Spring Into Action

Finally, the weather is getting warm and the fish know it is time to get into the spring mode. This time of the year can be finicky one day and gang busters the next but usually if you work at it, by the end of the day you will have stretched the sting and have a nice box of fish.

It is time to get out your chunking and winding gear for some trout action in the creeks. Until the water warms a little more, your best bet would be a 1/4 ounce jig head and a soft plastic or live shrimp. Head to the places you have always caught trout and start tossing your bait towards the shore or drop offs. Work the bait slow, letting it gently bounce off of the bottom. Until the water warms a little more the bite is going to be subtle and sometimes the bite is almost like your bait is hung up. I like to gently lift the rod tip and when I feel the slightest pull back, I set the hook and if it was a fish you will enjoy some early spring action.

The redfish in the creeks have not figured out it is spring time and they are not chasing anything, so work your bait slow or better yet, find a place that has held reds in the past and slide a shrimp on your jig, toss it towards the edge and let it sit. The bite is almost non-existent. I try to keep a tight line and wait for the fish to move off with the bait. When the line gets tight and you feel the rod tip bend, it is time to bust the fish. I have had many a trip lately where the reds seem to be picking the shrimp up with their lips and if you set the hook on the first little tap you feel, you have missed the bite. Let the fish bend the rod before you react.

The jetties are still producing real good numbers of nice sheepshead and with a fiddler and a small hook, you should have fun and be able to take home some tasty fish. This is one of the most difficult fish for most anglers to hook but once you have the hang of it, you will be hooked. They are without a doubt one of the hardest pulling fish in these waters. I had some guys out a week before this was written and they were all bass fisherman. After they each had hooked a few of these they said they were selling the bass boat and buying a Carolina Skiff so the could get close to the rocks and catch more of these. One of the guy moaned, groaned, grunted and made other strange sounds as he angled these sheepshead. One the largest he had that day, a 12 pounder, he said, he thought he had hooked a submarine. If you decide to sheepshead fish, bring plenty of fiddlers and more than one hook. You will loose several hooks and it takes the average angler several fiddlers to catch a sheepshead.

The ocean is producing good numbers Mahi, Tuna and Amberjacks, when you want to make a long run to the Gulf Stream. One of my boats had real good Mahi catches in the past couple of weeks. He also had several tuna up to 40 pounds.

By the time this makes it to print, we should be enjoying some nice catches of Spanish Mackerel. I love it when they show up because they are fun to catch and are great on the smoker. You will need some Clark spoons and Sea Striker #1 planers if you want to troll for them or Clark spoons and a light spinning out fit if you want to cast to them. Head to the inlets and look for the diving birds. You can keep 15 per person and they have to be 12 inches at the fork.

The whiting have been on fire for the past week and when you find them, a box full is not uncommon. Fish a small piece of shrimp or squid on the bottom using a small Daiichi Circle Wide hook. I like the smallest they make, a #1 size. One thing to keep in mind when using a circle hook is DO NOT set the hook. When you feel the bite lift up on your rod tip and turn the handle.


Good Fishin
Capt Jim Hammond
Capt Jim's Fun Fishing Inc.
17184 Dorado Cir
Jacksonville, Fl 32226
904 757 7550
www.fishingwithjim.com
jim@fishingwithjim.com