Fishing Report; 5-21-15

Hi,

Wanted to go early before it got too hot, woke up late around 7:30 had coffee and pie with my girlfriend and left to go fishing around 8:15. When I got to Walton/Indian River, I noticed someone was already out there. I went to Walton Scrub and brought my stringer- thought I might keep a few trout for dinner.

Fishing Report, 5-21-15; 8:40am, Walton Scrub; started out no wind, then a NE breeze then wind over 15mp- it was really blowing with 2 foot waves when I got off. Low tide getting ready to come in. Water clear to hazy.

I got on the water and it was dead low tide. The North Shallows (see last post for description) were dead - not enough water to fish. I went past the sandbar and fished deep with a plastic paddletail on 1/8 jighead (see photo below). The water was like glass- no current, no wind. UGGHH!!

I cast for a bit then went deep as possible- nothing --no bites, taps, strikes. I headed South fishing slowly and had no luck at all. About 35 minutes after starting I had a strike- and a good one- this fish (probably a Jack) smacked the lure but missed. Looks like one of those days!!!

The wind was starting to pick up there were a few ripples and it was blowing from the North. Then I cast deep and wham-- fish on-- this was no dink- my rod bent double and after pulling it in some-- it pulled drag!! "Not another 15 lb Jack," I thought. But it certainly wasn't that big and eventually it came in. "What was it?" I thought, staring into the water. The fish circled around and then I pulled her up- a 5 lb Jack. Woah!! What a fighter!!

I released the Jack and I crossed past the 4 white poles over on the sandbar. I was now getting close to the 3rd weedbed. The trout had been here the last 3 times- would they be here today? I hadn't even had a trout bite in 45 minutes. The tide was coming in now and the wind was picking up- "Perfect," I thought, "nothing worse than no wind."

I was out pretty far, maybe 80 yards from the 1st pier. I could almost reach the middle of 3rd weed bed and could fish the edge of it. I cast deep, got a tap but not enough to set the hook. The wind was at my back and I cast way out over the weed bed- tap- hook set- trout on! This was a nice trout, no dink and I thought about keeping it but decided not to. I didn't want to have just one fish to cook so I decided I'd wait and see if the fish were there.

Next cast- tap, hook set- miss, another tap, fish on. The trout came up and shook-- another nice one but smaller, about 15"- I let it go. Next cast, tap, and miss. Pulled in- got the tail of my bait. Re-baited, cast a little deeper, tap- pull, trout on. It shook it's head as I pulled it skating across the surface. "Smaller about 12" but they are here!!!"

I cast 60 yards with the wind, twitched rod tip fell pressure, trout on. This one was about 17" and I decided I'd keep a few and we'd have fresh trout tonight. I pulled the metal stringer out of my pocket and attached one end to my belt loop. With some difficulty I strung up the first fish but it managed to splash around and my reel slipped a little and went under the water. I pulled my reel up, unhooked the fish and dropped the stringer down- one trout on the stringer and a few more to go!! We could eat about 5 or 6 fish (since 4 of us live here).

They were still active and it seemed like almost every cast was a strike, a fish or a lost fish. I quickly put two more trout on the stringer, one I caught 10 feet away. It just went airborne a few times and splashed me good. Then I got a big one around 20 inches, it was heavy and after thinking a second -decided to let her go- I'd rather keep the medium small ones around 15". I caught two that were under 12" that I released, I think the legal limit is 15" to 20" with one over 20".

                                           Some Speckled Trout I Kept (Click to enlarge)

The action was getting slower but every 5-8 casts I'd still get a fish or a bite. I didn't move from that spot in over an hour!!! I caught 14 trout today and the 2 biggest were released as well as the two smallest. I caught three before I started to keep them. I didn't count them but I had caught 200 trout this year before I kept these- and I guess I could have kept 60 -70 by now. I just kept enough to eat for one meal.

When I left to go in they were still biting. I went back quickly- the wind was blowing at least 15mph, now from the SE and the waves were breaking. I got one more bite, it missed, and I got off the water.

My totals: 14 trout (lost about 3 that I had on) and 1 big 5lb jack. A great day on the water!!!

5-21-25, 6:20pm Report 2- Walton, very wind 20mph from SE. Water muddy, almost low tide.

My neighbor got me to go with him and we left around 6:00pm and were on the water around 6:30pm. The wind was blowing hard. We put in at Walton Scrub. There was a guy fishing there so we went around him to the South. We fished on the other side of the sandbar- the tide was very low and still going out.

I got a couple strikes and missed the fish, one was a trout that struck when I pulled the paddletail out. My neighbor followed me and caught a small snook, shallow. I was out about 10 yards deeper. We went past the 4 white poles to the edge of the 3rd weedbed. I was 0-5, missed all five strikes so far. I got a trout bite and missed it (0-6) then hooked a decent Jack, he splashed me good and I released him. A big school of jack were chasing bait near me- I cast in and hooked one (I guess a Jack) but it came off. I caught another nice Jack and released it.

My neighbor caught a trout. I had been catching trout there all week. This was the first trout he'd caught in the last month- it was a nice one too (troutless no more). I caught a good trout and lost a trout on the surface. I cast into some feeding jacks (probably 50 fish in a feeding frenzy!!) and caught another Jack.

It was getting dark- still very windy, we cast on the way back. I caught a big ladyfish, that leaped 4 or 5 times. I lost a fish deep that I had on--not sure what it was. We go off the water with the setting sun.

Totals: 1 snook, 3 jack, 2 trout and 1 ladyfish, in 80 minutes

Anatomy of Walton Rd.

Hi,

I've only be fishing for about five months but I have a pretty good idea of how Walton Rd. works. Walton Rd. is on the West side of the Indian River Lagoon between Stuart (Jensen Beach) and Fort Pierce. The defined area is mine, technically Walton Rd is just the intersection of Walton Rd and S. Indian River Drive. There are 7 piers from Walton Scrub down the the last pier past the Walton Rd./ Indian River Dr. intersection (not counting the 4 fallen ones that just have pilings). The distance of the Walton fishing area is over 1 1/2miles. There are two piers North but they are almost a half mile north so it would be hard to include those.

Walton Road is heavily fished. Some people start at Walton Rd. and fish up to the 1st pier near Walton Scrub. I've heard fish stories of the big snook and trout at Walton. I've see a photo of a 6 lb. trout; talked to a guy who landed a big 15 lb snook. I've be told by a pro redfisherman that it was one of the best spots in the area to catch redfish. I have my own accounts, which you can read about here- of a 25+ lb snook and a 15+ jack- pulled from these waters. In my accounts I refer to these locations- these piers and weed-beds, and perhaps if this helps someone else- so be it.

Walton North: There is parking at Walton Scrub about 1 mile North from the Walton/Indian River intersection.

 

Directly East from Walton Scrub is a shallow weedy area then a sand bar (the 1st sandbar), then the edge of the 2nd weed bed.

If you go North there's a shallow flat, then the sand bar disappears for about 70 yards then forms again and goes up near the two piers which are 1/2 mile away. Just past Walton Scrub, there is parking on the right side on along Indian River Dr.- if you want get to the water here, the bank isn't as steep. It's possible to wade North and fish those two piers 1/2 mile away- I haven't done it-- yet! The shallow flat extends between the sandbars and out into the Lagoon proper.

 If you go North from Walton Scrub out deep, it's shallower than the Walton Scrub area and although I've caught fish there,  the slightly deeper Scrub area is better. The map below (not in correct proportion- click to enlarge) starts at Walton Scrub which is in the top left corner and is a parking area.

Walton Scrub

Walton Road Overview (click to enlarge)

If you look at the map, directly out from Walton Scrub is the 1st sandbar and 2nd weed-bed which runs into the Lagoon. If you go down 1 mile you'll see Walton Rd. from the bottom left intersecting with S. Indian River Dr. There's a steep bank, an incline from the water up to the road. In many places it's too steep to climb. There are some houses and you can't park in some spots. Be careful if you're climbing up or down- it's easy to fall and hurt yourself!!!

North Shallow: The shallow area from Walton Scrub is not that shallow unless it's low tide. At high tide it's 4-5 feet deep. It extends South to the 1st pier and it become very shallow and holds fewer fish. It extends North where it goes into the shallow flat and from there into the Lagoon proper. There are times when the fish are there, and surprisingly, not caught elsewhere. Usually there are small snook, Jack, flounder, sheepshead, small black drum, Jack, catfish and trout. If you fish with lures you can catch Jack, trout, snook, an occasional flounder, and sometimes ladyfish, when they move in there.

North (deep) in the Lagoon proper: On the other side of the sandbar at Walton Scrub is the main Lagoon. This deeper area is what I call the 2nd weedbed. It is sparsely weedy in the winter and more weedy in the summer- there are clumps of weeds and they hold fish. It's slightly deeper (1 foot) than the 1st weed bed. There are less weeds as you go South. There are 4 white posts (which I call "the cut") that mark the end of the 2nd weedbed. At the white posts it is deeper and they mark the division between the 2nd and 3rd weed-beds. Big fish cruise up and down this area and trout move in with the tide. There are few snook and redfish but they may be big- like the 25 pounder I caught- you never know. Schools of Jack go up and down the area and it's not unusual to catch Jack and trout here. There are also Ladyfish at times, but usually they aren't around.

Central Walton: I'm starting at the first pier and going South to the 6th pier, which is located just North on the Walton/Indian River intersection. Besides the piers, there's two open areas with mangroves which can be fished on high tide.

Central Shallow: The 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th piers are good if there's enough water present. There are holes, muck, underwater objects and deep spots so watch your step. Some waders just cast along the shoreline and under piers for snook, sometimes redfish, Jack and an occasional trout. Small snook are usually around and they like to hang out around the piers and under them. On the other side of the first thee piers is a shallow flat. The 2nd sandbar is on other side of the 4th and 5th piers. You can fish on the Lagoon side of the piers (West of the sandbar) and the water is 4 feet deep on high tide and the fish move back and forth through that area. It's not as good as the piers and shallow weeds and structure but it can be good. It's a staging area before the fish can move shallow.

Central Deep: It gets shallower when you reach the sandbar or shallow flats, then it gradually gets deeper as you go out into the Lagoon itself. The third weedbed is the thickest and holds fish- it is located out from the first three piers. It's shallow for a long ways in front of the third pier and you can wade out over 100 yards at low tide. Sometimes the trout are there when you can't catch them anywhere else (this is true for other fish but mainly trout). I've caught and seen redfish caught, as well as trout, snook, Jack and ladyfish-- all from this area. After the third pier there is a sandbar that runs almost to the 6th pier (it stops before the fallen pier). Then there are some weeds but it's a mostly a shallow flat.


         1st Pier (White posts) Click to enlarge-- photo taken from South part of 3rd weed bed. The first pier is deeper in the middle part, which is where it holds fish.


   3rd pier (slightly longer) Click to enlarge -- photo taken north of it in the 3rd weed-bed. See the shorter 2nd pier on the right. The 2nd pier usually holds no fish. There needs to be at least 3 1/2 feet of water (near high tide) on the piers to hold fish.

South Walton: This area begins at the intersection of Walton Road/Indian River Dr. where there is a fallen pier (with just white pilings left) and a clump of tall pine trees on the shoreline. This stretches all the way down to the last pier and is mostly open water with a sandbar.

South Walton Shallow- If you get in at Walton Rd., you are there. Some good fish come in after the January cold and feed in the shallows, which are over 4 feet deep at high tide. You can walk along the sand bar and cast near the shoreline and work all the way to the last pier. On good days I've caught half a dozen snook and some slot sized ones too. I also caught an 8 lb Jack there earlier this year. The pier is one of the best and it's isolated - a regular fish magnet.

South Walton Deep: At the end of the white (fallen) pier pilings is a swallow flat. I've seen boats come and stop just to fish there. It's three feet deep at low tide so it's not too shallow, and gradually goes deeper. There are some weeds so I call it the 5th weed-bed. If you go South from there you're on the other side of the sandbar. There are thin weeds and it's featureless and gets deeper as you go South.

Conclusion: This is the basic Walton area just under 2 miles long. Just think- it's only a small stretch of shoreline between Fort Pierce and Jensen Beach. I'll know more about it as time goes by and will update this when I can.

Fishing Report 5-20-15

Hi,

I decided to go early this morning before it got hot. I went to the Snook Nook but they were out of the baits I use, then I drove to Walton around 7:15.

Fishing Report 5-20-15 Walton Rd. Wind Southwest at 5mph. Low tide incoming. Water clear. Throwing 1/8 red jig-head with different DOA plastic swimbaits.

The tide was very low and although it was incoming there wasn't much movement. There was almost no wind and the water was clear. I went deep past the sandbar, got a tap on the first cast. Got a swirl as I pulled out of the water on the second. Third cast I lifted the tip and felt some pressure-- I set the hook and a trout came up and shook its head then jumped twice. It was small, about 12", but well hooked. I cast back out and got a tap, then nothing. A few casts later another trout struck and I pulled in another small trout, maybe 2 inches bigger. Suddenly all the action stopped, not sure why-- maybe I had scared them since it was so calm. I stayed 5 more minutes then moved South.

I switched baits after not getting any action to a paddletail- still nothing. I was working my way South toward the first pier. It was still very shallow on the deep flat and nothing was biting. I passed the 4 white posts and eased into the area where they were biting last night. I got a tap, then another. I held the lure in place and he took it. Fish on, another trout leaped to the surface and jumped --splashing me, very well hooked but small, about 12". I cast out and got another strike, missed and then another strike as I pulled my bait up. The tail was gone so I re-baited and the lure dropped into the water while I put my baits in pocket- I got a strike!!! I missed the fish but it took the tail off!!!

I went out as far as I could and cast to the weeds towards the shore. I got another strike and lost a fish when it came up. A few casts later I caught another small trout, released it then went deeper. I got a tap and caught another trout. After about 5 more casts I caught a trout that struck 10 feet away and I landed that one and released it. I had caught about 6 trout, 4 were scattered in  the 3rd weedbed.

I decided to go shallow and check out the pier. The water was very clear and I could see it was too shallow to have much luck. On my third cast to the pier I caught a small snook, who jumped a few times before I pulled him in and unhooked him.

I walked shallow and watched-- you could see anything that moved and I looked for fish but aside from the schools of glass minnows, there wasn't much activity. Since there are glass minnows here now I know there will be more action when the tide is up and more action when the minnows go out past the sandbar. This should spike the fishing for a while. The minnows are very small but I'm sure trout, reds, snook and Jack will be chowing down as much as possible. They are like appetizers and it would take many gulps before they would add up to being a meal.

It was getting hot and the tide was finally coming in. I went back deep and caught a trout then started fishing my way North to go in. I saw two guys wading near where I put in and I caught a trout near them but I don't think they were paying attention to me. They had usually their backs turned and were fishing North in the shallow water. I saw one of them catch a small trout too.

I cast deep and got a good strike then set the hook, the trout came up and it was twice the size of the others- a good 20" - but I lost it on top when it shook its head. That was enough for me- I didn't want to fish near the two waders so I headed in before I got sunburned.

Total: 9 small trout and one small snook- a great day on the water. I had fished for 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Fishing Report: 5-19-15

Hi,

Today is my fishing day. I spent the morning with my girlfriend then decided I'd head to Walton around high tide.

Fishing Report Walton Road, 5-19-15 at 12:15 pm, high tide, ready to start coming in soon. Wind 12 mph out of the East. Water clear. Fished 1/8 oz jig on plastic DOA swimbaits on 8 lb braided fireline.

The tide was up, I had planned to fish shallow and head South to the piers. When I got there I went across the sandbar to fish deep for a while. I was fishing the edge of the 2nd weed-bed. My first cast I got a strike as I pulled my swimbait out of the water, it missed. Second cast I got a tap but nothing took it. My third cast I got a tap and felt some weight, I set the hook- fish on. A nice trout came straight up and shook its head then skated half-way to me before heading down. I pulled it by me and it splashed on the surface several times before I unhooked it.

I took a couple casts North then started South. I made a few casts when - bam!! There was a violent strike and a splash then I set the hook-- Woah fish. I held my rod tip up and my rod was bent double and my drag just whirred. The fish took 10 yards of line, then 20 more, then 30 more, all my Fireline spooled out and it was starting on my Spiderwire. I pulled back and turned the fish --what a fish!!! She headed back North then went straight out pulling drag again. She was still 80 yards away and I turned her and she went South, stopping before the shallower water. This was a strong fish, I had just caught a 25 lb snook and this fish was stronger. I couldn't move her and finally she started South and I got her to go shallow. She went across the sandbar and ended up moving in a circle back out across the sandbar to the deep water. 15 minutes had passed and I had no way to move the fish closer.

She was still strong and started going out - I turned her South and she went across the sandbar, I kept the rod tip high to avoid letting her drag weeds, like the big snook I had a few days ago did. She went shallow and went in a circle again heading back to the deeper water. This time when I turned her she came right at me and I reeled back to my Fireline and kept her 50 yards away. I was by myself, no camera, no help. If this was a snook it was bigger than 25 lbs- I just didn't know- could be a Jack or a big redfish. I was hoping a boat would come by. I didn't know what to do so I took the metal stringer in pocket out and attached it to the belt loop on my shorts. At least I could lip hook it, decide if it was OK, hook the end on a mangrove branch and then go get my phone from my car. The fish would probably live and I could get a pic.

I tried to bring the fish to me, at least close enough to see it. No go- she took out line and swam across the sand bar to the shallow side. I couldn't move her and after pulling she headed back to the deep water- circle number 3!!! I was getting tired but the fish wasn't; it had been 30 minutes plus!!!

I looked again no boats, not people around, I thought about taking her in shallow but couldn't move her in - she circled around again back to the shallow water- I still couldn't see her, then back to the deep-- circle 4!!! Then I tried to pull her in for another look, no go- circle 5!!! It was now about 50 minutes. The fish was too strong to pull near me I was getting worried.

She was deep and pulling more drag then this time she came toward me- I frantically reeled to keep tension on my line. She turned and I pulled her up a bit- she was a giant Jack!!! I was disappointed but I had never caught a Jack this big- ever. She went to the shallow side of the sand bar and I went after her. I tried to get her shallow and beach her but she started for the mangroves and I turned her and she circled around. It was now about an hour- the battle was not over- I didn't want her to break me off now.  I tried to beach her again but she swam towards the other mangrove and back out. Then I pulled her shallow and when she got in very shallow she was through- not enough water to navigate. I took my metal stringer and secured her then I unhooked her and took her out in deeper water so she could breathe. She was still pulling- and hard.

I decided I didn't want to have Jack for dinner and although I wanted a photo, I didn't want to hurt her so I let her go. I'd say she was 15+ lbs and almost twice as bid as any Jack I'd caught. She swam away- no problem - she was OK. That was good. She out fought the big snook I caught except for the first run.

I was worn out my arm ached and I was frazzled after an hour battle. I cast shallow and went to the first pier. The tide had gone out and there wasn't much water under it. I cast around the pier anyway- nothing. I skipped the second pier and went to the third pier- nothing. I was still a bit frazzled but decided I'd go deep and fish my way back. 

The third weedbed is fairly shallow and I immediately got some taps on the first two casts- I lost the tail of my swimbait and re-baited. Then the next tap I set the hook- trout on. A small trout skated across the top of the water and I unhooked it and rebaited, the tail was torn-off. A couple casts later I moved deeper and bam- trout on- this was a good trout about 18 inches and I unhooked her and cast the area.

I moved North above the first pier and caught another trout. Then on the next cast caught another and had to re-bait. Then I hooked a big trout and after a battle that drenched me I unhooked it and started a bit more North. I stayed in the area, lost a trout on top and caught one more trout before heading North to the 4 white posts.

I had something bigger hit and no splash this time, after I set the hook -it jumped, a 20 inch trout!!! I started to think "fried trout" but decided I was too tired and after releasing it, fished on. On the other side of the 4 posts I caught another big trout, just 20 inches but big by my standards (maybe 3 pounds). Two casts later another big one was reeled in and I was starting to sunburn so I headed back.

I caught three more trout before getting off the water. By my count I caught 14 trout (lost two that were hooked) and caught my biggest Jack, a whopping 15+ lbs.
---------------------

I saw my neighbor pull in and told him he should go out since he hadn't caught a trout in a month. He said I should go too and I agreed to go  but I didn't want to fish long. About 5:30 he texted and we headed back to Walton.

Fishing Report 2; 5-19-15 6:00pm Walton Road almost dead low tide, outgoing still. Strong South east wind at 20 mph- water cloudy.

The tide was low and we headed deep on the other side of the sandbar. Unfortunately the wind had shifted and was blowing very hard. I went North and my neighbor went South. After no luck I headed South after him. The fish were biting at the 3rd weedbed and he was headed there. I caught a 17" trout on the way. He hooked a ladyfish and fished his way South- I was catching up to him some now. I hooked a lady fish around the 4 white poles and he was fishing the 3rd weedbed. I got a bite and lost the tail of my swimbait- when I went to re-bait my bag of paddletails had floated out of my pocket in the strong wind and waves. I looked in my back-pack, I only had forked tails and I grabbed 6 of them and rebaited with one.

I hooked a small trout and released it and my neighbor hooked and released a nice Jack. Some Jack were feeding and he cast into them and hooked a 4 lber that he fought for a couple minutes. Meanwhile I was going deeper and hit some trout, reeling in three in the next five minutes. I lost a nice ladyfish and then had a few trout misses. It was about as deep as we could go and the waves were pounding us. A large school of Jack chased some bait on the surface- I cast through them- fish on. I pulled in and released a nice Jack. He was getting soaked so he went shallower. He had a strike- fish on, it pulled drag and he pulled hard- snap, it broke his line. I caught another small trout and saw a school feeding- nothing this time. We headed back North, the sun was about to set. I missed a trout but that was my last bite- we got off the water in a hurry.

Totals; I had 5 trout, 1 ladyfish (lost a ladyfish that jumped two foot) and 1 Jack. My neighbor caught 3 Jack and one ladyfish.

19 trout is the most trout I had caught in one day- a great day on the water!!!

Fishing Report 5-18-15

Hi,

Got through teaching around 5:00 and decided if the weather looked good enough (storms were passing through) I'd go fishing. Headed to Walton was on the water around 5:40, tide very low and going out.

Fishing Report 5-18-15 Walton Road wind about 15 mph out of East, water muddy, outgoing tide almost low. Fishing 1/8 oz. jig head on a variety of DOA swimbaits on 8 lb. braid Fireline.

It was windy but not too windy and the storms had passed by-- the last one I could see moving off to the West. I crossed to the deep side of the sandbar and cast a few times on the way- nothing. I was hoping I would be there when the tide started moving in which was around 6:45, hopefully it wouldn't be slow till then.

Fished the second weed bed out from Walton Scrub and went North to the first one- nothing. I fished the second weed bed hard and moved South- nothing. Halfway to the first pier I had a strike, hard hit, didn't get hooked. Headed deeper, was wading way out now- nothing. Crossed the 4 white poles on the way to the 3rd weed-bed- nothing. I had been out for about an hour with maybe one strike and one bump.

Got to the 3rd weed bed, nothing. Went south past the 3rd pier nothing. Decided to fish my way back, no sense in fishing the piers - there was no water under them- low tide.

When got to the third pier, I got a couple taps, set hook nothing. Got more taps, lost the tail of my paddlebait, I put on a new bait, got more taps, no takers. Moved North a few yards, felt the taps set hook, a small trout came up and shook it's open mouth at me. I reeled him quickly in about 12"- insta-released.

I fished the 3rd weed-bed, missed a fish and lost another tail, re-baited. Headed North back toward where I got in. Changed to a red jighead with smaller hook. Changed colors of the paddletail. Missed a fish then got snagged. It's hard to get snagged but I did and decided to go out to the jig. The tide was so low I had not problem getting there, but it was hard getting the jig back. I was caught on a metal object at the bottom. I reeled down and shook it- still snagged- did it again, then I was lose.

I noticed some old line wrapped around mine- looks like a bunch of people got snagged there! I stayed deep and cast- boom - fish on. this  was no little trout and I my drag went out twice before I could see it- 3 lb bluefish woah, hadn't caught one in a while. he was still feisty and jumped several times while I tried to unhook him. That was fun I thought.

I looked back the sun was getting ready to set in 10 minutes. I headed North, had a bite- missed the fish and lost another tail. After I re-baited I cast far out and then felt a tap and my line was heavy- I raised the rod-tip, fish on. Trout and finally a nice one. The trout shook then came towards me and circled back to the sandbar. It was about 16" and a beauty. I unhooked her and headed back - time was running out.

Last cast, I thought, nothing. Another last cast, bam!!! What a strike! the fish was motoring to my right and pulling drag. What was it I thought? Fist it went South then back then to the sandbar then around again. By now I thought i knew- so I pulled it up- a 3lb. Jack. It pulled drag twice more before I unhooked.

The sun was sinking below the tree-line, I pulled off my sunglasses and cast on the way back. I got a strike in the shallow water past the sandbar. I lifted up, another strike- fish on. I go a splash then another then the snook was airborne.  I wasn't big but a nice snook, around 3 lbs. too small for slot but what a fighter. I unhooked  and got off the water - it was getting dark.

Not bad, not good. Two trout, one bluefish, one Jack and one snook. A great day to be on the water!

Fishing report; 5-17-15

Hi,

My neighbor invited me to go fishing today. So we left early (for us) around 9:00am. We headed down to Walton. I got my girlfriend to pose with my new reel when I came home- here she is:

                                              Angelica with my new Okuma, Helios 40 reel
                                                              (Click to enlarge)

Fishing Report: 5-17-15, 9:30 AM Walton Road. Tide high and incoming; wind 15-20 mph out of Southeast.

The wind was really blowing, even this early in the morning. We cast our way out to the sandbar and fished the deep side. Surprisingly, no one was out on the water today- yet. The waves were almost 2 foot and relentless. We cast into the wind with jigs rigged with paddletail DOA swimbaits.

I cast a couple times before my neighbor got there and about the third cast I hit some weeds, when I pulled through I had a fish on. At first I though I had weeds on my line but as it came closer, the fish took off for the shallow water and came unhooked. "I would have liked to seen that one," I said. The fish tore the tail of my plastic paddletail so I quickly re-baited.

I fished North for 50 yards and then back. My neighbor was heading South. I got a hit and it missed then a second later I got another hit- fish on!!! Whatever it was it was a good fish and it pulled drag half-way in then pulled drag twice before I could see it- a 3 lb Jack. The Jack circled around and pulled drag one more time before I lifted him out of the water by the leader- what a chunk!

My neighbor was far South and almost to the third weedbed. I started after him then a few cast later I got a hard strike as I pulled the jig near the surface. A nice Jack grabbed it and splashed on the surface before heading down to the bottom. This one was about half as big but still put up a fight. I unhooked him and headed for the third weedbed.

By now my neighbor was going shallow to fish the first pier. I fished the third weedbed - nothing. "Where were the trout?" I thought, "this was bad, maybe it was that the tide was almost high and the waves were pounding." I had been catching them best at low tide.

My neighbor caught a nice snook off the South side of the pier then went shallow away from the pier. I went down to pier and skipped my jig under the pier several times on the deep end- nothing. it was almost 4 foot deep by the pier and I got closer and made a couple casts shallow. Boom!!! Snook on!

This snook decided to go away form the pier and I was going away from it too as fast as possible. She jumped twice, not big, about 3 1/2 pounds, but feisty. I pulled her further away from the pier and gently swung her up, she splashed and went back around one more time before I could lip her and unhook my jighead. I yelled to my neighbor but he was headed for the 2nd pier which was short and never good. I went back to the pier and since it's long fished the bottom. I had a gentle hit then stopped the jig and jiggled it- wham another snook! This fish was bigger over 5 lbs and it too jumped completely out of the water. I headed out from the pier so did the fish- at first. Then it went back toward the pier. I put some pressure to keep the fish away but she would have nothing to do wit hit- my line popped- at least the leader broke. Snook are very strong at first and I should have retied after catching the Jack.

I was out of jig-heads so I borrowed one from my neighbor. He had caught another snook and lost one off the 3rd pier. Both were about 3-4 lbs and nice fish. When i went under the 3rd pier I cast shallow along the pilings, fish on! I headed out from the pier but no need to worry this was a small snook and I had no trouble with him.

We made it to the next pier and both off us got hung up on it, so we didn't really get a chance to fish it. No fish on the next pier either but after we went under it my neighbor hook a nice snook, which was a little bigger (small slot) and he landed it and unhooked it. We went all the way to the long pier and except for one strike had no action. My neighbor caught a nice snook near the base of the long pier and we headed back. I went out to the sandbar and casted shallow and he fished the shoreline again.

There was a girl in a bikini sunbathing on the 5th pier and I was casting around it. She sat up and looked at me. I told he not to worry, if I caught her I'd throw her back!! She said, "You'll never catch me wading in there!!" She was afraid of sharks or whatever looms beneath the surface. We talked for a minute, she was from Iowa and was going back home soon. I was born in Iowa and have a place on the Mississippi-- it's a small world. I wasn't trying to catch any "ladyfish" so I said "bye" and move on to fish the end of the next pier. After getting back to the 3rd pier I headed out deep to catch trout. My neighbor had stopped to get some gravel/sand out of his shoe.

After five minutes I got a trout bite and set the hook. Trout on!!! as usually she came up to the surface and shook her head and I got her back down by keeping my rod tip down and reeling hard. This was a longer than average fish around 18" but it wasn't heavy. She wasn't hooked well and I got her off in a sec and she went swimming away.

We fished a few more minutes and I felt a trout, I set the hook and again the fish came up - this time tho she came off and I was with out a trout! My neighbor was trying to catch one, he was troutless and had been so the last 4 or 5 trips while I had caught some every time. We tried to get him a trout but it was not use. They weren't biting. We got off the water after 12:30- we had fished 3 hours, the tide was going out now but still high and the waves were still pounding.

My neighbor was "Mr. Snook" and he caught 5 or 6 and maybe lost one. I caught three snook and had the biggest one break my line--I also caught 2 Jack and 1 trout while losing 1 trout. A great day on the water!!!

Richard

More True Lies- Report 5-16-15

Hi,

Twas early in the month of May, when all the flowers were budding,
Sweet William on his death-bed lay,  for the love of Barb'ry Allen.

Yes- it's the month of May, maybe not so early,
And all the snook are back, it seems they're shallow surely.

So what goes 'round, comes 'round and it looks like the snook are back from the inlet (spawning?) after disappearing since the middle of March. My neighbor and I headed to Walton to try our luck. It would be hard to beat yesterday and that 25 lb. snook but you never know what may happen.

Fishing Report Walton Road, 5-16-15 11:30am, Walton Road. High tide outgoing, wind 12-15 mph out of the east. Water cloudy, some waves and breakers. Fished 1/8 call jig, two colors of paddle tails.

We cast our way to the sand bar and fished the deeper water. It was windy, with the wind blowing in our faces for the 4th day in a row. The call was for an occasional shower, but it never rained. We fished 15 minutes- nothing not even a strike. Had the deep trout bite disappeared? My neighbor fished shallow after about 20 minutes. Finally almost 30 minutes after getting on the water I hooked a trout. The fish was fairly deep and came up and shook. I had it well hooked and before log it was swimming over to me. This wasn't big, maybe 16", but it was bigger than the trout I'd caught the last two days.

We both fished over to the 3rd weed-bed in front of the first pier. My neighbor would cast deep, then shallow too. When we got to the first pier, I decided I'd go try it. I hadn't caught anything off that pier for a month, but I was primarily fishing deep and had only fished it twice that month. My first cast wasn't good, I missed the pier pilings by 6 feet, but it didn't matter- fish on.

It was a good fish but I had no idea what it was, it didn't jump-- but it did swim back under the pier. Fortunately I was ready for that and horsed her back out and she never really wrapped a piling- lucky. After I got her out from the pier, she swam and ran a couple times. I puller her up- a nice snook- not big and she let me scoop her up and unhook her. She was about 3 1/2 lbs and lip hooked. I showed her to my neighbor and quickly released her.

I went back and finished fishing the pier- nothing. Now we were both fishing shallow. we skipped the short pier and headed for the long 3rd pier. I fished shallow and my buddy fished deep. He hooked a snook off the end of the pier, it jumped and threw his bait. The fish wasn't big- maybe 3 lbs.

"Two piers, two fish," I called to him. We headed for the fourth pier, he was fishing out toward the sandbar and lagged behind. I went shallow again leaving him the deep end of the pier. The fourth pier is wooden, has a boat lift and a couple lines hanging into the water. I'd lost a big fish there before when I got my line busted off. I had also lost a big fish that came unhooked. From around and under the pier I'd caught one trout and two snook, one a slot limit.

I threw some good casts under the back-side of the pier- nothing. I stayed put casing the back side until he finally got close to the pier. about my 12 cast I got a strike and when I set the hook the fish took off just flying- but went away for the pier. I put some pressure on and waded away from the pier toward open water. It was very shallow maybe 3 ft. deep and weedy. Then the fish jumped completely out of the water, a big one- at least 12 lbs. it ran north for 60 yards pulling drag and then went shallow. The grass was piling on my line from both those runs. I pulled her close then she ran out but was tired out some and I reeled her down. Before I reached my hand down to grab her I pulled some weeds off my line - she was four feet away turned on her side- my line broke. She didn't break it was just worn out from catching so many fish- I should have retied before I started. This was my 2nd biggest snook she was a catch with a net so I'm not sure whether I can count her or not. at any rate she was gone and I had to retie.

We were both stoked that the snook were shallow and we headed for the spot within a spot in front of a clump of mangrove trees. There was still 3 1/2 feet of water where we stood. 'This is the place we caught those snook before," my neighbor commented. I said "Yes, that was when they were shallow in March." Suddenly my neighbor had a fish on- and it was a good snook. I jumped and headed away from the shore. He turned it quickly and then it headed straight for us. I missed his feet by inches and turned before she ran straight into me. he did a complete 180 turned and the fish was back where he hooked her. A splash and a half-jump later he puller her in, this was a nice slot fish probably over 30" and maybe 6 lbs max.

He said he wanted to catch a trout so we went back deep. We fished the deep area past the third weed bed. On my third cast I hooked a little trout and it popped off before I could unhook. We made it back to the third weed bed. I hooked a nice trout about 18" and he had to unhook it with his pliers because the lure was completely in its mouth. A few casts later he missed a fish and then I got a strong bite. After I set the hook the fish pulled drag twice and then came off. What was that!!?? I wondered. Anything that could pull drag that far out was a good fish.

A few casts later I had a bite and set the hook- fish on. It didn't come up like a trout but I thought it was a nice trout. When I lifted it up it was a 2 lb catfish!!! Worse than that- I couldn't get it unhooked. I brought it over to my neighbor who had needle nose pliers and he got it off. "Disgusting!!" he said.

 We started fishing our way back and then the wind blew- it really blew and it was almost impossible to fish. I caught my fourth trout and thought it was small but it was a good 16"er. My neighbor still hadn't caught a trout- "I'm troutless," he said. We fish a couple more minutes in the 20mph wind and got out. We had fished for 3 hours! Our total: 4 snook, 4 trout, and 1 catfish.

Until next time,

Richard