have continued to rule the jetties. Beaches, when fishable, have been yielding whiting to those anglers.
Tip of the Week: In less than two hours on the flats, we observed three boats run aground in the shallow waters. One pontoon boat sat there twice in less than a foot of water racing the engine at full throttle in an attempt to get off the flats. What a waste of our environment that is fragile enough as it is without a few idiots out there helping to make it worse! If you leave the channel in unfamiliar waters...slow down and learn to read the water. Boats are expensive enough, too. Please take care of our waters and also your boats......
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 95
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 5:03 pm: | |
April 20, 2007
May Fishing Forecast for the Treasure Coast
Inshore:
Finally, the windy months of March and April are almost behind us and we can look forward to the great fishing weather that May has to offer us on the Treasure Coast. Other than the usual windy days, it has been a pretty mild winter and spring has arrived. Look for warmer temperatures and a little less blustery days. As the water temperatures climb, the fishing will steadily improve on the river. It will provide fantastic mornings for top water and lazy afternoons to drift the flats. May is one of my favorite month on the water!
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Bob caught this huge 36" redfish in two feet of water this week!
Redfish will be our main target throughout the month of May. The past several years have bought us schools of slot sized redfish along the Indian River. Most of the fish we have caught have been in the 18 to 30 inch range. They have been sunning on the flats and May gets their blood pumping and turns on the feeding. I always have three lures ready during May…..twitch baits, top water and soft shrimp baits. Gold spoons will also be a great addition to the arsenal when fishing for redfish. As the fish school up, look for them around the edges of the flats. Most of the river here on the Treasure Coast has been holding redfish and you should be able to find some on your favorite flats. I tend to enjoy the east side of the river, but we have found many on the west side as well. Bob from Jensen Beach caught a monster 36" redfish this week!
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Mark Amorello with one of several grouper caught along the Ft Pierce Inlet...
Snook fishing in the early mornings will bring some rod bending action as they head up on the flats for an early morning or late evening meal. Top water will always be one of the best choices in the shallows, with twitch baits being a close second. Docks will also hold snook lurking around for an easy meal. Live shrimp is hard to beat around the docks. In the inlet areas, try around the seawalls and bridges with live bait, feather jigs or deep diving plugs. I love early morning for great snook fishing opportunities! Don’t forget that snook season will close on May 31st and will re-open again on September 1st,
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Seatrout will continue to feed on the flats in May...
Trout will continue to feed on top water at first light and live shrimp on popping corks during the day. As the sun rises, they will head off the shallows to deeper water in the two to four foot range. We have had some nice gator trout of late and should see some still in the river in the early parts of May. I have had great success with jerk baits this year in place of live shrimp. Both sides of the river have been productive in early mornings. Winter fishing for trout has been good this year and spring should continue to give you some great action.
Bridges will hold the usual sheephead catch, while snapper will be moving into the river along with flounder. Jacks will be patrolling the areas and creating havoc all over the river. Beaches will produce whiting with still a few catches of Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Tarpon will begin their trek into the river and you can start looking for them in the St Lucie River, Big and Little Mud areas and into the channels of the river. May is a great month to fish the Treasure Coast……plan on a trip out on the river soon!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Captain Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 94
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 6:27 am: | |
April 12, 2007
Inshore:
Springtime weather has invaded the Treasure Coast, bringing warm temperatures, much needed rain and a few windy days this week. It was a great time to be fishing the area. A cool front went through over the weekend and cooled the water a little, but it warmed back up quick enough to keep the trout happy most days. We should continue to see nicer weather each week.
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John with his 28" gator trout caught on the flats...
I had some very good anglers on board this week and we found trout most days. I had Adrian from Jensen Beach and his brother. They caught trout up to 24" this week. John and his dad, Bill were out with me and caught a good number of nice trout up to 28". We found most in two to four feet of water. Using live shrimp, jerk baits and twitch baits mostly this week, we fished most days north of the bridges in Fort Pierce. The east shore is still pretty clean on most of the river. We fished from the Moorings south. Look for grassy flats with sandy areas scattered around.
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Adrian with a nice 24" trout from the Indian River...
We found a number of redfish around the river and Mark Amorello boated a nice 22" redfish. They have been skittish of late, but the way Mark's redfish hit....they are getting more active. Look on the shallow flats during the heat of the day for them to be sunning and feeding themselves. We have found lots of bait on the flats. I have several reports of redfish caught on the east side from Bear Point south to the Power Plant.
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Mark Amorello with a nice 22" redfish caught this week....
Snook fishing has been mostly at night, but we are finding lots of them on the edges of the flats chasing bait. Weather and winds permitting, look around the docks early in the mornings also. Live baits have been working best and some of the night anglers are catching shorts, slots and a few oversized ones.
Bridges have been holding sheephead, sand perch and black drum. There have been catches of croakers, but I haven't had many reports of them as yet. Pompano turned on for some anglers along the beaches this week. I received a number of reports of nice pompano catches by those using shrimp or sand fleas in the surf. Bluefish, Spanish mackerel and jacks have been hanging around the inlet and surf. Grouper have been hitting around the turning basin for us a couple of days this week. Ladyfish and jacks are everywhere!
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This sheephead could use a little dental work!
Tip of the Week: Size and bag limits on fish in our area have been set over the years to help keep our fish population healthy and increasing each year. Slot sizes on snook, trout and redfish are in place to keep the larger female fish out there to breed for the future generations of anglers. I had the misfortune of watching a family catch and kill a 40" snook and pretend to revive it until everyone had left. As I left, I watched them scurry to get it loaded and out of there before any law enforcement could have arrived. It was sad to see a beautiful specimen taken out of the spawning population.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Captain Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 93
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 06, 2007 - 4:56 pm: | |
April 5, 2007
Inshore:
Well, it's hard to believe, but the winds finally let up this week and provided us with some great fishing weather here on the Treasure Coast. Trout were biting, redfish tailing and snook feeding on the flats. We had some great trips out there with lots of fun this week! Hope you had a chance to enjoy the weather and the fishing.
Trout continues to be the most productive fish on the river for us. Everyone enjoyed catching trout this week that ranged up to 22 inches. We had our usual luck with jerk baits or live shrimp. Popping corks do wonders this time of year on the flats. 8 year old Cole was on the boat with his dad, Skip Haile, and his brother and proceeded to show us all how to catch trout that day. Harbor Branch and Round Island have been holding some nice trout. Bill, Joe and Chris Premo also had a good day trout fishing.
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Jeff Amorello with a nice trout catch this past week....
We had a few good snook catches, but just couldn't squeeze out a slot size though. Harry Patton boated a nice 25" snook and Jeff Amorello also caught a nice one this week. Night anglers have continued to catch slot size snook on live bait, jigs or deep diving lures around the bridges and turning basin. Top water, twitch baits and soft baits have helped us hook up with snook lately.
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Harry Patton with his 25" snook taken on the flats....
Several morning we found redfish tailing on the shallow flats. We were rewarded this week when Joe Premo battled it out with a nice 30" red on the shallow flats. Soft baits have been the bait of choice by redfish lately. Ease up quietly on the flats if you want a chance at finding some tailing. They will head off to deeper water at the least noise this time of year.
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Eight year old Cole Haile with one of his many trout this week....
Bridges have been producing sheephead, black drum and sand perch. Bluefish, whiting and some pompano have been cruising along the beaches. The jetties have had the usual Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jacks. Ladyfish and jacks are everywhere in the river and can give you lots of fun moments, especially for the kids!
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Joe Premo capped his day off with this 30" redfish....
Tip of the Week: Take a minute this week and open up that first aid kit. Make sure it is stocked with the necessary items for emergencies. Replace any items that might look damp or old with fresh ones. Maybe you don't have a first aid kit on the boat. It's a good time to purchase one and have it ready should any unforeseen accident arise. Simple things like Band-Aids can sure come in handy some days. When you are on a boat with lots of things moving and most have sharp points.....it pays to be prepared!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Captain Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 92
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 3:44 pm: | |
March 29, 2007
Inshore:
I had a fantastic week out there on the water. Oh yeah, the winds blew and the river was choppy on most days, but my fun came in the excitement of watching kids fishing. I had the pleasure of having several charters that involved kids who aged from four years to the teens. Nothing can beat the expressions on a child's face as they are reeling in a fish. Take a kid fishing with you soon!
Once again, trout were our mainstays out on the water. Find some clean grass flats on the east side of the river and you should find some trout hanging around. I had Tyler and Vincent Serio on the boat sunday for the Teen Angler Tournament and Tyler caught a nice trout that won him the Middle School Division this month. Anthony was down with his dad from Long Island and he boated a nice 22" trout on a twitch bait. Hal and Chris fished with me on saturday and we caught a number of nice trout out there on the grass flats. Jerk baits and live shrimp has also worked well for us this week.
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Tyler Serio with his trout that won first place Middle School at the Teen Anglers Tournament!
We found a number of redfish up on the shallow flats. Most were sunning those days, but we did manage a nice slot on saturday. As the water temps continue to rise, look for them to become more active and hungry out there. We should see some schooling soon. Soft baits, twitch baits or gold spoons are always a good start on the flats. We have been fishing mostly the east side of the river the past few weeks.
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7 year old Turner and dad, Keith, fighting and landing a huge ladyfish!
Snook fishing was great earlier in the week for the night anglers. Several reported catching their limits a few nights this week. Live shrimp or pinfish have been the best choices, with feather jigs a close second. Up on the flats, use top water early on the edges for another chance at a hookup with a snook. We caught several up to 24" earlier in the week on the flats. Hal Weliver reported a nice 27" snook taken on the flats this week.
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Anthony with a nice Indian River trout this week...
Ladyfish and jacks have provided us with several days of fun. I had the pleasure of taking Keith Mullins and his two boys, Turner (7) and Frank (4) out on the river and they had a great time catching the lively ladies. Turner caught the largest one I have seen around here in a long time. It gave him a good workout, but he won the battle. Bridges have been yielding black drum, sheephead and sand perch this week. Those brave enough to hit the surf have been catching whiting and some bluefish. Spanish mackerel and bluefish have continued to hang around the jetties.
Tip of the Week: I think spring is trying to work its way into the Treasure Coast. Spring bring lots of sunshine and opportunities to get out fishing as the wind gradually lets up. It's a great time to fish and also a great time for that sunburn! Both the sun, wind and water together can give you that beet red look in a very short time. Make sure you use plenty of good sunscreen when you hit the water. It only takes a second to put it on and sure makes the end of the day much more enjoyable for everyone.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Captain Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 91
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 5:06 pm: | |
March 22, 2007
Inshore:
We all know that March is always a windy month around here on the Treasure Coast, and yet, we will continually complain about it....year after year! Well, this week was no different and the winds...they blew. Just about every day was a challenge on getting out...thinking about getting out and often not getting out on the water.... Looks like the winds will continue for several more days, but at least it might just slow down a little. If you do get out, do it safely!
The days we could get on the water, the trout fishing was our best opportunity most of the time. Most fishing was on the east side of the river and, remarkably, the water down south of Fort Pierce remained quite clear on the eastern shore. Doug boated a nice 20" trout on a windy day out there. Jim Simpson and Paul Spivey caught a number of short trout, just before the weather turned ugly on us. We found trout hitting jerk baits, twitch baits and live shrimp. I didn't get a chance to head up to the north end of the county this week, but I did get some reports of trout up in the Round Island area. Early mornings provided the best bite for us down around Bear Point and the power plant.
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Doug hooking up on a redfish on the flats.....
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A nice 25" redfish ends up in the boat!
Snook fishing was somewhat hindered, but I did talk to some of the die-hard anglers who did bring in some nice slot size snook this week. Live bait or jigs were the best choices for baits. I did find some snook hanging around the edges of the flats one morning and boated a 24" on light tackle. Twitch baits worked on the flats. As the winds die off, there will be plenty of areas to get out and fish for the snook again.
We found redfish up on the flats on the days we could get there. Doug Tricarico found a nice fat 25" redfish hanging in a foot of water on the flats. He caught it on a soft shrimp bait. Look for more to feed in the shallows as the water continues to warm up now. Soft baits, gold spoons or top water will be good choices to use.
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Doug Sr. with a nice trout from the flats....
Bridges have been holding black drum, sheephead and some Spanish mackerel, while the surf has continued to yield whiting to those brave souls out in the easterly winds. Jacks and ladyfish are doing what they do best.........wreak havoc all over the river! We also managed a few bluefish who have been hanging around the ladyfish lately.
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Early morning catches before the winds prevail!
Tip of the Week: It's about that time to check and make sure you have rain gear stowed aboard you vessel. Make sure it hasn't gotten wet and mildewed since the last rains....many months ago. It can sure help take the edge off one of the rain showers we have had of late. Of course, the grass is sure happy to see them come to the area. Keep safe out there and stay attuned to the changing weather this time of year.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 90
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 2:41 am: | |
March 15, 2007
Inshore:
Springtime weather spread throughout the Treasure Coast this week, bringing lots of sunshine and a few less windy days to make for mild fishing on the water. It sure has been a welcome change from the past month on the river. But as March is well known for....we can expect a windy weekend ahead of us and maybe bringing some much needed rain to the area.
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Mark Amorello with a nice 24" snook on the flats....
Trout was again our number one target this week. We had some nice days to fish both sides of the river for seatrout. Mark and Doug Amorello were down and caught a number of slot size trout over the weekend. Frank Depento and his buddy Pete were in the area and we managed a few slot sizes on a slower day this week. Our best day was Tuesday, when Bob Altieri and his buddies, Mark and Tony were out with me. They boated two dozen nice trout that day with Mirrolures and jerk baits on the flats. Fish the grass flats in two to four feet of water around the river.
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Tony, Mark and Bob ending a great day with a nice grouper caught by Mark....
Snook fishing around the inlet has been producing some slots and a few over slots on live baits or jigs. The north bridge has been one of the better areas. Don't forget to drop a live shrimp around some of the docks for another chance at a hookup with a snook. Mark Amorello and his son Doug were fishing the flats with me using soft baits, when Mark hooked up with one huge over-the-slot snook in about a foot and a half of water. It was great to watch that fish come clean out of the water a couple times before spitting the hook. He did manage a nice 24" snook to ease the pain a little!
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Mark caught this nice trout fishing along the Indian River...
We found some reds on the flats, but they just weren't feeding when we were there. As this water continues to warm up, the redfish should become more active. Soft baits, gold spoons and early morning top water help get a chance at a hookup. The ones we found were shallow later in the mornings in two feet of water.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1155.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1155.jpg[/img][/URL]
Doug Amorello with one of his trout caught on the flats....
Bridges are continuing to give up Spanish mackerel, sand perch, croakers and sheephead. Black drum have also been around the inlet and structure in the river. I did get a report of a few larger snapper being caught around some of the docks this week. Surf anglers are enjoying a good whiting bite lately, with bluefish and mackerel mixed in the catch. Mark, who was out with Bob and Tony caught five or six grouper around the turning basin this week on live shrimp.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/charters00112400 4-4.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_charters00112 4004-4.jpg[/img][/URL]
Frank Depento with a nice spotted seatrout....
Tip of the Week:
March is traditionally one of those windy months here on the Treasure Coast. Use the winds to your advantage on the river. Use them to make drifts across trout flats. East or west winds can provide one side of the river that is fishable and easier to maneuver on the flats. North or south winds can be difficult, but we have islands that can provide protection and areas to fish. Drifting can allow you to cast downwind and fish farther ahead of the boat before the fish can detect you in the area. We will always gripe about windy days.....but use it to your advantage to help make your day more productive.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 89
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 4:14 pm: | |
March 9, 2007
Inshore:
Windy days prevailed most of this week on the Treasure Coast. Fish were biting most days if you could find a place to fish out of the winds. It did taper down a little by Wednesday. It was hard to find a place to fish on Saturday and Sunday as the latest front came rolling through the area.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/charters00112400 4-4.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_charters00112 4004-4.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/charters00112400 2-8.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_charters00112 4002-8.jpg[/img][/URL]
Trout fishing along the Indian River this week....
Trout fishing started out good and slowed down as the cold front lowered the water temperatures as the days went by. By Wednesday, the water had cooled off quite a bit and fishing slowed down. We managed to continue to catch trout, but most were shorts. Brian Chamberlain boated a nice fat 24" trout over the weekend. Rob Schick took home several nice trout for lunch. Justin Harviston was down south and got into some trout. Matt Cassidy and his buddies had several hours of fun catching trout and ladyfish one after another. Michael Lawrence and I were out the day the water cooled off and although we caught trout, the shorts were hitting in the cool water. Once the water warms up again, look for the trout to get active on the flats. Live shrimp, twitch baits or jerk baits have worked well for us lately.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/charters00112400 3-7.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_charters00112 4003-7.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/charters00112400 1-9.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_charters00112 4001-9.jpg[/img][/URL]
Brian Chamberlain with a couple of his catches this week...
Redfish continue to sun themselves on the flats. We scared a number while fishing the flats. We spent most of our time targeting trout. Hal and Brandon Weliver reported catching a half dozen slot size redfish south of Fort Pierce in the shallow flats. Soft baits imitating shrimp worked for them. Action should pick up as spring warms up the water.
Snook anglers fishing at night are finding on and off nights lately. Feather jigs and large shrimp are the choice baits for night anglers. Both bridges in Fort Pierce have produced snook along with the seawalls of the turning basin. Don't forget to drop a live shrimp around some of the local docks for a chance at a snook. Bob Bergen reported catching a nice 24" snook on the flats down near the Power Plant along with some trout this week.
Bridges have enjoyed catches of croakers, sheephead and Spanish mackerel. Live or dead shrimp is the bait of choice and shiny lures are being cast for mackerel also. The inlet continues to hold mackerel and bluefish, while the surf is yielding whiting and a few reports of pompano. Shrimp or sand fleas are the norm along the beaches. Looks like we might just have a nice weekend ahead of us, so plan on getting on the water soon.
Tip of the Week:
When is the last time you checked out your safety equipment on the boat? This year.....last year.....never???? Did you know that if your safety equipment includes flares, they are dated and must be current to be considered part of your equipment. Outdated flares might not work properly and won't pass a check by the Coast Guard or law enforcement. With spring nearly here, make sure all of your equipment is current and usable. It's there to provide you with the proper items to deal with an emergency situation.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 88
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 02, 2007 - 3:16 am: | |
March 1, 2007
Inshore:
March has arrived on the Treasure Coast and most of us are hoping for nice warm weather after some of the cold fronts that visited us last month. Traditionally, we can expect windy conditions along with some rain clouds. It might dictate where and when you can get on the water, but at least we aren't cutting holes in the ice to fish! Take advantage of the good days and get out fishing.....
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1148.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1148.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Ron Lyman and Rob Schick doubled up on trout this week....
As the sun warms up the water again, look for fish to travel into the shallows to feed. Trout will continue to be most prevalent in the deeper grass flats in two to four feet of water. Those anglers using live shrimp on popping corks, soft baits and top water will have the best chance at hooking up with a trout. I like to fish the edges of the shallows where the water drops off to these depths. You can find some trout on the flats early, but they tend to go deeper after sunup. Depending on weather conditions, there are many areas to fish.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1144.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1144.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Don found this nice bluefish hanging on the trout flats....
Redfish will get more active this month and you can find some tailing on the flats in early mornings. Top water, soft baits or gold spoons are good choices for finding a spot tail on the flats. Don't forget to fish around the mangroves also. So far this winter there has continued to be a good redfish population around the river and the fishing has been good for them. I tend to like the east side of the river for redfish, but you can find them on the west side also. Live shrimp or soft baits have worked very well for us in the past around these areas.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1147.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1147.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1146.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1146.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Ron and Rob with another trout on a windy day this week....
Anglers will continue to target snook around the inlets, docks and bridges on the Treasure Coast. Live bait always works best, but feather jigs and hard baits can also get you hooked up. Most of the action will be at night and at both ends of the tides. As the water warms up around the area, the snook action will liven up also. Those fishing the flats can also find snook feeding early or late in the day. Fish the mangroves during the rest of the day. Top water, twitch baits or soft baits can do the trick in March on the flats.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1143.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_100_1143.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Kalib Guettler weighing in his second place trout this week....
We are still wondering what happened to the pompano bite this year and hopefully we will get some in March. Both the river and beaches have been holding them, but not much on catch reports for now. Whiting. Bluefish and pompano will be hanging around the beaches this month. The inlet will be holding Spanish mackerel, jacks and bluefish. Jack Crevalle and ladyfish continue to haunt the river and provide fun catch for all. Bridges should give up catches of sand perch, sheephead and black drum on live or dead shrimp.
I think we are all ready for spring to arrive here on the Treasure Coast. It won't be long! Take some time to check all your equipment now and be ready as the weather improves to get out on the water. Make sure your reels are in good working order. Check your rods for broken or cracked tips and guides. How old in that line?? Get ready now on some of the windy days , so you will be ready to head out to the water! Have a great March for fishing!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 87
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 2:06 am: | |
South Indian River Fishing Forecast - March
March has arrived on the Treasure Coast and most of us are hoping for nice warm weather after some of the cold fronts that visited us last month. Traditionally, we can expect windy conditions along with some rain clouds. It might dictate where and when you can get on the water, but at least we aren't cutting holes in the ice to fish! Take advantage of the good days and get out fishing.....
As the sun warms up the water again, look for fish to travel into the shallows to feed. Trout will continue to be most prevalent in the deeper grass flats in two to four feet of water. Those anglers using live shrimp on popping corks, soft baits and top water will have the best chance at hooking up with a trout. I like to fish the edges of the shallows where the water drops off to these depths. You can find some trout on the flats early, but they tend to go deeper after sunup. Depending on weather conditions, there are many areas to fish.
Redfish will get more active this month and you can find some tailing on the flats in early mornings. Top water, soft baits or gold spoons are good choices for finding a spot tail on the flats. Don't forget to fish around the mangroves also. So far this winter there has continued to be a good redfish population around the river and the fishing has been good for them. I tend to like the east side of the river for redfish, but you can find them out west, too. The docks both north and south of Fort Pierce have been good when fishable for redfish and many other species. Live shrimp or soft baits have worked very well for us in the past around these areas.
Anglers will continue to target snook around the inlets, docks and bridges on the Treasure Coast. Live bait always works best, but feather jigs and hard baits can also get you hooked up. Most of the action will be at night and at both ends of the tides. As the water warms up around the area, the snook action will liven up also. Those fishing the flats can also find snook feeding early or late in the day. Fish the mangroves during the rest of the day. Top water, twitch baits or soft baits can do the trick in March on the flats.
We are still wondering what happened to the pompano bite this year and hopefully we will get some in March. Both the river and beaches have been holding them, but not much on catch reports for now. Whiting. Bluefish and pompano will be hanging around the beaches this month. The inlet will be holding Spanish mackerel, jacks and bluefish. Jack Crevalle and ladyfish continue to haunt the river and provide fun catch for all. Bridges should give up catches of sand perch, sheephead and black drum on live or dead shrimp.
I think we are all ready for spring to arrive here on the Treasure Coast. It won't be long! Take some time to check all your equipment now and be ready as the weather improves to get out on the water. Make sure your reels are in good working order. Check your rods for broken or cracked tips and guides. How old in that line?? Get ready now on some of the windy days , so you will be ready to head out to the water! Have a great March for fishing!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby.....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 86
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 2:28 am: | |
February 22, 2007
Inshore:
Winter once again came and went on the Treasure Coast this past week. It went from the 30's to the 80's in just a few days. Water temperatures plummeted over the weekend to shut down fishing for a few days, but the warmth of the sun has sure helped warm things back up again. The past couple of days makes you think spring has arrived......at least for now!
Trout fishing was great just before the cold front worked it's way through the area. It picked back up the last few days as the water warms back up again. Most trout were slot sized on the flats. We found most of our trout south of Fort Pierce on the western flats. In spite of the cold water, 7 year old Johnny Millett boated a good slot size trout earlier in the week. Live shrimp, twitch baits and soft baits were the best choices the latter part of this week.
We have found a number of redfish sunning on the flats and most days they were easily scared. Mark Amorello boated a nice slot size redfish, while we missed several others this week. Soft baits worked best for us, but gold spoons and jerk baits should work well, too. We found these very shallow in less than two feet of water. Stealth mode is a must to get a chance at a hookup.
Night anglers are catching a good number of snook in the wee hours of the mornings. Jack, who is an avid night angler for snook, had a true adventure this week. He reported that while fishing off the catwalks this week, he set the hook on a large snook that hit his shrimp on a troll rite. The hook came loose and shot out of the water smashing into his glasses. Luckily, he was wearing glasses or things could have been much worse. Glad he is alright...but there are much easier ways of becoming a pirate!!
Bridges have been holding sheephead, black drum and some sand perch. Live or dead shrimp are the ticket. Dave Amorello caught a nice 6-7 pound black drum from under the bridges. Grouper have been hanging around the turning basin. Al and Chris Klingler boated over a half dozen grouper off the seawalls on a cold, frosty day out there. The jetties have been holding some bluefish, Spanish mackerel and jacks. A few pompano have been taken in the surf, but mostly whiting are table fare out there. Ladyfish have been cavorting everywhere.
Tip of the Week:
Winter can bring cold fronts one day and heat waves the next. Dress in layers when heading out on the water. It might be cold that morning and hitting 80 degrees by afternoon. It's easy to take off layers as the day wears on and you can be comfortable when that chill hits you as you get up on plane. A thermos of hot coffee can save the day on these cold mornings, too! Hopefully, winter has moved on and we can look forward to great spring days of fishing!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 85
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 16, 2007 - 3:09 am: | |
February 15, 2007
Inshore:
It was one of those weeks where one day the fish are biting and the next you are scratching your head. The last part of this week provided warmer water and the fish reacted to it. Guess it won't last too long with this next cold front bearing down on us from the frozen north. Dress warm if you are heading out this weekend!
The trout bite was good over the weekend, but downshifted earlier in the week to slow. Even the ladyfish were taking a few days off. The water had warmed up by Thursday and the trout were back to their usual areas and hungry. We boated 8 1/2 on Thursday.....one was cut in half by a shark on the way to the boat. Live bait, soft baits and top water should get you a strike this weekend if the water stays on the warmer side. The western flats to the south of Fort Pierce held trout later in the week.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/charters00112400 2-6.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_charters00112 4002-6.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/charters00112400 1-7.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_charters00112 4001-7.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Trout fishing picked up later this week.....
The redfish have continued to stay on the flats when the sun is out. John M. was down and we found several on the flats, but they were just not feeding earlier this week. The bite picked back up on Thursday along the mangroves. Some good reports have come from the eastern side of the river. Soft baits have worked best when targeting redfish. Fish your lures slow this time of year.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/charters00112400 4-2.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_charters00112 4004-2.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/charters00112400 3-5.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_charters00112 4003-5.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
When predators become prey and a redfish from this week.
Snook reports have picked up the latter part of the week. Mostly shorts, but a few anglers have reported slots being taken. We managed two shorts along Bear Point on Thursday. Soft baits and top water on the flats and mangroves will be a good choice of baits for snook.
Live bait and jigs around the inlet and bridges will give you the best chance at a hook-up. Jetty anglers are still fishing for bluefish, jacks and Spanish mackerel. Bridges are yielding sheephead, black drum and some croakers. Live or dead shrimp is the bait of choice for these. Pompano are still being skipped along the river, but the bite just hasn't been here this year. A few are being taken on the surf along with whiting.
Tip of the Week:
Winter is always a good time to check your batteries in the boat. Cold weather and batteries just don't always mix well. A worn and tired battery can suddenly die on you at the ramp. It also gives you the opportunity to make sure connections are free of corrosion. Of course, some days you keep looking for the heater and just can't seem to find it!!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 84
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 3:05 pm: | |
February 8, 2007
Inshore:
Weather...and the Super Bowl....played a large part in this weeks fishing chances. Lots of wind and some rain kept most anglers off the water most of the week. By Tuesday it finally began clearing up and brought some great fishing weather to the Treasure Coast area. Lots of boats were heading both inshore and offshore.
Snook fishing around the inlets improved this week both around the bridges and on the jetties. I spoke to a number of snook anglers who caught their slots along with a good number of shorts. Live bait and jigs have worked best for inlet anglers. Most have been caught at night. Snook are hanging around deeper mangroves, but most will be shorts. Try soft baits along mangroves. Mark Amorello did boat a 20" snook from under the mangroves this week.
Trout fishing was probably the next best catch on some days this week....if you could keep the ladyfish off your hook. Tuesday, we found them hitting soft baits on the flats north of Fort Pierce. Try Queen's Cove for them. South of Fort Pierce there were a several areas that held trout. Herb Ladenheim reported that on Wednesday they boated a dozen trout on soft baits. Congratulations goes out to Herb. Don't forget to try live shrimp for trout.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/charters00112400 1-6.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_charters00112 4001-6.jpg[/img][/URL]
Wade fishing can provide some great rewards....
Redfish were on one day and off the next. We have seen a good number of them on the flats during the day. We boated three on Tuesday, but could not get them to hit later in the week. They have been heading up on the shallows as the sun warms up the water, but are very easily scared this time of year. Mark and I saw a number of them sunning on the flats.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/charters00112400 2-5.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_charters00112 4002-5.jpg[/img][/URL]
Redfish along the mangroves at first light....
Bridge anglers were still enjoying catches of sand perch, some croakers and plenty of sheephead off the catwalks. Jetties were giving up some jacks, bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Neal Plante sent me a report of a huge 8 pound Sailcat caught by Glenn Cope of Fort Pierce on their boat. Glenn is a youngster of 80 and an enthusiastic angler, who took the battle to this beast! Congratulations Glenn on a fine catch!
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/DSC01343.jpg][img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_DSC01343.jpg[/img][/URL]
Glenn Cope with a huge 8 pound sailcat!
Tip of the Week:
A grateful thanks to the Roadrunner Fishing Club and the Port St Lucie Anglers Club! Clint Walker of the Fishing Center and myself had the privilege of speaking to both these fantastic groups this week and met some great local anglers in our area. Both are organizations, who make fishing both fun and exciting! We do live in a wonderful area of Florida with great people around us!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 83
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 3:43 am: | |
February 2, 2007
Inshore:
Snook season opened this week on the Treasure Coast. Some anglers enjoyed catching their first slots of the season, while others were still out there at daylight in search of theirs. I only spotted about six boats around the inlet at 6 am on Thursday morning. Others showed up around the area as the tide peaked on the river. Most anglers were targeting the seawalls, docks and bridges on the first day of snook season.
The weather this week made fishing a challenge on most days to get out of the winds. Some days started out nice, but ended up blowing by mid-mornings. This weekend looks like a good chance at showers for the next several days out there. Check the weather before you venture out!
Trout have continued to stay in two to five feet of water. If you can find clean water, then you can find some trout around there. Soft baits, live shrimp or twitch baits should get you a bite out there. We missed a few on Thursday on top water bites. If the wind permits, the east side of the river from Fort Pierce to the Power Plant can produce some nice trout catches.
Redfish have continued to hang on the flats and in deeper cuts along the river. Doug Taylor boated a nice slot size in about a foot of water on a soft bait. Hal and Brian Weliver found a nice cut this week and have been catching their limit for several days now. Fish your soft baits slow...and on the bottom for the best chance. Be quiet in the shallow water and move along slowly. The reds on the flats are usually sunning and will run at the least sound. Queen's Cove and down around the Power Plant have been productive on redfish so far this winter.
Jetty anglers are still catching bluefish, mackerel and jacks on shiny lures or live baits. Bridges are producing sand perch, snapper, sheephead and black drum on live or dead shrimp. Surf anglers are seeking whiting, pompano and bluefish along the beaches.
Tip of the Week: Their are always discussions and questions about fishing knots. Everyone has their own favorites that they rely on day after day. I am adding a few links on the internet of sites that provide instructions on tying different knots. One of the most frustrating things in fishing is having a knot fail while fighting a fish. Hope these sites help you find that knot that won't fail!
http://www.netknots.com/
http://www.doalures.com/knots.htm
http://www.animatedknots.com/
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 82
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 3:02 am: | |
January 11, 2007
Inshore:
One of our usual cool fronts has worked its way across the Treasure Coast the past few days, bringing cooler night temperatures upon us. It looks like the next week should be great weather for anglers in the area. We will continue to have our normal windy days, but there are plenty of areas to fish out of it. Hope you had a chance to fish this week.
Trout fishing was our target the past week. We fished several areas and where we found cleaner water, we found trout on the flats. With the warmer water before the front, the trout were hanging in one to three feet of water. Capt. Pat Wells went fishing with me last friday and we found good numbers of slot size trout biting and caught two that hit the 25" mark. With the winds changing continually, you will have to check out the usual areas for clean water. Live shrimp, soft baits and twitch baits have worked best for us this week.
Snook fishing slowed down for us this week. They are still hanging around the mangroves in the deeper cuts. As the water warms up some this week, look for snook to be hitting the flats for a snack. Try top water if the conditions permit or a slow sinking twitch bait if it is choppy. Don't forget to try around the docks early with live shrimp.
Redfish are still being caught, but most reports continue to be from the south of Fort Pierce on the flats. Live shrimp, gold spoons or soft baits are the best choices right now. You can also find some reds hanging around the docks on the west side of the river. I'll be heading south this weekend to look for some.
If ladyfish had wings, they would probably be as thick as mosquitoes! It's a good time of year to get the kids out and show them some fun on the water. Watching that smile on a young one when a ladyfish or jacks hits their lures is worth it! Jacks are just about as thick out there. Have some fun this week! Along the inlet has anglers fishing for sheephead, sand perch and black drum around the bridges. In the surf, whiting, bluefish and occasionally pompano can be caught. Pompano reports are still not much to speak of for now.
Tip of the Week: Winter is a great time to check over your equipment in anticipation of spring fishing. With so many windy days, there will be lots of opportunities to change line, check reels and clean out the ol' tackle box. Spring will be here before you know it and being ready to enjoy the great fishing is important to us all. Rummaging through a tackle box will sure bring back summer memories of fishing adventures past.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 81
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 07, 2007 - 1:35 pm: | |
January 4, 2007
Inshore:
Looks like summer-like weather has helped start off the New Year right on the Treasure Coast. Still a little windy on the water some days, but overall it's been great fishing weather out there.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fish001.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fish001.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Slot size trout like this one caught by Brian Weliver are hitting on the flats....
Trout season re-opened on January 1st. Trout have started biting around the flats in 2 - 4 feet of water. They have been pretty aggressive this week for us. The sun has kept the water on the flats warmer for now. Top water in early morning, followed by soft baits, twitch baits or live shrimp will help find some trout cruising the area. Find the cleaner water to find the trout.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fish002-1.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fish002-1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Above slot size trout have been hanging out in the river....
Snook have been hiding around the mangroves during the day. Early morning will be the best time to get a shot at them. Soft baits or live bait along the deeper mangroves can find some bites. Follow the bait schools for snook, trout and redfish to be feeding along the edges of the bait. Around the bridges and docks have been good for catch and release snook on live bait.
Redfish reports from south of Fort Pierce have been good this week. I didn't get down south this week, but try along both sides of the river for them down there. Up north, along the mangrove islands and the edges of the flats can help find a redfish. Gold spoons, soft baits, live or cut bait will be the best choices of baits.
[URL=http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Fish002-1.jpg][IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/th_Fish002-1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
The jacks were so aggressive that Brian boated these two on the same lure....
Lots of sheephead are still being caught in the inlet area. Black drum are also being taken around the bridges. I have had a number of reports of pompano to the south on the flats. Live shrimp, jigs or sand fleas should find some bites down there. Hungry jacks and ladyfish are all over the river chasing bait and lures.
Tip of the Week: Back again on the soapbox of protecting our fragile fishing environment. I encountered a few uncaring anglers this week, who chose to rip the bottom of the flats for over a hundred yards. If we all had this attitude, it wouldn't take long to ruin the flats and watch them disappear. I urge everyone to preserve the great fishing in our area for generations to come. It starts with each one of us!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
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Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 80
Registered: 5-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 27, 2006 - 11:26 am: | |
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Treasure Coast Inshore Forecast- January
I find it hard to believe that the year has passed by so quickly . 2007 is here with high hopes and new resolutions. I hope that everyone will resolve to keep our waters safe, clean and preserve our wonderful fishing experience for generations to come! 2006 was a great year for fishing along the Treasure Coast and I anticipate this new year will bring even better opportunities for us all.
January brings about more cold fronts working through the Treasure Coast each week and if the water temperatures remain mild like last winter, we can expect the fishing to be just as good this year. Lots of windy days will determine where or if you can fish, whether inshore or offshore. There are many places in the river to fish and stay out of the wind on those gusty days. I always like to keep Round Island and Jaycee Park ramps in mind on such days.
The opening of trout season on the East Coast of Florida begins this month.. Trout should be feeding on the grass flats in 2 - 4 feet of water during this time of year. Live shrimp on a popping cork is always a good choice. Soft baits on jig heads or twitch baits should also antagonize a trout into striking. On calm mornings, get out the good ol' top water and try it. Look for clean water in the winter for the trout to be hanging out on.
While snook season remains closed this month, there is nothing wrong with catch, photo and release on the linesiders. Always popular places are around the bridges and the inlet area. Live shrimp or pinfish will be your best choice this month. Out on the flats during January, I like to target the flats south of Fort Pierce with popping corks and large shrimp in 2 -4 feet of water. Snook will be hanging around those flats looking for an easy meal.
Redfish will head up on the flats as the sun warms the water. Being extra stealthy will get you a chance for a spot tail. I like soft baits and gold spoons during the winter months. Top water can also work on calmer mornings. This is the time of year you can find small schools tailing in the early mornings on the flats. Live or cut bait can also get you a bite from a redfish this time of year. Try Round Island flats or the flats on the west shore south of Fort Pierce towards the Power Plant. Hitting some of the docks both north and south of the bridges can also get you a hookup.
Bridge anglers will be fishing for croakers, sand perch, sheephead and black drum this month. Live or dead shrimp is always the bait of choice on the catwalks. The inlet will continue to hold jacks,
bluefish and Spanish mackerel during January. Pompano should be hanging around the deeper cuts of the flats and along the beaches. I have already started seeing them in several areas and look to see more soon. Don't forget to try your luck in the surf for pompano
this month.
I hope your New Year is filled with exciting fish tales and adventures! Have a great year on the Treasure Coast!
Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good fishing and Happy New Year,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
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Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 79
Registered: 5-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 4:50 pm: | |
December 20, 2006
Inshore:
It was a week of dodging wind and rain throughout the Treasure Coast. If you could dodge one.....the other would sneak up on you. If you didn't mind getting damp or wind blown....the fishing was great on the river! Water temperatures have dropped due to all the rain, but they should rise back up quickly. The fish still don't care if your are getting wet or not!
It's funny how the snook seem to know when the season is over and they can bite at will and be safe. We caught quite a few snook this week on the flats. Look for them to continue hanging off the edges of the flats in two to four feet of water. Where you can find a lot of bait, the snook will follow. Dillon and Vincent from Teen Anglers were on the boat with me on Sunday. They caught and released 8 snook up to 29 inches. Live shrimp, soft baits and twitch baits have worked the best. Any flats on the east side of the river, due to the winds, should get you a chance at a hookup.
We caught several trout this past week on the same flats with the same lures. Trout season will reopen on January 1st, so it's good practice for now. Live shrimp on popping corks work well during the winter months along with top water, soft baits and twitch baits. Most of the flats south of the Fort Pierce bridges should work along with Round Island and Harbor Branch to the north.
Redfish, again, were cruising the same flats this week. Dillon boated a nice 26" redfish to win the Teen Angler Middle School division and take the big fish award. He caught it on a live shrimp on a popping cork. The will also be taking gold spoons and twitch baits this time of year. Find the bait schools and they won't be far behind. Fish for them in two to four feet of water early and find them in the shallows as the sun warms up the water.
Lots of jacks and ladyfish still creating havoc among the bait. Lots of fun on light tackle for anyone. Vincent boated and released a four foot bonnethead shark this week on the flats. Croakers are being caught around the bridges and along the inlet. Some flounder are still being caught around the inlet area. Pompano have been spotty, but are in the river. Keep a rod ready with a small jig tipped with shrimp if you happen on them. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still around the jetties. Not many reports from the surf anglers. The easterly winds have kept it pretty much blown out for now. There are still some hard core anglers out there though.
Tip of the Week:
Winter can bring lots of variables to fishing. Windy weather and temperature changes can make even the best day challenging. Fishing can be fantastic during these month if you are willing to change tactics and try something different. Look to deeper water to find fish as the water cools off. Try different lures or baits when the "old reliables" don't seem to be working. Be willing to try some different areas. Wind will dictate a lot of where you can find fishable waters, but on the Treasure Coast, there are always places that you can fish out of the worst of the weather. Have fun this winter!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
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Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 78
Registered: 5-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 2:32 am: | |
December 14, 2006
Inshore:
Strong easterly winds have kept most of the river out of reach for the majority of anglers this week. Offshore was about shut down for most boaters. But on the brighter side....if you could find your way to the eastern shores of the river, you could find it still fishable and the water has remained quite clean in a lot of areas. Funny....the winds just never seem to matter to the fish! With more sunny days lately, the water temperatures have remained warm for this time of year.
There are several boat ramps that come to mind whenever the weather dictates the areas you can fish. With winds coming from the east, Round Island and Jaycee Park are just the ticket to get out and miss most of the choppy waters. If you are in a kayak or wading....there are also many areas along the river on A1A between Fort Pierce and Jensen Beach to put in. We have another front headed this way, so watch the forecast and plan you excursions with the wind direction in mind.
I headed south this week to fish some of the banks that were protected from most of the windy conditions. From Bear Point south to the Power Plant, the water is still nice and I found the fish hitting in one to four feet of water. A lot of short snook out there, but there have been a number of slots taken this past week. Some nice catch and release trout were also hanging in the same depths along with slot size redfish.
A good variety of fish are being caught on the bridges in the inlet. Croakers, sand perch, sheephead and black drum top the list for those anglers. Live or dead shrimp has worked best. Jetty anglers are still catching bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Snook fishing around the inlet and bridges has been steady with some slots being taken. Still some flounder being taken around the river on live shrimp. The pompano fishing should be picking up soon as they are continuing to work their way into the river.
Areas that I would recommend checking out this week depending on the weather. Round Island flats, Bear Point, the Power Plant and any docks that might be fishable. I have been having luck on twitch baits and soft baits this week. Fish them slower this time of year. I found a lot of my strikes were coming after the fish had followed it for a while to the boat. Later in the mornings, try gold spoons on the flats for a chance at a redfish.
Tip of the Week:
REMEMBER! Snook season closes at midnight tonight and won't reopen until February 1st. Trout season will remain closed the rest of December. Ignorance won't be an excuse if you get caught! Know your seasons and slot sizes on the fish you catch. A fine for illegal fish will cost you much more than the fish is worth......
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
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Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 77
Registered: 5-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 08, 2006 - 1:51 am: | |
December 7, 2006
Inshore:
December winds can keep you off the water one day....and you are out there the next. Just watch the weather as each front moves across the Treasure Coast and hopefully the conditions are favorable for the days you are planning on heading out on the river or ocean. There were a few very nice days this week for anglers to enjoy the sun and water. Mild temperatures made those days seem summer-like.
Earlier in the week, snook, trout and redfish were biting on the flats. Soft plastics and shallow running lures worked best for them. I like the shrimp tails or shad tails on the flats. Again, root beer or new penny colors were my best choices. Chartreuse in the shallow running lures worked best also. We had a nice redfish on for a short time today along the mangroves, but boated a couple nice slot size on Tuesday. Hit the deeper flats early and move up to the shallows as the sun warms up the water.
The ladyfish were everywhere this week. I had Rob and Ron on the boat and after we lost our redfish, we headed to several spots that kept them busy with big ladyfish to end our day. They tend to beat the trout to the bait. We found some pompano skipping around the Harbor Branch flats today. Bob Bergen and his fishing buddy boated a nice pompano this week. Jacks were hitting also earlier in the week. Jetty anglers and the bridges were getting nice catch of sand perch most of this week. Snook fishing in the inlet has slowed down some. Some slots are being caught, but it seems the bite this year hasn't lived up to last years so far.
Looks like it is gonna blow again for another few days, but by Sunday things might ease up a bit to get out. That's one great thing about the Indian River here......you can always find somewhere to fish in just about any wind conditions.
Tip of the Week:
As the water temperatures continue to cool along the Treasure Coast, it's time to slow down your retrieve as you work your lures. Fish move more slowly as they wait for the suns warmth each day. As their metabolism slows, they will not be in any hurry to waste energy chasing lures. Slow it down and you will catch more fish.
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
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Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 76
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 2:08 am: | |
Happy Holiday Fishing along the Treasure Coast!
December Fishing Forecast
Here it is December already and the Holidays are almost upon us. Where has this year gone? I must say it has been a great year for fishing all along the Treasure Coast. Both inshore and offshore has provided anglers with many great fishing adventures. We were blessed with a mild winter last year and hopefully we can look forward to another great year for winter fishing!
December brings on the winter months and changes fishing tactics on the river. The water temperatures continue to fall and your fishing must adjust to the weather. We will get many days of breezy winds that will hinder getting to some favorite spots out there. That's one of the reasons I love fishing in this area....you can always find somewhere to fish! Not only does the cooler weather affect the fish, it also requires us to dig out the ol' winter fishing clothes. It can get pretty chilly some mornings!
Trout and snook will be targets throughout the winter. Although trout season will remain closed through December and snook season closes December 15th, lots of anglers will still play catch and release with them. Fishing around bridges, docks and inlets can bring great action with snook hanging around the deeper waters of the river. Using live bait, red tail hawks and bomber lures can help you catch one worth a photo opportunity. Trout will tend to hang around the deeper cuts of the river. Move off to three to six feet of water for trout. Live shrimp on popping corks will work the best for them. You can also find snook and redfish hanging around those areas, too.
Pompano will begin to show up in the river and beaches this month. Spanish mackerel will continue to hang out in their favorite haunts of the river. Jack Crevalle will be traveling around in packs chasing bait all over the river. Flounder should continue to hit in the inlets and sandy areas of the river. Ladyfish is a great way to spend a few hours with the kids on the water. The bridges will be holding sheephead, croakers and sand perch for those anglers. Live or dead shrimp is always the best bet from the catwalks.
Redfish were hanging around the flats all last winter and I don't see any reason why you won't find them there this year. The past two years, the redfish population has explodedin our area! Schools of reds have given many anglers a fantastic fishing experience on our saltwater flats. Look for them as the sun warms up the water. You will find small groups at times tailing along the flats. Gold spoons, twitch baits and live bait can entice one into striking. Work your baits slow and remain stealthy to keep from sending them to depths unknown.....
Winter fishing is already here. Change your tactics with the weather and follow the water temperatures more closely to make your fishing more productive. The fishing on our Treasure Coast continues to improve each years. If we all do our share to protect our rivers, we can insure the future generations will enjoy the same experiences we have been blessed with.
Remember,fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!
Good Fishing!
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
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Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 75
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 24, 2006 - 3:42 am: | |
November 23, 2006
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
Inshore:
Where did that cold front come from this week? I had to check my drivers license to make sure I hadn't woke up in the wrong state! We were out on Tuesday and it was cold....cold....cold..... But as always in Florida, it's gonna warm up by the weekend and looks like great fishing weather ahead.
If you could find a place out of the wind there were fish to be caught. Last weekend was great fishing just before the front came through. I had Dave and Cody Howard out with me and we caught a variety of fish. Cody with a little help from dad, caught trout, redfish, snook, flounder, jacks and ladyfish. We had a great day out there. The weather was fantastic!
Jim Witham was with me Tuesday and we struggled to find a place out of the wind most of the day. We caught redfish, mackerel and jacks in the places we could find. Later in the afternoon, the wind finally eased up and we found a small school of reds around the mangroves and Jim pulled a nice 27" redfish from the island. We had a great day in spite of the weather.
Look for the redfish to be on the flats once the sun rises and starts warming up the water. They have been going shallow by mid morning and that seems to be the best time to fish for them. Soft baits, gold spoon or live bait should be the best options. Round Island and around some of the docks have been holding redfish of late.
Snook anglers have been slowed down this week. Some reports of snook being taken and even some slots, but it has been quite a bit slower this year so far. We keep waiting fof it to take off any day. The best areas are still the turning basin and bridges, with shorts being taken around the mangroves. Dave Howard lost a nice size around the mangroves that would have been close to slot, but we did get a few shorts anyway.
Bridge anglers are enjoying sand perch, sheephead and black drum catches this week. Most are using live or dead shrimp for bait. The inlet is holding lots of jacks, spanish mackerel and bluefish, while there are whiting and some pompano being taken off the beach. We did see several pompano in the river this week, so look for that to pick up soon.
Tip of the Week:
This is one of those weekends that will be super busy on the water. Lots of people off work for the weekend and after stuffing yourself full of turkey, many will head out on the water. This is a weekend to practice courtesy, patience and safe boating habits. It's gonna be crowded, so lets all have a fun and safe weekend!
From my family to everyone, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby, it's an ADVENTURE!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Capt. Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
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Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 74
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 3:28 pm: | |
November 15, 2006
Inshore:
For a few days it looked like summer again...but that is passing and looks like it's gonna be blowing a lot very soon! Winter is pretty predictable most weeks.....lots of wind and cool temperatures to keep you on your toes. The water has cooled off and you must change your fishing tactics to match the weather and temperatures.
We had another front head into the area, bringing windy conditions again. In spite of that, the fishing has remained active. Bridge anglers are enjoying catches of sheep head, croakers, flounder and some snapper. Beaches have been providing a few pompano, whiting and bluefish. The inlets have been holding lots of Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jacks.
Snook fishing has been doing well with the conditions. Mostly shorts, but some keepers are still being caught around the bridges, seawalls and jetties. Live bait or jigs have worked the best. We have found a number of shorts hanging around the docks this week. Jordan Martinez boated a nice short snook and lost another that would have been slot size from around the docks in Fort Pierce.
Redfish were scattered on the flats. I didn't target them this week, but had several reports of catches north of Fort Pierce on the flats. Gold spoons, live bait and soft baits are the best choices right now. As this front moves by and the sun warms up the flats, look for them to be out there. This is the time of year to find small groups tailing some mornings on the flats. Lets hope the wind cooperates!
Flounder fishing picked up earlier in the week. Live shrimp works best, with soft baits a second choice. Around docks, sandy flats and around the inlet is the top places to seek them out. Tyler Serio caught a couple on Sunday along with a nice sheep head to top off his day. Ladyfish and jacks are just about anywhere you go...so just have some fun catching them!
Let's keep hoping for a mild winter and keep the water temps above normal. We were fortunate last year and so far this one hasn't been so bad at all. Lots of places to fish and lots of ways to fish for them! Get out and have some fun this week.
Best of luck to all the SKA anglers out fishing this weekend!
Tip of the Week:
Take a few minutes once in a while and check all your rods for damage. Broken or chipped guides will insure the loss of that big catch.... It's amazing how sharp a chipped or cracked guide is. It can cut Power Pro like butter if not repaired. Take a piece of nylon panty hose and run it through your guides. If you have problems...you will sure find out quick. There are many things between your hands and that fish on the other end. Making sure everything works properly help make that photo opportunity a reality!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 73
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 09, 2006 - 2:47 pm: | |
November 9, 2006
Inshore:
.....The answer is blowin' in the wind.....Good line for a song huh?? That's the way most of this past week has run here on the Treasure Coast. Lots of wind to keep most of the anglers off the water and the fishing slowed down. Looks like it has passed on through and we can look forward to great weather for the coming weekend. I got a feeling that there will be lots of boaters out come Saturday morning!
The trout bite was good right before this last front moved through and it should pick right back up as the water clears up. I was out today and it wasn't as dirty as expected. Lots of fish are still hanging around on the flats at Round Island and down by the Power Plant. Top water, live shrimp and soft baits should muster up a hit. Just remember that trout season is closed and you can take a photo and release them for now.
Snook fishing around the bridges and inlet has been good on the turning tides when the current is slower. It is usually a short bite, but has been good if you are there for it. The north bridge in Fort Pierce has been the best for now. Don't forget to hit around the lighted docks at night or early mornings. Live bait and jigs have been working the best. Up on the flats there have been quite a few shorts hanging around the mangroves and on the flats early.
The redfish were out today, but scattered on the flats. Most will land in the slot size range. This time of year fish soft plastics or gold spoons slow on the flats. Some days will need a little persistence to find them. Round Island and Queen's Cove will be a good place to start. You can also try live or cut bait. Fish the deeper cuts on low tides and they will come up on the shallows during the high tides.
Spanish Mackerel and bluefish have been around the inlets and along some of the beaches. Sand perch and snapper have also been taken around structure. Jacks and ladyfish are just about everywhere right now. As the water clears back up, the fishing should start to improve all around the area. Looking forward to a great weekend of fishing....hope to see you out there!
Tip of the Week:
Trout just never got around to reading when they were in schools and don't realize that the season is closed for them now. Lots will still be caught during the next two months and must be released. Please handle the fish you release as little as possible and get them back into the water quickly. It's important to the future of fishing for us to protect our wonderful resources we have here on the Treasure Coast. We all want the grandkids and great-grandkids to experience the same fun and excitement that we have been fortunate to enjoy!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 72
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 03, 2006 - 6:03 am: | |
November 2, 2006
Inshore:
It's hard to believe that November is already upon us and soon the sweet aromas of turkey and pumpkin pie will be here! Where has this year gone already? Fall will bring cooler weather and many more fronts that will move across the Treasure Coast. Windy weather will become the norm throughout the winter on many days. This time of year, you make adjustments to your fishing plans to match the weather conditions. We are fortunate to have so many areas to fish, no matter what the conditions are each day.
<img>
Early mornings can bring great fun on the flats...
Remember that trout season is closed November and December, so you must release your catch for now. Trout fishing has steadily improved of late with larger fish being taken on the flats. Live bait, soft baits and twitch baits will all get them to bite this time of year. Round Island and Harbor Branch has been the best areas for us lately.
<img>
Pete Knoll showing off a 22" trout we caught and released on the flats....
Redfish are scattered most of the time now, but we have been getting some up on the flats later in the mornings. Live or cut baits, along with soft plastics, gold spoons and twitch baits have all worked with them recently. Round Island and Queen's Cove are good areas up to the north, while east of the Power Plant has held some to the south.
<img>
Now is the time to get the kids out for some fun ladyfish action...
Snook fishing has been mostly around the inlets and bridges for now. The bite hasn't been hot like we are used to, but it could turn on any day now. Some shorts and a few keepers reported, but it has been slower than normal. The flats will produce some shorts at first light and a few slot size will be cruising around up there also. Top water when the weather permits will be the best choice.
The bridges have been yielding sand perch to some anglers. Sheephead and some snapper also being taken on the catwalks. Jetty anglers are enjoying bluefish and Spanish mackerel catches. The surf is producing snook, bluefish, jacks and a few mackerel along the beach. Ladyfish are everywhere on the flats this week. Pete Knoll was out with me and we boated a number of them on his flyrod. Offshore has been giving up some dolphin and kingfish to those who braved the weather this week.
Tip of the Week:
Looking for a better way to work that top water lure or trying your luck on a new twitch bait? Many anglers have switched to loop knots on the majority of their lures to help make their action more natural. If you haven't tried a loop knot, you don't know what you might be missing. It allows the lure to move as it wants to, instead of the line dictating what action it will take. Soft baits will bounce along the bottom much better and more naturally than before. There are a number of loop knots out there. The knot on the DOA lures website is the best I have found. Try it sometime!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Capt Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852 |
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