South Indian River Fishing Report 3/28

Inshore:

Here it is the last days of March and it's still cold! I keep wondering when winter will give up and let it warm up on the Treasure Coast. Winds continue to blow as well, but that's a typical March for us. Expect more to come. Water temps have been in the low seventies and that's good for fishing. The incoming tides have been bringing in cleaner water and that has helped the bite for us. It has been a challenging month!

Keith, Frank and Turner were back in town and we enjoyed a nice morning of fishing. The guys caught sheepshead, snapper and assorted other fish including an nice black drum that Frank caught to top off the day. Will and Jean have been out several times this past week with me and had some good success in catching sheepshead a lot. Jean had one day that she also caught two redfish and two nice pompano. Marshall, Jane, Nile and Tate were back again this year. Once again, sheepshead has been the best bite most mornings.

The Treasure Coast Casters had their monthly tournament this past week. It's a wonderful non-profit organization for kids and I enjoy helping out. I had Josh and Nick this month on the boat. The guys were anxious to catch fish and it didn't take long for Nick to start catching. He ended up checking in two nice sheepshead and two black drum for the tournament. Josh caught a beautiful slot redfish and couldn't get a sheepshead to the boat. Overall the boys hooked seven redfish and got five to the boat. The last two they hooked were better fish and got off at the docks. Nick took first place and Josh won second place in the Middle School Division. We all had fun that day!


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

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner

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

South Indian River Fishing Report 3/21

Inshore:

Looks like winter has to show up just one more time to cool things down. Just when you thought Spring had arrived...boom...it's another cold front. It won't last long and this should be the last one...I hope! Winds have been prevailing most days with one or two mornings each week that give you some light winds to get around the river and enjoy the fishing. The water has been pretty dirty most days near the inlets. Look for cleaner water to find the best fishing.

Duane, Kate and Nick joined me on windy morning that made it difficult to find areas to fish. Jacks, snapper and sheepshead was the best bite of the day for them. It was fun in spite of the weather. John and Theresa fished with me on one of those rare calm days. It allowed us to get to areas that you seldom get to fish this time of year. They boated about twenty sheepshead with fifteen over the 12" size. They also caught a couple nice pompano to make for a nice day fishing! Will and Jean got back in town and found the sheepshead bite continued the next day. It was good action with nice sized fish.

Try docks for redfish, sheepshead and snapper this time of year. Channel edges will hold sheepshead, drum and snapper. There are croakers and sand perch in the river now. I enjoy the winter and spring bite because there are a good variety of fish to target. The cold front should help improve the pompano and croaker bite for us. It a wonderful time of year to enjoy the fishing. Just plan your trip around the winds!

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

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner

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

South Indian River Fishing Report 3/7

Inshore:

Lots of windy days this week and plenty more ahead as we start the breezy month of March. While it can be challenging,, we have still been able to get out and enjoy the fishing by using the winds and tides to our advantage. The water quality is still murky and dirty from the daily winds and run off. March is always a month of testing your fishing skills, but the rewards have been good to us through February and should continue. Plan your trips carefully.

Dan and Joe were out for the first time with me. They caught redfish and drum along with a nice tripletail to top off a good morning. Steve and Jim were out on a windy morning that found us catching a variety of species including sheepshead, drum, croakers and sand perch that made for a fun morning. Mike, JD and Logan fishing with me on another windy day. Another day of good fishing that included four redfish, snook, drum, sheepshead and other fish. JD topped of the day with a good battle with a 27" redfish that had a belly full of lures when we filleted it. Mike and Gary fished on yet another breezy day. They ended up with a couple reds, snook, sheepshead and croakers even though it was a slower bite that day. Al took Aaron, Don and Mark out for an adventure. Even though the weather was still blowing, the guys had a good morning fishing. Don topped off the day with a big tripletail after losing one earlier that morning. Duncan was back visiting and we found plenty of fish to bite, but not as many that were legal size for dinner. It's always good to see him each year. It was an other fun week on the water!

Most of our activity has come from under the docks. With the full moon here, it was work to find the bite some days. Be willing to move often and try different things this month. Weather will continue to be a factor and bring more chances of rain this month as we transition towards summer. Have fun and enjoy the fishing in March!

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

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner

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

March Fishing Forecast

South Indian River Fishing Forecast - March

Inshore:

March has arrived on the Treasure Coast and, traditionally, we can expect windy conditions along with some rain clouds most days. It might dictate where and when you can get on the water, but at least we aren't cutting holes in the ice to fish! Water temperatures will continue to rise and the fish will be actively feeding on the flats. Winter was a little cooler for us in February. March brings the transition into Spring and things will warm up again. Take advantage of the good days and get out fishing soon!

As the sun warms up the water again, look for fish to travel into the shallows to feed. Trout will continue to be most prevalent in the deeper grass flats in two to four feet of water. Those anglers using live shrimp on popping corks, Deadly Combos, CAL jerk baits and top water will have the best chance at hooking up with a trout. I like to fish the edges of the shallows where the water drops off to these depths. You can find trout in four to six feet of water and they will move onto the shallower flats to let the sun warm them as the day goes on. Depending on weather conditions, there are many areas to fish. Round Island, Bear Point and Harbor Branch are always popular to fish in March.

Redfish will get more active this month and you can find some tailing on the flats in early mornings. Top water, DOA 2 ¾” shrimp, CAL grub tails or gold spoons are good choices for finding a spot tail on the flats. Don't forget to fish around the mangroves also. So far this winter, there has continued to be a good redfish population around the river and the fishing has been fantastic for them. I tend to like the east side of the river for redfish, but you can find them on the west side also. Work your baits slowly along the bottom for best results. This has been a good winter to allow us to enjoy a good redfish bite around the docks and mangroves with nice sized slot fish. Learn to read the water so you don’t miss what is happening around you.

Anglers will continue to target snook around the inlets, docks and bridges on the Treasure Coast. Live bait always works best, but feather jigs, TerrorEyz and DOA Bait Busters can also get you hooked up. Most of the action will be at night with best results on the high ends of the tides. As the water warms up around the area, the snook action will liven up also. Those fishing the flats can also find snook feeding early or late in the day. Fish the mangroves during the rest of the
day. There has been a very good juvenile snook population on the flats this year. Top water, twitch baits, TerrorEyz or CAL jerk baits can do the trick in March on the flats.

The pompano bite has been better this year once the water cooled down. It takes cooler weather bringing them into the area. Whiting, Bluefish and pompano will be hanging around the beaches this month. The inlet will be holding Spanish mackerel, jacks and bluefish. Jack Crevalle and ladyfish continue to haunt the river and provide fun catch for all. Bridges should give up catches of sand perch, sheepshead and black drum on live or dead shrimp. This year has been the best sheepshead bite in many years. They are not only tasty, but put up a good battle for anglers.

Spring is just around the corner on the Treasure Coast. It won't be long! Take some time to check all your equipment now and be ready as the weather improves to get out on the water. Make sure your reels are in good working order. Check your rods for broken or cracked tips and guides. How old in that line?? Get ready now on some of these windy days ahead, so you will be ready to head out to the water soon! Have a great March in 2018!

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

Dan caught this nice tripletail while enjoying a beautiful morning fishing with Joe.