Rain. Wind. More rain. More wind. It’s been a tough start to the week for local anglers with a constant stream of showers and gusty North East winds. The fall transition is definitely underway as this Nor’easter looks to continue through the rest of the week and into the weekend. I doubt we will get out on the ocean before the end of the week but inshore the fishing has been good given the conditions.
The Mullet run is still on, anywhere in the river or near the inlets you see a large mullet school it’s worth lingering and seeing if there’s anything feeding on them. We’ve been seeing plenty of Jacks busting up the schools with Tarpon, Redfish, Sharks, and Trout mixed in. The Tarpon bite has been steady all week it’s just been a matter of getting past all the other predators around to get that right eat.
With constant NE wind and low pressure the waters very high on the high tide cycles and we really aren’t having a low tide. It’s dropping below the grass lines but not bottoming out with all the residual water holding in the system. I’ve been fishing mostly mid tide spots at dead low and then transitioning to the flats as the water floods in. On the outgoing focus on drains and exits as choke points the fish must flow through leaving the flats.
For local fly fishermen this is the time of year to target Redfish. They are into a pattern of feeding hard on the last of the incoming in the flats. We’re seeing fish tailing and waking up in the grass snaking around for crickets, crabs, baitfish, spiders, anything moving they can forage on. Crab patterns and Gurglers are the go to fly choices. I’m partial to the topwater eat and visual satisfaction of watching the fish raise their head to eat the Gurgler but a crab fly usually results in more eats.
For spin anglers wanting in on the flood action you can use live fiddler crabs in the grass or any small weedless soft plastic. The creature style bass baits that imitate a crawfish are a favorite of Capt. Matt Chipperfield who spends more time poling the flats than most. I personally like the zman kicker crabs, they are similar in size to a small blue crab and the fish have reacted well to them the last few years. In general it seems like more fish will spook off a lure compared to the fly. Capt. Matt and I discussed this while on the water yesterday and both of us feel it’s likely a size issue.
The fish are mostly foraging on smaller prey items in the flood, making the fly a better imitation of the natural prey. The larger soft plastics move more water, give off more vibrations, and move more grass than a fly. When you get that bait close to the fish it tends to provoke a reaction. They either spook or when fish do eat the artificial they tend to hammer it. With a fly you might be within inches of the fish and get zero reaction simply because it didn’t see or feel it. Instead of a spooked fish you just get to pick it up and recast. The follow up shots are a huge advantage to the fly angler, you can pick up and recast a fly with one motion instead of having to reel the bait all they back in with spin.
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.
Brian got on his first Tarpon while we were fishing the Mullet run action out of Mayport last week.
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