With a dip into the high 50s this week is finally starting to feel like fall on the First Coast. The Spartina grass has gone to seed. The cackles of clapper rails ring through the marshes. A tuned ear picks out the distinctive slurp of a Redfish feeding on the surface. The North East winds forecasted over the next few days will bring extra water on top of a king tide making for difficult conditions fishing inshore this weekend.
Fall is flood tide season and the giant tide for the Cowford Redfish Tournament this weekend will have anglers poling far up the banks and under oak trees as the grass flats themselves will likely become to deep to sight fish. King tides and a Nor’easter make for difficult conditions for about type of fishing but the floods will be a good bet for finding feeding Redfish over the next week.
Once the tides get over 6.5 feet or so the Marsh Hen hunting really gets good so don’t be alarmed if you hear shotguns on the marshes this weekend. Clapper Rails live on the same flats the Redfish feed during the floods and the next few days will be the best tides all year for the low country tradition of chasing Rails and Tails.
Offshore the weather has been tough and the opportunities limited. Unfortunately that trend looks to continue for the next week. It’s about the time of year to start getting the Wahoo gear ready. After a long summer season it’s always a good idea to take everything out of the boat, do a deep clean and make a list of repairs and projects for the bad weather windows like this week.
As always wishing y’all tight lines, fair winds, and following seas going into the weekend! If you’re looking to book a charter, submit a photo, or have a report to share reach out to me directly at chris@fishjax.org or visit www.fishjaxcharters.com.
Beaches local Andrew Virtuoso took the win last weekend in the 15th annual Flounder Pounder Tournament with a 15.11 pound 3 fish aggregate.
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