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Redfish Running
Wow, the Redfish continue to supply steady action. I've fished 4 of the last 5 days and have caught 20 or more reds each trip. Along with the reds we are also hooking some nice Black Drum, Flounder, and Trout. The jig and shrimp combo, in my opinion, seems to be the best bait. It will be eaten by every species out there. Where as some species like a Black Drum or Sheepshead will not eat a mudminnow or finger mullet, they don't hesitate to inhale a shrimp. The Redfish are schooled up along the Inter-Coastal waterway and in just about every creek along it. I'm finding the reds in the creek bends where there is at least 4 to 8 feet of water. We are casting up current and SLOWLY bouncing it along the bottom.
Redfish, Sheepshead & Trout Biting!
The Reds are eating just about anything you throw at them. A live shrimp on a 1/4 oz. jighead is a can't miss bait. Everything around here eats shrimp so don't be suprised if you catch a Flounder,Black Drum, or Trout while targeting Reds. This time of year the Redfish really get concentrated in the creeks and along the Intercoastal waterway. The last few hours of the outgoing tide and the first few of the incoming will give you the best opportunity. Target any oyster mounds with a deep drop next to them. Also target bends in creeks where there is good current.
Sheepshead fishing with light tackel is one of my favorite. A 1/4 oz. jighead with a fiddler crab can't be beat! As long as the place your fishing does not have to much current.When the current is to strong I switch to a 1/2 or 1 oz. egg sinker on a flounder rig. The mayport jetty rocks are covered with hard fighting/good eating Sheepshead right now. They should be there for a while, unless we have a really long cold spell and the water temp. drops into the low 50's. They average between 2 and 5 lbs with a few up around 7 or 8 lbs.
The Speckled Seatrout have really shown up in numbers. The spring and summer bite was nothing to speak of, but they are making up for it now. Float rig fishing live shrimp is a long proven method. I look for spots that have a change in water depth. It might be a sandbar that extends out from a creek mouth, or a shell bank that has deep water in front of it and has a good bit of current flowing over it. It's not uncommon to catch 30 or 40 Trout in a half day charter, however not all of those will be keepers. The Trout average 1 to 3 lbs. and on light tackle can give ya a good fight.
What ever type fish you like to target now is a fantastic time to do it!