Hi,
The cold lifted and so did the wind and rain so yesterday, Jan. 25 my neighbor Jim, and I went wading in the lagoon. There just aren't many good fishing days.
It was almost dead low tide so we went deep past the sandbar. I go a few good strikes and headed North while he headed South. I landed three big ladyfish in about the first 10 minutes and lost a couple more. Pound for pound ladyfish are one of the most exciting gamefish. They go absolutely crazy- leaping, skitter walking on their tails, plus they have speed and power. These were big ladyfish (they get up to about 5 pounds) too -- in the 3-4 lb range. I caught a smallish trout 15" casting shallow. Then I turned back North to follow Jim. Ten ladyfish later I caught up with him. I went shallow and fished the third pier then went back deep. I got into a school of bluefish and one just flat out busted by 8 pound test-- it was only 4 pounds. Bluefish jump and they are wild too but they have teeth and if you're not careful they will cut your line. That's what my fourth bluefish did- I should have grabbed him but he was too wild. He got the line in his mouth and snap- there goes my jig!!! My last jig! I went over to Jim and he was ready to go. We got off the water.
I remember this time of the year from last winter- the water gets cold. The snook disappear, and so do the Jack. The trout are around and are larger but not schooled up and there are some deep and shallow. The ladyfish are cruising the shoreline along with schools of bluefish and an occasional mackerel or pompino.
Fishing Report 1-26-16 Walton Scrub, 3:20 pm, low tide outgoing. Water cold, under 70. Sunny, wind 12 mph SE air temp 74. Fishing different DOA plastics on a 3/8 oz jig. No camera.
It was a little warmer and a little windier today. The water was crystal clear again and I started heading North with the wind mainly at my back. I made long casts with a fairly heavy jig-head in shallow water. As I worked out near the sand bar area. I got a hit- fish on!!! It came up and shook it's head, a nice trout I got it over to me and reached down to grab the leader- it jumped one last time and flipped off- instant release!!! The trout was around 18," a nice slot.
I headed deep- a guy fishing off the first pier was headed my way so I went out deep and started fishing. My third cast and wham!! miss, wham!!! miss, wham!! fish on!!! At huge 4 pound ladyfish soared into the air!! She was pulling drag and leaping right and left. It took 3 minutes to get her in and another 25 seconds to get her in my hand to be unhooked. I released her and splashed the slime off my left-hand. After I cast back out-- Wham!! - a smaller lady fish crashed the surface. I quickly caught 3 ladyfish that I unhooked and 2 that jumped off.
The guy wading was getting close- I hadn't seen him catch anything, but he had seen me catching fish. He was casting but I'm not sure what- and he was fishing nearer the sand bar, while I was out 20 yards deeper. I started South toward him-- fishing into the wind. He looked at me, then quickly turned and headed South moving fast. There was no way I could talk to him--not a very friendly guy!!!
I watched him fish as I cast deep. I caught two more lady fish- then he headed shallow and fished the third pier. I hit a ladyfish spot and hooked one on almost every cast. After 15 minutes of wild action I headed South to the shallower flat off the first pier where I got into some bluefish yesterday. I hit the same area but nothing was there. I turned and headed back North and hooked and released a nice 4 pound bluefish that didn't cut or break my line. I caught 10 more ladyfish and headed shallow. The sun was getting low
It was only 2 1/2 feet deep inside the sandbar and very clear. I was making long casts with the wind to my back. I thought, "At least no one has fished here today."
Then wham!! Fish on!! I thought it was a ladyfish but when she put her head up and shook I knew it was a monster trout!! I was shocked how big the trout was and how skinny the water was!!! She jumped half way out of the water several times and I wheeled her to me. I thought, "She's four or five pounds at least!" I measured her on my rod stock and released her- what a fish!!! [Later I checked her length, she was 23 1/2 inches, only the third biggest I'd caught this winter- I thought she was at least 25"]
I headed back South toward by entry spot, casting as I went. Then--fish on! This one didn't jump and didn't put up as much a fight- another trout around 20" probably 19" or so- a very nice fish! I made a couple more casts - the sun started dipping below the tree line- I got off the water.
My totals- 30-40 hooked ladyfish and I released about 12-15 of those- the rest flipped off. 1 nice bluefish and 3 trout with a very nice 23incher. A great day on the water!!!
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