From Capt Joe Ward @ Bait Shack - FT Pierce

The inshore fishing should be good for the winter patterns we have this time of year. Lots of mackerel, bluefish and jacks around the Ft. Pierce Inlet and Turning Basin and they will be taking anything shinny as well as small live baits. Just look for the birds and you will find the fish. The trout bite should be good around the deeper edges of the flats and around the cuts and channels. Try a live shrimp, finger mullet or soft plastic baits but, remember to fish them slow if the water is cold. There should be a good redfish bite as the day warms up on the flats around Jack Island, Queens Cove and Harbor Branch. Try a soft plastic baits, live shrimp or a piece of cut ladyfish. 

The pompano bite should be starting in the river with action along the channel edges and flats. Try sand fleas, cut shrimp or mylar jigs. The bottom fishing for black drum, sheephead and croakers will be red hot when using a live shrimp, fiddler crabs or a piece of cut shrimp and fish around the bridges and docks. Snook season will remain closed until February 1st but, look for good catch and release action in the deeper areas of the Ft. Pierce Inlet, around the local bridges and in the Turning Basin. Try live baits like mullet, pinfish, pigfish or a select shrimp. The flounder bite should also improve around the South Jetty and on the sand bars to the south of the South Bridge. Try a finger mullet or a live shrimp fished on a troll-rite hook for the best results.