Florida - South Indian River Fishing Report

July 4, 2008

INSHORE:

Happy Fourth of July! Wonderful weather, lots of sunshine and some great fishing opportunities await anglers on the Indian River along the Treasure Coast. Afternoon thunderstorms have been the norm lately and it will continue to threaten the area each afternoon. It's best to plan an early trip so you can be off the water before the skies turn dark and stormy.

Snook fishing has been mostly around the inlet and flats areas. We have found some under the mangroves and chasing bait along the flats. Just remember to release them quickly and safely. Top water lures, like a Skitterwalk or DOA Bait Buster, will work at first light on the flats. Paul Reiss found several along the mangroves this week. Redfish are still on the shallow flats. Move across quietly so you don't scare them off ahead of you. Soft plastics, like a DOA shrimp or CAL jerk bait, are great choices out there. Trout action has been in a little deeper water. Top water early, followed by jerk baits or live bait will be a good choice of lures. Queen's Cove, Harbor Branch and Little Mud areas will be holding fish this month.





Tom Hull in the battle of the bonito at the Fort Pierce Inlet!

Tarpon have been feeding around Big Mud and the North Fork of the St Lucie River. A lot of tarpon are in the area and an early morning trip will give you the best chance at hooking up. It's usually a short bite and the earlier, the better. The Fort Pierce inlet has held glass minnows that are being chased by Spanish macks, bonito and jacks. For some great fun, give it a try. Shiny lures, spoons and jigs are good choices, but don't be afraid to change around if you aren't getting a bite. Try to match the glass minnows with your lures and you should have success. Tom Hull got spooled by one bonito and fought both fish and sharks to land the next one. I fought another for quite a while until the 8' bull shark decided it was a nice lunch. Bridges and docks have continued to hold snapper, sheephead and black drum. It's a great time of year to be fishing!

Tip of the Week: Courtesy, Patience and Common Sense are essential to enjoying a safe and fun-filled holiday. Whether it be Memorial Day, Fourth of July or Labor Day, you can have a much more enjoyable weekend if you practice these three simple concepts. These weekends are crowded holidays on the water. It all starts when you leave home and continues to the bait shops, ramps and waterways. Ramps are busy, so don't get upset or angry before you get on the water. PATIENCE! Waterways are swarmed with boats of all sizes and types. Use safe boating habits and follow the Rules of the Road. COMMON SENSE! When returning back to the ramp, expect many others to have the same idea and don't try to crowd or get ahead of others. COURTESY! Let's all have safe, friendly and especially FUN holiday weekends this year!

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

Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner www.fishtalescharter.com

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772-284-3852

Well it's kind of sad but funny , it was a nice day in in July , I was in Newfoundland , I was on vacation staying at my grandparnents cabin , my uncle and me decided to go to Crabs River ,a nice stretch of water on the west coast, we headed out before the birds were up as they say the river was slow starting of fishing that is hooking a salmon here and there we had no intention going so far but we ended at a big pool called The Caribou Pool we cased he hooked a few fish 4 I think I was useing a # 6 white Wulff , just short casts and this fish came up ,hardly breaking the surfice ,I set and then the fun began ,he took me up the river down the river ,you know the story about the first hour I have not even seen this fish yet ,then he came up ,well he was a big ,big fish he ,as if telling me this is the only time you are going to see me well, almoust , he stayed on the bottom , I couldn't move him . Into the 2nd hour he ran again up but something was wrorg he jumped down from me ,my line was around a rock , he went to the other side of the river my uncle taking the net ran over to the other side by now the fish was flashing his silver sides , he was ready to be netted ,so I thought ,my uncle howlered to me lift your line ,I didn't see it was caught on another rock , not being fast enought he made one last run , and well he wone the fight ,gone with my White Wulff and half my leader well I reeled in and where the line broke was at the 14 lb test ,I always tapper my own leaders ,anyway we gussed it to be around 28 lbs , it was to be the first and last fish that year of that size for me to hook ,ah but wait the story is not over yet , a few days later ,you guessed it , we went back to the river and father up this time and I hooked another big fish this time landing it after 1hr 45 min, he had a # 6 white Wulff still in his upper lip ,the same fish ,again he took the White Wulff #6 ,the salmon weighted in at 29lbs 5 ozs by the by that was a while ago and since then that part of the river has been closed and you can only keep salmon 63cm or less nothing any bigger ,and in Newfoundland you are only to keep 6 fish now , then you were allowed to keep 4 fish of any size per day from open season to the closing day ,this fish will forever be in my memorys thats for sure ,but I'm still looked for that 30+ fish like us all I guess ,Good Fishing Tight Lines and Singing Reels to you, THE END

well, Norm that is quite a story. Wow.. I can imagine you cannot forget this fish. Good fight though. Eventhough you didn't catch it.