From Capt. Charlie @ Fishing Center - Ft Pierce

Hope everyone enjoys the Holiday Season! It's been a wonderful year of seeing old friends and making new ones on the water.

I guess somebody forgot to tell mother nature that it's the dry season on the Treasure Coast. We have had quite a bit of rain around the area, and we have been caught in it a couple days recently. We can always use the rain, but it could come at more convenient times... Water temperatures remain mild for this time of year and you can find lower to mid 70 temps on the river this week. It has the fish out feeding on the flats instead of sitting in a sand hole by the furnace.

Sheepshead are thick around the docks right now. Most days we only have to hit one or two docks to find enough for dinner. They are good sized fish, too. You can also find a few redfish hanging under the docks this time of year. Trout are out on the flats in three to five feet of water and willing to take a well presented DOA shrimp or the Deadly Combo. There are plenty of the usual jacks and ladyfish around the river to keep the young ones busy and smiling. We have found some short snook and slot redfish around the mangroves. I like to use a CAL paddle tail in rootbeer color around the mangroves for redfish.
You can find pompano scattered up and down the surf this time of year with the usual whiting. Bluefish are moving in now, so expect to catch your share of these toothy critters. Black drum have been around the bridges and docks of the river. We caught lots of small snapper on the flats this week. Spanish macks are hanging around the inlet and turning basin with the jacks, ladyfish and bluefish. It's a good mix of fish this week.

It will continue to be windy most days and cooler temperatures will be coming soon. Dress in layers when you head out and I guess the way the weather has been...keep a rain jacket handy, too. It has been very foggy, so be careful both trailering to the ramp and when out on the water. Have fun and be safe!