Thunderstorms and windy conditions have interrupted the spring season somewhat this past week. Water temperatures are on the cooler side with averages in the mid-70s. With Thursday’s new moon tides, there will be plenty of water movement this weekend for those anglers venturing out.
The trout bite has been hit or miss because of the above circumstances. A few exceptional sows have been caught and fortunately those breeders have been released. Keeper size—15 to 19 inches—are better quality meat, anyway. A variety of lures and bait are accounting for specks, including touts like local favorite Sureketch rigged on light jig heads, DOA shrimp and noisy topwater plugs. Many of the strikes on the latter were hesitant, however. When that happens, be ready to toss a jig, shrimp lure or jerk bait back in the same area. The subsurface presentation will often trigger follow-up strikes.
Redfish continue to frequent the shallows solo or in small groups. Flooded shorelines, oyster bars, rock piles and pinch points (creek mouths, cuts, etc.) are good places to prospect for reds. The same lures mentioned for trout will also work on reds, but for the ultimate search bait a weedless spoon like the Aqua Dream variety in 3/8-ounce size will cover a lot of water and fool a lot of reds. Gold and chartreuse have been the top colors lately.
It’s also the time of year when surprise catches become more common. One cast might yield a trout, the next a bluefish and the third a Spanish mackerel or pompano. There are also ladyfish, sharks and jacks in good numbers throughout the Forgotten Coast now. Cobia are also being spotted on a regular basis now. Keep a medium-heavy spinning outfit loaded with at least 30-pound braid ready for quick access. A Whip-it Eel lure or bright bucktail jig will tempt the brown bombers and will also interest blacktip or spinner sharks.
Friday is expected to still be breezy coming on the heels of the latest front. Saturday and Sunday are predicted to have westerly winds at moderate levels. Tides for this weekend will be mid-morning lows, followed by nearly three feet of incoming water by mid-afternoon. The solunar tables based on the moon phase project a high activity feeding period an hour before the lows as the moon rises. A very high activity slot will occur two hours after the high tides have peaked.
With the adjacent county ramp closures, the Wakulla County ramps are experiencing even more congestion than usual. Please use staging areas to load the boat and have it ready before backing down the ramp. If this is the inaugural trip of the season, run the engine on a hose beforehand to ensure it starts. Don’t overload the boat with too many passengers and observe social distancing in the Ship’s Store, at the docks and on the water. When you start fishing, practice the Golden Rule. Don’t cut off others on drifts or working shorelines. Give other boats ample room. We can all have a safe, fun time out there if everyone displays common courtesy.
Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.