April 24, 2008
INSHORE:
The past week presented a variety of conditions to anglers fishing the waters of the Treasure Coast. Most days found good fishing for us, but you had to fish according to which way the wind blew. Spring has definitely arrived and the fishing has been improving as the water has warmed up. I love fishing this time of year!
Redfish have been on the flats and they got hungry this week for us! Adrian and Phil Lucanis were back fishing this year. We were poling along the flats and found a school of redfish feeding in a foot of water. Adrian and Phil hooked up on four 25" - 26" reds and boated three of them. We were using darker color soft baits like DOA CAL rootbeer grub tails. All were released unharmed.
Trout fishing continued to be productive. Steve Dickman was down and while he caught a good number of trout up to 19", we couldn't break the 20" barrier that day. Adrian boated a 20" and 26" in the midst of quite a few blowups on their top water lures. The trout this week were in one to three feet of water and lurking in the sand holes along the flats. Top water has been very productive on enticing a sea trout into biting this week. Harbor Branch is one good area to try.
Adrian Lucanis caught this 26" trout and 26" redfish while fishing the Indian River flats....
Snook fishing slowed down right after the full moon, but was hectic for night anglers for a few nights around the bridges and jetties. Sizes from many shorts to slots and some slob over size were taken. You can also find snook on the flats in the early part of the day. Top water or suspending lures are great choices.
Phil Lucanis caught and released this 26" redfish this week on a DOA CAL grub....
Bridges have been slow this week, but sheephead and snapper are out there to be had. The Surf has produced whiting, bluefish, jacks and mackerel to those beach anglers. I had Dillon Roberts-Louria on board for the Teen Anglers Tournament on Sunday. He fished hard all morning and ended up with a mackerel, snapper and sheephead to weigh in that day. He won first place in High School and biggest fish. Congrats Dillon! Jules Knapp and his wife were out also that day and we had a short but fun trip on the water.
Tip of the Week:
Fishing will always be a challenge to anglers. You can use any lures or bait, but presentation continues to be the biggest factor to the success rate of catching fish. Colors, types and sizes might have some effect, but how you present it will determine if you can be successful or not. Give two anglers the same lure and one might catch fish while the other goes nil. Top water lures are a great example. I work them different ways until I get a strike to see what might work that day. Fast, slow, erratic or barely moving can result in catching or missing the fish out there. Vary how you work your lures and find what works that day. Fishing is lots of fun and challenging!
As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!
Good Fishing and Be Safe,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com 
South Indian River Fishing Report 4/24 
