The Treasure Coast is still enjoying fantastic weather so far this month. Mild temperatures with some windy days out there, but overall great conditions. Not the best news for pompano fishermen, but the other fish have been hungry! We have had a good variety of catches on each day we have been on the water. January is usually a productive month for fishing and so far it has been on target.
I have enjoyed having some great anglers on the boat, both returning clients and new ones. Joe and his dad, Elvin, found a large variety of fish on the river. Trout, jacks, sheepshead and even a nice Spanish mackerel to keep them busy reeling in fish. Henry, Cole and David were part of a two boat trip that found them all catching a variety of fish and having a fun day on the water. Ron, Mike and Timberly found the same variety of fish including some black drum to make for an enjoyable morning. Bernie and Mike got into some short snook, sheepshead, black drum, jacks and ladyfish with a redfish to round out their windy day fishing the river. We had a fun week on the water.
Most of our fish have come from around the docks, fishing sand holes or the edges of the flats in three to five feet of water. Fish DOA shrimp very slowly for your best success with artificials. Top water has also been working good for us at first light. Docks continue to be productive this time of year on a variety of fish. Anchor uptide of the docks so that your lure or bait will hold under the docks while you work it slowly. Just lifting on the rod will move the lure and the tide will keep it under the dock and increase your chances. The bridges have held nice size sheepshead and black drum for the catwalk anglers using live or dead shrimp. Beaches have yielded some pompano and whiting. Everyone is still waiting for the cold front that will bring the pomps into the area in numbers and get them feeding better. The inlet in Fort Pierce has jacks, mackerel and bluefish coming in on the tides. Small, shiny lures work great for these species. We have found loads of short snook on the flats this winter. It is good to see them back in numbers again. We have a good juvenile population out there growning up.
Expect more and more windy days throughout the spring. Getting out early can spare you for a few hours and give you time to fish around the river before it kicks in for the day. Look for those weekly fronts to move through. So far we haven't had much cool weather, but we will get it sooner or later. Have fun and enjoy the rest of January!
Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!
Thanks and Good Fishing!
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852
