February Fishing 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 tough winter so far with all the rain, winds and cold. Water temperatures can dictate where and how you might fish on any given day this month. January was a much warmer month 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. 2015 proved to be the year of big trout in the Fort Pierce area. I anticipate that 2016 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 2015 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.

Sheepshead 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 challenging 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

South Indian River Fishing Report 1/20

Inshore:

It looks like winter has finally found Florida and the Treasure Coast. Lots of nights in the 40 degree range and days have been cool also. It's a typical winter pattern, but we who live in Florida are pretty spoiled and whine when it gets below 60 degrees.... Ok, so I am whining a little! Water temperatures have been in the low to mid sixties lately with the warmer water coming in with the tides. Our winter fish are arriving in numbers now, so look for some great fishing action this month.

Sheepshead continue to be one of the best bites out there. Fish docks, channel edges and bridges for some nice size fish this month. Live or dead shrimp will keep you busy. Black drum have been moving into the area and can be found in the same locations and eating the same bait as the sheepshead. There are also lots of snapper hanging with these fish. Both are excellent fish to eat. Redfish are hanging around docks and mangroves and moving onto the flats with the sunrise. DOA CAL jerk baits and shad tails are excellent lures for fishing the grass flats, docks and mangroves. The trout bite has been good on the grass flats with the same CAL lures along with the DOA shrimp. The inlet has been bringing in jacks, bluefish and mackerel with the incoming tides. Pompano have moved into the area in pretty good numbers and can be found cruising the flats, beaches and inlet areas. Small jigs, live shrimp or sand fleas are good choices when fishing for them. It's an awesome time of year to enjoy the fishing along the Treasure Coast!

Ray and Christopher found lots of sheepshead, snapper and jacks biting on a cool morning with not much winds for a change. David and Dave found sheepshead, trout, snapper and jacks among their catch on a cold morning with lots of wind to challenge us. We had a great time in spite of conditions. Expect the same weather patterns to continue for a while as winter get a grip on our area. Plan your fishing with what the weather provides and be safe out there. Dress in layers to stay warm until the sun can warm things up. Enjoy the fishing and have fun!

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 Fishing Report 1/20

Inshore:

Well, winter has finally arrived to the Treasure Coast. You northerners might laugh, but when it dips down into the 50's it is cold here to those of us who live down here. It has been the usual windy conditions lately, but that is normal for this time of year. Water temperatures have dropped to as low as 62 degrees some days and that will bring in our winter fish now. Expect similar weather next week as well. Look for pompano, bluefish, mackerel and black drum to filter into the river and provide anglers with lots of action. Let the fun begin!

Richard and Bob were out with me and found the fish hungry! The guys caught trout, sheepshead, flounder, jacks and a host of other species to make for a fun day on the water. Don, Art and Sherman were back this month and found the sheepshead and snapper to be our best bite on the first cold day of January. Mark and I fished south of Fort Pierce on another cold morning. It turned out to be windy, but we caught trout, bluefish and sheepshead along with lots of jacks and ladyfish to make for a fun morning.

Now that the water temps have dropped you can find lots of action around the area. Look for pompano along the beach and in the river. Spanish mackerel will show up in the inlet on the incoming tides. Black drum will join the sheepshead around bridges, docks and channel edges. Look for trout on the grass flats as the sun warms up the water in the shallows. Redfish will be hanging around docks and mangroves and move onto the grass flats when the sun rises. There will be bluefish, ladyfish and jacks all over the river to keep you busy as well. It's a great time of year to enjoy the fishing...and the cold temperatures!

Dress warm and in layers now that winter has arrived. There can be a twenty to thirty swing in temperatures some days and the wind will be a factor in keeping warm on the water. Watch conditions and plan your fishing adventures accordingly. It's an awesome time of year to fish and also give you many challenges, too. Have 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

South Indian River Fishing Report 1/12

Here it is 2016 and we have enjoyed another mild winter so far. A couple cold fronts have blown through with cooler temperatures, but not the colder weather yet. It has been a challenge most days with all the windy weather to cope with. A couple days a week we have had light wind conditions to get around the area and enjoy the fishing. Water temps have remained in the mid 70's and have given us a good bite. Check the weather before you head out fishing and plan your adventures accordingly. It has been another good week on the water!

Redfish, sheepshead and trout continue to be our best bite most days. Charlie, Chaz and Lani were on the boat this past week and had lots of fun with a good variety of fish. Sheepshead, jacks, grouper and snapper were some of the many species they caught that morning. David, Dave and Max were back again for another fishing adventure. The guys caught redfish, sheepshead, snapper and many other species. Jim was back with his group for a morning trip. They caught redfish, snook, trout and a host of others for a productive morning. My grandkids, Chloe and Brody, met me that afternoon along with dad, Rick, and grandma, Eva, to enjoy the beautiful weather. The kids enjoyed catching fish and being on the water again. A fun week of fishing!

The fishing hasn't changed much this week. With the warmer water, you can fish just about anywhere the winds will allow and catch fish. Docks, grass flats, bridges and channel edges are all productive right now. It will take some cold weather to drop the water temps before many pompano, bluefish and mackerel will arrive in numbers. Redfish, sheepshead, snapper and trout continue to be the best bite out there. Use DOA Deadly Combos on the grass flats for a variety of fish and small shiny jigs along channel edges for those fish. Docks can be productive with DOA shrimp, live or dead bait. It has been an awesome start to the new year and 2016 should be another year to remember!

Thanks to everyone who was part of 2015 with me. It was good to see many old friend and make so many new ones. I look forward to seeing you all again this year. Thanks for a wonderful year!

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

Inshore:

January Fishing Forecast

January Fishing Forecast

Happy New Year! In past several years, January has traditionally been a cold month around the Treasure Coast. Hopefully, 2016 will show us another mild winter and you won’t have to worry about the water temperatures as much this year. Fishing in deeper water will provide you with better results on most days. Working your lures and baits much slower will also give you a better chance at success. Fish tend to become lethargic in cold water and are slow in moving to strike at lures. Finding water that is a couple degrees warmer than the surrounding area can also give you an edge on finding fish. Water temperatures have been mild so far. We had great results last year on fishing deep sand holes on the flats that were being warmed by the sun. We will certainly be doing that again this year.

January is typically a windy month and it will continue the tradition if recent weather gives you an insight to the coming month. You might enjoy one or two days a week that is calmer, but expect it to be windy most days. Using the right ramps can make your day a little easier in dealing with the weather. There are many ramps around the area that allow you to launch depending on wind direction. The river can be rough some days, but you can still fish most days if you plan your trips carefully. It is a great month to fish in spite of weather conditions that might not be to your liking.

Bridges will continue to produce sheepshead, black drum, croakers, sand perch and bluefish. Most of the anglers on the catwalks prefer live or frozen shrimp for these fish. The inlet and turning basin will be full of bluefish, jacks and mackerel this month. Live or dead bait on a jig head will give you plenty of action along with silver spoons or shiny lures. Around seawalls, channel edges or deeper structure you can find grouper for catch and release action in January. Snook action around the jetties and bridges will be active mostly at night for anglers using feather jigs, Terror Eyz and live bait. Snook closed on December 15th, so it will be catch and release for them.

Redfish can be found around docks and sitting on the flats on warm, sunny days. DOA shrimp, Terror Eyz or CAL jerk baits work great for wintertime fishing. We had fantastic results around mangroves for redfish last year. CAL paddle tails in the 411 color were a hit with the reds. Docks will be loaded with sheepshead in January with nice sized fish. They have moved in early this year and have been hungry! Pompano fishing will depend on water temperatures for their location, but they will be in the area throughout the winter. Surf anglers will be targeting these fish on days when the beach is fishable. Flounder should be found around the jetties on the beach side and on sand flats around the inlet. If you can find warmer water on the flats, you will most likely find trout feeding in those areas. Last year, we were rewarded many days as the sun would warm up a patch of water and get the fish actively feeding. Trout fishing in 2015 rewarded us with many big fish in the 25” to 30” range. CAL jerk baits and Deadly Combos were very successful on the trout, and 2016 should prove to be another good year. Ladyfish and jacks will be all over the river for fun action for the little ones.

January Tips: Dress for the weather. We might get one or two days each week that might be warmer, but most days will be on the cooler side. There can be a 30 degree swing in temperature on some days. Dressing in layers can keep you comfortable throughout the day in January. Once you become cold, it's hard to warm back up again. Keep yourself comfortable and enjoy some good fishing in January. Stay warm and safe and enjoy the winter!
Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!

Have a wonderful 2016!
Thanks and Good Fishing!
Captain Charlie Conner

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