From Capt. Joe Ward in Ft. Pierce

INSHORE – “The inshore fishing this week had been steady with good catches of speckled trout and redfish. The trout bite has been good both to the north and south in the river. The bait of choice has been a live shrimp fished under a popping cork in two to four feet of water or a small live white bait. A D.O.A. shrimp in a root beer or glow color will work just fine too. The redfish bite has been good around the docks along North Indian River Drive and around the Queen’s Cove area. A gold spoon or a live shrimp will get the job done. The flounder bite is slower than it has been but there were a few nice size fish caught at the South Jetty. A live shrimp on a trol-rite and make sure you fish it on the bottom. The catch and release snook bite remains steady for anglers fishing in the Ft. Pierce Inlet and using a live bait and fishing it on the bottom. The best time has been one hour before to 1 hour after the tide change. The snapper bite is getting better and better along the channel edges with fish to two pounds being reported. A small live shrimp has been the way to go,” reports Capt. Joe Ward of Capt. Joe’s River Charters (772-201-5770). www.captjoeward.com