The original plan was to go for grouper, kings, and albies nearshore. I really wanted to catch some gags before Seabiscuit caught them all, but the wind made me change plans. Decided to focus on catching the elusive brown trout. It has been difficult for me to pattern them this year, but I figured now was the time to hit them hard before they leave for the winter. Started at a dock that will often hold lizards, but it's hard to get the bait past all the flounder and drum. Fished mullet on carolina rigs for 30 minutes with no bites so I gave up decided to work back in a creek. I figured with the full moon and east wind the preacher D's would be scattered, so I decided to troll to locate them. Dragging a mirrorlure, 2 DOA paddletails, and a Tsunami swimbait I worked the creek that often will hold pesky speckled trout. After 5 minutes I heard the sweet sound of the Stradic giving up line. After a short fight the targeted species was landed with all three treble hooks of a mirrorlure TT808. I managed to get a pic on my phone.
Even though it was small, I was encouraged to know the moon hadn't entirely screwed up the bite. I drifted back through the area and worked it with a chartruese paddle tail that gets hammered on the second cast. The way the fish was shaking its head, I was just beginning to think it was a speck and was ready to shake it off the hook when I see the familiar triangle head, white belly, and brown back. This one measured around 14 inches, but after a few high fives we decided to throw him back to get a little bigger. The bite shut off as soon as it had started so we went back on the troll. Worked this creek for a while both trolling and anchoring and only caught a bluefish despite multiple witnessed blowups as the brown trout and bluefish were destroying mullet and glass minnows.
The tide went slack so we headed to some docks again with no luck. Hopes were high as the tide started to come back in and I went to a spot where I destroyed the specks last year. I remember hearing the phrase: "where there are specks, there are lizards," and figured it was as good a place as any to try. We trolled for a while with no luck then anchored up and began casting everything in the tackle box. We are about to leave when a live bait on the bottom starts moving towards the boat. My buddy comes tight on a and the fish continues coming upcurrent towards the boat....it has some weight, but its not doing the familiar headshake of Mr Lizard, so I try not to get my hopes up. He gets it to the boat and it is obvious that this is not the targeted species, but rather a decent sized speck. Fortunately it sees the Yamaha, makes a big swirl, and spits the hook sparing me from getting my hands slimy. We head home as the sun is setting. Looks like the full moon and east wind put the lockjaw on Mr. Brown today, but at least we caught a couple:
Great report George! It's is good to know that I am not the only angler who values lizard fish. I have had lots of fun lately, while troutfishing, watching lizardos airing out at silversides. I have even been blessed with a hook up or two on my topwater plugs.
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