Recent Posts

Hey everyone,
Sorry it took so long to get the report out. First off, I would like to thank Mike Cass for filling in for me as tournament director. Thanks to everyone that fished as well. It is still taking over 17lbs to win and 15lbs to get a check.
First place- Roy Singer and Ross Meyers with 17.89lbs
Second place - Mike Doran and Eric Armour with 15.21lbs
Third place- Jim Stovall and Alan Richbell with 15.13lbs
Big Fish went to the team of Sam Stanko and Tim Rose with a 5.46lber
And the tackle pack giveaway was won by Alex Perez and Rafeal Torres. Thanks to the great companies that support the giveaway.
http://www.sebileusa.com/
http://www.strictlybasslures.com/
http://www.bigbitebaits.com/
http://www.power-pole.com/
Also I would like to welcome two new sponsors of mine and thank Costa Del Mar for donating to the tackle pack.
http://www.costadelmar.com/
and Duckett Fishing and the new Micro Magic fishing Rods
http://duckettfishing.com/home.php
At the next tournament I will have my new rods for everyone to have a chance to get them in their hands and I will have discount cards available.
Next tournament will be August 28Th out of John Prince Park. I look forward to seeing everyone out there and thanks again to those who continue to fish the Xtreme trail.


 

August 8, 2010
 
INSHORE - The inshore fishing has improved over this past week with the snapper bite being the best thing going.  Try along the channel edges or around any structure and use a small live shrimp.  Most of the fish this week were 1 to 3 pounders.  The redfish has been a little on the picky side but I did have a few reported coming from along the docks of North Indian River Drive.  Try using a gold spoon or a live shrimp.  The trout bite has been steady but you had to be there before first light or just before dark.  Most of the trout were 5 pounds and under.  Try using a topwater bait if you are fishing early or late and the rest of the time use a pigfish.  There has been good catch and release snook action in the Ft. Pierce Inlet.  Fish the first hour of the out going tide and use a pinfish, pigfish or a mullet and keep them on the bottom. 
 
OFFSHORE - We had very few dolphin come into the docks this weekend.  The ones that did have dolphin caught them in 60 to 120 feet of water and the biggest one was 15 pounds.  A pink/white skirted ballyhoo worked best.  Several anglers reported sailfish in 100 to 120 feet of water to the south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and they were also hitting ballyhoo.  Over the reefs and wrecks there were the usual snapper, seabass, jacks and plenty of cuda's to keep you busy.  Several anglers reported seeing tarpon off the North Beach but said they were not feeding.  The divers that went out of the motel had a good number of lobster and there were several over 5 pounds.  One boat had 6 lobster over 5 pounds and most were 3 to 4 pounders.
 
JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - The first from shore tournament for the new school year is scheduled for Saturday - August 28th at Harbour Pointe Park in Ft. Pierce.  Junior Teen Anglers is for the 5 to 11 age group.  If you have a child that would like to fish with the Junior Teen Anglers you can call 772-201-5773 for more info or go to the web at www.teenanglers.org 
 
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or call me at 772-201-5770.  You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com 
 
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters
 


 

Hey Everyone

Just a reminder that next Saturday July 31 will be the Xtreme team tournament on Lake Osborne out of John Prince Park. Mike Cass will be taking registration and conducting the weigh in. I will be in Louisiana for a friends wedding.
Also the classic dates and location has been set, It will be at Lake Seminole on November 6-7, 2010 with a mandatory registration on Friday November 5Th. Please check out Xtreme's website for more info and details. It will be a great tournament with a fully rigged Legend Boat for first place.
http://www.xtremefishingseries.com/xtremefishing/

And guys don't forget to stay around after the weigh in for the tackle pack giveaway sponsored by
http://www.sebileusa.com/
http://www.strictlybasslures.com/
http://www.bigbitebaits.com/
http://www.costadelmar.com/

JULY 11, 2010
 
INSHORE - The inshore fishing has been a little slow this week but, if you went before daylight or right before dark you can expect to find plenty of trout and catch and release snook action.  After dark try the lighted docks for the best action and free line a live shrimp or a small live bait like a greenie, a pinfish or pigfish.  During the day there has been a steady catch and release snook bite in the Ft. Pierce Inlet on the falling tide and a live bait fished on the bottom has been the way to go.  The channel markers to the south of the power lines have been producing a few tripletail and a live shrimp has been the bait of choice. 
 
OFFSHORE - The dolphin have been scattered from 40 to 300 feet of water and taking both naked and skirted ballyhoo.  The cobia bite is still good with several ones coming into the docks this weekend.  Most were caught between 30 and 60 feet of water and a live bait seemed to work the best.  On Saturday we had 12 boats that had multiple sailfish hook ups.  Most were in about 100 feet of water and they were both to the north and south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet -- one angler said they were just everywhere!  Bottom fishing over the reefs and wrecks has been a little slow.  There were a few AJ's, snapper and a few grouper reported. 
 
BRAGGING BOARD -  Rick & Lynda Thurman & the Doug, Holly & RJ Gillaim families from North Carolina were in Ft. Pierce for the annual 2 week stay here at the Dockside Inn.  During their stay they caught and released a total of 127 fish and Holly caught and released her 1st snook!  Guy Harrell caught a 13.4 pound dolphin in 54 feet of water on Saturday and it was good enough for a 2nd place finish in the CFOFC's monthly tournament.  Wally Schultz took 1st place with his 19.9 pound dolphin and it was caught in 112 feet of water.  Today I had Don (grandpa), Russ (dad) and 7 year old Logan Ronchi (son/grandson) on the boat with me.  Logan had never fished before and he caught a total of 4 nice trout, a few snapper and a catfish.  Logan & Russ were visiting from California.  Connor Kelley stopped by to weigh a cobia he caught in 53 feet of water on a live sardine.  The fish weighed 39 pounds.
 
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or call me at 772-201-5770.  You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com
 
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters

Hey Guys,

Thanks to everyone that fished with us on Saturday. We had a total of 11 teams. I think that the 2pm weigh in really helped. We had a 100% release rate. Great job guys keeping your fish alive. First place went to the team of Mike Cass and myself. We had just over 21lbs. All of our fish came flipping heavy cover. Even though we had a great weight, we struggled all day. the bites were few and far between and you definitely had to be paying attention or you would miss the bite, it was a very subtle bite. I was using big bite baits yo mama on 65lb vicious braid and a Strictly Bass Rod and Shimano Chronarch reel. Mike was using a Gambler craw on 25lb monofilament on a G. Loomis Rod and a Shimano Curado reel. We also owe the victory to the power-pole without it we would not have been able to keep our boat in position. Second place went to the team of Sam Stanko and Tim Rose with 17.5lbs. And third pace went to the team of Jim Stovall and Alan Richbell with15.56lbs and beating the fourth place team by only twelve hundredths of a pound. Jay Jastrzemsky won the tackle pack drawing. Thanks to all the sponsors that donated for the tackle pack
http://www.sebileusa.com/
http://www.strictlybasslures.com/
http://www.bigbitebaits.com/
http://www.costadelmar.com/
http://www.power-pole.com/

JUNE 25, 2010
 
INSHORE - The inshore fishing has been slow this week due the hot weather but, if you got up early enough and were out before 1st light then you may have caught a few nice trout.  They have been on the flats at Harbor Branch and the Moorings to the north and around Bear Point to the south.  A live pigfish has been the way to go but they have also been taking a live shrimp fished under a popping cork.  The catch and release snook bite has remained steady when fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet.  A live croaker fished on the bottom has been the way to go.  There has been a fair amount of snapper along the channel edges and they have been taking small live shrimp.  There are a few redfish up along the docks at St. Lucie Village and around Jack Island.  Try a gold spoon or a live shrimp.
 
OFFSHORE - The dolphin bite is still hit or miss and there have been fish from 60 to 350 feet of water.  We did have a few nice ones last weekend.  Most of the dolphin were caught on a small ballyhoo and it was a 50/50 split about the skirt.  The ones that did use a skirt used the green/yellow ones.  The kingfish are still here and taking live mullet.  Try from 15 to 40 feet of water.  We did have 2 nice size wahoo come into the docks with the biggest one going 28 pounds.  They were caught in 140 feet of water to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.  The snapper bite should remain steady during the full moon.  The snapper have been taking both live and cut baits.  Along the beaches there is spanish mackerel, bluefish and a few tarpon have been showing up to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.
 
TEEN ANGLERS & JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - The Teen Anglers & Junior Teen Anglers will be at the GRAND OPENING of the new WEST MARINE in Stuart -- 2506 S.E. Federal Highway on Saturday -- July 10th and Sunday July 11th.  On Sunday -- the 11th West Marine will donate 5% of its sales to National Teen Anglers.  Please come out on Sunday -- the 11th and support the Teen Anglers & Junior Teen Anglers.  We will have info on how to join Teen Anglers for the 12 to 18 age group and for the Junior Teen Anglers for the 5 to 11 age group.   Teen Anglers is a not-for-profit and everything is done by donations.  www.teenanglers.org
 
BRAGGING BOARD - Last Saturday David Stone caught a 37 pound dolphin in 180 feet of water straight out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet.  He was using a small ballyhoo.  I got an e-mail from Mark Alsum about the snook he had been catching and releasing at the Ft. Pierce Jetty. He said he caught 7 snook in 3 days using a live croaker as bait. From the pics it looks like all the fish would have been way over the slot.
 
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or call me at 772-201-5770.  You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com
 
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters

Hey Everyone

I will be at Grand Slam Tackle in Jupiter on June 19Th doing a Sebile seminar at the Shimano Tour.
There will be vendors there and specials on tackle from 10 am till 3 pm. Sebile will be running a special buy two lures get 1 FREE!!  They have plenty of magic swimmers both hard and the all New soft models. They also have the bongo minnows and Stick Shadds in stock. And you freshwater guys don't forget to stop by too, you wont be disappointed with their inventory. Hope to see you all there!!!

June 18, 2010
 
INSHORE -  Most of the action has been at first light for catch and release snook, trout and a lot of ladyfish and jacks.  Top water baits fished on the flats around Bear Point, Herman's Bay, Harbor Branch and Queen's Cove has been the way to go.  After about 8am try a live baits like a pigfish, shrimp or pilchards and fish tehm in 3 to 5 feet of water.  The redfish bite has been okay along the docks of South Indian River Drive.  Try a gold spoon or a live shrimp.  The Ft. Pierce Inlet has been good for the cathc and release snook and over the slot reds.  They have been taking libe baits fished on the bottom.
 
OFFSHORE -  The best action going has been the sailfish and they are everywhere from 50 to 150 feet of water.  They have been taking either live baits or trolled ballyhoo.  The kingfish bite has also been steady in 15 to 40 feet of water and they have been taking live baits live blue runners or mullet.  The dolphin have been scattered all over the place with no special depth.  I have weighed dolphin this week from as shallow as 45 feet and out to 600 feet of water.  Most of the dolphin were caught on small ballyhoo or a live bait.  The bottom fishing remains steady over the reefs and wrecks when using both live and dead baits.
 
BRAGGING BOARD - Steve Fox & crew have caught 4 sailfish and 9 dolphin so far this week.  Biggest dolphin was 28 pounds.  Lucky DeVore caught a 26 pound wahoo and a small ballyhoo out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. 
 
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or call me at 772-201-5770.  You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com
 
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters

JUNE 3, 2010
 
INSHORE - The redfish action has been good around the docks along both North and South Indian River Drive.  Try a live shrimp or a gold spoon for the best results.  Still a fair trout bite early in the morning for anglers using top water baits or a live bait like a greenie or a pigfish.  Try in 3 to 5 feet of water at places like Harbor Branch or from Bear Point down to Little Mud Creek.  I had reports of a few tripletail on the channel markers south of the power lines and they were being caught on live shrimp.  And, the catch and release snook action remains good in the Ft. Pierce Inlet.  They mostly have been taking live baits fished on the bottom.  The snapper bite has been okay along the channel edges and around both bridges.  Try using a small live shrimp.
 
OFFSHORE - The dolphin are still scattered from 180 to 400 feet of water and taking ballyhoo.  Most of the fish that have come in this week were better fish -- 20 to 29 pounders.  There has been a lot of sailfish being reported in 80 to 150 feet of water  and they are also taking ballyhoo.  We had one boat one Sunday that had 6 releases.  The kingfish are still hanging out in 60 to 80 feet of water to the north of the Ft. Pierce Inlet and taking slow trolled live baits.  The cobia bite has slowed down some but the fish that have come in have been good size.  Most of the fish are between 15 and 40 pound and being caught in 15 to 60 feet of water.  The bottom fishing remains steady over the reefs and wrecks.  Try a live bait for one of those big AJ's.
 
JUNIOR TEEN ANGLERS - This Saturday - June 5th is the last from shore fishing tournament of the school year for the Treasure Coast Chapter of Junior Teen Anglers.  The Junior's will fish from 9am til 11am and then there will be awards and goody bags.  Junior Teen Anglers is for the 5 to 11 age group.  If you would like more info you can call 772-201-5773 or go to the web at www.teenanglers.org
 
BRAGGING BOARD - Our son - Rob Ward caught a 75 pound cobia at the Cove.  His biggest to date was a 54 pounder.  He was using live baits.  Jesse Pfeiffer caught a 49 pound kingfish last Friday in 40 feet of water and he was using a live bait.  On a recent trip to Ft. Pierce Jim Pirion, Chris Raden, Pete Diepeveen and Rob Moore caught a 40 pound cow and a 44 pound cobia.  The dolphin was in 300 feet of water and the cobia was caught in 200 feet under a huge turtle.  They also caught 7 schoolies.
 
CATCH OF THE WEEK - A couple of special birthday wishes - 1st to my wife of 37 (38 in August) years - Cammie and to our granddaughter - Savannah on her 10th birthday.  Little did we know that June 5th would be such an extra special day!!
 
Also, thank you so much for your support and prayers for our granddaughter -- Kaitlyn.  After she got hit in the temple she was transported to St. Mary's.  She is now home and expected to make a full recovery.
 
 
If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at cward11605@aol.com or call me at 772-201-5770.  You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com
 
Capt. Joe Ward
Capt. Joe's River Charters
 
 
 

Hey Everyone,
Its been awhile, but here goes. I finished 93rd in the BASS Southern Open on Lewis Smith lake. However I was only 1 keeper away from a paycheck. The weights were bunched real tight. There was a 15in limit so keeper spots were hard to come by. I did catch a 4lb class spot in practice on a home made football jig. The second day of the tournament we were catching fish in 2 feet of water in the morning then catching spots in 100ft of water on topwater sebile slim sticks. they suspend in the tree tops and just crush the topwater, sometimes 3 or 4 try to eat it at a time. The lake is full of 10-15in spots and it is a beautiful lake.
Anyway now on to the Xtreme Bass on Lake Osborne on May 29th
The team of Sam Stanko and Tim Rose took first place with 15.15lbs. The consistency of the team of Phil and Justin Nelson pays off again with second place with 14.62lbs and big fish honors with a 7.02lb brute. Great job guys. Third place went to the team of Roy Singer and his partner Ross Myers with a nice limit of 13.97lbs. Thanks again to all that fished. The tackle pack sponsored by Sebile Lures, Strictly Bass Lures, Big Bite Baits and Power-pole was raffled off to the lucky team of Alex Perez and Rafael Torres. They finished in last place but thanks to these great companies, they did not go home empty handed. If anyone would like information on how to get these products please contact me or visit their websites. Their links can be found on my website  www.jeffbrooksfishing.com

Thanks