South Indian River Fishing Report 1/16

Inshore:

While the weather continues to be mild, we have had a little more windy and cloudy days this past week. The winds can determine where you might or might not try to fish this time of year, but there is always someplace to enjoy the water and fishing. Look for more windy days ahead and plan your days around the weather forecast. If you didn't know it by now, the Melbourne radar has been down for a while so it's a little more difficult to watch for the chance of rain approaching.

Trout and sheepshead continue to be the best bite around the river lately. Of course, the jacks and ladyfish are all over the river, along with the dolphin looking for a free meal. We have had good luck using CAL jerk baits and shad tails in a variety of colors including root beer and glow. Fishing them slowly along the sand holes around the grass flats should help you locate the trout. Sheepshead have been everywhere, especially around the docks and bridges of the area. You can also find black drum in the same areas. Most anglers are using live or dead shrimp for these species. There has been a decent sand perch bite around the bridges this past week. The mangroves has held lots of short snook of late and that is great to see the upcoming generation out there in numbers. The inlet and turning basin in Fort Pierce has held bluefish, jacks and Spanish mackerel on the incoming tide. It's been a nice week to be on the water!

Spring won't be long in arriving to the Treasure Coast. It's been a very mild winter so far and there are just a couple months left for a chance of cooler weather. The water temperatures have been holding in the low to mid 70's so the fish are feeding and not trying to keep warm. There hasn't been much of a pompano bite yet with the warmer water and we will just have to wait and see how winter progresses. Enjoy the weather and the water and get out fishing soon!

January will bring in the big trout to the river and we should see more redfish the latter part of the month around the mangroves. Get your top water lures out for some early morning action on the flats. January is a fun month with so many species in the river to target. Have a great month!

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 1/10

Inshore:

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