Post by ap on Jan 2, 2019 9:35:22 GMT -5
Got a chance to get out on the water in Weeki Wachee on Sunday, and then get out on the St. Johns River on New Years Day.
Weeki Wachee weather was excellent, with low winds and fog the early part of the morning. I launched at high tide and made my way out, stopping to hit shorelines and now-submerged oyster bars areas. Top of the high meant no current, so I concentrated on shorelines where I actually did finally see some activity. But no luck casting to them (smaller reds I think). As I made my way outside, I encountered another "jack pack" and they were chasing/busting the surface. Got hooked up on one, but as I'm fighting it I notice that all the commotion has attracted Flipper whom seems intent on eating my jack. With Flipper barreling in towards me I horsed the jack alongside, and that's when the line parted. I was fine with it; Flipper did not get a free meal. And that was really it for the day, a couple of other half-takes from other jacks that did not hook up, a couple of shots at reds that weren't interested in eating (Flipper stayed around and I think kept all fish in the area on alert and not relaxed enough to feed).
Traditionally on New Years Day I get on the water on some form of fashion; this year decided to visit the St. Johns River to see if the shad had made it upriver yet. The short answer is not just yet; some sporadic reports of a few fish caught, but I only saw 1 caught and an report of a second one, so no one was on them. Beautiful day, again very foggy with low winds (made me think that perhaps I should have gone to Mosquito Lagoon and go look for tailing reds). Water levels for the St. Johns remain very high -- generally I have done better in lower water scenarios, but the real factor was the lack on any minnow hatch. When the minnow are out, you can catch a ton. Was told by a friend that last year's hurricane washed a lot of land pollutants into the St. Johns and there were some big fish kills. I would say it was strange that fishing was slow with mostly smaller bluegills and no specks (or of course shad). Shad run should gradually get better in the coming weeks; I know I'll get out again to chase these guys ....
Happy 2019 to one and all!!
AP
Weeki Wachee weather was excellent, with low winds and fog the early part of the morning. I launched at high tide and made my way out, stopping to hit shorelines and now-submerged oyster bars areas. Top of the high meant no current, so I concentrated on shorelines where I actually did finally see some activity. But no luck casting to them (smaller reds I think). As I made my way outside, I encountered another "jack pack" and they were chasing/busting the surface. Got hooked up on one, but as I'm fighting it I notice that all the commotion has attracted Flipper whom seems intent on eating my jack. With Flipper barreling in towards me I horsed the jack alongside, and that's when the line parted. I was fine with it; Flipper did not get a free meal. And that was really it for the day, a couple of other half-takes from other jacks that did not hook up, a couple of shots at reds that weren't interested in eating (Flipper stayed around and I think kept all fish in the area on alert and not relaxed enough to feed).
Traditionally on New Years Day I get on the water on some form of fashion; this year decided to visit the St. Johns River to see if the shad had made it upriver yet. The short answer is not just yet; some sporadic reports of a few fish caught, but I only saw 1 caught and an report of a second one, so no one was on them. Beautiful day, again very foggy with low winds (made me think that perhaps I should have gone to Mosquito Lagoon and go look for tailing reds). Water levels for the St. Johns remain very high -- generally I have done better in lower water scenarios, but the real factor was the lack on any minnow hatch. When the minnow are out, you can catch a ton. Was told by a friend that last year's hurricane washed a lot of land pollutants into the St. Johns and there were some big fish kills. I would say it was strange that fishing was slow with mostly smaller bluegills and no specks (or of course shad). Shad run should gradually get better in the coming weeks; I know I'll get out again to chase these guys ....
Happy 2019 to one and all!!
AP
