Fishing Forecast for Jacksonville Fl 2-13-gotcha-mouth.jpg

Bill Meyers with a Sheepshead that wanted to eat a Gotcha trout tail.

What happened to our summer weather?

Last week I was on the boat with some clients and one of them remarked the rodent up north had seen his shadow and we were going to have 6 more weeks of the winter weather we were having and we all laughed as it was 80 degrees with light wind. This was a good conversation piece for a few minutes as we talked about winter in Florida. Well, today, it is 30 degrees and blowing a gail. Damn that fat furry rodent.

I would guess that this sudden cold snap will slow things down a little and the big numbers of redfish, I was catching will now revert back to the winter time mode of sitting on the bottom and not feeding much. But as soon as this cold passes the bite should be back on, if the weather returns to the 70's.

Here is what I was doing before this cold snap. Heading to my local bait shop, Brown's Creek and purchasing a couple of pounds of dead shrimp and a few dozen mud minnows. I then headed to one of my favorite creeks that usually hold good numbers of redfish on the lower end of the tide. I would then ease along with the trolling motor until I saw some action. This action could be a slight swirl on the surface of reds waking as I spooked them. I would then slowly head in the direction of the disturbance and gently slip the anchor over. I like to anchor as far away from the fish as I can and still be able to cast to them. I would then tie on a 1/4 ounce lead head, put a bait on the hook and toss the rig in the direction of the fish. This time of the year, I have had better success when I leave the bait on the bottom and wait for the fish to find it. When it is cold the reds will not usually chase a bait, so tossing it and retrieving it back to the boat does not work good. Toss it up there and let it sit. Now for the bite. The bite when it is cold is more like a subtle tap and then a slow movement down the bank. When you feel the tap, take up the slack, point your rod tip towards the fish and WAIT for the fish to tighten up on the line. Now you can bust the fish ONE time. If it has sucked down the bait, you should be angling a nice fish. If all of your tackle is in good shape and the fishing gods, want you to get this one to the boat, you should have a nice fish for the table. Hear are a few things to remember. DO NOT let the line touch the boat. When the monofilament is stretched out and it touches the boat, it usually breaks. Do not turn the handle while the fish is taking line off of the spool (the drag is running). Doing this makes a big mess of the line and when you cast again, the line will be all twisted and will look be all coiled up like a Slinky. When the fish comes to the boat, wait until it is worn out before trying to net it. Then ease the fish to the surface and slip the net under it.

If it measures between 18 to 27 inches with a pinched tail, you can put it in the box. Starting this February, you can now keep two slot reds per person with a maximum of eight per boat. I personally think this is a stupid rule but who an I to question the much wiser powers to be.

Look for the birds. Right now there is a pile of bait in the deeper waters and there is usually fish under the bait driving it to the surface. Fish that will be under the bait schools will be redfish, trout, yellow mouth and bluefish. Each school of bait might have all of these species or just one or two but there will be something to catch under the birds. Shrimp, mud minnows, Gotcha Trout tails and a few more plastics will work on these fish. I like to get just outside of the birds and cast as far as I can into them. I then let my bait sink, trying to keep a tight line, so I can feel the bite. I found some of these feeding birds the other day and had 63 blues and yellow mouth.

By the time this makes it to publication, the trout should be a little more fired up than they have been and the old tried and true trout float rig with a live shrimp should be productive in some of your good trout spots. If you like the trolling motor and like to cast, try a Gotcha soft plastic, sinking Mirro Lure or any other artificial, you have used with success.

Sheepshead have not been very cooperative lately but in seasons past, the best bite is usually in March and April. Fiddlers, fished along the rocks, docks and piles work great for these hard to get a hook in fish. The big plus with sheepshead, is when you do get a hook in one, you have a great fight on your hands and a super good eating fish.

Flounder have all but gone until mid May. But you still might catch one or two if you fish the creeks or river, as long as your bait is on the bottom.

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