South Indian River Fishing Report - June Forecast

June Fishing Forecast

Summer has arrived and you can bet on hot afternoons and lots of great fishing action around the Treasure Coast during June. The mornings will be calm and it is certainly to your benefit to get out early to beat the afternoon heat. Being on the water at first light is worth the effort to watch the sun rise. Expect a chance of afternoon thunderstorms each day…we can always use some rain around the area this time of year! Watch the weather each afternoon out there. It’s a fantastic month to fish.

Inshore will provide lots of redfish, snook and trout action on the flats. Get those top water lures cleaned up and plan an early morning to get some of that explosive action in the shallows. Try the new DOA Airhead for great top water action. Switch to DOA shrimp or a CAL jerk bait as the sun warms up to continue your success. Watch for bait schools on the flats and you can be assured there are fish nearby. You can expect the fish to be feeding shallow early and move to the edges of the flats as the sun rises. Look for sand holes on the flats! Fish are traditionally lazy and love to sit in a sand hole and wait for the tide to bring the food for them to ambush.

You should be able to find plenty of redfish around the shallows. The population this year has been outstanding and they have been growing all spring. Redfish schools will be feeding on the flats, so be on the lookout for them. Most will be slot size to just over the slot. I love using a DOA shrimp or CAL paddle tails while fishing for reds. Try along the mangroves as well. Lots of fish will move under the mangroves as the sun heats up for the day. Trout will be on the grassy flats and feeding on the same food out there. Move out to three to five feet of water as the day heats up to continue your action. A Deadly Combo can provide inexperienced anglers with lots of fun learning to fish artificials. Don’t forget to fish the docks around the river. Lots of big fish will be hanging around many of the docks along the Indian River. Live bait, TerrorEyz and DOA shrimp can find some exciting action in June. Harbor Branch, Queens Cove and Bear Point will all be hot spots for action all summer.

Snook will provide plenty of action around the bridges and jetties this month. Snook season closed on May 31 and won’t open again until fall. Night anglers will be heading to the jetties for catch and release snook and maybe some tarpon action. Top water lures, feather jigs, TerrorEyz and Bait Busters can all get you in on some fantastic action. Handle the snook carefully and release them quickly and safely so that they will be there this fall. Jacks will also be hanging around the inlets and give you some rod bending activity.

Make sure you take plenty of water with you. It will be hot out there. Drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated and reduce the risk of heat stroke. Slather on lots of sunscreen! Sunburn isn’t a good feeling at the end of the good day of fishing. A little common sense and a few minutes can a big difference. Make that part of preparations for your adventures on the water. It will just make a great day even better!

Remember, as always, fishing is not just another hobby……it’s an ADVENTURE!

Good Fishing,
Captain Charlie Conner

www.fishtalescharter.com
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852

Fishing with Captain Charlie this week

South Indian River Fishing Report 5/22

Inshore:

We enjoyed some great fishing action this week in spite of lots of rainy weather throughout the Treasure Coast. Dodging rain systems became a norm most of this week. We have certainly entered the rainy season! Watch the weather out there and plan your trips around the conditions. The fishing has been super for us this week as long as you can work around the weather patterns.

I had the pleasure of volunteering again for the Treasure Coast Casters this past week. It was their year end fish off for the top ten anglers from the middle and high school divisions. Dylora Kohler was on my boat for the tournament. Now Dylora was determined to catch some fish that morning and she did just that. I lost track of all the fish she landed, but she checked in a redfish, two trout, two snapper and a bluefish for the tournament and won the Treasure Coast Caster of the Year for 2013. Dylora was the first female to win the coveted title and her smiles that day told the story. Congratulations Dylora! Check out the Treasure Coast Casters at http://www.treasurecoastcasters.org/ if you have children who love to fish or are interested in volunteering.

I had some excellent anglers on the boat this week and they caught a lot of nice fish. Dan and Cody caught trout, snapper and jacks on their fishing adventure. Tim and Greg landed some nice trout, bluefish and jacks on a windy, rainy day on the river. Ken, Dennis and Nichole enjoyed trout, snapper, bluefish, sheepshead and other species to make their day a fun experience. It was a fun and exciting week for us all!

We continue to catch trout up to 28" on the grass flats from Harbor Branch to Bear Point in Fort Pierce. Try CAL jerk baits, Deadly Combos or live bait for trout on the flats. It's the time of year for the big trout in this area and most anglers have not been disappointed! Our redfish catches have been mostly from around the docks of the river. DOA shrimp or live bait can help find one for you around on of the hundreds of docks in the area. Most of the snook fishing has been around the bridges and jetties. Snook season closes May 31st, so you have a few days left to try for that slot fish. There are lots of mangrove snapper in the river now. Most that my anglers have caught are in the 12" to 15" range and are very tasty table fare. Channel edges, docks and structure are the best places to target some nice fish if you are looking for dinner. We are still catching some sheepshead around the docks. They have thinned out now, but there are still some keeper fish to be had. Live or dead shrimp are the bait of choice by most anglers for snapper and sheepshead. You can find plenty of bluefish, jacks and ladyfish all over the river to keep your rods bending. It's a great time of year to enjoy the fishing!

Bridges can produce snapper and sheepshead and the surf will hold whiting, bluefish and jacks. May is almost over and it has been a fantastic month for fishing. Plan to get out and enjoy the fishing soon!

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
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852

Fishing this week with Captain Charlie....

South Indian River Fishing Report 5/15

Inshore:

Lots of sunshine around the Treasure Coast lately has made for some great fishing weather. Afternoon showers will loom around the area each afternoon, but they move in and out quickly most days for us. The water has cleared up from the recent rains and it makes for some exciting fishing action. It's a wonderful time of year to enjoy the fishing!

Get out early to enjoy some great top water action. Try the new DOA Airhead as a top water lure on the trout. The big trout have been on the grass flats in two to four feet of water lately. Nothing will get your blood pumping like watching a big trout crash a top water lure. Move to three to five feet of water as the sun get higher for more trout action during the day. We have had success both north and south of Fort Pierce. Our redfish continue to come from under docks and mangroves. Fish your lures slowly under these structures to get the most out of each cast. Don was back out with me for one more fishing adventure this week. He landed two slot redfish and a fat 26" trout to top off his day. Francis and Brenda found trout, bluefish and jacks to keep their rods bending this week with me.

Snook fishing has been best around the jetties and bridges. Fishing the high ends of the tides will give you the best chance at hooking up with a snook. Snook season closes June 1, so you have a couple weeks left to get that slot fish. Lots of snapper are still around the river if you are fishing structure or channel edges. Bluefish, jacks and ladyfish are just about everywhere in the river. Beaches will produce whiting, bluefish, jacks and snook if you are fishing around the bait schools. I still see mackerel in the turning basin each time we are out there as well. May is a great fishing month with so many choices and ways to enjoy the fishing around the area. Have fun and do some fishing soon!

Memorial Day is almost here already. Here are a few boating tips to help make your weekend fun on the water instead of frustrating.

Holiday Safe Boating Tips

It’s hard to believe that Memorial Day is just around the corner and that means lots of picnics, celebrations and boaters. Holidays always bring out the usual boaters along with lots of new boaters and those that only go out a few times a year. A little common sense and preparation can make your holiday on the water a fun adventure and not a befuzzling mess. Here are a few common sense tips to help get you ready for that enjoyable weekend.

Prior to the Holiday:
1. Make sure all batteries are in good working condition and fully charged.
2. Gas up the boat.
3. Start your motor before you leave the house.
4. Stow as much gear, etc. in the boat before leaving.
5. Check the trailer early enough to have the time to repair lights, tires, etc.

At the ramp:
1. Get your boat ready BEFORE pulling into the ramp. (All equipment on board - dock lines ready)
2. Back in - launch the boat - move the boat out of the ramp area - get parked and back to the boat.
3. Move out of the ramp area quickly if you are waiting on others or getting things stowed..
4. If you have problems, get out of the ramp area. Don’t tie up others for your problems at the ramp.

On the water:
1. Know the rules of the road and use common sense and courtesy.
2. Don’t be aggressive on the water. Allow plenty of room to other boats and slow down around heavy boat traffic.
3. Remember, your wake affects others. Again, common sense and courtesy is the key.
4. Obey the laws! The signs are their for a reason, so just follow the rules and everyone will have an enjoyable day.
5. Don’t drink and drive! Have an experienced boater to be the designated driver for that day.
6. Courtesy goes a long, long way!!

Back at the ramp:
1. Don’t tie up a ramp while you get your vehicle. Most likely, someone is already getting theirs and should have first rights to pulling their boat out.
2. Patience is a virtue….someone said. Don’t be in a hurry. You will get your boat out, just wait your turn.
3. Pull well away of the ramp area when securing your boat and gear. Allow others the courtesy of pulling their boats timely.
4. Make sure everything is secure for a safe trip home from a wonderful Holiday weekend on the water!

Check with your local Coast Guard Auxiliary and take a safe boating course if you haven’t already….it will open your eyes to safe boating.

It’s nothing new or bizarre, just simple things to help yourself and others around you to have a great Holiday Weekend! Have a safe and fun Memorial Day!

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
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852

South Indian River Fishing Report 5/9

Inshore:

We have enjoyed some fantastic weather along the Treasure Coast this week. After dodging rain storms for last week, it was nice to see the sun shining bright across the water. Mild temperatures and light winds have made for some great fishing weather for anglers and the fish have cooperated for us this week. Looks like this will continue for a while, so it's time to enjoy some fun, sun and fishing!

Sea trout continue to be one of our best bites. We continue to find some big trout on the flats up to the 30" range. Top water, DOA shrimp or live bait can help you get hooked up on a big gator trout this month. Don was back out again this week trying to top his 30" trout from last week. He came close with a 28" gator and a few other in the 20" range. Try flats that are two to four feet in depth that have plenty of sand holes scattered around. We have released all our big trout this week. Our redfish bite picked up the first part of the week. John and Carl boated seven redfish up to 24" on their fishing adventure. All came from under the docks or mangroves this week. Our best bite has been on the outgoing tides lately.

The bluefish and jacks invaded the river in numbers this week. Francis and Brenda found lots of them on the flats and around the docks this week. It makes it hard to trout fish when these hungry fish are in the area. You can find jacks and bluefish from the inlets to just about anywhere on the river. There are lots of snapper around the river right now. Some of them have been nice sized fish. It's that time of year to enjoy the top water fishing. Try the new Airhead from DOA as a top water or slow sinking lure. Bridges and docks continue to hold some sheepshead and snapper. Look for whiting, bluefish and jacks in the surf. It has been tough on the beach lately, but things should calm down soon.

Take plenty of fluids with you this time of year. When the winds are light, it can get warm fast on the water. Use lots of sunscreen as well. Calmer water can really reflect that sun and give you a nasty burn if you aren't ready for it. May is one of my favorite months. Have fun on the water this month and enjoy the fishing!

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
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852

South Indian River Fishing Report 5/3

Inshore:

May begins with lots of rainy days and some super fishing on the Treasure Coast. Mornings have been nice most days, but by noon you can look for rain and thunderstorms to be building around the area. Plan your trips safely and keep an eye on the sky. Water temperatures are in the mid 70's. The fish have been hungry and we have found some big fish around the Indian River in Fort Pierce this past week. Winds have tapered down somewhat most days lately as we continue the transition into the summer weather patterns. The main channel between the bridges in Fort Pierce is now open to the 30 mph speed limit.

Sea trout have been our best bite this week. Not a lot of small trout on our catch list, but some big trout. Most have been over 20 inches with some at 30 - 31 inches. Tim Freeman was back down this year with Paul to enjoy a couple days on the river. He topped his best trout from last years 29 incher with a fat 31 inch trout. He caught this years in the exact place that he landed last years trout. Mark Amorello and I enjoyed a morning on the water and he boated a 31" trout to top off his day. Don Foreman boated two slab-o-trout on his adventure that measured 29 and 30 inches. Captain Joe Ward and I managed to sneak away for an afternoon trip and boated three trout well over 20 inches. All the biggest trout were released to continue to populate the fishery. Look for sand bars or flats that have plenty of sand holes scattered across the area. The big trout will sit in those spots waiting for a meal. Top water or DOA Airheads in early morning works great this time of year and switch to DOA shrimp, Deadly Combos or live baits in two to five feet of water. It's a great time of year!

We continue to find some redfish under the mangroves. Most have been in the upper slot sizes. Try a gold spoon, DOA shrimp or live bait along the mangroves in two to four feet of water. May is always a good redfish month so keep fishing the flats as they become more active in shallow water. Our snook fishing has been best around docks and mangroves. We continue to get broke off by some slobs, but that's part of fishing those areas. You will continue to find more activity around these areas now that the water has warmed up in the river. Snook season will close at the end of May, so you have plenty of time to catch that slot fish.

Bridges and docks have held sheepshead, snapper and some black drum. The inlet has been holding bluefish, jacks and mackerel around the jetties. Beaches are yielding whiting, bluefish and jacks. Grouper season opened May 1st and you will see many anglers trolling along channel edges for a chance at a keeper fish. Ladyfish, jacks and bluefish have been plentiful around the river. It's a fantastic month to enjoy some fishing so plan a trip out soon!

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
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852

May Fishing Forecast

May Fishing Forecast for the Treasure Coast

Inshore:

Finally, the windy months of March and April are almost behind us and we can look forward to the great fishing weather that May has to offer us on the Treasure Coast. Other than the usual windy days, it has been a pretty mild winter and spring has arrived. Look for warmer temperatures and little less blustery days. As the water temperatures climb, the fishing will steadily improve on the river. The water is already in the upper 70’s and that means the fish will be hungry. It will provide fantastic mornings for top water and lazy afternoons to drift the flats. May is one of my favorite months on the water!

Redfish will be our main target throughout the month of May. The past several years have bought us schools of slot sized redfish along the Indian River. Most of the fish we have caught have been in the 18 to 30 inch range. The mangroves have produced lots of redfish action again this year. They have been sunning on the flats and May gets their blood pumping and turns on the feeding. I always have three lures ready during May…DOA shrimp, CAL jerk baits and top water lures. Gold spoons and the new DOA Airhead will also be a great additions to the arsenal when fishing for redfish. As the fish school up, look for them around the edges of the flats. Most of the river here on the Treasure Coast has been holding redfish and you should be able to find some on your favorite flats. I tend to enjoy the east side of the river, but we have found many on the west side as well.

Snook fishing in the early mornings will bring some rod bending action as they head up on the flats for an early morning or late evening meal. Top water lures, Baitbusters and DOA shrimp are all great lures to tempt a snook into biting. We have been broken off numerous times by big snook under the mangroves. Docks will also hold snook lurking around for an easy meal. Live shrimp is hard to beat around the docks. In the inlet areas, try around the seawalls and bridges with live bait, Terror Eyz, feather jigs or deep diving plugs. I love early morning for great snook fishing opportunities!

Trout will continue to feed on top water at first light and live shrimp on popping corks during the day. As the sun rises, they will head off the shallows to deeper water in the two to four foot range. We have had some nice gator trout of late and should see some still big trout throughout the month of May. I have had great success with CAL jerk baits and Deadly Combos this year in place of live shrimp. If you are using live baits, try big shrimp or pilchards on the flats. Both sides of the river have been productive in early mornings. Winter fishing for trout has been good this year and spring should continue to give you some great action.

Bridges will hold the usual Sheephead catch, while snapper will be moving into the river along with flounder. Jacks and ladyfish will be patrolling the areas and creating havoc all over the river. Beaches will produce whiting with still a few catches of Spanish mackerel and bluefish along with the usual whiting. Tarpon will begin their trek into the river and you can start looking for them in the St Lucie River, Big and Little Mud areas and into the channels of the river. May is a great month to fish the Treasure Coast….plan on a trip out on the river soon!

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
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
772-284-3852