Captain Charlie Conner

December 6, 2011 Inshore: While windy weather continues to blow around the Treasure Coast, the fishing has been great along the Indian River lately. Water temperatures continue to fall in the low to mid 60's and finding a few degrees of warmer water can add to your success this time of year. You can expect the winds to be there most days. Its been fun out there! Had several old friends out this past week along with some new ones to have some fun out on the water. We found a large variety of fish on most days to keep us busy. Most of our fishing has been in five to ten feet of water. As water temps continue to fall, we move to deeper water and fish drop offs, channel edges, docks and bridges. DOA Terror Eyz has been working great when fishing the deeper water along with live baits. We've found redfish, snook, trout and drum under the docks along with many other species. Bridges have held the same, plus grouper, sand perch and snapper. Our best bite has been on the incoming tides. Harbor Branch, Bear Point and Middle Cove has been good for the trout and redfish bite. Don't forget they are still out of season this month. Lot of last minute snook anglers are fishing the bridges and jetties for that slot fish. The bite has been good at night on the incoming tides. Live bait, feather jigs and Terror Eyz have all worked well. Remember that snook season will close December 15th. The inlet has been holding lots of mackerel. There are some good size fish in the turning basin that are willing to hit a shiny lure. The bluefish are moving into the river and should be feeding around the inlet now. Pompano are along the surf and the river. It's been hard to fish for them with all the winds, but they are out there. A few reports of flounder around the jetties means they should be moving in soon. It's been great fishing out there, so get out soon! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner Some recent catches out on the river.... [img=

November Fishing Forecast Inshore: Just as October proved to be a windy month, you can expect that November will also continue on that same windy note. We are in the middle of our winter transition and you can also count on cooler temperatures that will start the thermometer sliding when it comes to the water temps as well. The days will remain nice and warm, but the nights will become cooler this month. It’s time to change your fishing tactics out on the water. Trout will continue to be a target of many anglers. The trout bite will be good on the flats, but you must move to the deeper areas as the temperatures cool the water down. Look for them to be in three to six feet of water this month. My favorite lures are DOA shrimp or Deadly Combos when trout fishing. Don’t forget to fish the sand holes on the flats. Many are much deeper than the flat and you can expect some nice fish to be hiding in them while waiting for that easy meal to drift by. Harbor Branch is especially productive for me during this time of year as well as the Midway Road area. The pompano have already returned to the river and will be a favorite target for anglers. When fishing the surf, use sand fleas or clams and the same in the river. Don’t forget to try a Doc’s Goofy Jig for the pomps. Many are located when they skip behind the boat wake. Keep your eyes open for them. The snook bite will continue to be good, especially at night. The inlet, jetties, bridges and docks around the river will be holding snook. Lighted docks are very popular when night fishing. Live baits, Bait Busters and Terror Eyz are very popular for snook fishing. Don’t forget the spillways when the water is running over them. They can be another very productive area for snook. Redfish can be found hanging under mangroves during the day and will strike a DOA shrimp or CAL jerk bait. You might also find some hanging under some of the docks around the river. A gold spoon can be another good lure in winter for hooking up on a redfish. Docks and bridges will hold black drum, sheephead and the sand perch should also show up this month. Live or dead shrimp always works best on these fish. I love fishing docks this time of year. You just never know what might be lurking under one. I fish my lures from up tide of the dock, so that it will stay under the dock. You only have to twitch it and can fish it much longer that way. It’s always a challenge in getting a fish out from under one, but the excitement is well worth it. You should still find some flounder around on the sand flats of the inlet and river. The mackerel, bluefish and jacks will fill up the inlet this month. Most shiny lures will work on these predators. You can also find them hanging in the channels up around Harbor Branch. It might be windy out there…..but the fish will be feeding! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner

October 3, 2011 Inshore: Another week of wonderful weather and great fishing action out on the Indian River! We should enjoy the same conditions the rest of the month! The river is full of mullet and the fish have been feeding heavily. Have fun and get out fishing soon! I had the privilege of fishing for the Michael Shield's Memorial Inshore Fishing Tournament again this year. It's a great event for a wonderful cause...The Boys and Girls Clubs of Martin County. I had Eric and Alex Weider again this year on the boat. We had a fantastic time out on the river. Alex and Eric teamed up for a day of redfish and trout action. 7 year old, Alex, just missed the big redfish of the tournament by one inch! Already looking forward to next year. Joey, Steven and Nick joined my this week for an adventure on the river. After a morning of trout and a big jack for Nick, we went up on the flats to look for redfish. The guys weren't disappointed when we came up on a nice school of upper slot fish. Joey missed two reds and Steven landed two big fish to end a good day on the water. Joe and Barbara also were out with me on a day when a variety of fish were willing to cooperate. They had fun fishing both docks and the flats on another beautiful day on the Indian River. The trout bite has picked up this week. Most fish are in three to five feet of water and hitting on CAL jerk baits, DOA shrimp or live bait. Redfish schools are still cruising around the river in one to three feet of water. DOA shrimp, CAL grub tails or live bait has all worked in hooking up on some nice fish. The snook bite continues to be good at night around the jetties, docks and bridges of the area. Live bait, feather jigs, DOA Bait Buster or trolling a diving plug has all worked good for nighttime snook. We are catching more flounder this past week. It should continue to improve through this fall. Live bait, CAL jerk baits or DOA shrimp has all worked well. You can still find snapper and sheephead around the docks, bridges and channel edges this week. Live or dead shrimp are best. There has been some good tarpon, snook and jack action at night around the jetties as the schools of finger mullet move in with the tide. The turning basin and inlet has been flooded with blue runners, bluefish and jacks that are all feasting on the bait schools. It's been a productive month on the Indian River! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner Fishing action from this week on the Indian River.... [img=

September 4, 2011 Inshore: The fall mullet run is in full swing around the Treasure Coast this month. Schools of finger mullet continue to filter into the river around the inlets bringing lots of hungry fish to feed on them. It's a great time of year to fish the river, inlets and beaches of the area and find lots of action. Have some fun this month! Snook season opened September 1st and many eager anglers headed out to fish the jetties, bridges and docks around the river in search of that slot fish for dinner. Using live bait, feather jigs, Bait Busters and Terror Eyz can get you into some of the action. Fish slowly along the bottom and around the rocks for your best opportunities. Don't forget that top water lures at night or early mornings as well. You can bet a lot of anglers will be out this month. Trout and redfish action continues to be good around the area. Live bait, DOA shrimp and Deadly Combos are great when fishing for trout. Redfish are willing to take CAL grub tails, DOA shrimp or live bait on the flats. Most of the redfish have been in one to three feet of water and keeping the noise down is essential to get close enough to cast at schooling redfish. You can still find snapper along channel edges or around structure. There should also be flounder showing up as the mullet run continues this month. Try a DOA BFL lure around the mullet schools. It swims as good as any mullet and can entice a big fish when fishing the edges of the schools. You can find tarpon action around the inlets and jetties. Fishing at night in these areas will give you the best chance at hooking up with a top water lure, BFL lure or live bait. September starts the transition into fall and the temperatures will begin to get back to normal. Continue to watch for afternoon thunderstorms and have lots of fun fishing this month! September Fishing Forecast – Treasure Coast September is always an exciting month to fish along the Treasure Coast. Anglers eagerly await the arrival of the annual fall mullet run. The beaches and rivers will be filled with mullet and you can find lots of predators following the bait this month. Look for tarpon, snook, jacks, bluefish and many other species feeding on the mullet this month. Top water and suspending lures work fantastic in September. Try a DOA Baitbuster or Big Fish lure while fishing around the large schools of mullet. It's a great time of year to fish early mornings along the beach. The fish will be cornering the bait along the surf and action can be fun and exciting. Snook season opens again on September 1st. Anglers have been eagerly awaiting the chance at keeping a slot fish for dinner. A few things to keep in mind while you are anxiously getting ready for the start of the season are making sure your license and snook permit are not outdated. Know the slot size, which is 28” – 32” and a one fish per day limit. Check your rods, reels and fishing line. Don’t lose that keeper fish because of something that you could have avoided by a little preparation. Remember that there will be lots of anglers heading out the first several days of the season. Have fun and be safe! You will be able to find some redfish schools this month as they gather up to head out to the ocean. Look around the shallow sandy flats for them to be feeding. DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits can coax them into biting. Trout will continue to bite around the usual flats like, Bear Point, Harbor Branch and Round Island. Deadly Combos fished on the edges of the bait schools will find some action with trout and other species. Snapper can be found along channel edges and around structure. Sheephead, drum and snapper can be caught on the catwalks of the bridges. Live or dead shrimp will find the fish. September Tip: Fish the bait schools! It's easy to spot the bait this time of year. If you don't find bait around your favorite fishing spot, you will most likely not find many fish there. Move around if you need to in order to find active bait. Fish love this time of year and they are out there gorging themselves on the bait in anticipation of the coming winter months. Early mornings can be exciting on the flats. You can find big fish in shallow water around the bait pods. It has been a long hot summer and finally temperatures will begin to mellow out and water temps will get back to normal. It's a great time of year to be fishing! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner

June 19, 2011 Inshore: July brings hot weather, chances of afternoon rains and Fourth of July parties. Oh....and lots of great fishing out there, too! Watch out for afternoon thunderstorms this month. Mornings on the river will bring action at first light on top water lures for snook or trout along the flats. They will seek deeper water as the sun rises. It’s a hot, but very productive month around the Treasure Coast. I will be fishing along the mangroves for snook and redfish with DOA shrimp, CAL jerk baits and top water lures where the water will be 2-3 feet deep. Trout will move to deeper flats in 2-6 feet of water and will most likely hit pigfish, DOA shrimp or Deadly Combos. Look for the trout to move to the deeper edges of the flats as the sun warms up the water. Fish the sand holes on the flats! You will find the bigger fish sitting in these holes waiting on the tides to bring the food to them. Redfish will continue to hold up on the flats. Read the water as you move across the flats and look for any activity that might be a school of reds. Gold spoons, soft baits, like DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits will work best for them. Search along the docks during the day for snook or redfish hanging around there as well. It’s a fantastic month to be fishing! Bridges will be producing snapper, drum and sheephead during July. Live or dead shrimp will be hard for them to resist. Watch the tides and fish the slower sides of them for best results. Whiting will continue to be in the surf with the occasional bluefish and Spanish mackerel. There will be larger snapper in the river around structure and along channel edges. Sharks will be patrolling along the beach also. The glass minnows will be flowing into the river in huge schools. Watch for these bait schools and fish the edges for your best action. Areas to fish in the river for July: Bear Point, Queen's Cove and Round Island. South of Harbor Branch will be a great area to work for trout in the mornings before the sun heats up things. The flats in front of the power plant taper off to 3-5 feet and will be holding trout during the day. Live pigfish are the favorite food for trout this time of year. It’s time to set the traps to feed these hungry fish! Try a DOA TerrorEyz during the day also for trout. The west shore down there will be good areas to search out redfish. Channel edges will be yielding snapper on structure. Tripletail will be around channel markers and pilings to the south towards Jensen Beach. Have a fun month out there! Holiday Safe Boating Tips It’s hard to believe that July 4th is just around the corner and that means lots of picnics, celebrations and boaters. Holidays always bring out the usual boaters along with lots of new boaters and those that only go out a few times a year. A little common sense and preparation can make your holiday on the water a fun adventure and not a befuzzling mess. Here are a few common sense tips to help get you ready for that enjoyable weekend. Prior to the Holiday: 1. Make sure all batteries are in good working condition and fully charged. 2. Gas up the boat. 3. Start your motor before you leave the house. 4. Stow as much gear, etc in the boat before leaving. 5. Check the trailer early enough to have the time to repair lights, tires, etc. At the ramp: 1. Get your boat ready before pulling into the ramp. (All equipment on board - lines ready ) 2. Back in - launch the boat - move the boat out of the ramp area - get parked and back to the boat. 3. Move out of the ramp area quickly if you are waiting on others or getting things stowed.. 4. If you have problems, get out of the ramp area. Don’t tie up others for your problems at the ramp. On the water: 1. Know the rules of the road and use common sense and courtesy. 2. Don’t be aggressive on the water. Allow plenty of room to other boats and slow down around heavy boat traffic. 3. Remember, your wake affects others. Again, common sense and courtesy. 4. Obey the laws! The signs are their for a reason, so just follow the rules and everyone will have an enjoyable day. 5. Don’t drink and drive! Have an experienced boater to be the designated driver for that day. 6. Courtesy goes a long, long way!! Back at the ramp: 1. Don’t tie up a ramp while you get your vehicle. Most likely, someone is already getting theirs and should have first rights to pulling their boat out. 2. Patience is a virtue….someone said. Don’t be in a hurry. You will get your boat out, just wait your turn. 3. Pull well away of the ramp area when securing your boat and gear. Allow others the courtesy of pulling their boats timely. 4. Make sure everything is secure for a safe trip home from a wonderful Holiday weekend on the water! Check with your local Coast Guard Auxiliary and take a safe boating course if you haven’t already….it will open your eyes to boating. It’s nothing new or bizarre, just simple things to help yourself and others around you to have a great Holiday Weekend! Have a safe and fun Fourth of July! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner Some of this weeks action with DOA shrimp... [img= http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a378/captaincharlie/001-74.jpg]

May 1, 2011 Inshore: Finally, the windy months of March and April are almost behind us and we can look forward to the great fishing weather that May has to offer us on the Treasure Coast. Other than the usual windy days, it has been a pretty mild winter and spring has arrived. Look for warmer temperatures and a little less blustery days. As the water temperatures climb, the fishing will steadily improve on the river. It will provide fantastic mornings for top water and lazy afternoons to drift the flats. May is one of my favorite month on the water! This past week, we had another fun time out on the river. Tom and Eric were out this week with me and caught two nice redfish along with a good number of trout on their adventure. Bob landed himself a gator trout while fishing on one of those windy days on the river. Brian and his 11 year old son, Brian, caught some quality redfish and another gator trout on the water. Ii had Timmy and Max on the boat for the Teen Angler Championship Tournament. Max and Timmy caught redfish to weigh in. Tim also landed a slot trout and big sheephead. Congratulations go out to Timmy Esgro for winning the Teen Angler of the Year for 2011! It's a great time of year! Redfish will be our main target throughout the month of May. The past several years have bought us schools of slot sized redfish along the Indian River. Most of the fish we have caught have been in the 18 to 30 inch range. They have been sunning on the flats and May gets their blood pumping and turns on the feeding. I always have three lures ready during May...DOA shrimp, CAL jerk baits and top water lures. Gold spoons will also be a great addition to the arsenal when fishing for redfish. As the fish school up, look for them around the edges of the flats. Most of the river here on the Treasure Coast has been holding redfish and you should be able to find some on your favorite flats. I tend to enjoy the east side of the river, but we have found many on the west side as well. Snook fishing in the early mornings will bring some rod bending action as they head up on the flats for an early morning or late evening meal. Top water lures, Bait Busters and DOA shrimp are all great lures to tempt a snook into biting. Docks will also hold snook lurking around for an easy meal. Live shrimp is also a great bait to drift around the docks. In the inlet areas, try around the seawalls and bridges with live bait, feather jigs or deep diving plugs. I love early morning for great snook fishing opportunities! Trout will continue to feed on top water at first light and live shrimp on popping corks during the day. As the sun rises, they will head off the shallows to deeper water in the two to four foot range. We have had some nice gator trout of late and should see some still in the river in May. I have had great success with CAL jerk baits, DOA shrimp and Deadly Combos this year in place of live shrimp. Both sides of the river have been productive in early mornings. Winter fishing for trout has been good this year and spring should continue to give you some great action. Bridges will hold the usual Sheephead catch, while snapper will be moving into the river along with flounder. Jacks will be patrolling the areas and creating havoc all over the river. Beaches will produce whiting with still a few catches of Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Tarpon will begin their trek into the river and you can start looking for them in the St Lucie River, Big and Little Mud areas and into the channels of the river. May is a great month to fish the Treasure Coast....plan on a trip out on the river soon! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner Some photos of this weeks action!

Inshore: March might have roared in like the lion that it is noted for, but the latter part of the month has favored us with fantastic weather. Even on the windy days, you can still get out and enjoy some great fishing. April promised to bring us even better fishing and weather! Paul and Jack were back to visit the area this week and we found some good fishing in spite of a windy day out there. Young Jack ended up with nine redfish and four trout for the day. Peter, William and Henry were out and found redfish, trout, sheephead and jacks in the mood to bite on their day on the water. Scott, Michelle, Donald and Victoria had an enjoyable time on a sunny afternoon adventure. Catching redfish, trout, jacks and sheephead, Victoria topped off the day with a four foot bonnet head shark that gave her quite a battle. We had lots of fun out there this week! Treasure Coast Fishing Forecast - April 2011 As March blows out of the area, you can plan on plenty of windy days in April. It's a transition month as the weather progresses from spring into summer patterns. Warm days will bring the water temperatures up into the 70's and that means great fishing conditions around the Indian River. Plan on getting out early in the morning on the flats before the wind wakes up later in the day. At least the winds won't have that cold chill as April settles into the Treasure Coast.... Redfish and trout will be active around the flats. They will be shallow early and gradually move to the edges of the flats as the sun get higher in the sky. Look to areas like Bear Point, Harbor Branch and Round Island for trout to be feeding on the flats. On a calm morning, break out the top water lures and switch to jerk baits, like a DOA CAL 4" Arkansas Glow. Shallow running Mirrolures will also entice the trout into biting. Don't forget to use the Deadly Combo for more exciting trout action on the grass flats. There has been a lot of redfish activity throughout March and it should make April a fantastic month. We have a very good population of redfish this year. Redfish can be found on sandy flats around the docks or try the Moorings and Bear Point for a chance at a nice size red. DOA shrimp or CAL grub tails in root beer or glow colors are great ways to find a redfish along with a trusty gold spoon. Snook will be around, but not the main target this year since they are out of season. They will be feeding as the water warms. Catch and release them carefully as the water warms. Docks will hold sheephead, jacks, redfish and many other species. I like either a DOA shrimp or TerrorEyz around docks. Fish them slowly to keep them under the dock as long as possible. Drop a live shrimp or pinfish under a dock as well for a great chance at hooking up. There are many great areas to fish so plan on getting some fishing in this month. Bridges will continue to hold sheephead, jacks, bluefish and some black drum. The big jacks will be invading the river this month. Maybe not great to eat, but a tough battle on light tackle. The inlet will continue to hold bluefish, jacks and mackerel. While April might be a little windy, it a great month to fish the Indian River. April is the first month that fish can enjoy good water temps and they will be feeding heavily around the flats. Early morning can bring lots of good results this time of year. It was a milder winter this year and the fish are anxious to enjoy some warmer weather.....and so are we! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner Some photos of this weeks fishing adventures!

South Indian River Fishing Forecast - March Inshore: March has arrived on the Treasure Coast and, traditionally, we can expect windy conditions along with some rain clouds. It might dictate where and when you can get on the water, but at least we aren't cutting holes in the ice to fish! Water temperatures will continue to rise and the fish will be actively feeding on the flats. Winter has been kinder to us this year and the fishing has been very good so far. Take advantage of the good days and get out fishing..... Brad and family were out this past week and we found the fish around the docks as well as the trout bite getting ready to take off. Later in the week, I had Brad & Family, Dave & Matt, Greg, and Chris & Darren. The trout bite has improved, but the winds kept us from getting to some of the better spots to find some nice trout. We had fun in spite of windy days! As the sun warms up the water again, look for fish to travel into the shallows to feed. Trout will continue to be most prevalent in the deeper grass flats in two to four feet of water. Those anglers using live shrimp on popping corks, Deadly Combos, CAL jerk baits and top water will have the best chance at hooking up with a trout. I like to fish the edges of the shallows where the water drops off to these depths. You can find some trout on the flats early, but they tend to go deeper after sunup. Depending on weather conditions, there are many areas to fish. Round Island, Bear Point and Harbor Branch are always popular to fish in March. Redfish will get more active this month and you can find some tailing on the flats in early mornings. Top water, DOA shrimp, CAL grub tails or gold spoons are good choices for finding a spot tail on the flats. Don't forget to fish around the mangroves also. So far this winter, there has continued to be a good redfish population around the river and the fishing has been good for them. I tend to like the east side of the river for redfish, but you can find them on the west side also. Work your baits slowly along the bottom for best results. Learn to read the water so you don't miss what is happening around you. Anglers will continue to target snook around the inlets, docks and bridges on the Treasure Coast. Live bait always works best, but feather jigs, TerrorEyz and BFL lures can also get you hooked up. Most of the action will be at night with best results on the high ends of the tides. As the water warms up around the area, the snook action will liven up also. Those fishing the flats can also find snook feeding early or late in the day. Fish the mangroves during the rest of the day. Top water, twitch baits, TerrorEyz or CAL jerk baits can do the trick in March on the flats. The pompano bite has been better this year. More fish have been caught south of Fort Pierce and they should be around this area throughout March. Whiting, Bluefish and pompano will be hanging around the beaches this month. The inlet will be holding Spanish mackerel, jacks and bluefish. Jack Crevalle and ladyfish continue to haunt the river and provide fun catch for all. Bridges should give up catches of sand perch, Sheephead and black drum on live or dead shrimp. I think we are all ready for spring to arrive here on the Treasure Coast. It won't be long! Take some time to check all your equipment now and be ready as the weather improves to get out on the water. Make sure your reels are in good working order. Check your rods for broken or cracked tips and guides. How old in that line?? Get ready now on some of the windy days, so you will be ready to head out to the water! Have a great March for fishing! As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!! Good Fishing and Be Safe, Captain Charlie Conner A couple photos from this windy week!

February 6, 2011 Inshore Fishing Report: It was a fantastic week around the Treasure Coast. Both weather and fishing cooperated to make for some great fun out on the water. Warm days in the 80's can make you forget that it is still wintertime around the area. Hopefully it stays that way for a while! I had Ron, Mike and Timberly out this week and we found the fish were hungry and feeding around the edges of the flats. They teamed up for a dozen redfish, some nice trout and a lot of other fish to round out their day. Ron landed a 25" trout to top off his catch, while Mike caught a 22" redfish and Timberly had a battle to land her 25" red. We had a lot of fun out there on the Indian River! The water continues to warm up and so are the fish. Warm water and baitfish can only mean that the predators are nearby. Fish around bait when you see it and you should have some success. Trout and redfish have been the best action around the flats. Fishing in two to five feet of water with Deadly Combos, live shrimp and CAL jerk baits can help you find where the fish are feeding. You should find trout on most flats by now. Drift fishing across the flats can speed up finding where the fish are feeding on any given day. Snook fishing should begin to pick up soon as the water warms up to their liking. We should also see the big jacks invading the river. There are still some flounder being taken on the back side of the jetties and all the bluefish and mackerel you can handle around the mouth of the inlet. The turning basin in Fort Pierce has also been full of blues and jacks. Shiny lures or shrimp on jig heads can get you in on the action. The tackle shops have been having a run on silver spoons this month! The sheephead and black drum have been all over the river. Fish the docks, bridges and structure to find some big sheephead this time of year. Live or dead shrimp can get you in on the bite. The surf has been good for whiting and blues with most of the pompano action being to the south of Fort Pierce. Try walking along the beach with a top water lure at first light and see what you can catch! February has already been a good month and it has just started. Get out soon and enjoy the weather and the fishing! Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE! Thanks and Good Fishing! Captain Charlie Conner Timberly with her 25" redfish and Ron with a 25" trout.

February 1, 2011 Inshore Fishing Report: February Fishing Forecast While winter is still around the Treasure Coast and weekly cold fronts will continue to bring cool nights and lots of windy days to the area, fishing will still be good out on the water. Water temperatures can dictate where and how you might fish on any given day this month. When the water is cold, fish the deeper cuts and drop offs of the river. Sunny days will bring fish up in shallower waters to feed and the bite can really get hot out on the flats. The trout bite picks up very nicely in February. CAL jerk baits and Deadly Combos are exciting ways to trout fish with artificial lures, while live shrimp on popping corks are the ol' standard way to trout fish out on the river. Redfish can be found in shallow flats around mangroves and islands. On warm sunny days, the reds will sit around the mangroves and soak up the sun. Finding some along an island will bring some good rod bending action to anglers this month. DOA shrimp and CAL jerk baits can find some hungry reds hugging the mangrove lines when fished very slowly. Docks are a great way to find plenty of fish waiting for something tasty to drift under them. Sheephead will be plentiful around the river and the larger fish will be coming into the river to breed. Live or dead shrimp around bridges, docks and structure can provide lots of action in addition to some great tasting fish. Sand perch and croakers should also be hanging around the inlet and bridges during February. Pompano around the surf and on the deeper flats of the river can be taken on CAL grub tails, Doc's Goofy Jigs and shrimp or clams. Bluefish, mackerel and jacks will continue to haunt the baitfish around the jetties and turning basin. Shiny lures will keep you busy. There should be some flounder around the back sides of the jetties and on sand flats around the inlet area. February is a transition month on the river. Winter has been much kinder this year on the Treasure Coast. We have enjoyed more normal winter weather and the fish bite has been good for us. Winds will still be blowing and the water will begin to gradually rise in temperature. Fishing your lures slowly will certainly give you more action on the river. Fish tend to be sluggish in the colder water. Working your lures or bait slower along the bottom will give the fish more time to react to it and result in more bites for anglers. Have fun this month and get out fishing! Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE! Thanks and Good Fishing! Captain Charlie Conner

Will be doing most reports on a monthly basis this year to have more time for the grandkids!! Good fishing!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! January Fishing Forecast Well, it appears that we just might be in for another cold winter here on the Treasure Coast. Night temperatures have plummeted into the 20's and 30's once again and that will certainly keep the water colder than normal for this time of year. Hopefully, we won't see the fish kills like last year around the state. We will be fishing deeper water for some time now, but action can be exciting in some areas of the river in January. Water temperature is very important in January for your success on the river. January is typically a windy month. You might enjoy one or two days a week that are calmer, but expect it to be windy. Using the right ramps can make your day better. There are many ramps around the area that allow you to launch depending on wind direction. The river can be rough some days, but you can still fish most days if you plan your trips carefully. It is a great month to fish in spite of weather conditions that might not be to your liking. Bridges will continue to produce sheephead, black drum, croakers and bluefish. Most of the anglers on the catwalks prefer live or frozen shrimp for these fish. The inlet and turning basin will be full of bluefish, jacks and mackerel this month. Live or dead bait on a jig head will give you plenty of action along with silver spoons or shiny lures. Around seawalls, channel edges or deeper structure you can find grouper for catch and release action in January. Snook action around the jetties and bridges will be active mostly at night for anglers using feather jigs, TerrorEyz and live bait. Snook will remain closed this year until September. Redfish can be found around docks and sitting on the flats on warm, sunny days. DOA shrimp or CAL jerk baits work great for wintertime fishing. Docks will be loaded with sheephead in January with nice sized fish. Pompano fishing will depend on water temperatures for their location, but they will be in the area throughout the winter. Surf anglers will be targeting these fish on days when the beach is fishable. Flounder should be found around the jetties on the beach side and on sand flats around the inlet. If you can find warmer water on the flats, you will most likely find trout feeding in those areas. Last year, we were rewarded many days as the sun would warm up a patch of water and get the fish actively feeding. CAL jerk baits were very successful on the trout. Ladyfish will be all over the river for fun action for the little ones. January Tips: Dress for the weather. We might get one or two days each week that might be warmer, but most days will be on the cooler side. There can be a 30 degree swing in temperature on some days. Dressing in layers can keep you comfortable throughout the day in January. Once you become cold, it's hard to warm back up again. Keep yourself comfortable and enjoy some good fishing in January. Stay warm and safe and enjoy the winter! Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE! Thanks and Good Fishing! Captain Charlie Conner

November 24, 2010 Inshore Fishing: HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!! December Fishing Forecast: Here it is December already and the Holidays are almost upon us. Where has this year gone? I must say it has been a great year for fishing all along the Treasure Coast. Both inshore and offshore has provided anglers with many great fishing adventures. We went from the coldest winter I can remember to the hottest summer I can think of. Hopefully, this winter will be milder and the fishing great for everyone. December brings on the winter months and changes fishing tactics on the river. The water temperatures continue to fall and your fishing must adjust to the weather. We will get many days of breezy winds that will hinder getting to some favorite spots out there. That's one of the reasons I love fishing in this area....you can always find somewhere to fish! Not only does the cooler weather affect the fish, it also requires us to dig out the ol' winter fishing clothes. It can get pretty chilly some mornings! Trout and snook will be targets throughout the winter. Although trout season will remain closed through December and snook season closes December 15th, lots of anglers will still play catch and release with them. Fishing around bridges, docks and inlets can bring great action with snook hanging around the deeper waters of the river. Using live bait, DOA Baitbusters & TerrorEyz and bomber lures can help you catch one worth a photo opportunity. Trout will tend to hang around the deeper cuts of the river. Move off to three to six feet of water for trout. Live shrimp on popping corks or DOA Deadly Combos will work the best for them. I love to work DOA CAL jerk baits this time of year on the flats. You can also find snook and redfish hanging around those areas, too. Pompano have already arrived in the area and not only provide great fishing action, but fantastic table fare. Spanish mackerel will continue to hang out in their favorite haunts of the river. Fish the inlet, turning basin and channels for them. Jack Crevalle will be traveling around in packs chasing bait all over the river. Flounder should arrive soon and hang around the inlets, docks and sandy flats of the river. Ladyfish is a great way to spend a few hours with the kids on the water. The bridges will be holding sheephead, black drum, croakers and sand perch for those anglers. Live or dead shrimp is always the best bet from the catwalks. Redfish will hold up around local docks during the winter months and a live shrimp or DOA Shrimp can entice them into striking. Don't forget about the deeper cuts along the mangroves for redfish and snook in December. Using stealth is essential when fishing the shallow waters for redfish. A mild winter will have them feeding in the shallows this month. Winter fishing is already here. Change your tactics with the weather and follow the water temperatures more closely to make your fishing more productive. The fishing on our Treasure Coast continues to improve each year. If we all do our share to protect our rivers, we can insure the future generations will enjoy the same experiences we have been blessed with. Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE! Good Fishing! Captain Charlie Conner

November 12, 2010 Inshore Fishing: Continuing windy weather has blown out fishing on the ocean. It has been rough both inshore and offshore this week. Only a couple days were calm enough for anglers to venture out on the river. The seas continue to build and it will be another rough weekend ahead for anglers. The Teen Anglers Tournament is this Sunday and hopefully it will give us a break to get the kids out on the water to fish. Snook fishing at night around the bridges and jetties have been productive again this week. Those who braved the windy weather were rewarded with some slot fish and some oversized ones, too. Live pinfish, DOA TerrorEyz, feather jigs and diving plugs all worked for anglers. Some flounder have been caught around the sandy areas of the jetties. The sand perch have began to invade the inlet and many anglers are out there fishing for them around the bridges and docks of the inlet. Along the beach there have been pompano. Most have been smaller, but it has been tough to fish the surf lately. The trout bite remained good for catch and release fish on the grass flats. Live pigfish, CAL jerk baits and live shrimp have all worked on the trout. Once the wind settles down again the river will be productive on the flats and docks. You should be able to find some pompano south of Fort Pierce on the deeper grass flats. Use Doc's Goofy Jigs or sand fleas for bait. The turning basin and inlet has been loaded with mackerel, bluefish and jacks. Shiny lures will get you the most action. The grouper should be around the inlet this time of year as the water cools down. You can also find some black drum and sheephead around the catwalks. There is plenty out there to fish for if the weather calms down. Tip of the Week: It's about that time of year to dig down deep into those corners of the closet and find some warm weather gear. It gonna come in handy real soon. The morning have been crisp and you will begin to layer on clothes to deal with the change in temperatures throughout the day. I wore long johns too many days last winter, but they sure kept me from freezing!! Mornings are going to be cool so dress for it and keep comfortable out there! Remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE! Good Fishing and Be Safe! Captain Charlie Conner

Bridges are easy to fish. South from Fort Pierce are many areas to wade fish and good access to the river and ocean. The jetties at Fort Pierce are great to fish at night for tarpon and snook. There is macks, bluefish and jacks during the day on the rocks. Good fishing!!