Mother Nature is celebrating the World Series this week by throwing some curve balls. Unseasonable warm weather has the inshore water temperatures pushed back into the upper 70s and elevated winds has made fishing difficult. Rain is in the forecast for Saturday, but fortunately the winds are supposed to lay down and improve conditions afterwards.
The water clarity is still fair to poor, depending on location. The zones along the East Flats, especially closer to Deep Creek and the spillway from the refuge, resemble three-day old tea. The flats near Econfina and Aucilla are reported the same. The in-land terrain continues to drain from the rains brought on by tropical systems, so it may take an extended period of dry weather to totally remedy the situation.
Even though the calendar is almost ready to flip to November, daytime high temperatures in the mid-80s are not triggering appetites like normal. The fish are not super aggressive. Trout and reds are being caught, but anglers really have to work hard to find quality fish and be ready to mix up presentations to find the right ones. Trout have been keying in on jerk baits with chartreuse tails like the Trout Support Grasswalker (Chicken on a Chain). Who comes up with these weird color names, by the way?
The reds continue to prowl the usual haunts such as flooded shores, oyster bars and backcountry creeks. With the water tint, gold and copper Aqua Dream weedless spoons have been the most productive options of late. Mud minnows or finger mullet soaked on the bottom are effective as well.
Spanish mackerel are scarce lately, likely due to rough conditions and warmer water. Flounder aren’t on the move as much, either. Sheepshead and black sea bass are becoming more common, though.
Tides won’t be very strong this weekend with the moon in between phases. High tides will crest shortly after daylight for the best opportunities. The first couple hours after the crest offer the best shots according to the solunar tables. The last hour before the lows bottom out in the late afternoons provide a shorter window.
Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.