From Capt. Charlie @ Fishing Center - Ft Pierce

We have enjoyed some fantastic weather and fishing as February arrived with sunny skies and light winds on most of our days on the water. It is a welcome change from January conditions. Water temperatures have warmed up nicely to the low to mid 70's and the fish have been hungry! We are beginning our transition into Spring conditions. Even though we will get our weekly cold fronts moving through the Treasure Coast, you can expect them to become milder as each week passes by. It's a wonderful time of year to enjoy the outdoors!

The variety of fish in the river continues to keep our clients smiling and rods bending. The bluefish and pompano are around the river now along with all the other wintertime favorites. Bluefish will hit anything shiny and pompano with take live shrimp, sand fleas or Doc's Goofy Jigs. 

The sheepshead and black drum bite has been excellent around the bridges, channel edges and docks of the river. Live or dead shrimp on a small hook or jig head will work best. There are lots of 15" mutton snapper around the turning basin. Fun to catch for the little ones, but just shy of keeper size. Jacks and ladyfish are everywhere right now. Again, the little anglers will love catching them. It's a fun time of year to take the kids fishing.

We are still getting some nice redfish around the mangroves and docks of the river. Expect a lot of shorts, but those will be in the upper slot by the end of summer. CAL paddle tails (411 color) on a 1/16th oz. jig head is my favorite go-to lure in winter for redfish. Fish can be skittish with the clear waters of winter and this won't scare them. The trout bite picked up again this week with the warmer weather. I rely on the CAL 4" jerk bait (407 color) on the same 1/16th oz. jig head to catch some nice trout this time of year. You can also have very good success with DOA shrimp or Deadly Combos this month. Snook fishing around the inlet docks and jetties has been good on the higher ends of the tide for anglers using DOA Terror Eyz and live baits. I love the variety of fish that you can catch during the winter months. The surf has been good for whiting, bluefish and some pompano for beach anglers. Most anglers are using live or dead shrimp, but silver spoons, Doc's Goofy Jigs and CAL shad tails can get you some good action as well.