April Fool’s Day came in the form of a mini cold front this week as overnight temperatures dropped into the 40s. That in turn sent coastal water temperatures down by at least 10 degrees and the fish responded in a not unexpected manner. The bite was slow to non-existent until the afternoon sun warmed the water back up to the 70-degree mark. The fish turned on when it did. The weekend forecast is calling for near-record heat again, so the exceptional spring season should resume as a result. Responsible anglers who practice social distancing at the ramps and on the water will allow the public to continue to enjoy outdoor recreation (fishing), per the Governor’s essential guidelines. DO NOT raft up with other boats and keep the number of passengers aboard to a minimum. Wash hands after using facilities and stay safe.
Before and likely this weekend, trout action was really good. Many of the fish are undersized, so be careful when releasing them. Trout were holding in depths from 6 feet to very shallow. DOA 1/4-ounce shrimp in a variety of colors (near clear, holographic, silver flake) were getting thumped hard when fished solo and slowly. A clacker or popper cork can be added for some noise and a strike indicator. Touts like Sureketch and Z-Man with a light jig head are also working well, along with live pinfish and finger mullet. The topwater response is especially exciting, with the bigger fish smacking Rapala Skitter Walks, MirrOlure Top Dogs and Heddon Super Spooks. Work these lures past pot holes, rock grass and oyster bars to trigger explosive reactions.
Redfish can be found along flooded shorelines, backcountry creeks and oyster bars as well. Aqua Dream weedless 3/8-ounce spoons in gold, sliver/red or chartreuse are all good choices right now due to the exceptional water clarity. Topwater plugs and shrimp lures are scoring reds, too.
The Spanish mackerel pulled a vanishing act with the cold snap, but it’s only temporary. Look for nervous water, frantic bait and macks actually skying out of the water as they lunge through the bait schools. Silver casting spoons and trolled Clark spoons or Christmas tree tube lures will put some tasty Spaniards in the box.
There are plenty of turtles, rays and sharks all along the coast right now. At least one cobia has been spotted, so it pays to carry along a medium-heavy outfit spooled with 30-pound test or heavier and a heavier leader. Add a Gag’s Whip-It Eel lure (1/2-oz in pearl/olive, candy apple red or lime green), a hefty bucktail jig or a swim bait like a DOA BaitBuster and you’ll be ready if a brown bomber coasts into your wake. The pompano are still absent according to my intel, but they should be around any time. Pompano jigs, small bucktails, sand fleas and DOA shrimp will all entice these tasty scrappers.
Low tides this weekend will occur before dawn, with incoming water all morning, cresting by early afternoon. More than three feet of water will flow in on the flood. Peak fishing times will be two hours before the high tides with high solunar activity, followed by a late afternoon window for about an hour. That doesn’t mean the fish won’t respond at other times, but those are the best opportunities based on the lunar positioning.
Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.