South Indian River Fishing Report 2/20

Inshore:

We just got over the last cold front and hopefully it will be the last one for us. Spring is arriving on the Treasure Coast and will bring warmer water that will get the fish in the mood to feed. Water temperatures dipped down into the low 60's, but have been warming up the past few days. Fishing has been good and we have enjoyed a nice variety of fish on each fishing adventure. It has been a busy week and we enjoyed some nice weather on most days.

Trout fishing has slowed somewhat with the cooler water temps, but they are warming back up and they should be biting in the next few days. We have had nice success using DOA CAL jerk baits in darker colors for the sea trout. Andy and Stephanie were out with son, Will, and you can bet that Will outfished everyone that day. He caught the most and biggest fish, a sea trout. Our redfish bite also slowed somewhat with the cold front. It will also pick up again in the next few days. Most of our fish have been under the mangroves and docks. Barbara, Rich and Dave teamed up for four nice reds. We continue to catch snook all over the river. Most are juveniles, but we did boat several 24" size lately. Don, Don and Bob caught redfish, snook and trout along with a variety of fish on their trip. As Spring settles in on the area, you can be sure that things will heat up around the Treasure Coast.

One thing that the cold front did provide us is the pompano arrived in numbers around the river. We have been finding most of them around sand bars using Doc's Goofy Jigs. Of course, you have to deal with multiple ladyfish, jacks and bluefish while fishing for them. Collin had a great day fishing with the guys, Tom and Robert. He caught a nice pompano among a good variety of fish to keep him busy. Sheepshead and black drum are still thick around the bridges and docks along the river. The surf has been holding whiting, bluefish and some pompano. Nighttime fishing for snook has been good around the jetties. You can find bluefish, mackerel and jacke on the incoming tides around the inlet. One nice thing about the Treasure Coast is no matter what the weather, you can always catch fish somewhere.

As Spring arrives, expect more windy days through March and April. Plan you trips to utilize the winds to your advantage as much as possible. February has been a productive month and I expect March to be even better for fishing around the area. Have some fun and get out fishing soon!

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

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South Indian River Fishing Report 2/10

Inshore:

Warm springlike weather continued to look down on the Treasure Coast for another week. It's been a little windy out there most days, but it is still very nice weather to get out fishing. The water temperatures warmed up to the high sixties and low seventies and the fish have been biting good most days. Look for similar weather in the near future with spring closing in on the area. Winds will be a part of the weather forecast each day this month. There are plenty of fishing spots to get out of the wind, so have fun and get out fishing!

Redfish warmed back up to the water temperatures and we found a good bite most days this week. Our best day was with Ron, Mike and Timberly, when they boated six redfish and lost a few others. All are coming from both docks and mangroves. DOA shrimp or live bait has helped find some nice slot fish. We continue to catch the juvenile snook while fishing the mangroves. It great to see them come back from the freeze a few years ago. Nighttime anglers are landing some slot snook around the bridges and jetties on live bait, feather jigs and TerrorEyz. Trout have been on the flats in two to five feet of water. Kim Ann celebrated her birthday by boating the largest trout so far in 2013 at 30". DOA CAL jerk baits and Deadly Combos are great this time of year for trout fishing.

Howard and Jim found a good variety of fish to keep them busy on their trip. John, Kim Ann and Kid also found a nice variety of fish. Jay and JD had a good day in spite of windy conditions to make it challenging for us. Around the docks, channel edges and bridges, you can find sheepshead, black drum and some snapper. Bluefish and mackerel have been around the jetties and turning basin in Fort Pierce. Small shiny lures work best for the toothy critters. You can find pompano scattered around the river now. Doc's Goofy Jigs and Capt Joe's jigs are popular by the pompano fishermen. It's been a fun week on the river!

I wanted to send a HELLO to the US Army Dust Off Medical Air Evacuation Unit stationed in Afghanistan, who are receiving the TCPalm You News papers to enjoy. We are proud of your service to our country and anxious to see you back home again. Thanks!

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

South Indian River February Forecast

February Fishing Forecast

While winter is still around the Treasure Coast and weekly cold fronts will continue to bring cool nights and lots of windy days to the area, fishing will still be good out on the water. It has been a mild winter so far. Water temperatures can dictate where and how you might fish on any given day this month. The temps ranged in the 60’s and low 70’s in January this year. When the water is cold, fish the deeper cuts and drop offs of the river. Sunny days will bring fish up in shallower waters to feed and the bite can really get hot out on the flats.

The trout bite picks up very nicely in February. 2012 proved to be the year of big trout in the Fort Pierce area. I anticipate that 2013 will be another big fish year around the area. CAL jerk baits and Deadly Combos are exciting ways to trout fish with artificial lures, while live shrimp on popping corks are the ol’ standard way to trout fish out on the river. Redfish can be found in shallow flats around mangroves and islands. We had a fantastic winter bite in 2012 around the docks and mangroves for redfish. On warm sunny days, the reds will sit around the mangroves and soak up the sun. Finding some along the mangroves will bring some good rod bending action to anglers this month. DOA shrimp and CAL jerk baits can find some hungry reds hugging the mangrove lines when fished very slowly. Docks are a great way to find plenty of fish waiting for something tasty to drift under them.

Sheephead will be plentiful around the river and the larger fish will be coming into the river to breed. They showed up early this year and January has been a great month for them. Live or dead shrimp around bridges, docks and structure can provide lots of action in addition to some great tasting fish. Sand perch and croakers should also be hanging around the inlet and bridges during February. Pompano around the surf and on the deeper flats of the river can be taken on CAL grub tails, Doc’s Goofy Jigs and shrimp or clams. Bluefish, mackerel and jacks will continue to haunt the baitfish around the jetties and turning basin. Small, shiny lures will keep you busy. There should be some flounder around the back sides of the jetties and on sand flats around the inlet area.

February is a transition month on the river. Winter has been much kinder this year on the Treasure Coast. We have enjoyed more normal winter weather and the fish bite has been good for us. Winds will still be blowing and the water will begin to gradually rise in temperature. Fishing your lures slowly will certainly give you more action on the river. Fish tend to be sluggish in the colder water. Working your lures or bait slower along the bottom will give the fish more time to react to it and will result in more bites for anglers. Have fun this month and get out fishing!

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