Get ready for another round of wind and some more seasonable temperatures, at least temporarily. And be patient as you try to figure out what the confused fish are doing again.
Rain and fog haven’t produced ideal conditions lately. Trout are scattered in the lower stretches of the St. Marks River around the oyster bars. Don’t be surprised at the occasional red or flounder, either. Live shrimp under clacker or popping corks are the top producers lately with the water churned up. If you want to try artificials, go with lighter-colored suspending plugs or shrimp lures/jigs. Adding a squirt of Pro-Cure bait gel may increase the odds of success. The fish are still somewhat lethargic, so be sure to work any offering slow, slow and slower.
There were good groups of reds prowling the shallows before the latest blow. Once that East Fan cranked up to full blast, however, they scattered. When you do find ‘em, Aqua Dream 1/4-ounce weedless spoons in watermelon and gold are proving effective. Soft-plastic swim baits rigged with a very light swim bait hook are good alternatives. The sheepshead on the flats have been few and far between lately.
Friday looks to be choppy according to the mid-week forecast. Saturday and Sunday should be decent. With Sunday night’s new moon, however, the negative lows right after dawn will dry out most launches except for Shields Marina and the Fort ramp. The moon phase will usher in more than two feet of flooding water by mid-afternoons. Anglers paying attention to the solunar tables will be wise to be in their favorite spots for the last hour of the falling tide (providing there is enough water) as the moon rises. Expect another window of very high feeding activity again the last two hours of afternoon flood once the moon is up.
Now is the time before fishing really turns on to get tackle in order and make sure all the boat projects/service work is done. Once spring fever hits, there will be a backlog at the service department, so plan accordingly.
Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.