By Capt. Charlie Conner

Posted 5.2.08

INSHORE:

May continues to be a transition month here on the Treasure Coast. Weekly weather fronts moving across the state and water temperatures working their way towards the mid to high 70's signal that spring has arrived and summer is just around a short corner. You can see more baitfish entering the river and the activity on the flats will increase during May. Fishing this week was up and down and the windy conditions dictated on where you might fish on any given day.

I fished with some great people this week and we sure enjoyed the Indian River. Tom Hull (the Lazy Spirits Fishing Team) was down to visit and enjoy some fishing and relaxing on the river. Jay Smith and his girlfriend, Melissa, was also down and enjoyed a sunny outing on the river. The latest front slowed down the fishing mid-week, but the bite had started to pick back up by Thursday.

Trout have been hitting soft plastics, like DOA CAL jerk baits in pearl and rootbeer colors. Live shrimp and pinfish will also entice some trout into biting, like Melissa proved this week. Harbor Branch and Queen's Cove have been the best spots to target lately. The snook bite has begun to move to the flats. Brennan Smith reported catching a number of snook south of Fort Pierce along the mangroves and Bob Bergen reported similar results to the north of Fort Pierce the latter part of the week. Live bait, top water and soft plastics were the best choices of baits. Redfish were biting earlier in the week and should pick back up by this weekend. We have seen some big reds this year and look forward to some great catches in May. Soft plastics in a new penny color are hard to resist. Both the flats and docks around the area should hold slot or larger redfish all this month.

May will provide some fantastic fishing opportunities around the river and even better weather for Treasure Coast anglers. It's a wonderful time of year to be out on the water. Plan on heading out one day soon!

Tip of the Week:

It is the responsibility of each of us to do our part to help preserve the fishing environment that we all get out and enjoy. Each week, I see new and deeper prop scars across what used to be pristine grass flats on the river. Prop scars take years to heal and replenish. More scars mean many more years to try and recover. Too many people in too much of a hurry have already taken a toll on our grass flats. This wonderful eco-system that we are fortunate to have around us is already under pressure from pollution and mother nature along. Help keep our fishing preserved for our children, grandchildren and beyond. It is all of our responsibility!

As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby....it's an ADVENTURE!!

Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
email: captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com
Phone: 772-284-3852