South Indian River Fishing Report 7/30

July 30, 2010

INSHORE REPORT:

It might have been another hot week out there, but the conditions ended up being ideal for the many lobster hunters during the mini-season this year. I took the middle of the week off to avoid the extra boat traffic and also to build a new swing set for the grandkids. It certainly is fun to spoil grandchildren!! We had a trip earlier in the week with Jason and Veronica to celebrate Noah's 10th birthday on the water.

Noah out fished everyone while catching trout, snapper and assorted other fish around the river. You find out quick that Noah is a very avid fisherman. He even hooked up on a big snook that wasn't about to be landed that day. Happy Birthday Noah! The early morning bite has been the best for us. Once the sun heats up the flats, you must move to deeper water to find any fish to catch. The trout have been feeding on glass minnows like crazy lately. If you look at the photo of Noah and one of his trout very close, you can spot the schools of glass minnows on top of the water behind him. Fish the edges of these bait pods and you can find hungry trout out there. Live bait and CAL jerk baits have continued to find trout for us. Have fun, but get out early!

The snook bite has remained good around the jetties of both inlets. Live bait, DOA TerrorEyz or diving plugs have all worked well when the snook are feeding. There are some nice snapper around the river. Try around structure or along channel edges. You can even find them feeding on the glass minnows. Look for whiting along the beach and you should find some tarpon out off the surf if the bait is around.

Tip of the Week:

Hydration is vital this time of year with the heat index over 100+ degrees every day. Drinking lots of fluids can help prevent dehydration. Lots of water, Gatorade or Powerade while out in the sun is just as important as not forgetting that favorite rod & reel or lucky hat. I post the information that the Red Cross supplies at least once a year. Below is some of their safety tips for being out in the heat. Visit www.redcross.org for more information.

Red Cross Heat Safety Tips:

Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun's energy. It is also a good idea to wear hats or to use an umbrella.

Drink water. Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.

Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid high-protein foods, which increase metabolic heat.

Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4 and 7 a.m.

Stay indoors when possible. If air-conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine. Remember that electric fans do not cool, they simply circulate the air.

Be a good neighbor. During heat waves, check in on elderly residents in your neighborhood and those who do not have air conditioning.

Learn Red Cross first aid and CPR.

Know What These Heat-Related Terms Mean:

Heat cramps: Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are an early signal that the body is having trouble with the heat.

Heat exhaustion: Heat exhaustion typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a form of mild shock. If not treated, the victim may suffer heat stroke. Signals of heat exhaustion include cool, moist, pale flushed or red skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal.

Heat stroke: Also known as sunstroke, heat stroke is life-threatening. The victim's temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Signals include hot, red and dry skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high—sometimes as high as 105 degrees.

General Care for Heat Emergencies:

Heat cramps or heat exhaustion: Get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. If the person is fully awake and alert, give half a glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not let him or her drink too quickly. Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number if the person refuses water, vomits or loses consciousness.

Heat stroke: Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation! Help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water or is vomiting or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.

Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!

Good Fishing and Be Safe!
Captain Charlie Conner

http://www.fishtalescharter.com
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852


Noah celebrating his tenth birthday with a few catches on the water. Notice the glass minnow schools behind him in his trout picture.

South Indian River Fishing Report 7/23

July 23, 2010

INSHORE REPORT:

With the weather bringing windy conditions around the Indian River this week, it was a little more challenging out on the water. I had the privilege of attending the DOA Outdoor Writers Festival again this year. Not only meeting old friends and making new ones at the get-together, I was able to get out fishing on the water. I fished with Josh Harvel, who guides around Southwest Florida. We found some trout and jacks willing to bite and Josh lost a big grouper on a DOA TerrorEyz around the turning basin in Fort Pierce. We ended up our adventure on a couple acres of pompano in the river. Both us and another nearby boat couldn't coax them into biting that day.

Later in the week after visiting family in Tampa, I ended up in Steinhatchee, Florida to meet up with a good friend to go check out the scalloping this year. Both families headed out on the flats and after a slow start to the day we found the motherload before we ended up our journey. In less than thirty minutes, we gathered about seven gallons of scallops that filled our ten gallon limit. It was a fantastic meal that night before heading back home from the journey. I am sure we will be back next year for another fun trip on the other coast.

Locally, trout are still biting around the grass flats in three to five feet of water. Live shrimp, DOA shrimp and CAL jerk baits all will work on finding trout. There has been some big ones taken lately on DOA lures so get out fishing one day soon. Harbor Branch, Herman's Bay and Bear Point are all good spots to start. Snook fishing has been good around the jetties and bridges. DOA TerrorEyz continues to work well when using artificials for snook. Try around the docks when the wind permits. A DOA shrimp can stir up some good action around some of the docks south of Fort Pierce. Try the channel edges for snapper. The glass minnows continue to filter into the river. Look for action around the bait schools. Lots of fish will be feeding on them this time of year.

August Forecast:

Trout will continue to be a good fish to target. Bridges will become more active with snapper, sheephead and some black drum. Whiting will still be the target along the beaches. Snook fishing will keep improving around the bridges and jetties. Snook season will open September 1st. August is the time to check your fishing licenses. Even though the shoreline license is now free to Florida residents, you will still be required to buy a snook permit to possess a fish when the season opens. Tarpon will feed along the beaches and you can find some around Big and Little Mud as well. It might be hot in August, but the fishing will be just as hot. Have fun and get out fishing soon!

Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!

Good Fishing and Be Safe!
Captain Charlie Conner

http://www.fishtalescharter.com
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852

Scalloping in Steinhatchee this week!

South Indian River Fishing Report 7/16

July 16, 2010

INSHORE REPORT:

It has been a wonderful summer so far. Warm temperatures, light winds and lots of fun out there fishing. This week was a special treat for both myself and my wife, Eva. We took the grandkids for an outing on the Indian River. Brody is two years old and Chloe is almost five now and they sure enjoy a day fishing with Grandpa and Grandma! I think we enjoy it more though....

Trout fishing has picked up and there are good areas to fish like the usual Harbor Branch, Queen's Cove and Bear Point areas. If you haven't noticed lately.....the shrimp have really shrunk at the bait shops. It's a normal thing this time of year, but hard to fish when they get that small. A good solution for all the live bait anglers is to get yourself a couple small fish traps and catch some of the bountiful pinfish and pigfish around the river. They make great trout bait and young kids certainly enjoy playing in the livewell with them... A DOA popping cork with a pigfish is hard for a hungry trout to resist. Just ask Chloe who caught two nice trout and lost a number of other ones this week. Using a DOA jig head and CAL jerk bait, you can also enjoy some good trout fishing on artificials on the flats. Fish around the many bait schools and you should find success out there.

The snapper bite has also been improving lately. Try around docks, structure, channel edges and bridges for some excellent table fare this time of year. Live or dead shrimp works great around a good snapper spot. There have been some tarpon showing up around the Fort Pierce Inlet and turning basin. Lots of bluefish and jacks have been around the inlet, too. The usual whiting have been along the beaches for surf anglers. Snook fishing around the jetties has remained good. Lots of fish have been around the docks south of Fort Pierce. You can find just about anything lurking under the docks. Try a TerrorEyz or DOA shrimp and work them slow under the docks.

We have been watching for the glass minnows to show up in strength around the inlet. They usually show up this time of year and bring a variety of fish into the inlet to feed on them. It's a great way to end up a day on the way back to the ramp or show the kids a great time. Things should be heating up around the turning basin soon.

We lost a good friend, mentor, educator and enthusiastic fisherman recently. Bob Bergen was a familiar face around Fort Pierce and will be remembered as a teacher, mentor and friend to the Teen Anglers of the Treasure Coast. We will miss his smiling face at the tournaments this fall. He loved fishing and spent lots of time working with the Teen Anglers in many capacities. He was a friend to me and we will all miss seeing him out on the flats in his Mitzi casting a fly.

Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!

Good Fishing and Be Safe!
Captain Charlie Conner

http://www.fishtalescharter.com
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852

Our Grandkids, Chloe and Brody, enjoying a day on the water with us.

South Indian River Fishing Report 7/9

July 9, 2010

INSHORE REPORT:

Warm summer days with a light breeze welcomed us this week out on the Indian River. While the afternoons are still hot, the mornings are comfortable if you get out early. We can expect similar weather throughout the rest of July. We had fun out there this week and found some fish to keep us busy. Lots of baitfish are moving around the river. Fish around the bait schools and you should find fish hanging nearby.

Chris, Tina, Christina and Garrett were back out for another fishing adventure. The trout bite was slower this week, but they caught some nice trout with quite a few were in the slot range. Garrett ended up with the biggest trout of the day. Little sister, Christina, caught a variety of fish, including a 22" gag grouper on the flats. It was a fun day out there. Joe, Regina, Dillon and Mattick also joined me this week to fish the river. Most of our trout were shorts, but we had some good fun around the docks. After getting broke off several times, Joe ended up with a 22" redfish for dinner.

Even though the trout bite has been somewhat slow, you can still find slot trout around the bait schools. Fish the bait! DOA Deadly Combos, live shrimp and CAL jerk baits are great ways to seek out the trout. Hit the docks when it gets hotter and you can find snook, redfish, sheephead and other species hanging around the deeper ones. Snapper can be found along channel edges, bridges and even on the flats. The glass minnows are coming in heavy now. Look for action to improve as they fill the river. Watch for the schools and fish the edges.

Bridges have been holding sheephead, snapper and some croakers. The beach has the usual whiting to savor on the grill. Catch and release snook fishing around the jetties, especially at night, has been productive. We have seen a few tarpon around the river, but not in any numbers. Schools of jacks are cruising the river and marauding the bait schools. Summer is always warm....but fun and exciting on the river.

Get out early....keep hydrated....use plenty of sunscreen and have some fun this July on the water!

Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!

Good Fishing and Be Safe!
Captain Charlie Conner

http://www.fishtalescharter.com
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852

A few of this weeks action around the Indian River....

South Indian River Fishing Report 7/2

July 2, 2010

INSHORE REPORT:

With all the heat in summer upon us, it's not been too bad out there if you get out early to beat the afternoon sun. This week has been one of those special weeks for me as I had two of my favorite young anglers back in town for vacation. Keith, Cai, Turner and Frank were back on vacation and we headed out to fish and have some fun out on the water. Most days provided us with just enough breeze to keep the worst of the suns heat away.

We found ourselves fishing both north and south of Fort Pierce, but had our best luck to the south on both sides of the river. The trout bite was fair this week and we had our best bite in four to five feet of water. After catching some nice trout earlier in the week, young Frank topped everyone with a big 24.5" gator trout using a live pigfish on a DOA popping cork. Not to be outdone, older brother, Turner, teamed up with his brother to catch some nice sheephead, a nice flounder and a 22" snook. We had lots of fun out there and some nice fish to add to the excitement of the day. It was a joy to see the kids out fishing hard and catching fish!

The docks along Indian River Drive have been productive lately. We finally had a calm enough day to enjoy the fishing down south of Fort Pierce. Bear Point remains active with lots of bait and the fish are there feeding. Harbor Branch also has lots of bait holding on those flats. Frank caught his big trout just off the edges of the flats. Find some deeper docks and you can find the fish. As the day heats up, look around the docks for some good fishing action. Try the power lines down by the power plant as the day warms up. Lots of fish will take up under the pilings this time of year.

The bridges have been quiet, but you can find snapper, sheephead and jacks around there. The jetties have held jacks and mackerel lately. Look for whiting to be in the surf. Snook fishing at night continues to be productive this time of year. It might be hot....but its a great time of year to fish!

Tip of the Week:

Just as you plan on what tackle, rods, reels and baits to take when you are fishing. This time of year it's just as important to remember to pack plenty of water, ice, sun lotion and sunglasses. Keeping hydrated and using lots of sun lotion can prevent lots of problems at the end of the day. Make sure everyone on your boat is using sun lotion several times during the day and drinking lots of liquids. Sunstroke or sunburn isn't the way anyone wants to end their day on the water. It's important and the right thing to do!

Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!

Good Fishing and Be Safe!
Captain Charlie Conner

http://www.fishtalescharter.com
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852

Frank and Turner Mullins on their fishing vacation on the Indian River this week. Frank caught a 24 1/2 inch trout to top off his week and Turner a 22" snook for his fishing adventure.