| Fishing Guide / Author |
Fishing Reports for Local Area - Location |
    
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 163
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 09, 2008 - 1:03 pm: | |
October 9, 2008
INSHORE:
Weather this week along the Treasure Coast has been wet and windy on a few days, but great fishing conditions most of this week on the Indian River. A great weekend is ahead of us and with all the baitfish around the river, it should be a fantastic time on the water. We have spent most of the week between the Power Plant and the Fort Pierce bridges and found cleaner water in most areas and lots of activity on the east side of the river.
There have been lots of schoolie trout on the flats. Find the cleaner water and the bait schools and you should find your fish. Lots of other species have been feeding around the bait as well. Barracuda, snook, redfish, jacks, mackerel and bluefish have all been out there feasting. There are some tarpon around Big and Little Mud Creeks. It's a wonderful time to be fishing the Indian River. Try live bait, like mullet, pinfish or shrimp, and DOA CAL jerk baits for your best results. Top water in the early mornings can also give you some solid strikes. We have been targeting 3 - 5 feet of water around the edges of the bait fish.
Tom Tait and his fishing friend, Annette, were out fishing this week with me and we caught trout, snook and jacks along the bait schools. It was a fun day on the water. Adrian and Lionel Lusardi were back fishing with me again this week. We caught an assortment of fish including trout, snook and jacks and just missed a tarpon hookup at Little Mud. Lionel ended the day with a nice redfish on a CAL jerk bait.
I have had a few reports of the sand perch showing up around the Fort Pierce bridges this week. A few flounder, snapper and black drum also being caught around the Inlet. Some whiting, bluefish and mackerel along the beaches have kept surf anglers busy. Snook fishing around the area at night has been productive at the jetties, north bridge in Fort Pierce and the turning basin. It's a great time of year.
This week, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Martin County Anglers Club in Stuart. Met a great bunch of avid anglers and had a wonderful time at their meeting. Thanks to everyone for having me and hope to see you all again.
Tip of the Week:
Fishing the Treasure Coast in the fall can provide fantastic opportunities at hooking up with your favorite species. So much baitfish have invaded the river that it's easier to decide where to fish and spend more time fishing. We look for areas that have nervous, agitated or bait being crashed. Fish the edges with live or artificial baits for the best results. Snook, trout, jacks and redfish will all be looking for that quick, easy meal. If the bait calms down and things get quiet, it might be time to move on to the next action. The more the activity, the more chance at finding the fish. Try fishing around the bait.....you just never know what might be lurking on the outskirts!
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: 162
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2008 - 4:10 pm: | |
October 2, 2008
INSHORE:
If you haven't been out fishing lately...you are missing some of the best action of the year. Acres of baitfish and lots of hungry fish eaters out there giving chase. It's a fantastic time to live and fish the Treasure Coast! Mild weather conditions have only contributed to the exciting times on the water. We had some great fun out there this week.
It's not too difficult to find areas to fish right now. Look for any of the cleaner water and baitfish and you should find your action waiting on you. We have fished south just about exclusively this week and had some nice catches out there. Sunday, as I was scouting for this weekend, the bite took off on the flats and the redfish, snook, trout and jacks all were in a cooperative mood to eat. All fish were caught in 3 to 4 feet of water.
Tom Hull was down to fish this week and we again headed south of Fort Pierce to try our luck. A few lost top water lures later we switched to jerk baits and found the fish ready and willing to eat again. Lots of trout up to 18" are out there and willing to choke down a soft bait to keep you busy. Jacks are everywhere along with some ladyfish. We also nailed some short snook.....that is until Tom got crushed by a snook on his CAL jerk bait. After a tense battle on light tackle, he coaxed a 31" slot snook boat side. I am sure he said it was his personal best. These fish are following the bait schools and hungry. Watch were the baitfish have gathered and fish the edges for your action.
DOA CAL jerk baits have produced just about all our catches this week. I have been using any colors that tend to resemble mullet or baitfish and having good success on a CAL jighead. Try Arkansas Glow or Silver Mullet colors. We have fished them slow or fast as the bite seems to warrant. We have caught a smorgasbord of different species this week on them. Don't miss out on some of this great fishing action out on the Indian River. Have some fun soon!
Bridges and jetties have produced black drum this week. The surf has yielded whiting and a few pompano with live or dead shrimp. Night anglers are still catching snook around the jetties and bridges on mostly live bait. Enjoy yourself out there!
Tip of the Week:
Check your leader often out there fishing. Fish or structure can fray leaders quickly and if you aren't re-tying as necessary, you might just lose that big fish. Tom was a perfect example this week. He retied his worn leader just prior to hooking up on his slot snook and that enabled him to fight that fish to the boat. Take those few seconds and make sure your gear is ready for action. Sometimes doing little things correctly can lead to bigger things ahead!
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/Octobertfishing0 08Small.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Octobertfishing0 10Small.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Octobertfishing0 12Small.jpg[/IMG]
Tom Hull in action this week on the Indian River!
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Octobertfishing0 02Small.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Octobertfishing0 06Small.jpg[/IMG]
Thanks DOA!! |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 161
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 26, 2008 - 3:54 pm: | |
September 26, 2008
INSHORE:
It was another good week fishing on the Indian River Lagoon. We had some fantastic sunny days along with a few days that you dared not venture out. Overall, the weather has held up nicely and we are in for another great weekend of fishing on the Treasure Coast. We fished both north and south of Fort Pierce this week. Hope you get a chance to get out fishing.
The trout bite picked up this week, finally. CAL jerk baits caught most of our fish this week. Try colors that will resemble baitfish or mullet. Those worked well for us. Arial, Kaleb and Jordan fished with me in the Teen Anglers tournament and we hooked up on nearly two dozen trout. The guys had more trouble getting them to the boat that day than hooking up. Scott Ring and his son, Jeremy, was also out with me and we hooked up on the trout as well. Most are schoolie trout up to 18 inches. The tides were high so you can fish closer into the banks on some of the flats. Most of our fish came in 3-4 feet of water.
We also caught some short snook, grouper and jacks while fishing the trout flats. Some big fish were crashing bait along the outer edges of the shallows. There have been lots of jacks around the river lately. Most of the snook action has been around the bridges, jetties and docks and mostly at night. Live bait has worked the best for them. We did find a few big snook around some of the docks. Not many reports of redfish this week. The water quality continues to improve and so will the fishing. The better water has been south of Fort Pierce on the east side. Bear Point has held lots of bait this week.
Not much to report on the catwalks or surf this week. The winds had the surf churned up most of the week and the catwalk anglers were not reporting much on catches. Some black drum, snapper and flounder are being taken. Mid week bought the windy conditions and not many anglers were brave enough to get on the water.
Tip of the Week:
Fall is fast approaching and fishing conditions always change with the seasons. Plan on varying your fishing patterns and try something different if the bite changes. Right now, with the mullet run in force, you can use mullet type lures and colors with good success. As the mullet move out, watch for changes in baitfish, temperatures and water conditions. It's a great time of year to fish 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
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_1050-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/100_0848-1.jpg[/IMG]
Snook on the flats can provide great fishing action this time of year! |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 160
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 18, 2008 - 4:23 pm: | |
September 18, 2008
INSHORE:
Mother Nature sure dealt us a great week of fishing weather. Winds inshore were mild most days and we had some fantastic fun out on the water. Fish were in the mood to bite and the water clarity has continued to improve, especially south of Fort Pierce. Looks like this weekend the forecast calls for more of the same conditions, so plan on fishing and enjoying the sunshine!
I was out scouting a couple days and found snook, jacks and bluefish around both the river and along the surf. Large schools of jacks are roving the water and can provide some great fun out there. Snook have continued to hit around the jetties, bridges and docks of the area. The best bite has been the outgoing tides. DOA TerrorEyz, shallow running Baitbusters and the Big Fish Lure has been the best producing artificials along with top water lures. Live mullet or pinfish are the preferred live bait. Redfish have been hitting around the inlet and docks this week as well. The bait has flooded into the river and the hungry predators have followed it.
I also had the pleasure of having Will Whitehead and Ty Fisher on the boat this week. I could tell right off that it was gonna be one of those competitive days. We found jacks, snook, redfish, flounder and grouper as we fished the area. The guys caught a number of snook, a couple of nice slot reds and a host of other fish. We lost a couple big snook and had several big grouper break us off. It was a great day out there with wonderful weather and hungry fish.
Today, I ventured down to the beach to see what is happening out there in the surf. Anything that resembles a mullet will catch you some fish right now. The trough along the beach was loaded with snook, jacks and bluefish. I ended up with one slot snook (released) and lots of jacks and bluefish. I was using a DOA Big Fish Lure and the fish ended up tearing it up by the time I was finished. Lots of fun in the surf this week!
Tip of the Week:
With the fall mullet run in full force, look to find which of your lures will best imitate a wounded mullet. The fish are keying in on the bait schools and will attack anything that looks like an easy meal. Top water, Baitbusters, etc will get you the strikes. It wasn't long ago that the fish were gorging on pinfish, but now it's mullet time! Match your lures to the bait and you will have better success 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
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Augustfishing001 Small.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Augustfishing002 Small-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Augustfishing003 Small-1.jpg[/IMG]
Will Whitehead with a couple of his days catch this week. Even a barracuda couldn't resist the DOA Big Fish Lure. |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 159
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 6:07 am: | |
Take a minute today and remember all the loved ones who gave their lives on 9/11.
September 11, 2008
INSHORE:
As Ike decided to stay south of us, the weather was fantastic for outdoor activities over the past weekend and looks the one approaching will be just as nice. The fishing really on Saturday and Sunday, even though Ike decided to throw some winds at us the past several days to make it harder to get out there. If the forecast is correct, get out some top water lures and head out for a weekend of fishing!
I was delighted to get the opportunity to take out the grandkids this weekend. Grandma Eva and mom, Dena, met me at the ramp with 3 year old, Chloe, and 6 month old, Brody for an adventure on the water. Just remember that pinfish isn't always just for bait. Chloe excitedly reeled in pinfish after pinfish and even caught a catfish in the process. Of course, being a three year old, she was determined to reel every fish in herself and did it like a seasoned angler. There's nothing as rewarding than watching children enjoy a day on the water!
Snook fishing has remained good for those fishing around the inlets, bridges and docks. Some overslots were reported along with shorts and several elusive slots. Live mullet and pinfish has been the bait of choice, but diving plugs and jigs have also worked well around the jetties. Some big snook are out there in the shallows as well. DOA's Big Fish Lure has worked great this time of year. It looks and swims like a mullet and presents an easy target on the flats for many species. A 31" snook exploded on it in three feet of water. I was able to fish south of Fort Pierce and the water is showing good signs of clearing up soon.
Big schools of jacks have moved into the river to wreak havoc on the bait schools. They are easy to spot on calm days and are great fun to catch and release. Some are in the 15 - 20 pound range. The bluefish have also been crashing the bait. There are still some snapper along the channel edges. The trout bite has remained slow for now, but should pick up again soon. Redfish have begun showing back up on the flats as the water begins the slow process of clearing up. Most have been north of Fort Pierce on the flats from Queen's Cove to the Moorings. The surf report has been spotty with all the windy weather lately. Offshore has also been pretty quiet of late. It's a great time of year to be living and fishing around the Treasure Coast.
Tip of the Week:
Once in while, I manage to get one of those days to just get out and enjoy the weather and water. Not so much concentration on fishing as relaxing and watching everything around you. The many birds and fish provide a natural serenade of sights and sounds to help soothe your soul and mind. It brings back the memories of many fishing adventures on the water. There's a lot going on in this world we live in, so once in a while it's good to get out on the water to ease the tensions. It might not change a lot, but is gives you a break from the news, TV and routine. Plan on getting out 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
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Augustfishing001 2Small.jpg[/IMG]
The DOA Big Fish Lure fooled this 31" snook on the Fort Pierce flats....
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Augustfishing067 1Small.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Augustfishing081 1Small.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Augustfishing083 1Small.jpg[/IMG]
Chloe's fishing adventure with the family! |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 158
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 05, 2008 - 5:26 am: | |
September 5, 2008
INSHORE:
Instead of rigging rods, backing down a ramp or drooling over new tackle.......here I am watching Hanna dump rain and wind on us, wondering where Ike might just decide to land and wishing an untimely death to Josephine out there in the far distance. That's a far cry from fishing, but welcome to September in Florida. We have more wind and rain coming this way and many are more concerned about Hurricane preparedness than fishing. Fishing will just have to wait for a few days......
Snook season quietly opened this year and there were some hardy anglers out this past week. Some did have success for their braving the windy weather. Live shrimp, pinfish or mullet was the bait of choice for most. The spillways, bridges and jetties were the best options to fish for snook this week. Feather jigs, DOA TerrorEyz and diving plugs will also be good artificials when fishing for snook. Try the DOA Big Fish Lure at night around the jetties. It looks like the real thing out there.
Flats fishing was tough due to the dirty water conditions and winds whipping across the shallows. Travis and Corrine fished with me on Saturday and while we caught fish, it was slow out there on the water. A few reports of trout and redfish around the spoil islands on live bait and some snapper around the channels, but not a week to brag about for a change. As these storms move away from us, the fishing will get back to normal again.
The fall mullet run has been going on during all this weather and the river is loaded with bait right now. Look for snook fishing to improve as water conditions get better and flats fishing should pick up also as the water clears up.........some day!
Tip of the Week:
If you are fishing this week or next, be aware of the weather around you and don't take unnecessary chances. Conditions can change rapidly and tropical storm winds or rain can move in quickly. Plan a safe fishing trip if you head 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
September Dreams!!
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/mobmain-1-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JULY158Small.jpg[/IMG] |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 157
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 28, 2008 - 2:34 pm: | |
August 28, 2008
INSHORE:
Don't expect that ground to dry up just yet.....looks like another storm is out there brewin' and could very well head this way again. The river is stained brown with all the runoff freshwater flooding all through the Treasure Coast. Finding clean water will be difficult for a while longer, but the fish have to eat and if you try different areas you can still be successful out on the river. In spite of water conditions, we enjoyed some great catching this week!
I had R J Swinford, Joe Senneville and Cory Sullivan on the boat this week and we went out in search of some fishing action in the Fort Pierce area. After trying several usually good areas, we finally found fish gathered along the mangroves in a deep cut of water. We never had to look for another spot that day. They guys caught twenty some short snook up to 24", four slot redfish up to 26" and a number of snapper to make for a great day of fishing. It was steady action once we found where the fish were lurking.
Cory caught three of the redfish himself, while R J boated the other one. They all shared in the snook and snapper action. Live pinfish and shrimp on popping corks helped locate our fishing spot and we finally called it a day when we used up all our bait and an afternoon storm was working towards us. Try around the islands and along the channel edges. Live shrimp and pinfish are working great for now. DOA TerrorEyz has also been good for artificials. Top water lures will be the choice lures at first light.
Snapper action continues to be good along the channel edges. Some up to 13 pounds have been reported this week north of Fort Pierce. Snook action around the spillways of Taylor Creek have been producing some good sized fish. The jetties have also been a good spot to fish for linesiders. Snook season will re-open on September 1st, so get prepared for a lot of anglers out at midnight Sunday night into Monday.
Tip of the Week:
Take a quick minute and check out your navigation light on the boat along with your trailer lights. A lot of anglers will be heading for the ramps Sunday night for the opening of snook season and the Labor Day Weekend. Make sure all your lights are in good working order to keep yourself and others safe with the additional boating traffic this weekend. Keep safe this weekend and good luck 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
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Augustfishing002 Small.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/Augustfishing003 Small.jpg[/IMG]
Cory Sullivan with two of his redfish and R J Swinford added his redfish to the days catch.... |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 156
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 6:32 pm: | |
ugust 7, 2008
INSHORE:
We enjoyed fishing schools of redfish once again this week. It's a sight in itself to see anywhere from fifty to one-hundred redfish out in front of the boat. We had some great fun and won a few battles fishing the flats of the Treasure Coast! It might be hot and muggy, but it's a great time of year to fish the Indian River.
While fishing with Steve Rial and his buddy, we ran into Charlie Norburn and his wife on the flats. Both boats ended up fishing a nice school of reds and everyone came out a winner! Charlie's wife, Linda, caught her very first redfish and can't wait to get out fishing again. The fish have been moving so any flat around the river could be holding them on any given day. From the Moorings south to Bear Point, you could find a school out there feeding. Most times, they have been very shallow so watch and see what is going on around you. DOA TerrorEyz has been the go to bait recently for redfish. DOA shrimp or CAL grub tails will also give you an advantage when fishing for redfish.
Snook have been holding around the jetties, docks and bridges around the river. A good night bite on the moving tides continues to keep anglers busy with catch and release snook. The trout bite continued to be slow this past week. They are gorging themselves on pin and pigfish, so try the TerrorEyz around the grass flats this time of year. Lots of good size snapper reported along the channel edges this week. Greg Schroeder reported he is catching lots of nice snapper. The surf has held whiting, jacks, Spanish mackerel and snook along the beaches. Can't beat a good ol' silver spoon this time of year!
Tip of the Week: Patience when fishing the shallow flats can really pay off if you take the time to watch the water and learn to read what is going on around you. It's good time of year to get out and see what is happening around you. Calm mornings mean that you can see just about anything moving on the flats. Redfish can sit and feed quietly, but you can find them if you are patient and watch. Noting where fish are feeding can help you on future adventures. Redfish like to feed in the shallow, sandy flats and sometimes are in less than a foot of water. It's fun, exciting and rewarding 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: 155
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 01, 2008 - 5:33 pm: | |
August 1, 2008
INSHORE:
Continued hot and muggy weather around the Treasure Coast this week has bought thunderstorms and rain around the area most afternoons. Fishing early or late in the day will give you the best opportunities out on the river. It's hot out there, so drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.
Redfish was our main target all week. Earlier in the week, the schools continued to feed on the shallow flats and we had some great success. The schools left the flats by the end of the week, but should appear any day again. Soft plastics, like DOA TerrorEyz or shrimp work best if fished along the bottoms slowly on the flats. Live pinfish work when nothing else will get them to eat. Gary Cruz was out with me earlier in the week with son, Devin, and nephew, Shane Murphy. They guys combined for a total of seven redfish in the 27" to 30" range. By midweek, the schools had left the shallows for deeper waters. Joe Vennarini and Debbie Stange each caught a snook this week. Debbie also caught a huge ladyfish that day. Joe broke in his new rod and reel with a big jack crevalle. Bob Bergen and Charlie Norburn joined me to seek out some redfish. It was a fun week on the river, even if the reds had moved out of the flats. We will get them next trip!
There are still lots of snook around the inlet, docks and bridges of the inlet. Night fishing and fishing the tides has been good with live baits. There are a few Spanish mackerel around the river and I have seen some bonito in the turning basin. Not the frenzy of a few weeks ago, but you can still find some out there feeding. Trout fishing was slower this week. Your best chance is at first light with top water lures. There are so many pinfish and pigfish out there, it's hard to tempt one with anything else right now. Some of the best action has been for snapper around the channel edges and structure. The sizes have been decent and make a great meal. Surf fishing has been mostly some whiting along the beaches.
Tip of the Week:
There are a number of things to remember with fishing this time of year. Fluids, sunscreen, sunglasses and hats are all important to keeping safe in the hot temperatures and high sunlight you face out there. Prepare before you get on the water and continue taking in fluids and using sunscreen throughout the day. It can make your day enjoyable and reduce the risks of too much sun.
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/JulyFishing001Sm all-3.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JulyFishing002Sm all-3.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JulyFishing004Sm all-2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JulyFishing005Sm all-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JulyFishing006Sm all-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JulyFishing007Sm all.jpg[/IMG]
Gary, Devin and Shane with seven redfish that ranged from 27" - 30"
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JULY157Small.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JULY158Small.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JULY159Small.jpg[/IMG]
Joe and Debbie with a couple Indian River catches this week. |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 154
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2008 - 2:42 pm: | |
July 24, 2008
INSHORE:
Some days I am truly amazed at the fantastic area we have to fish here on the Treasure Coast. Over the past twenty-six years that I have lived and fished along the Indian River, I am thankful for the abundant resources that we are so fortunate to enjoy. This past week, we have seen redfish schools that you could never find ten or fifteen years ago. Large and small schools of redfish have been roaming the flats this month. Watching a school of a hundred fish tailing and feeding in a foot or two of water bring the excitement level up rapidly. It's been a great week on the water!
We had found a few schools last week and when Frank Miller arrived at the ramp, we were in for some great fishing opportunities. After fishing a couple areas, we finally came up on a large school of reds. Keeping our distance so not to send them running, Frank hooked up on four reds and boated three of them. All upper slot or larger....he ended up with a 26" - 28" - 29" tally for the morning. Earlier in the week, found them once again feeding on the flats and a 27" beauty to the boat. Tom Hull joined me later in the week and we found them feeding in less than a foot of water with tails everywhere. While waiting for the tides to rise a few more inches to allow us to get close enough for a cast, Tom hooked up on a large jacks that was riding along with the school. We also boated a 29" redfish to make for a successful day. It was a wonderful week out there!
Snook fishing has continued to produce fish at night around the jetties, bridges and docks. We boated a few shorts around some of the docks to the south of Fort Pierce on DOA TerrorEyz and lost a couple nice hits under the docks. There are still tarpon around the inlet and down around Big and Little Mud Creeks. I had two nice tarpon hits on the DOA Big Fish lures this week. They look very realistic in the water. Bridges have continued to hold snapper, some croakers and sheephead. Bonito and Spanish mackerel still chase the bait around the inlet and turning basin of Fort Pierce. Beaches have been giving up whiting, mackerel and some bluefish. It's a great time of year to be fishing the Indian River!
Tip of the Week: Watch around you when you are fishing and see what is happening. Fish are feeding on the prevalent baits right now. If you watch, you see mullet, greenies and lots of pinfish. Change things up with your lures to match what they are feeding on. With all the pinfish and pigfish out there on the flats, try a DOA TerrorEyz. It has worked for us this week on snook and redfish when they wouldn't look at a shrimp. Don't be afraid to put down that favorite lure and try something different!
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/JulyFishing002Sm all-2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JulyFishing003Sm all-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JulyFishing004Sm all-1.jpg[/IMG]
Frank Miller caught these three redfish while fishing a large redfish school on the Indian River in Fort Pierce.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JulyFishing003Sm all-2.jpg[/IMG]
Tom Hull found this big jack cruising along with the redfish this week. |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 153
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 2:34 pm: | |
July 17, 2008
INSHORE:
Summertime on the Indian River.....It's a wonderful time of year. Lots of afternoon thunderstorms have brought much needed rain to the area this year. You have to plan your trips carefully to get out and beat the odds of getting wet. The water has remained remarkably clear in spite of all the wet weather out there. Fishing picked up the latter part of the week and we enjoyed catching a variety of fish around the river.
Joe, Manolo and Pepe were out with me when the fishing was a challenge, but did catch dinner of snapper, mackerel and trout. It was a great day to be on the water. Joe and Crystal went out to celebrate Joe's birthday. Of course, Crystal caught the most and biggest fish! She ended up with a 20" black drum, 21" redfish, several snapper and an assortment of other fish to end up the day. Joe caught his share of the variety, including a grouper and snook. Happy Birthday Joe!
We again found redfish on the shallow flats. A few large schools have been cruising the flats with the higher tides, but have been very hesitant in biting. We found a school of more than a hundred reds this week, but they were not in the mood to eat. Move slowly when fishing the shallows as you never know when you might happen on a school of reds. Gold spoons, DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits are good choices to use out there.
Trout was on the slower side for us this week. There is so much bait around, it's hard to get them to feed on anything else. We found lots of bait around Bear Point, Harbor Branch and Round Island. Fish around the glass minnows whenever you happen on them. Snook fishing around the inlet has been mostly at night or on the moving tides. There are snook around the docks and mangroves of the river also. Fish early for a chance around these areas. Joe coaxed one to hit his top water lure in the shallows around some of the docks.
There are still some nice snapper around the channel edges and docks. Crystal caught two keeper mangroves and a couple of short muttons from under the docks this week. Around the bridges, the anglers have caught snapper, croakers and sheephead. The mackerel are still around the inlet, but not as frenzied as last week. We did see some bonito crashing bait out there today. The surf has been producing mostly whiting and some croakers and mackerel. We had a lot of fun out this week and will be out there again looking for the action around the river.
Tip of the Week: Keep plenty of water on the boat during the summer months. Drink lots of liquids to begin the day and continue throughout your adventure. It is very important to keep yourself hydrated as the sun beats down on you and the water. Make sure all your passengers do the same! Have fun on the water this summer.
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: 152
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 3:34 pm: | |
July 10, 2008
INSHORE:
Summer heat has sure taken over along the Treasure Coast. Hot temperatures has warmed up the water and it has been an early bite most of the week. Look to deeper water after the sun heats things up out there. Fishing has been up and down this week. Most of the action has been around the turning basin with many anglers out to challenge the hoards of Spanish macks and bonitos that are chasing the schools of baitfish around the inlet.
Trout and snook have been on the flats early and move off as the sun rises. Top water or live bait will be your best choice on the flats, while soft baits are good around the mangroves and docks of the river. With all the bait around the inlet, night fishing can produce snook, tarpon or bonitos if you venture out. All of our trout this week have come on DOA CAL jerk baits in various colors. Mike James even caught a nice bluefish while fishing the flats.
We continue to find redfish up on the flats in the mornings. They have been pretty picky about biting, but there are many different lures and baits to try and coax them into feeding. The schools have been smaller most days and they have been in some shallow water. DOA shrimp or jerk baits are good lures to use along with live pigfish.
The mangrove snapper have continued to hold along the channel edges and structure around the river. Beaches have held whiting and Spanish mackerel. The inlet has been boiling with all the action and many large bull sharks are cruising underneath the frenzy. Don't be surprised to find one chomping on your catch next to the boat. Lionel Lusardi was out with his brother, Adrian, and battled a bonito in the boat.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JulyFishing002Sm all.jpg[/IMG]
Lionel Lusardi was on the winning end of this bonito battle....
Tip of the Week:
Summer brings HOT weather out on the water. Harmful rays from the sun are beating down on you. Take a few minutes and make sure you put on good sunscreen during the day. Hats and sunglasses are a given when on the water. Don't find yourself with one bad sunburn to end a good day of fishing. Apply sunscreen before you leave the ramp and at intervals during the day to help protect your skin from the sun.
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: 151
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 4:07 am: | |
July 4, 2008
INSHORE:
Happy Fourth of July! Wonderful weather, lots of sunshine and some great fishing opportunities await anglers on the Indian River along the Treasure Coast. Afternoon thunderstorms have been the norm lately and it will continue to threaten the area each afternoon. It's best to plan an early trip so you can be off the water before the skies turn dark and stormy.
Snook fishing has been mostly around the inlet and flats areas. We have found some under the mangroves and chasing bait along the flats. Just remember to release them quickly and safely. Top water lures, like a Skitterwalk or DOA Bait Buster, will work at first light on the flats. Paul Reiss found several along the mangroves this week. Redfish are still on the shallow flats. Move across quietly so you don't scare them off ahead of you. Soft plastics, like a DOA shrimp or CAL jerk bait, are great choices out there. Trout action has been in a little deeper water. Top water early, followed by jerk baits or live bait will be a good choice of lures. Queen's Cove, Harbor Branch and Little Mud areas will be holding fish this month.
Tarpon have been feeding around Big Mud and the North Fork of the St Lucie River. A lot of tarpon are in the area and an early morning trip will give you the best chance at hooking up. It's usually a short bite and the earlier, the better. The Fort Pierce inlet has held glass minnows that are being chased by Spanish macks, bonito and jacks. For some great fun, give it a try. Shiny lures, spoons and jigs are good choices, but don't be afraid to change around if you aren't getting a bite. Try to match the glass minnows with your lures and you should have success. Tom Hull got spooled by one bonito and fought both fish and sharks to land the next one. I fought another for quite a while until the 8' bull shark decided it was a nice lunch. Bridges and docks have continued to hold snapper, sheephead and black drum. It's a great time of year to be fishing!
Tip of the Week: Courtesy, Patience and Common Sense are essential to enjoying a safe and fun-filled holiday. Whether it be Memorial Day, Fourth of July or Labor Day, you can have a much more enjoyable weekend if you practice these three simple concepts. These weekends are crowded holidays on the water. It all starts when you leave home and continues to the bait shops, ramps and waterways. Ramps are busy, so don't get upset or angry before you get on the water. PATIENCE! Waterways are swarmed with boats of all sizes and types. Use safe boating habits and follow the Rules of the Road. COMMON SENSE! When returning back to the ramp, expect many others to have the same idea and don't try to crowd or get ahead of others. COURTESY! Let's all have safe, friendly and especially FUN holiday weekends this year!
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: 150
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 3:19 pm: | |
June 18, 2008
INSHORE:
Summer weather patterns have sure arrived here on the Treasure Coast. Afternoon thunderstorms loom off in the west each day. We had some really good days fishing part of the week and things slowed down to a crawl on some days out there. Get out early during this time of year and work those top water lures around the bait schools for a good chance at hooking up as the sun rises off in the east.
Trout fishing has had its up and down days lately. Live pinfish or pigfish are their favorite food this time of year, but a DOA Deadly Combo is also hard to beat. Bear Point has continued to hold lots of baitfish around the point. Queen's Cove has also held its share of the bait. I like to drift or pole the flats during June to fish a larger area.
Redfish are out there and we had a couple good follows with Mark Murch, but they turned just before we could get a pickup. Look on flats that are one to three feet of water and are a softer bottom for them to be rooting around in. DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits have worked well for redfish all year. Keep a stealthy approach to the flats or you might as well move on to another area. They be quick to leave if you make much noise at all.
We have still found snook around the flats and docks. James Hall of Bassmaster Magazine found a couple shorts with a DOA Bait Buster. Mark Murch also found a nice snook with the same Bait Buster. Remember to release them quickly and safely as they are out of season. Docks around the river will continue to hold snook. The inlet area will be have lots of them hanging around the bridges, docks and jetties this time of year.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JuneFishingSmall .jpg[/IMG]
Mark Murch proved the DOA Bait Buster works great as a top water lure....
Spanish mackerel, bonito, jacks and ladyfish are following the glass minnows into the inlet on the incoming tide. Mangrove and mutton snapper are around the channel edges and bridges. We found schools of snapper crashing glass minnows on the flats recently. Mackerel, bluefish and whiting have been around the surf and you might find tarpon, jacks or snook in close to the beach if the bait schools are nearby.
Tip of the Week:
Drifting the flats can prove to be very effective. Let the wind or tide move you across your favorite flat. You will cover a greater area and create much less noise. Watch for the bait schools and drift along to fish them thoroughly. It's a fun and exciting way to fish. Have some fun out there 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
Scott Allgood with some of the fish he caught on the Indian River....
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JuneFishing007Sm all.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JuneFishing006Sm all.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JuneFishing004Sm all.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JuneFishing003Sm all.jpg[/IMG]
Spencer Hobby with a few of his fish caught on the Indian River....
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JuneFishing009Sm all.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JuneFishing008Sm all.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JuneFishing005Sm all.jpg[/IMG] |
Capt. Charlie Conner (Fish_tales_charters)
New member
Username: Fish_tales_charters
Post Number: 149
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 5:10 pm: | |
June 12, 2008
INSHORE:
We have enjoyed some wonderful summer weather this week on the Indian River. There were some great days to be out fishing along the Treasure Coast. I had the pleasure of meeting some experienced anglers and a lot of fun out on the water. I love this time of year!
Parish and Chantel Murphy were down over the weekend and we hit the waters of the Indian River at first light. Parish topped off the day with a 26" trout and 26" redfish from the flats. Chantel had a huge trout hit her top water lure just beside the boat, but only left us a big wake as it left us quickly. The the week, I spent at the DOA Outdoor Writers Festival in Jensen Beach. Met some top notch anglers and writers from around the state of Florida. Scott Allgood and Spencer Hobby spent a day on the water and met the challenge of the shallow water flats. Scott boated three snook up to 26" and two redfish that were 26" and 31". Spencer showed his skills by catching a 20" gag grouper and two trout of 23" and 26" for the day. We had a short day with James Hall and Mark King and managed a few short snook and some angry jack crevalle in a few short hours on the water. We used all DOA Lures and proved they produce fish! It was a fantastic week out there! Look for some of the photos on next weeks report.
Some large trout have been holding on the grass flats. Bear Point, Queen's Cove and Harbor Branch have been productive. Try a DOA Deadly Combo for some good trout action. Spencer worked one with a glow shrimp for his two gator trout. Parish hooked up with his on a DOA CAL jig head with a jerk bait for his gator.
There are still some small redfish schools cruising around the area. We landed two reds on top water this week. Parish had one inhale a Skitterwalk and Scott with his ever faithful DOA Bait Buster proved they would eat one also. Look in the shallows and you might see a few tailing on the flats. Stealth is a must this time of year. Soft plastics on the flats can work great this time of year.
We found some snook holding around some of the docks and mangroves this week. James nailed a couple of shorts and Scott landed three.....all on DOA Bait Busters! Remember...snook season is closed, so get a quick photo and release them safely.
[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/SHANECHANGEDSmal l.jpg[/img]
Shane Barber sent in this photo of a 90 pound black grouper caught by himself and buddy, Tim off the West End, Bahams in 650 ft of water.
[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JuneFishing002Sm all.jpg[/img]
Parish Murphy with a sweet 26" gator trout caught on a soft plastic DOA jerk bait....
[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/JuneFishing001Sm all.jpg[/img]
Parish Murphy with a 26" redfish caught on a Skitterwalk at first light on the Indian River...
Lots of mutton and lane snapper on the river. We found schools of snapper feeding on the glass minnows. You can find lots of snapper along the channel edges and all the Spanish mackerel and Bonita you want around the inlet on the incoming tides. The beaches have held tarpon around the bait schools along with mackerel, bluefish and jacks.
Tip of the Week: Think about slowing down your ride with the price of gasoline. Running slower can save a lot of gas in a years time and will only keep you from those fishing spots for a few minutes longer. Keep your motor tuned each year and change your spark plugs several time a year to keep your engine running efficiently. The gas prices will only keep going up and you can save some money by managing your trips. Plan your trips to minimize traveling whenever you can. Slow down a little and save some money!
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: 148
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 05, 2008 - 3:17 pm: | |
June 5, 2008
INSHORE:
What a fantastic weekend to fish the Indian River. Mild winds and warm temperatures found us on the flats in search of my favorite fish......Redfish! I love to sight fish when the weather allows and the fish sure cooperated this weekend for us. Looks like we are in for the same conditions going into the weekend with mild winds and hot temperatures. Hope you get a chance to get out there soon.
I had the pleasure to have Sid and Jenny Ramchandran on the boat this past week. Shane Barber was out with me on saturday to celebrate his birthday on the water. Jenny hadn't fished in a while and was taking a break from taking care of their children. It didn't take her very long to get back her fishing skills. Before the day was done, she had boated three upper slot redfish and a 26" trout to make for a great day on the water. Sid was all smiles for her, even though she did out fish him a little. We found a large school of redfish feeding on the flats and they stayed long enough for us that day.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/LillianMay200800 5Small.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/LillianMay200800 4Small.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/LillianMay200800 1Small.jpg[/IMG]
Jenny with her three redfish that ranged from 26" to 28".
Shane Barber was on the boat when we again found a large school of redfish working their way across the flats towards us. He was on as soon as the school reached us. We ended up the day with Shane catching five redfish from 26" to 29 1/2". We had several others hooked up before they got off. It was another great day of fishing on the Indian River! All our redfish were caught on either live bait or DOA CAL jerk baits this week. The fish are shallow, so keeping quiet and moving slowly is extremely important to your success. We had some even swim under the boat with Sid and Jenny. Round Island and Queen's Cove have had some reds feeding on the flats this past week.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/LillianMay200800 9Small.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/LillianMay200800 8Small.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/LillianMay200800 7Small.jpg[/IMG]
Shane with three of his five redfish to celebrate his birthday!
Snook fishing has slowed down mostly due to the season closing. There are some huge over slots on the flats that are hiding very shallow. Live bait will most likely be the best way to have a chance at hooking up with Mr. Snook. Remember to handle them carefully and get them back into the water quickly. It's catch, photo and release time again.
Trout fishing has continued to produce some big gators around the river. Top water in the morning can give you a good chance at one this time of year. Live pigfish or pinfish are the top choices of bait for trout during the summer months. Look for some around Queen's Cove, Bear Point and Harbor Branch. DOA CAL jerk baits in lighter colors have also worked this week on the trout.
Snapper around the bridges and channels have been providing anglers with some good keepers. Spanish mackerel are all over the inlet and turning basin. We saw some good sized ones chasing bait this week. They move quickly so plan on moving around the inlet often to catch them. There are still bluefish around the river and beaches. Whiting in the surf along with jacks, macks and blues to keep you busy. It's a great time of year to fish the Treasure Coast.
Tip of the Week:
Hot temperatures are here! Keep plenty of water on the boat to keep yourself hydrated this summer. Heat stroke can happen at any time and a good way to help prevent overheating yourself is with plenty of fluids. Stay safe and healthy on the water this summer!
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: 147
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 3:58 pm: | |
May 29, 2008
INSHORE:
Summer has surely arrived here on the Treasure Coast. Temperatures in the nineties and afternoon rains this past week are good signs of that! We had some fun out on the water this week. Seen lots of fish and caught a few trophies to show off. It was some great weather and the winds have finally slowed down to allow fishing areas that have been hard to reach lately. The fish are out there and it's a great time of year to fish the Indian River.
I had the pleasure to meet some great people this week and renew friendships with a few also. Chad and Jessica Wenger were visiting from Pennsylvania this week and we had some fun on the water. Lillian and Wayne Foisey were down from Long Island to enjoy a scenic tour of the area. Wayne and I fished the next day. Jessica ended up being the angler of the week though!
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/FishingMay200800 1Small-1.jpg[/IMG]
Jessica Wenger showing off her 28" gator trout caught on a Rapala Skitterwalk as the sun was rising over the Indian River in Fort Pierce.
Trout fishing has continued flourish on the flats from one to four feet of water. We had a number of hits on top water, but Jessica landed a fat 28" gator trout on a Skitterwalk just after sunrise. Top water is always exciting, but this one totally inhaled her chartreuse lure. Even though it put up a good fight...it wasn't enough to win the battle with Jessica. Early morning try Queen's Cove, Round Island and down anywhere south to the Power Plant. Look for the sand holes to find them lurking.
We saw a good many redfish in a foot of water this week. Wayne had one follow his bait to the boat, only to change its mind at the last second. We drifted up on several reds with Chad and Jessica. Jessica was first to put a pinfish near one of them. After a couple long runs, she landed a 27" redfish to add to her catch. We were cut short when another boat decided they had to fish that area after they saw our results. Live or cut bait along with DOA CAL grubs or jerk baits (rootbeer or new penny colors) are the best choices for a chance at an upper slot redfish.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/FishingMay200800 2Small-1.jpg[/IMG]
Jessica later caught this 27" redfish on the shallow flats on a live pinfish.
Snook fishing has entered its last weekend for keepers. After Saturday night, it will be only catch and release. We have found many large snook feeding on the flats. Wayne found one large snook swim up to his bait, but again, change its mind. Live bait, top water or DOA CAL jerk baits are great choices on the flats. Look for the deeper holes for the big boys to be holding up and waiting for a quick meal to drift by.
The inlet has been boiling with Spanish mackerel. Shiny lures worked very fast can give you some quick action. The catwalks have been pretty quiet this week. The surf can hold whiting, mackerel, bluefish and even some snook. Jetties have jacks, bluefish and mackerel feeding on the tides there. Lots of bait around the river, so fish the bait pods....especially if they are nervous or being crashed.
Tip of the Week: Probably the most exciting fishing that I enjoy is sight fishing. We are entering the time of year that you can really have some fun out on the river. Keeping quietly across the flats can give you the opportunity to get some great sight casting opportunities. Jessica was a wonderful example as she cast to several redfish that were just a yards in front of the boat. Wayne watched a redfish swim within a few feet of the boat while giving chase to his bait. It's great fun and can be very rewarding!
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: 146
Registered: 5-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 5:56 am: | |
May 23, 2008
INSHORE:
Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that it was May and not March! We continue to see windy days and finally got some rain to help the area a little. We ended up braving some challenging conditions on some days and ended up getting wet one of those days. This weather will continue for now and at least we will have a chance at rain showers most afternoons to try and green up the grass a little. The river has remained clean in spite of the winds.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/FishingMay200800 4Small.jpg[/IMG]
Sandy Langler holding a 26" gator trout he caught on the grass flats with brother, Todd admiring his catch...
Mike McCann and his son, simply known as "L", were down and we fought some windy weather to get a chance at some fish. Mike's son ended up with a big ladyfish and lost a slot redfish to end a blustery day. He is gonna be a great fisherman! Nick Palladino and Mick Howells were up to fish this week, and we found a few places that were fishable. Mick found a 25" snook under one of the Fort Pierce docks and Nick boated a nice trout later in the day. Our day was cut a little short after some thunderclouds surrounded us. Sandy and Todd Langler stopped by the area this week to fish. We missed a number of good hits before Sandy boated a 26" gator trout. They also boated several mangrove snapper before the day was done. It was a tough week to try and beat the wind, but we did have some great fun out there trying!
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/FishingMay200800 1Small.jpg[/IMG]
LJ holding a ladyfish he caught while fishing the Indian River this week...
Live pinfish and pigfish have done well this week. Shrimp bought out the cats, jacks and pins around the flats. The river is loaded down with baitfish just about everywhere we have fished. The predators have been on the flats giving chase. It has been hard to spot redfish lately, but they are out there. As we finally get to summer conditions, look for sight fishing to greatly improve. We fished from Round Island to south of Bear Point this week. Try around the docks and grass flats to the south and Queen's Cove to the north.
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/FishingMay200800 2Small.jpg[/IMG]
Nick Palladino found this seatrout along the flats of the Indian River....
The inlet was boiling with Spanish mackerel this week and that means bluefish and jacks as well. Remember that snook fishing is almost over.....May 31st is the last day. The bridges have been on the slow side of late. We should see a surge in fishing this last weekend of snook season. The beaches have held some pompano, bluefish, mackerel and whiting for those anglers. Just off the beaches have held some kings, permit and bonita. The jetties have been producing jacks and bluefish mostly. Looking forward to next weeks fishing adventures!
[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/FishingMay200800 3Small.jpg[/IMG]
Mick Howells found this 25" snook hiding under a Fort Pierce dock....
Tip of the Week: Take a few minutes one day and check out your First Aid Kit. At some point during the year it will be used for cuts, scrapes and assorted mishaps aboard the boat. Check out the contents and replenish any items that are missing, old or low in quantities. If you don't have one......it is a good idea to get one. Accidents can happen anytime and it pays to have the equipment to handle most situations that might occur.
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: 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 | |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page