South Indian River Fishing Report 10/18

Inshore:

Well, the weather finally won out for me this past week. Too much wind and lots of rainy days helped make the decision to keep close to home and catch up on my ever-growing list of chores. Boat and trailer maintenance took up quite a bit of time, but you have to keep up on things on a regular basis. I did get back out this week to test the waters and found the fish still out there feeding on the flats.

I fished north of Fort Pierce on several of the grass flats from Harbor Branch to the bridges. Redfish are still in shallow water and willing to hit early in the mornings on either top water or CAL jerk baits. Trout are feeding in two to four feet of water on most of the grass flats now. I have been using CAL jerk baits in the 305 and 308 color with good success. Look for drop offs and sand holes on the flats when fishing.

The river is still flooded with mullet and you can find fish hanging nearby out there. Always fish around the edges of the bait schools when they are around. Try Bait Busters or lures that resemble the mullet for your best chances. Snook fishing has been good around the jetties, bridges and docks around the river. I found them also hanging near the mangroves during the heat of the day.

There are still lots of snapper around structure this month. Live or dead shrimp can help your success on them. Expect more windy days as we continue the transition into winter this month. Cooler nights will begin to bring down the water temperatures gradually and that means lots of other species will head our way. Look for pompano, bluefish and mackerel to move into the river as the water continues to cool down. Have fun out there and enjoy the fishing in October!

Take a few minutes on one of these windy, rainy days and check out your boat and trailer. Checking lighting, tires, bearings, etc on the trailer can save you from a breakdown on the side of the road. On the boat, check your safety equipment...flare dates, fire extinguisher, life preservers, first aid kit, etc to make sure all are in working order and current. Boat lights and pumps are always needing checked or worked on. It doesn't take long to check things out to make sure things are ready if you need them.

As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner

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