Coming on top of Saturday night’s full moon, Big Bend coastal anglers can expect limbo tides in the mornings, as in how low can it go? The tables are predicting a negative 1.3 feet, which will render many smaller ramps useless for several hours. Shields Marina and the fort ramp in St. Marks will be the exceptions, because of the river depths.
Results continue to be mixed of late, for a variety of reasons. The chillier overnight lows have dropped water temperatures again, yet highs are expected to be back into the mid-70s by the weekend. The fish have to be confused about which season it actually is. On top of that, more unsettled weather patterns have created blustery conditions this week, with small craft advisories the norm. So not many have been able to get out.
When it does improve (and Sunday looks to be the best opportunity), the coastal rivers and tidal creeks continue to produce. Redfish, trout, flounder and sheepshead top the list. The first three will slurp down a variety of artificial lures, including DOA shrimp and Sureketch touts, swim baits, flukes and weedless spoons particularly for the reds. Suspending plugs like classic MirrOlure 52M series, Paul Brown Fat Boy, Rapala Twitchin’ Raps and Unfair Rip-n-Slash are effective options for working the water column. Once the water warms the exposed bars and flats, a top-water lure like a Rapala Skitter Walk or Heddon Super Spook danced slowly across the surface will fool a wary trout or laid-up red.
For bait enthusiasts, it’s hard to beat a frisky live shrimp impaled on a Kahle hook or light jig head. Pinch the tail flukes to add more scent. Fiddler crabs are excellent fare for sheepshead and easy to catch along the exposed banks. Mud minnows and finger mullet are also good options for soaking.
Thanks to the influence of that big, bright full moon, expect very high feeding windows throughout the weekend. The first will occur the first hour of the incoming tide, followed by a longer window (1.5 hours either side) of the mid-afternoon highs.
Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.