Hi,
Where's the grass in the lagoon gone? Long time passing. Yes, the grass is gone. Will it come back? I believe it will - sometime in late May or June. The snook are also gone. When it got cold the snook moved-- and they haven't returned. . .yet. So what do you don't if you can catch a snook in the lagoon--catch one in the ocean!!! So that's what I did, I went to the ocean tonight and got snook number 18 in the fish-of-the-month club. I almost caught number 19 but didn't get a good hook-set. . .that's the way it goes.
Briefly I'll recap some lagoon trips. It got cold last week and on one trip I caught lady-fish, bluefish and a few jacks. After 4 or 5 ladyfish I want to catch a trout since the snook are gone- no trout. Another trip in a brutal SE wind and high incoming tide I couldn't find the ladyfish and bluefish deep or the trout-- I caught 5 jack and three of them were small. Tough fishing! Here are two reports:
Fishing report Walton proper 3-2-16 about 8:30am low tide incoming. Air temp 72-77 water temp 71. Water murky. Fishing jigs 1/8 oz with paddletails.
I went to Walton proper and went out deep- it was almost low tide. Two guys were fishing deep South of the last pier- one was fly fishing. I went straight out to my top spot and after two casts I slowly lifted my jig and felt some weight- wham fish on. The trout opened his mouth and skied back on the top 10 feet then went down and came up jumping a foot in the air. I wheeled him to me and grabbed for my camera--it was gone. I left it sitting on the hood of my car!!! No pic. I'd have to go get it soon. I released a nice slot trout around 17".
A couple cast later, fish on!! Another nice trout came wheeling in. I got splashed good and released it. I looked at my car on the bluff- nobody around - my camera was safe. Two casts later I got a swirl and a bump but missed it. I cast deep and as soon as it hit- trout on!! This was smaller about 14" and in 5 minutes I caught three trout. Time to get my camera. 10 minutes later I was back in my spot casting everywhere- no trout. I did catch a nice jack and two ladyfish but the trout bite had stopped. The fly fisherman had come down near me and I recognized him and said "Hi."
"Catch any trout?" he asked.
"Three," I called back.
"Just landed a ladyfish" he said
"Me too," I said, as he said, "bye" and got off the water.
I worked my way North then back south and caught a few more lady fish and another jack. I cast deep and wham fish on- this was a nice fish and it didn't jump-"probably a jack," I thought. I was wrong it was a big trout, very nice and it splashed me twice while I grabbed my camera and took a couple pics [upcoming]. I measured her against my pole - 22 1/2 inches, very nice and heavy too.
I caught two more lady fish and lost a few more before I reached my 2nd spot a shallow point before the water got deeper. Two casts later I caught my 5th trout a small slot around 16". I lost a trout when it came up and landed another ladyfish. This ladyfish jumped 3 feet in the air but right into me. When I put up my arm the hook cut my left elbow. Unreal. I already had a cut thumb from releasing a jack.
As I went to the last pier, fishing deep, a guy came on the water with a bobber and live shrimp and started fishing the pier- now I couldn't fish it. While he was fishing the pier I caught a trout, two jack and 10 ladyfish (unhooking about 5 of them :) So he came out and started fishing deep too. But he wasn't catching a thing. So I went over and showed him my jig and then went deep fishing. He tied on a jig and 5 minutes later caught a nice trout!!! When I came back I saw him catch a ladyfish and another trout- "Way to go!!" I yelled to him.
I fished shallow but there was nothing there so I went back deep and fished back. On the way I caught my 7th and 8th trout the 7th was over 20 inches and I took a couple pics [upcoming].
My totals: 5 jacks, 12 ladyfish (a at least 12 more that flipped off) and 8 trout. A beautiful day on the water!
Fishing report 3-3-16, 4:30pm Ocean at Herman's Bay, Tide medium low- outgoing. Air temp about 80 water temp about 71. Wind SW. Fishing jigs with my neighbor.
It was nice to be back on the Ocean. Jim took off South and was 1/2 mile ahead of me. I got a strike and it tore the tail off my paddletail. I saw some big fish feeding in the distance- way too far away. I cast along trying to catch up with Jim. I got a hard hit- fish on!!! this was nice fish but it wasn't a a snook- just a 3 pound jack. I released the fish with some difficulty since it swallowed my lure- it swam away ok.
I caught up to Jim who had blanked and then I caught a small jack in the first cut near the shore, I had several strikes there and one took the tail off. Jim foul hooked a small jack- his only fish. We headed back casting along. Jim was leading the way 50 yards ahead. I was casting in a shallow trough only 3 foot deep that was cut along the shore. Suddenly I saw a fish dart out of the shallows and slam my jig. Snook on!! I called to Jim but he didn't turn. The snook took off and ran right past me only 10 foot from my rod tip. It cut left toward the beach and I pulled it on the beach, a chunky 23" snook. This took about 15 seconds I grabbed the leader, went to unhook it and it flipped twice- the hook came out and a wave swept the fish way. Wow!! my 18th snook!!!
I cast shallow all the way back and 3 minutes later another snook nailed my jig. This time it jumped and threw my jig. Woah, can't count that one!! Then a minute later wham!!! Fish on!! This was good fish. I called to Jim again but he didn't hear me. This time it was a 5 pound jack. Although I was disappointed that it wasn't a snook, it was a good fish. I got no more action and we got off the water as it was getting dark.
My totals: 3 jack, and 1 snook.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Saturday, February 27, 2016
My Biggest Trout- (so far) Fishing Report 2-27-16
Hi,
We thought it was going to be a good day to go fishing-- it wasn't. It was cold and the windy blew steady from the North and then North East at 17-20mph with three foot waves and breakers. But something good did come out of this day that was so hard to fish. I caught a 28 1/2" trout that weighed an estimated 8lbs. What a monster- details follow.
Fishing Report 2-27-16 Walton Scrub about 12:30pm high tide incoming then outgoing. Water was about 68 and air was about 66. Windy about 17mph NE. Fishing 1/8 jig with CAL paddletails.
I went fishing with my neighbor Jim. we saw the waves breakers and knew it was windy. When we got on the water we found out how windy- it was almost unfishable especially since there's not much of nothing shallow- it's been dead shallow except when the snook were shallow but the cold has moved them out. Just brutal conditions.
We both went deep and made it past the sandbar. I got a strike as I pulled my jig up near me- I couldn't see the fish but it wasn't big. We went to our spot deep and I got another strike, then fish on!!! A wild an crazy ladyfish jumped out of the water, then again and again. I got her over to me and unhooked the 3 pounder- a fish at least-- and. . .they fight. Jim put on a heavier jig and he caught a ladyfish, then a small jack. I fished North and ahd two strikes but missed them. Then I caught my second lady fish, this one I didn't have to unhook as she jumped near me and threw my jig. I caught one more ladyfish but it was too windy to really feel your line so I went shallow. Jim stayed.
I fished shallow all the way to the 1st pier- nothing, not a strike. I carefully fished the first pier- nothing. Jim had come down and was fishing deep off the first pier. I fished the short 2nd pier nothing. Then I went to the long third pier and it was high tide so I went down nearer the shore. I made a long cast under the pier and wham fish on!!! Huge splash, then another!! This was big fish and at first I was sure it was a snook. Then I thought, "She's heavy but she isn't running like a snook." "Redfish?" I wondered. Then she came up again and shook her head- I saw her head. "Trout!!" I yelled to Jim. "Big Trout!!!"
I brought her up and she splashed again, unable to clear the water. I wheeled her around and at last got a glimpse- "Huge trout, my biggest!" I saw she was well hooked and pulled her to me. I quickly measured her against my fishing rod and took two pics (upcoming) of her in the water. Jim was nearby and headed my way so I took her over to him. He unhooked her while she was in the water but she jumped and flipped out of his grasp before I could take another pic. What a fish!! Jim who knows lagoon fish and has been fishing her for 18 years told me she "weighed at least 8 pounds" and was the biggest he had seen caught when he had been fishing. Later I checked her length by measuring the marker on my rod- 28 1/2 inches. Woah!!!
The rest of the trip was uneventful- too windy. I caught a nice jack on the way back and we got off the water.
Jim's totals: 2 jack 3 ladyfish
My totals: 1 trophy trout, 1 jack and 3 ladyfish
We thought it was going to be a good day to go fishing-- it wasn't. It was cold and the windy blew steady from the North and then North East at 17-20mph with three foot waves and breakers. But something good did come out of this day that was so hard to fish. I caught a 28 1/2" trout that weighed an estimated 8lbs. What a monster- details follow.
Fishing Report 2-27-16 Walton Scrub about 12:30pm high tide incoming then outgoing. Water was about 68 and air was about 66. Windy about 17mph NE. Fishing 1/8 jig with CAL paddletails.
I went fishing with my neighbor Jim. we saw the waves breakers and knew it was windy. When we got on the water we found out how windy- it was almost unfishable especially since there's not much of nothing shallow- it's been dead shallow except when the snook were shallow but the cold has moved them out. Just brutal conditions.
We both went deep and made it past the sandbar. I got a strike as I pulled my jig up near me- I couldn't see the fish but it wasn't big. We went to our spot deep and I got another strike, then fish on!!! A wild an crazy ladyfish jumped out of the water, then again and again. I got her over to me and unhooked the 3 pounder- a fish at least-- and. . .they fight. Jim put on a heavier jig and he caught a ladyfish, then a small jack. I fished North and ahd two strikes but missed them. Then I caught my second lady fish, this one I didn't have to unhook as she jumped near me and threw my jig. I caught one more ladyfish but it was too windy to really feel your line so I went shallow. Jim stayed.
I fished shallow all the way to the 1st pier- nothing, not a strike. I carefully fished the first pier- nothing. Jim had come down and was fishing deep off the first pier. I fished the short 2nd pier nothing. Then I went to the long third pier and it was high tide so I went down nearer the shore. I made a long cast under the pier and wham fish on!!! Huge splash, then another!! This was big fish and at first I was sure it was a snook. Then I thought, "She's heavy but she isn't running like a snook." "Redfish?" I wondered. Then she came up again and shook her head- I saw her head. "Trout!!" I yelled to Jim. "Big Trout!!!"
I brought her up and she splashed again, unable to clear the water. I wheeled her around and at last got a glimpse- "Huge trout, my biggest!" I saw she was well hooked and pulled her to me. I quickly measured her against my fishing rod and took two pics (upcoming) of her in the water. Jim was nearby and headed my way so I took her over to him. He unhooked her while she was in the water but she jumped and flipped out of his grasp before I could take another pic. What a fish!! Jim who knows lagoon fish and has been fishing her for 18 years told me she "weighed at least 8 pounds" and was the biggest he had seen caught when he had been fishing. Later I checked her length by measuring the marker on my rod- 28 1/2 inches. Woah!!!
The rest of the trip was uneventful- too windy. I caught a nice jack on the way back and we got off the water.
Jim's totals: 2 jack 3 ladyfish
My totals: 1 trophy trout, 1 jack and 3 ladyfish
Sixteen and Seventeen- Fishing reports 2-25-16 and 2-26-15
Hi,
Even though I'm not catching many snook I'm still counting them and now I've caught number 16 and 17 in the Rod and Reel Club's fish-of-the-month contest which started about two weeks ago. The recent cold front has pushed the snook back out of the shallows and I was lucky to catch two on Thursday 2-25.
Fishing has been brutal and catching anything is something. It should warm up some by next week and maybe the snook will move in shallow then.
Fishing Report 2-25-16 Walton Scrub around 1pm outgoing near low and then incoming. Water around 69 air temp around 64, cold and windy wind out of NW.
The cold front has pushed in and my neighbor Jim and I headed South and fished shallow. I was looking for snook, but the water was murky and shallow and no fish could be found. I headed for the first pier and Jim went deep. I cast 50 yards to the edge of the pier- wham!!! fish on! This was a snook and it jumped after I set teh hook then it jumped again. It wasn't big only 22" but it was feisty. I wheeled it around and took a pic [upcoming] then released the fish in the shallow water. "Number 16" I thought. This was the number I'd caught in the last two weeks and I was keeping track for the Stuart Rod and Reel club contest.
I headed for the the next pier, nothing. the third pier- nothing. Jim was fishing deep near the third pier and he had a pompano on- it was a nice one [pic upcoming] around 4 lbs. He's been promising his son-in-law her keep some fish and this was a great fish to keep. i put it on my stringer and headed for the 4th and 5th piers but could get a hit.
Carefully fishing the sixth pier I skipped my jig under the pier and out the other side and I brought it under the per wham!! fish on1- the snook took out and my drag whirred. The problem was it went back under the pier and around the pilings. I charged after it dragging a pompano behind me on a long stringer. I went under the pier and much to my surprise the snook was still on!!! I puled it into shallow water away from the pier. It managed and small jump but quickly tired. She was about 24" long, a nice 3 lb snook. I released her and cast around the shallows- nothing.
Two dolphins cruised along the sandbar in very shallow water. One of them was inside the sandbar and went back over it coming out of the 10" water to cross back. I headed deep cross the sandbar to fish with Jim. He caught a jack and then another jack and I had two hits but not fish. I hook a small fish and pulled it near me before it flipped off- never saw it. Jim went in to fish the third pier some and I fished deep and caught a nice 2 lb jack.
I headed back walking backwards so I could fish with the 15mph wind at my back. I bumped into a manatee but it didn't get flustered it simply swam away from me. I cast deep, fish on!! this was a nice fish and I fought to get it in. When it came near me it kept down- a 3lb jack. I released it and kept wading north towards Walton Scrub. Jim was fishing closer to the sandbar behind me.
We got to my best deep spot near Waltons Scrub and I cast deep. Bammmm!! fish on!!! This one came up and shook it's head- trout! I pulled it to me- a nice 17". Since we had a pompano we need a another fish or two so everyone 96 people) could have enough. I tied it on my stringer and cast back out- wham!! a lady fish soared in the air. I pulled this big (3 1/2 lb) ladyfish in an released it. Then Jim caught a nice trout and we put it on the stringer- that was enough fish right there- perfect [see pic upcoming].
Two cast later I hooked a nice fish and it was running deep. Was it another pompano? It looked a bit like one and I pulled up it up- a 4lb jack.
We fished a few more minutes and got off the water.
My totals: 2 snook, 3 jack, 1 ladyfish and 1 trout
Jim's totals: 3 jack, 1 pompano and 1 trout.
Fishing Report 2- Walton Scrub 2-26-16 about 8:30am low tide incoming cold and windy NW. Air temp 62 water temp 67.
Windy and hard to fish. I met Al we went to Walton Scrub. Too shallow to fish shallow. I went deep to fish my spot because another wader was fishing North and heading for it. I cast deep across the wind. On the second cast I got a strike- missed it. About the 5th cast I felt a fish and set the hook- fish on!!! It came up and shook it;s head- a nice trout about 18". I released it and soon after felt a tap hooks set- fish on, another trout came up but immediately flipped off. By not the other wader fishing North was casting near me and Al had co9me deep and was casting in front of me.
I cast deep and wham- Fish on!! This was good fish and after 10 seconds and some drag pulling it jumped- a 4lb bluefish. It jumped several times and I was splashed as I tried to unhook it. I couldn't so I got my pliers and pried the jug from its teeth. I should have stayed there but we all headed South hand nothing was biting- nothing- I fished the piers nothing- I went deep- nothing. We fished back shallow and got not strikes. Al blanked and I don't think he had a bite- a tough, windy, cold day on the water.
My totals: 1 trout (lost trout) and 1 bluefish
Even though I'm not catching many snook I'm still counting them and now I've caught number 16 and 17 in the Rod and Reel Club's fish-of-the-month contest which started about two weeks ago. The recent cold front has pushed the snook back out of the shallows and I was lucky to catch two on Thursday 2-25.
Fishing has been brutal and catching anything is something. It should warm up some by next week and maybe the snook will move in shallow then.
Fishing Report 2-25-16 Walton Scrub around 1pm outgoing near low and then incoming. Water around 69 air temp around 64, cold and windy wind out of NW.
The cold front has pushed in and my neighbor Jim and I headed South and fished shallow. I was looking for snook, but the water was murky and shallow and no fish could be found. I headed for the first pier and Jim went deep. I cast 50 yards to the edge of the pier- wham!!! fish on! This was a snook and it jumped after I set teh hook then it jumped again. It wasn't big only 22" but it was feisty. I wheeled it around and took a pic [upcoming] then released the fish in the shallow water. "Number 16" I thought. This was the number I'd caught in the last two weeks and I was keeping track for the Stuart Rod and Reel club contest.
I headed for the the next pier, nothing. the third pier- nothing. Jim was fishing deep near the third pier and he had a pompano on- it was a nice one [pic upcoming] around 4 lbs. He's been promising his son-in-law her keep some fish and this was a great fish to keep. i put it on my stringer and headed for the 4th and 5th piers but could get a hit.
Carefully fishing the sixth pier I skipped my jig under the pier and out the other side and I brought it under the per wham!! fish on1- the snook took out and my drag whirred. The problem was it went back under the pier and around the pilings. I charged after it dragging a pompano behind me on a long stringer. I went under the pier and much to my surprise the snook was still on!!! I puled it into shallow water away from the pier. It managed and small jump but quickly tired. She was about 24" long, a nice 3 lb snook. I released her and cast around the shallows- nothing.
Two dolphins cruised along the sandbar in very shallow water. One of them was inside the sandbar and went back over it coming out of the 10" water to cross back. I headed deep cross the sandbar to fish with Jim. He caught a jack and then another jack and I had two hits but not fish. I hook a small fish and pulled it near me before it flipped off- never saw it. Jim went in to fish the third pier some and I fished deep and caught a nice 2 lb jack.
I headed back walking backwards so I could fish with the 15mph wind at my back. I bumped into a manatee but it didn't get flustered it simply swam away from me. I cast deep, fish on!! this was a nice fish and I fought to get it in. When it came near me it kept down- a 3lb jack. I released it and kept wading north towards Walton Scrub. Jim was fishing closer to the sandbar behind me.
We got to my best deep spot near Waltons Scrub and I cast deep. Bammmm!! fish on!!! This one came up and shook it's head- trout! I pulled it to me- a nice 17". Since we had a pompano we need a another fish or two so everyone 96 people) could have enough. I tied it on my stringer and cast back out- wham!! a lady fish soared in the air. I pulled this big (3 1/2 lb) ladyfish in an released it. Then Jim caught a nice trout and we put it on the stringer- that was enough fish right there- perfect [see pic upcoming].
Two cast later I hooked a nice fish and it was running deep. Was it another pompano? It looked a bit like one and I pulled up it up- a 4lb jack.
We fished a few more minutes and got off the water.
My totals: 2 snook, 3 jack, 1 ladyfish and 1 trout
Jim's totals: 3 jack, 1 pompano and 1 trout.
Fishing Report 2- Walton Scrub 2-26-16 about 8:30am low tide incoming cold and windy NW. Air temp 62 water temp 67.
Windy and hard to fish. I met Al we went to Walton Scrub. Too shallow to fish shallow. I went deep to fish my spot because another wader was fishing North and heading for it. I cast deep across the wind. On the second cast I got a strike- missed it. About the 5th cast I felt a fish and set the hook- fish on!!! It came up and shook it;s head- a nice trout about 18". I released it and soon after felt a tap hooks set- fish on, another trout came up but immediately flipped off. By not the other wader fishing North was casting near me and Al had co9me deep and was casting in front of me.
I cast deep and wham- Fish on!! This was good fish and after 10 seconds and some drag pulling it jumped- a 4lb bluefish. It jumped several times and I was splashed as I tried to unhook it. I couldn't so I got my pliers and pried the jug from its teeth. I should have stayed there but we all headed South hand nothing was biting- nothing- I fished the piers nothing- I went deep- nothing. We fished back shallow and got not strikes. Al blanked and I don't think he had a bite- a tough, windy, cold day on the water.
My totals: 1 trout (lost trout) and 1 bluefish
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
All Day- Fishing report 2-23-16
Hi,
Yesterday was an all day fishing experience. Not a great day but I caught fish. The biggest snook I hooked broke my line when I tried to keep her from going under the pier. That was the only disappointment. I did catch two more nice snook to add to my Rod and Reel fish-of-the-month total which is now 15. Today with high wind and storms I'm off the water. The snook are on the west side and they are there in good numbers. I haven't seen or heard of any over-slot sized snook (36") but maybe they will come shallow soon.
Fishing Report 2-23-16 Walton Rd. 6:40 am low tide- incoming, light to moderate wind SE. Air temp 74 water temp around 71. Fishing 1/8 jig with CAL paddletails.
I met one of my fishing friends, Al at Walton around first light. We decided to fish at Walton Proper and go South. Al was fishing shallow crakbaits and medium sized rattle trap type lures. He blanked this morning but later that evening (round 2) caught two nice fish.
I headed out deep (past sandbar) to fish for trout and had one swirl at my jig when I pulled it up. Two casts later a small slot trout slammed by jig only 15 feet away- fish on!!! I wheeled the trout around and grabbed my camera. When I pulled it up it jumped and flipped off. No pic but one trout!!! I went South and Al was still fishing behind me. I cast deep and hooked a nice 18" trout and pulled it in and released it. Al went shallow and headed South. A guy we know started fly fishing just South of us near the last pier. I headed South to try and fish the last pier before he spooked the fish around the pier -- too late. He fished around the pier and went under it. Al and I went under it behind him.
The fly fisherman cast around the white pilings as I followed behind him fishing shallow with Al fishing behind me. I cast near some bait near the shore. Wham!!! Fish on!!! this was a good fish and it jumped twice- not clearing the water but I could tell it was a slot snook. I played it and let it take out drag twice before pulling it to me and taking a couple pics. I released the 30" snook [pic upcoming] and Al and I fished South shallow leaving the fly fisherman behind us. I got a good strike as I neared the next pier but missed it. Al was 200 yards behind by the time I cast around the pier. I got no strikes around the pier which is deep on the end and headed for the next pier only 50 yards away.
The next pier was shallower and fishable in its entirety but the snook are usually not deep- preferring to feed in shallower water under 3 feet. As I cast under the pier my line got a little tangled. When I lifted it up and shook my pole tip, a snook darted out from under the pier and slammed by jig. Fish on!!! This one went right out in open water and pulled drag twice before jumping. Not as big but still a nice snook about 24". Not only that it got my line untangled, not sure how!! I released it and headed across a low flat toward the next pier.
I have caught snook there the two times I've fished it and was expecting to catch another. But it was not to be- we got no strikes and we fished the next pier where I lost a fish near the bottom next to a pier piling. It seemed like a jack or catfish but I never got it hooked properly.
It was starting to get very windy and we quickly fished all the way back to Walton with no luck.
Fishing Report Part 2: 2pm very windy SE at 2nd Jensen bridge in Stuart in the shallows on the North side. Medium tide - outgoing. I met Ken at the bridge and he hadn't been catching much lately. He was fishing at a spot he showed me near the bridge supports when I got there. I waded shallow in the sandy area between the two spans. It was perfect the wind was at our backs and we could cast way out there. I went between two people fishing on the shore and was stuck there (between their lines) until one couple grew tired of not catching anything and left.
I cast out and on my third cast- wham- fish on!! I was hoping it was nice trout but when I pulled it to me it whirred around me and stayed down- it was a 2 lb jack. I released it and got a strike deep. It missed then I got another fish on- a wild 3 lb ladyfish leaped from the water. I finally got it to me and it leaped splashing water in my face and popped off- good-- ladyfish are slimy and hard to grab.
Ken came over to my spot and he caught a ladyfish, then a jack and then another ladyfish. Meanwhile I caught two small jack and a ladyfish. We waded West along the sandy bank casting deep. Then I started catching ladyfish on almost every cast. After catching ten and a small jack I looked over at Ken. He wasn't getting bit so I gave him a pearl white paddletail to try. He caught a jack and then a couple more lady fish.
Every three of four casts I'd have a fish on. A pelican came over to see what all the splashing was about. He just stayed there and I started throwing him the fish I'd caught. Most of them were probably too big for him to eat- I didn't know. The pelican missed every fish- even a small jack that I know he could have eaten. At the end before it rained the pelican was floating about 4 feet away from me- waiting for the next fish. But the wind and rain drove us off the water and the pelican never got a meal!!!
Fishing Report part 3: Walton Rd 4:45pm tide out going almost low. I saw Al at Walton when I was driving home- he was getting out of his car to go fishing! The wind had almost stopped completely- it was beautiful out there- overcast but beautiful. So I went fishing again- my third time!! I went deep and Al went shallow. I caught a small trout after 10 casts and released it. Then as I headed South to catch up with Al, I hooked a ladyfish, probably my 20th of the day!!!! The wind was picking up and I fished the end of the pier and then quickly went out deep and fished between the piers where Al was fishing shallow.
With the wind at my back I was casting 50 yards under the pier as I slowly made my shallow to fish with him. Suddenly under the pier a big snook grabbed my jig. I set the hook 50 yards away and the fish shook it's head and crashed along the surface. I started to pull it away from the pier but this snook had other plans. She headed for the pier. I tried to turn her but- snappp!!! my line broke. How big was she? I don't know but she was big.
I tied on another leader and jig while I watched Al catch a small snook and looked at his trout that he had on a stringer. The trout was a good 23" and he agreed to let it go after I took a pic [upcoming]. So we went back and I took a pic. We got off the water.
My totals for the day (3 trips): 2 snook and 1 that broke my line; 3 trout; 8 jack; and 20 or so ladyfish. A great but windy day on the water.
Yesterday was an all day fishing experience. Not a great day but I caught fish. The biggest snook I hooked broke my line when I tried to keep her from going under the pier. That was the only disappointment. I did catch two more nice snook to add to my Rod and Reel fish-of-the-month total which is now 15. Today with high wind and storms I'm off the water. The snook are on the west side and they are there in good numbers. I haven't seen or heard of any over-slot sized snook (36") but maybe they will come shallow soon.
Fishing Report 2-23-16 Walton Rd. 6:40 am low tide- incoming, light to moderate wind SE. Air temp 74 water temp around 71. Fishing 1/8 jig with CAL paddletails.
I met one of my fishing friends, Al at Walton around first light. We decided to fish at Walton Proper and go South. Al was fishing shallow crakbaits and medium sized rattle trap type lures. He blanked this morning but later that evening (round 2) caught two nice fish.
I headed out deep (past sandbar) to fish for trout and had one swirl at my jig when I pulled it up. Two casts later a small slot trout slammed by jig only 15 feet away- fish on!!! I wheeled the trout around and grabbed my camera. When I pulled it up it jumped and flipped off. No pic but one trout!!! I went South and Al was still fishing behind me. I cast deep and hooked a nice 18" trout and pulled it in and released it. Al went shallow and headed South. A guy we know started fly fishing just South of us near the last pier. I headed South to try and fish the last pier before he spooked the fish around the pier -- too late. He fished around the pier and went under it. Al and I went under it behind him.
The fly fisherman cast around the white pilings as I followed behind him fishing shallow with Al fishing behind me. I cast near some bait near the shore. Wham!!! Fish on!!! this was a good fish and it jumped twice- not clearing the water but I could tell it was a slot snook. I played it and let it take out drag twice before pulling it to me and taking a couple pics. I released the 30" snook [pic upcoming] and Al and I fished South shallow leaving the fly fisherman behind us. I got a good strike as I neared the next pier but missed it. Al was 200 yards behind by the time I cast around the pier. I got no strikes around the pier which is deep on the end and headed for the next pier only 50 yards away.
The next pier was shallower and fishable in its entirety but the snook are usually not deep- preferring to feed in shallower water under 3 feet. As I cast under the pier my line got a little tangled. When I lifted it up and shook my pole tip, a snook darted out from under the pier and slammed by jig. Fish on!!! This one went right out in open water and pulled drag twice before jumping. Not as big but still a nice snook about 24". Not only that it got my line untangled, not sure how!! I released it and headed across a low flat toward the next pier.
I have caught snook there the two times I've fished it and was expecting to catch another. But it was not to be- we got no strikes and we fished the next pier where I lost a fish near the bottom next to a pier piling. It seemed like a jack or catfish but I never got it hooked properly.
It was starting to get very windy and we quickly fished all the way back to Walton with no luck.
Fishing Report Part 2: 2pm very windy SE at 2nd Jensen bridge in Stuart in the shallows on the North side. Medium tide - outgoing. I met Ken at the bridge and he hadn't been catching much lately. He was fishing at a spot he showed me near the bridge supports when I got there. I waded shallow in the sandy area between the two spans. It was perfect the wind was at our backs and we could cast way out there. I went between two people fishing on the shore and was stuck there (between their lines) until one couple grew tired of not catching anything and left.
I cast out and on my third cast- wham- fish on!! I was hoping it was nice trout but when I pulled it to me it whirred around me and stayed down- it was a 2 lb jack. I released it and got a strike deep. It missed then I got another fish on- a wild 3 lb ladyfish leaped from the water. I finally got it to me and it leaped splashing water in my face and popped off- good-- ladyfish are slimy and hard to grab.
Ken came over to my spot and he caught a ladyfish, then a jack and then another ladyfish. Meanwhile I caught two small jack and a ladyfish. We waded West along the sandy bank casting deep. Then I started catching ladyfish on almost every cast. After catching ten and a small jack I looked over at Ken. He wasn't getting bit so I gave him a pearl white paddletail to try. He caught a jack and then a couple more lady fish.
Every three of four casts I'd have a fish on. A pelican came over to see what all the splashing was about. He just stayed there and I started throwing him the fish I'd caught. Most of them were probably too big for him to eat- I didn't know. The pelican missed every fish- even a small jack that I know he could have eaten. At the end before it rained the pelican was floating about 4 feet away from me- waiting for the next fish. But the wind and rain drove us off the water and the pelican never got a meal!!!
Fishing Report part 3: Walton Rd 4:45pm tide out going almost low. I saw Al at Walton when I was driving home- he was getting out of his car to go fishing! The wind had almost stopped completely- it was beautiful out there- overcast but beautiful. So I went fishing again- my third time!! I went deep and Al went shallow. I caught a small trout after 10 casts and released it. Then as I headed South to catch up with Al, I hooked a ladyfish, probably my 20th of the day!!!! The wind was picking up and I fished the end of the pier and then quickly went out deep and fished between the piers where Al was fishing shallow.
With the wind at my back I was casting 50 yards under the pier as I slowly made my shallow to fish with him. Suddenly under the pier a big snook grabbed my jig. I set the hook 50 yards away and the fish shook it's head and crashed along the surface. I started to pull it away from the pier but this snook had other plans. She headed for the pier. I tried to turn her but- snappp!!! my line broke. How big was she? I don't know but she was big.
I tied on another leader and jig while I watched Al catch a small snook and looked at his trout that he had on a stringer. The trout was a good 23" and he agreed to let it go after I took a pic [upcoming]. So we went back and I took a pic. We got off the water.
My totals for the day (3 trips): 2 snook and 1 that broke my line; 3 trout; 8 jack; and 20 or so ladyfish. A great but windy day on the water.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
East Side or West Side? Two fishing reports 2-19-16 and 2-20-16
Hi,
I usually fish the west side of the lagoon; Walton Rd and Walton Scrub. You could call these reports, West Side Story (I won't and my apologies to Leonard Bernstein). I've also fished the East side, Herman's Bay and Bear Creek and Blind Creek but I've never done much there. This winter I have caught some nice trout and a few small snook on the East side.
Following are two fishing reports-- one from the East side and the other from the West side.
1st Fishing Report: Herman's Bay North 2-19-16; 9am. High tide outgoing, Windy E air temp 68 water temp around 70. Fishing 1/8 oz jig with CAL paddletails
The wind was blowing mostly East at 18-20mph and Walton was too windy to fish. My neighbor and I headed to the East side of the lagoon and stopped just North of Herman's bay. We waded North toward the first pier. The wind was no problem but as usual finding the fish was a problem. My neighbor had a lunch engagement so we didn't have much time.
We fished North to the first pier (a private pier) with no luck, not a bite. It was too deep at high tide to wade to the end of the pier so we cast to it. On the North side of the pier my neighbor Jim finally broke the ice and landed a nice trout. He also got a few strikes before he caught another trout. Then he snagged a small "look-down" - a fish I'd never even seen before!!!
We waded slightly North of the pier and I still hadn't got bit. Another wader came under the pier and was fishing shallow behind us. Finally I had a hit and pulled up a small trout. Jim caught another nice trout. The wader behind us hadn't caught a thing so he turned to watch.
I cast deep around a pier piling and wham!!! my jig stopped--I set the hook--fish on!!! This was no dinky trout. The fish took off North then leaped in the air shaking its head-- it was a 4 lb bluefish and it wasn't happy to be deterred from swallowing baitfish. After a 3 minuted battle I unhooked him and showed him to the the other wader. "Nice fish!" he cried. Two casts later I pulled up an 18" trout and the wader was now fishing next to us in the deep water. We decided to fish on- and left him there in our spot. We talked to him later--he never caught a fish.
We fished North and I went far ahead. There were several schools of baitfish and I got a nice swirl as I pulled my bait to the surface. I cast back again and wham!! another bluefish!! He jumped and I pulled him around then he pulled drag and circled back. I pulled him up- grabbed my leader and saw he wasn't hooked well- he jumped and threw my jig- instant release- the best kind!!! Bluefish have teeth and they clamp down on your jig and sometimes won't open their mouths. Pliers have little chance of prying their locked jaws open- you have to put them back in the water for a sec- then pull the jig out of their mouths!!!
By now the tide had gone out some and we both headed back- Jim had a luncheon so we threw a few casts in out trout spot but had to hurry in.
Jim's total: 3 trout; one look-down
My total: 2 trout; 2 bluefish- a beautiful day on the water!!
2nd Fishing Report Walton Proper; 2-20-16; 3:00 pm almost dead low tide then incoming. Air Temp 76; Water temp 72. Wind 10-12mph SE
We stopped at Walton Proper because no one was fishing there- it's usually heavily fished on Saturdays. It was too shallow to fish shallow so we went directly out deep and to my first spot. I pulled up a trout, it flipped off- can't count that. Another trout swirled at my lure- it missed. I lost another trout that hit my lure only 3 yards away but popped off. I turned behind me. Jim, my neighbor, had a fish, and it was a good one. I fished while he brought it in- then it jumped- a beautiful 5lb bluefish. It was putting up a fight. Meanwhile I felt a hard hit- fish on!!! I had a very nice 3lb. trout. I took out my camera to take a pic of Jim's bluefish-- he grabbed the leader- it cut his leader- no pic. Instead I took a pic of my 22" trout [upcoming].
Jim caught a trout and I caught a jack, then Jim caught another Jack. This was ten minutes of action, he want to head North and I wanted to fish the pier South so we went different directions. I told him I'd catch up with him in 30 minutes or so. I fished quickly heading South. I lost a trout then hooked a small trout and pulled it to me- it flipped off on it second jump but I could have netted it- so it counted. I made it to the long and deep last pier at almost dead low tide. I worked the pier for 20 minutes nothing then I went back North to catch up with Jim. Two waders had come on the water and they were fishing shallow in 10" of water- didn't understand that!!! I fished quickly North and wham!! fish on. A medium sized 2 1/2 lb bluefish jumped in the air. I looked at the waders they weren't paying attention. I got the fish to me and tried to keep him from splashing- I couldn't he came up and I grabbed the leader- he flipped off. Instant release!!!
I wanted to catch a snook so I headed for the first white pilings and the oyster bed- nothing. I cast to the end of the pier- nothing. I went shallow and fished the South side Nothing. On the other side of the pier when I cast the water swirled- there goes my line!! Snook on!! It jumped but it wasn't much of a snook maybe 20" and I wheeled it around and took a pic [upcoming] before pulling it to me- it jumped again in my face and flipped off- count it- one snook!
I worked the next white pilings and the mangroves but the water was too shallow and it was dead low tide. I worked the next pier where I'd caught many snook in the last week and on the backside had a hard hit- snook on!! This one was smaller and jumped twice before I unhooked it- 18" maybe, fun but small. I fished the next pier - nothing. Since I had caught up to Jim. He was fishing deep and had a ladyfish on!!!
I went deep and fished next to him. Jim had caught a 5lb pompano and several ladyfish. I immediately started catching ladyfish- and these were big ladyfish, wild ladyfish and they jumped every which way. After 5 ladyfish and 4 destroyed baits I was ready for something new. We headed back as the tide started coming in strong. I caught two jacks and lost another before we ran into another school of ladyfish. Count 3 more lady fish for me and 3 lost ladyfish. I hooked a bluefish but it threw my lure when it jumped.
Finally we got back to my fav spot at Walton Proper and just as quickly- trout on!!! I pulled up a nice slot trout and released it as Jim caught another ladyfish behind me. I caught a ladyfish and lost one before I nailed a 20" trout and pulled it over for Jim to see.
The sun was getting low and we got off the water.
Jim's totals: 1 large bluefish, 1 trout, 1 jack, 1 big pompano and many ladyfish.
My totals: 4 trout, 3 jacks; 2 small snook, and nearly a dozen ladyfish
I usually fish the west side of the lagoon; Walton Rd and Walton Scrub. You could call these reports, West Side Story (I won't and my apologies to Leonard Bernstein). I've also fished the East side, Herman's Bay and Bear Creek and Blind Creek but I've never done much there. This winter I have caught some nice trout and a few small snook on the East side.
Following are two fishing reports-- one from the East side and the other from the West side.
1st Fishing Report: Herman's Bay North 2-19-16; 9am. High tide outgoing, Windy E air temp 68 water temp around 70. Fishing 1/8 oz jig with CAL paddletails
The wind was blowing mostly East at 18-20mph and Walton was too windy to fish. My neighbor and I headed to the East side of the lagoon and stopped just North of Herman's bay. We waded North toward the first pier. The wind was no problem but as usual finding the fish was a problem. My neighbor had a lunch engagement so we didn't have much time.
We fished North to the first pier (a private pier) with no luck, not a bite. It was too deep at high tide to wade to the end of the pier so we cast to it. On the North side of the pier my neighbor Jim finally broke the ice and landed a nice trout. He also got a few strikes before he caught another trout. Then he snagged a small "look-down" - a fish I'd never even seen before!!!
We waded slightly North of the pier and I still hadn't got bit. Another wader came under the pier and was fishing shallow behind us. Finally I had a hit and pulled up a small trout. Jim caught another nice trout. The wader behind us hadn't caught a thing so he turned to watch.
I cast deep around a pier piling and wham!!! my jig stopped--I set the hook--fish on!!! This was no dinky trout. The fish took off North then leaped in the air shaking its head-- it was a 4 lb bluefish and it wasn't happy to be deterred from swallowing baitfish. After a 3 minuted battle I unhooked him and showed him to the the other wader. "Nice fish!" he cried. Two casts later I pulled up an 18" trout and the wader was now fishing next to us in the deep water. We decided to fish on- and left him there in our spot. We talked to him later--he never caught a fish.
We fished North and I went far ahead. There were several schools of baitfish and I got a nice swirl as I pulled my bait to the surface. I cast back again and wham!! another bluefish!! He jumped and I pulled him around then he pulled drag and circled back. I pulled him up- grabbed my leader and saw he wasn't hooked well- he jumped and threw my jig- instant release- the best kind!!! Bluefish have teeth and they clamp down on your jig and sometimes won't open their mouths. Pliers have little chance of prying their locked jaws open- you have to put them back in the water for a sec- then pull the jig out of their mouths!!!
By now the tide had gone out some and we both headed back- Jim had a luncheon so we threw a few casts in out trout spot but had to hurry in.
Jim's total: 3 trout; one look-down
My total: 2 trout; 2 bluefish- a beautiful day on the water!!
2nd Fishing Report Walton Proper; 2-20-16; 3:00 pm almost dead low tide then incoming. Air Temp 76; Water temp 72. Wind 10-12mph SE
We stopped at Walton Proper because no one was fishing there- it's usually heavily fished on Saturdays. It was too shallow to fish shallow so we went directly out deep and to my first spot. I pulled up a trout, it flipped off- can't count that. Another trout swirled at my lure- it missed. I lost another trout that hit my lure only 3 yards away but popped off. I turned behind me. Jim, my neighbor, had a fish, and it was a good one. I fished while he brought it in- then it jumped- a beautiful 5lb bluefish. It was putting up a fight. Meanwhile I felt a hard hit- fish on!!! I had a very nice 3lb. trout. I took out my camera to take a pic of Jim's bluefish-- he grabbed the leader- it cut his leader- no pic. Instead I took a pic of my 22" trout [upcoming].
Jim caught a trout and I caught a jack, then Jim caught another Jack. This was ten minutes of action, he want to head North and I wanted to fish the pier South so we went different directions. I told him I'd catch up with him in 30 minutes or so. I fished quickly heading South. I lost a trout then hooked a small trout and pulled it to me- it flipped off on it second jump but I could have netted it- so it counted. I made it to the long and deep last pier at almost dead low tide. I worked the pier for 20 minutes nothing then I went back North to catch up with Jim. Two waders had come on the water and they were fishing shallow in 10" of water- didn't understand that!!! I fished quickly North and wham!! fish on. A medium sized 2 1/2 lb bluefish jumped in the air. I looked at the waders they weren't paying attention. I got the fish to me and tried to keep him from splashing- I couldn't he came up and I grabbed the leader- he flipped off. Instant release!!!
I wanted to catch a snook so I headed for the first white pilings and the oyster bed- nothing. I cast to the end of the pier- nothing. I went shallow and fished the South side Nothing. On the other side of the pier when I cast the water swirled- there goes my line!! Snook on!! It jumped but it wasn't much of a snook maybe 20" and I wheeled it around and took a pic [upcoming] before pulling it to me- it jumped again in my face and flipped off- count it- one snook!
I worked the next white pilings and the mangroves but the water was too shallow and it was dead low tide. I worked the next pier where I'd caught many snook in the last week and on the backside had a hard hit- snook on!! This one was smaller and jumped twice before I unhooked it- 18" maybe, fun but small. I fished the next pier - nothing. Since I had caught up to Jim. He was fishing deep and had a ladyfish on!!!
I went deep and fished next to him. Jim had caught a 5lb pompano and several ladyfish. I immediately started catching ladyfish- and these were big ladyfish, wild ladyfish and they jumped every which way. After 5 ladyfish and 4 destroyed baits I was ready for something new. We headed back as the tide started coming in strong. I caught two jacks and lost another before we ran into another school of ladyfish. Count 3 more lady fish for me and 3 lost ladyfish. I hooked a bluefish but it threw my lure when it jumped.
Finally we got back to my fav spot at Walton Proper and just as quickly- trout on!!! I pulled up a nice slot trout and released it as Jim caught another ladyfish behind me. I caught a ladyfish and lost one before I nailed a 20" trout and pulled it over for Jim to see.
The sun was getting low and we got off the water.
Jim's totals: 1 large bluefish, 1 trout, 1 jack, 1 big pompano and many ladyfish.
My totals: 4 trout, 3 jacks; 2 small snook, and nearly a dozen ladyfish
Thursday, February 18, 2016
A Snook Has No Pier-- Fishing report 2-18-16
Hi,
A snook has no pier-- or is that peer? All I know is a snook that has no pier is not a happy snook. All the the snook I caught today had a pier and they were waiting for some bait to swim by. Although the 7 snook I caught today weren't the most or the largest, they made it an exciting day, and. . . I now have 11 snook total caught for my fishing club's "fish of the month."
Fishing Report 2-18-16 Walton Proper about 9am tide high and outgoing. Some wind early then very windy from NE about 18-20mph. Air temp about 68-70 water temp about 70. Fishing 3/8 oz jig with paddletail on 8lb braided line.
I hadn't fished Walton proper (intersection of Walton and Indian River) for months. I've been fishing North at Walton Scrub and wading South but never making it all the way to the intersection. I knew the snook were under the piers and some nice snook had moved in shallow. I wanted to fish the awesome last pier which was south of Walton Proper and hit the trout spots deep so I stopped at Walton proper. When I climbed down the steep bank and waded in, there was a guy fishing shallow near the last pier with a fly rod. I fished South over to him and asked him if he was fishing the pier. He said, "No, just go behind me." So that's what I did. The guy with the fly-rod caught a small trout and I started fishing the last pier.
The last pier is the deepest pier of the eight piers from Walton Proper to Walton Scrub. I've caught some nice snook there and lost a couple huge (over slot- 10 lbs) snook. I fished for 30 minutes and couldn't get bit. Nothing!!! The fly-rodder went under the pier and I headed across the sandbar to fish deep. The wind, which wasn't blowing much, was picking up to around 12mph, not too bad.
I fished my way North to my first deep spot. Wham!! hard strike!! missed it! I cast back again wham!! fish on!! This was a good fish but it certainly was staying down-- a 3lb jack. I released it, rebaited and cast back out. Another strike, missed it, but it took off my paddletail. I rebaited and fished North into the wind. Wham!! the water exploded as I set the hook. A four-pound bluefish careened in the air. "Don't cut my line," I prayed. Fortunately the lure was not far in his mouth and I got splashed as I lifted him to me. "Another bait gone" I thought as I released him and rebaited. Soon I got a strike and a nice slot-sized trout shook its head as I pulled it in. I pulled out my camera and took a pic [upcoming]. The trout jumped twice but was double hooked in its mouth so it took me a few extra seconds to release it. The plastic paddletail bait was done - the head was ripped almost off. I rebaited and headed South to my next spot.
I looked behind me and saw the flyrodder nearby fishing the shallows. He had come back North. As he watched I caught an very nice trout, easily 20" and took another pic [upcoming]. About two casts later I got a strike and pulled up a trout that flipped off. Then I hooked another small slot trout and pulled it to me- it too flipped off but I counted it. I saw some bait and cast over it. As I pulled the jig near me I saw a fish flash then when I lifted it out of the water a bluefish jumped out of the water, flew in the air, and bit the tail of my paddle tail off. My jig was about a foot in the air when it hit!!! Great googly-moogly- that got my heart pumping!!
I caught a jack then another bluefish before I caught my last trout, my 4th. Then I realized I'd come to catch snook and in 90 minutes I hadn't caught one. I looked for the flyrodder- he was getting off the water- too windy and probably too few fish. I went in to the shore for a quick bathroom stop under the pine grove- then I set out to fish shallow for snook. I fished shallow to the broken down pier's white pilings (3 piers in the Walton stretch have disappeared and all that is left is the white pilings) and then fished the pilings-- nothing. I fished against the wind across the oyster bar and to the end of the long pier- nothing. I went under the pier, fished the other side and across the the second pilings- nothing. Then I remembered a deeper section of the pier that was shallow- I'd caught snook there before. My first cast parallel with the wind blowing my lure into the pilings and wham!! Snook on! I waded away form the pier and the snook obliged -- it headed to open water and leaped in the air. Not big, but strong! I pulled it around and it jumped and swam to me. I grabbed the leader and the 24" fish shook it head and flipped off. Yes--my first snook of the day- at last! Two casts later another snook grabbed my jig. This one swam fast away from the pier and I moved quickly to open water. It was smaller than the first about 20" and I lifted it by the side. After I released it I remembered- my camera- I had taken no pics.
I fished north across the second fallen down pier with while pilings and into a good open area with mangroves. Usually, snook will feed there, but not today. The wind was getting crazy- blowing at 15mph and there were two foot waves and whitecaps- where's my surfboard!! I had to make it at least to the next two piers. I fished the white pilings of another missing pier then carefully fished the 6th pier, a short but productive pier- nothing.
I went to the 5th pier and cast against the wind under each section- nothing. I went around and fished the other side- nothing. Then I cast shallow parallel to the pier and let the wind blow my line underneath. The bow of my line disappeared- wham! a nice snook grabbed my lure and took off. When I set the hook she leaped in the air completely out of the water. Wow, nice fish probably a slot (28")!! She headed back for the pier but I turned her and brought her splashing over to me. I grabbed my camera and took a pic then released her. The very next cast in the very same place- wham!!! snook on!!! This one wasn't as big and swam into the pilings but quickly came out. I pulled it into open water and released it. I cast back in the same place and wham!! another snook!! This one jumped and threw my jig so it wasn't a catch. After ten casts I moved to next short pier and into the brisk wind. "I guess I'll keep on," I thought, "they're biting." The short little pier had no bites so I went on to the white pilings and to the the long third pier. "This should be gr8," I thought. But it wasn't - I couldn't get a bite and fished the short 2nd pier without a bite. The last pier I could fish was the long fist pier- even with he wind I had to fish that pier.
Casting against the wind I got no strikes so I went over the the otherside and cast parallel. After 3 casts- wham snook on!!! This was a fairly big snook and I got it away from the pier and kept it from going back. I took out my camera and got a shot of it jumping. Nice!!! I released it and went back to fishing parallel. The next cast he bow on my line from the wind stopped- there got my line!!! Hook set, fish on!! This snook jumped completely out of the water!!! another nice fish!!! After I released it I was amazed that I immediately got another strike- had the fish on but it popped off. Then two casts later I caught a third snook in the same spot! This time it went under the pier and came out somehow not slicing my line on the pilings. I released it and could coax not more snook from that pier!
I headed back. the wind was 20mph and big waves were crashing into me. I tried fishing deep but it was a complete joke- too rough to fish. So I headed shallow and fished the piers quickly. Nothing until I got to the 6th pier then I cast shallow and puled the jig under the pier- Wham!! what a strike. The snook took off but under the pier. I was far away and tried but had the give it slack. I waded to the pier opening then checked my line it was wrapped around a piling on the other side- there fish was gone!!
The wind was whistling and I was blown back and got off the water. I'd fished over 3 1/2hours.
My totals: 7 snook with three around 28" none less than 20", 4 trout, 2 bluefish and 2 jack. A great but windy day on the water. Not many people would even try to fish in that wind :)
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Are the snook back? -- Plus two fishing reports 2-16-16 and 2-17-16
Hi,
When my fishing club (Stuart Rod and Reel) announced on 2-12-16 that the fish of the month was snook-- I was taken aback. There were three cold fronts and the water temperature sent the snook to deeper water. I catch lots of snook but not lately. It seem however with the recent warm-up especially yesterday with air temp in the low 80s that perhaps the snook would be back. I'm here to tell you -- they're back. Maybe not in great number or size but they are back shallow and there are some good sized ones too.
1st Fishing Report- Walton Scrub 2-16-16, 1:30 pm low incoming tide. Wind moderate out of NW but ideal for Walton. Fishing 1/8 jig with different 4" plastics. water temp low 70s. Air about 80 and beautiful. No camera.
What a day!!! I was fishing with my neighbor Jim. The tide was too low to fish shallow so we went deep. After a few casts I caught a nice 2lb jack and released it. There was some scattered bait. I went deep and had another hit- missed it. Jim didn't get a bite. There was a guy fishing a live mullet with a bobber North so we both headed South. We got nothing through the "dead zone" an area 400 yards long before the first pier.
Then wham!!! A fish nailed my jig and I set the hook- fish on!!! It went down and around and I knew it was another jack. This one was bight yellow- a river jack, nice sized too. I released it and several casts later caught a baby jack. Jim had still blanked but when we fished off the third pier his luck changed. First he caught, believe it on not a catfish!!! Then he caught two jack and a very nice 20" trout. Meanwhile I had caught two big bluefish and two more jack. There were small schools of bait drifting through and the fish were chasing them.
I saw a school of bait and cast across it. Wham!!! fish on!! This was a fairly big fish and I pulled it around then it took off toward me -- went around me and jumped- a very nice 4lb bluefish. I wrestled him to me and he splashed water all over me several times as I pried his mouth open to get the bait.
We kept fishing South then I told Jim we should check out an area shallow that we used to catch snook. We crossed the sandbar and fished to the mangroves. Wham! Fish on, my drag whirred-- the fish was flying, heading North- I knew it was a snook. When I got it to me it wasn't a slot (28") but around 24", a good 3lb heavy fish. Maybe the snook were back, I thought.
We turned North and headed home- Jim fished very shallow around the piers and I went back deep. About the third cast I caught a small trout- that I foul-hook, got him under the lip instead of inside it. I released it and caught a small jack and had another small trout flip off when I pulled it to me. I caught a decent 16" trout off the third pier then Jim caught a nice snook off the second pier.
After I caught another Jack we both fished shallow back and Jim had a fish on but it got off before we could identify it. We got off the water it was nearly 4:00pm.
Jim's totals: Jim caught two catfish, one mullet, 3 jack, 1 nice trout and one nice snook. He lost a big snook near a pier.
My totals: 6 jack, 3 trout and a nice snook. A beautiful day on the water
2nd Fishing Report 2-17-16 Walton Scrub. Medium low tide outgoing. Very windy and cool around 68 with wind blowing hard from NE. I went alone, leaving about 9:00 am and was on the water about 9:30. I brought my camera and took a few pics, two came out.
With 2-3 foot waves it was hard to believe anyone could catch anything. I saw one guy other there and he quickly gave up. Another boat was fishing near the sandbar- they too left. A boat was in my spot off the third pier but they weren't catching anything and when I caught up to them 30 minutes later they said they had hooked a pompano but lost it.
I fished shallow with the wind at my back- it was almost cold but not enough to bother me. I was making long casts and going South for the piers- nothing, no bites no action. I was looking for snook since they had been shallow yesterday. I got to the first pier and my third cast under it I got a strike up by the platform- missed it. I stood up against the pier and cast shallow. After 5 casts with the wind bowing my line I got a thump- fish on!! It was a nice snook - it jumped immediately but the lure stayed. I charged away from the pier and luckily the fish swam into open water. After several nice jumps, I took a pic, released it and headed to the second pier- nothing.
The boat that was fishing off the 1st pier was now tied on the third pier- so I couldn't fish it the whole way. I went under the pier and talked to the boaters who were having engine trouble- they started the boat right after I talked to them and roared away. I went to the next short pier nothing and when I cast near the 5th pier- fish on- this was a small snook (19") and it presented no problem and only jumped once as I pulled it to me. I fished the pier- nothing and went on to the 6th pier. After 10 casts suddenly I saw my line swimming away- I never felt a thing since it was swimming at me. I tightened my slack line and set the hook- wham!!!! Then nothing- my 8lb braided line had broken. Yes it was a hard hook set but I wasn't expecting to be broken off. Who knows what happened, but it surely was a big snook!!!
I retied with a heavier jig head (to fight the wind) and fished South to the mangroves. No snook there today!!! I went deep and fought the waves. You had to cast into a 20mph plus wind. I fished to the third pier before I had a strike- missed it. Then two casts later I caught a nice jack. I fished 15 more minutes deep and went back to the first pier to fish shallow and go in.
I made a long cast along side the pier in shallow water. Wham!!! There went my line at 100mph-- a big snook had it and was swimming north. I quickly waded North. Since the water was only two feet deep now I went fast. Suddenly the snook jumped and she headed back to the pier. I barely turned her and got her coming back. She jumped twice and I took two pics -only one came out, when she was being pulled near the top of the water. I hooked that snook was in 12" of water- amazing. She was a good 28", a small slot and a nice fish.
I fished shallow on back but didn't get another hit. A windy but good day.
My totals- 3 snook with one a small slot (two pics- upcoming) and one nice jack.
When my fishing club (Stuart Rod and Reel) announced on 2-12-16 that the fish of the month was snook-- I was taken aback. There were three cold fronts and the water temperature sent the snook to deeper water. I catch lots of snook but not lately. It seem however with the recent warm-up especially yesterday with air temp in the low 80s that perhaps the snook would be back. I'm here to tell you -- they're back. Maybe not in great number or size but they are back shallow and there are some good sized ones too.
1st Fishing Report- Walton Scrub 2-16-16, 1:30 pm low incoming tide. Wind moderate out of NW but ideal for Walton. Fishing 1/8 jig with different 4" plastics. water temp low 70s. Air about 80 and beautiful. No camera.
What a day!!! I was fishing with my neighbor Jim. The tide was too low to fish shallow so we went deep. After a few casts I caught a nice 2lb jack and released it. There was some scattered bait. I went deep and had another hit- missed it. Jim didn't get a bite. There was a guy fishing a live mullet with a bobber North so we both headed South. We got nothing through the "dead zone" an area 400 yards long before the first pier.
Then wham!!! A fish nailed my jig and I set the hook- fish on!!! It went down and around and I knew it was another jack. This one was bight yellow- a river jack, nice sized too. I released it and several casts later caught a baby jack. Jim had still blanked but when we fished off the third pier his luck changed. First he caught, believe it on not a catfish!!! Then he caught two jack and a very nice 20" trout. Meanwhile I had caught two big bluefish and two more jack. There were small schools of bait drifting through and the fish were chasing them.
I saw a school of bait and cast across it. Wham!!! fish on!! This was a fairly big fish and I pulled it around then it took off toward me -- went around me and jumped- a very nice 4lb bluefish. I wrestled him to me and he splashed water all over me several times as I pried his mouth open to get the bait.
We kept fishing South then I told Jim we should check out an area shallow that we used to catch snook. We crossed the sandbar and fished to the mangroves. Wham! Fish on, my drag whirred-- the fish was flying, heading North- I knew it was a snook. When I got it to me it wasn't a slot (28") but around 24", a good 3lb heavy fish. Maybe the snook were back, I thought.
We turned North and headed home- Jim fished very shallow around the piers and I went back deep. About the third cast I caught a small trout- that I foul-hook, got him under the lip instead of inside it. I released it and caught a small jack and had another small trout flip off when I pulled it to me. I caught a decent 16" trout off the third pier then Jim caught a nice snook off the second pier.
After I caught another Jack we both fished shallow back and Jim had a fish on but it got off before we could identify it. We got off the water it was nearly 4:00pm.
Jim's totals: Jim caught two catfish, one mullet, 3 jack, 1 nice trout and one nice snook. He lost a big snook near a pier.
My totals: 6 jack, 3 trout and a nice snook. A beautiful day on the water
2nd Fishing Report 2-17-16 Walton Scrub. Medium low tide outgoing. Very windy and cool around 68 with wind blowing hard from NE. I went alone, leaving about 9:00 am and was on the water about 9:30. I brought my camera and took a few pics, two came out.
With 2-3 foot waves it was hard to believe anyone could catch anything. I saw one guy other there and he quickly gave up. Another boat was fishing near the sandbar- they too left. A boat was in my spot off the third pier but they weren't catching anything and when I caught up to them 30 minutes later they said they had hooked a pompano but lost it.
I fished shallow with the wind at my back- it was almost cold but not enough to bother me. I was making long casts and going South for the piers- nothing, no bites no action. I was looking for snook since they had been shallow yesterday. I got to the first pier and my third cast under it I got a strike up by the platform- missed it. I stood up against the pier and cast shallow. After 5 casts with the wind bowing my line I got a thump- fish on!! It was a nice snook - it jumped immediately but the lure stayed. I charged away from the pier and luckily the fish swam into open water. After several nice jumps, I took a pic, released it and headed to the second pier- nothing.
The boat that was fishing off the 1st pier was now tied on the third pier- so I couldn't fish it the whole way. I went under the pier and talked to the boaters who were having engine trouble- they started the boat right after I talked to them and roared away. I went to the next short pier nothing and when I cast near the 5th pier- fish on- this was a small snook (19") and it presented no problem and only jumped once as I pulled it to me. I fished the pier- nothing and went on to the 6th pier. After 10 casts suddenly I saw my line swimming away- I never felt a thing since it was swimming at me. I tightened my slack line and set the hook- wham!!!! Then nothing- my 8lb braided line had broken. Yes it was a hard hook set but I wasn't expecting to be broken off. Who knows what happened, but it surely was a big snook!!!
I retied with a heavier jig head (to fight the wind) and fished South to the mangroves. No snook there today!!! I went deep and fought the waves. You had to cast into a 20mph plus wind. I fished to the third pier before I had a strike- missed it. Then two casts later I caught a nice jack. I fished 15 more minutes deep and went back to the first pier to fish shallow and go in.
I made a long cast along side the pier in shallow water. Wham!!! There went my line at 100mph-- a big snook had it and was swimming north. I quickly waded North. Since the water was only two feet deep now I went fast. Suddenly the snook jumped and she headed back to the pier. I barely turned her and got her coming back. She jumped twice and I took two pics -only one came out, when she was being pulled near the top of the water. I hooked that snook was in 12" of water- amazing. She was a good 28", a small slot and a nice fish.
I fished shallow on back but didn't get another hit. A windy but good day.
My totals- 3 snook with one a small slot (two pics- upcoming) and one nice jack.
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