A Dog Day: Fishing Blog 6-25-15

Hi,

Who said fishing is easy? It certainly wasn't today. I never could find any fish and then it got hot. The dog days of summer aren't even here yet-- or are they??

It was a crazy day! I was supposed to meet Ken Turner at Midway. I had one small problem- I forgot my fishing pole! I always leave it in my car- but I didn't today. I got there and had to go back and get it. That delayed an early start. Then Midway had mats of dead vegetation floating everywhere. You couldn't cast without getting gunk on your lure. Plus-- the tide was wrong and there was no wind. So Ken and I headed to Walton- an hour late.

It was a beautiful morning (remember to bring your fishing pole!!!):

                                   Sunrise Serenade at Midway Rd (click pic to enlarge)

And maybe, that picture was worth getting up for!!! Even if the fish didn't cooperate!!!

Fishing Report 5-25-15, Midway then Walton Rd. Fished about 7:30 am. High tide- slack, then outgoing. Water clear, no wind, then breeze from Southwest, then wind out of Southeast at 8mph. Ken was fishing a white forktail on a jighead and I was fishing various paddletails and one forktail.

We waded deep past the sandbar at Walton, it was almost high tide. Not a lot of bait activity as in the last few days. I waded South ahead of Ken (who has a bad leg) and went into the "dead zone," an unproductive area of water south of Walton Scrub. After I went by the 4 white posts, I had a hit, hook-set, fish on !!! Fish off!!! Missed the hook-set!

I went up to the productive 3rd weed-bed out from the first pier- nothing. I went to the South part of the 3rd weed-bed- nothing. Just like yesterday- the trout were not there! Ken, however, did pull a small slot sized trout from the 3rd weed-bed- our first fish!

I borrowed a pearl white fork-tail to try it and headed South. Ken's leg was bothering him and he lagged behind. There was nothing doing on the 4th weed-bed and the 5th weed-bed deep was dead. I headed for the last pier and cast around the pilings- nothing. I looked up and Ken, who had been following was now gone. I found out later that his leg was acting up so he got off the water.

I went back to the 5th weed-bed to the spot where I caught 7 trout yesterday. I saw a trout chasing bait. I cast to it, trout on!!! My first fish:


     My first fish, a small slot trout. (click to enlarge)

It flipped off before I could unhook it. I cast back again and got a trout tap, missed it. Would they be here again? On my second cast I got a hard hit, hook-set fish on. The trout came up and shook his head and my lure flew in the air. Oh well!!! I cast several more times, then, as I was reeling fast to pull the lure up- strike- fish on. Another small slot trout grabbed my lure and jumped in the air- this one didn't get off and I took a pic:


                My second and last trout

I fished the area for 5 more minutes- the bite was gone. I headed back. It was windy and hot and nothing was biting. Maybe the best thing about this dog day was the sunrise:


                 2nd pic of the sunrise at Midway

Our totals: 3 trout-- a beautiful morning for any dog on the water!!!

Get on your Horse and Ride: Fishing Report 6-24-15

Hey fishing friends,

Sometimes everything is a song. No matter what you say, it's in some song and maybe you don't even know it. Today was one of those days-- when you can't find a fish: you better get on your horse and ride.

Fishing Report Walton Scrub, 6-24-15, 6:55am, light wind North, no wind, moderate wind from East. Water clear, skies clouds and sun , hot about 88 when I got off the water before 10am. 1/4 oz jig rigged with different DOA paddletails.

I decided to fish a heavier jig and cover more territory. It wasn't like I didn't catch a fish early- I couldn't find the fish!!! So. . .I got on my horse and rode. And I was moving fast all the way up to the last pier and a little father and back. I did find some trout (on the way back) and I hooked a big fish for the first time in a long while (he got off).

I started fishing deep around 7:00 am. Some clouds covered the sun so there was no sunrise and no sun in my eyes- thank God for rhymes. I went South and started casting. Before I got to the four poles I cast deep and immediately had a fish on! This was pretty good fish and it came to me then it went around to the shallow side. I turned on my camera and pulled it up:

                                       My first fish, an over 2 lb Jack (click pic to enlarge)

 I released the Jack and went on to the 3rd weed-bed. my second cast, strike, hookset, trout on. I wheeled the trout around me and took a quick pic:

                                                  First trout, swimming North

I released the trout about 14" and fished on. I caught another small trout past the third pier. There were some random fish but the trout weren't here. I headed South casting as I went. When I reached the 6th pier (I was out deep, not within casting distance of  the pier) I felt a thump! Hook-set, fish on!!! Then suddenly it took off- this was big fish. My drag whirred. . . 30 feet of line went out as the fish headed South. Then. . . nothing the jig pulled free!!! I was wondering if it was a snook, a big Jack, a ray!! We'll never know. It was an unlucky hook-set and that happens.

I fished deep and then shallow and hooked a nice trout about 17" that splashed around before it came in. I got a tap but nothing then cast deep and caught a small trout about 15 feet away as I pulled the jig up. That's 4 trout I thought. I took a quick pic:

                                             My 4th trout, a nice slot (click pic to enlarge)

I couldn't find the trout on the 5th weed-bed and eventually went and fished the last pier- nothing. The water was too shallow and clear. I saw some bait past the pier and went out to cast around them- nothing I went deep and fished North to head back. The wind was starting to blow East and fairly hard.

When I hit a shallow spot on the 5th weed bed I cast deep in the wind and wham! nice trout on; I pulled it to me and had to use pliers to get the hook out, it was around 17". Next cast, tap, hookset trout on! It jumped, trout off!! I cast back again and hooked another good one:


                  Nice Slot, my 6th

The trout were here!!! Next cast I caught a small trout and then two casts later this one:

                                                              My eight trout

I lost one then caught a small trout near the surface. I had 9, it should be easy to get one more. It wasn't. I cast for 10 minutes there and finally headed back. It was getting hot and I got no action on the way after that. I got off before 10am.

My totals: 9 trout and 1 Jack. A great but warm day on the water.

Hot! Hot ! Hot! Two Fishing Reports 6-23-15

Hi,

The weather was hot, hot, hot!!! The fishing was not, not, not!! After a hiatus of a couple days, I was back on the water today with my fishing buddies Bob (Robert Murray) , and new buddy, Don known as "Big Guns" (Willer). Don is a weight lifter and is in great shape- and has the "guns" to prove it!!!

I hadn't fished with Bob since snookzilla (see my post for May 15) but we stay in touch. He is very knowledgeable and gave me a couple snap-on clips to try (See Tactical Power Clips at http://www.reelsandtackle.com/store/p87/Tactical_Anglers_-_Power_Fishing_Clips.html). You can quickly change lures without re-tying-- yet they still give you the action of a loop knot. Wow!!!

I met them at Walton scrub on the water about 6:50 and we started fishing. Don was throwing a white DOA shrimp and he also threw some plastic swimbaits on a jig. Bob threw a mirrorlure and also a variety of plastics on a jig. I threw a 1/8 oz CAL jig with different DOA paddletails.

Because I only took one photo of a fish - as a special bonus- today you get a pic of my girlfriend Angelica with my fishing reel!!!


  Angelica, scuba diver (Click pic to enlarge)

Fishing Report Walton Scrub, 6-23-15. 6:50 am. Wind Southeast, blowing steady around 10mph. Water clear. Tide low and outgoing. Water temp in low 80s, air temp around 80 to about 88 when we got off the water around 10:10am.

We started fishing deep past sandbar of Walton Scrub. I told them I was headed South to fish my first spot and that the fish were only in a few spots. I took off and they followed me but quickly got far behind.

I reached my first spot off the 3rd pier and immediately got a strike in 3 1/2 foot of water. I was casting in a strong wind. That trout missed and another one hit my paddletail before I brought it in. I cast out quickly and pulled the line tight- hit, hookset, fish on:

                                            My first trout, a 16" beauty. (Click to enlarge)

I got my camera out and got a pic- the only pic I took. I lifted it up and showed it to Bob who was at the first pier nearly 80 yards behind me and released it. Next cast I felt a tap then some weight, hookset, trout number 2 came toward me. It didn't jump and swam right at me!! I pulled it to the side and it came up splashed and flipped off. That's number 2, I thought. I looked back at Bob-- he was casting around the 1st pier. Don was way back by the 4 posts, fishing the deeper water.

The bite was on. I cast deeper and wham! hard strike, a 20" trout leaped from the water and shook it's head!! I got it coming to me then it jumped again, splashed on top and I wheeled around toward me. It stayed down and jerked its head. I pulled it up and released it. I cast several times straight out then got a  strike- hookset, trout on. I hurried in a nice trout about 18" and shook it off near me. Bob who at one point was fishing the pier by now came over to me and I told him to stop at the 3rd pier and cast str8 out.

I cast out and as I started to pull the lure near me I felt a tap- hookset, trout on! This was a smaller trout and it splashed on top then quickly came in. I shook it off and looked over at Bob. "I shook him off!" I called to him. Several casts later I hooked one near me and it came up and splashed and flipped off. I couldn't count that one. I looked at Don who was still way back North at the edge of the 3rd weed-bed. I motioned for him to come up to where the fish were and he headed our way.

Bob and I fished a bit further South but slowly. I hooked a trout but it got off before it even jumped. I cast to the east and got a hard strike half-way in. I pulled in my 6th trout and it flipped off near me. My paddletail was torn-up so I put another color on. Don had reached us and as we fished together I caught another trout, a small one, and it flipped off right beside me. "That's 7," I said.

The bite had slowed and we headed South to the next spot. Don and I led the way and Bob fished shallower near the sandbar. We had reached the spot on the 5th weed-bed when I head Bob call. He had caught a 16" trout in shallow by the fallen white pier. Another guy was fishing with shrimp and I saw him catch a small trout. He was farther up by the last pier.

Don and I cast the 5th weed-bed but nothing was biting. A boat came and a guy with a trolling motor moved down toward where we were casting. I caught a small jack as I pulled my lure near the surface. I wheeled him around me, unhooked him and watched him swim away.

Don was ready to head back and it was getting hot. We cast our way back with the wind and got no bites. I showed them my spot on the 1st weed-bed and we got off the water.

My totals: 7 trout (one 20"er and one 18"er) and 1 Jack. A beautiful hot day on the water!!!

Fishing Report Two: Walton Scrub 6-23-15, 6:45pm very windy SE. Air temp still hot hot hot, but cooling. Water hot, outgoing tide. Fishing jigs with DOA Paddletails.

My neighbor Jim wanted to fish so went back to Walton scrub. It was so windy it was almost unfishable. Determination pays!!! We could only find one place to fish- the 3rd weedbed-- it was shallow enough to get out a ways.

I didn't do much but I caught 4 fish: 2 jacks, 1 trout and 1 flounder:


         My flounder (Click pic to enlarge)

Jim, who I sometimes call "Mr. Snook" lived up to his name tonight!!! He lost a snook then hooked a nice one:

                                                             Snook on!!!

                                                                Still fighting it!!!

                                                           Got him!!! A beauty!!!

He also caught another snook later. Way to go Mr. Snook!!!

Our totals: 2 snook, 2 jack, 1 trout, 1 flounder. A windy and warm evening on the water!!!

0 for 2 and Close Encounters: Fishing Report 6-19-15

Hi,

I was "walking the dog" this morning but came away empty handed. I am now 0-2 after blanking for two days fishing the Spook. Am I getting better at fishing the Zara Spook? Yes. Any results? No.

I got up early but not as early as one wader who beat me to my first spot at Walton Scrub. Undeterred, I went past the sandbar, fired my heavier jig in the shallows, and pulled up an 18" trout on the second cast. Was he watching? Yes. Did he say anything? No.

And the days of dinky trout seemed to be gone. . .

Fishing Report Walton Scrub 5-19-15. 7am just after sunrise. Almost low tide, low, incoming. Water very clear. Wind soft out of Southeast, then South then Southwest. At times the wind almost stopped, at times it blew 8mph. Very hot 94 air temp by 2 pm, I was off the water before 11am. 1/4 oz jighead opaque DOA Paddletail.

I had never caught a fish in the Lagoon on topwater and after today I still have never caught a fish in the Lagoon on topwater. I fished the Zara Spook 3 times for 90 minutes and the trout were biting- but not on the Spook.

When I went to the water someone was fishing in my first spot- or a little North of it. I went out close to him but not too close. I cast my jig deep on my first cast then shallow towards him and on the second cast, fish on!!!

                                                            My first trout, 18"

The trout was a long ways off and stayed down until I pulled him up, then he jumped and splashed me good!! The other guy wading watched me catch and release the trout then he turned North and I turned South. After a few casts I tied on my Zara Spook and fished my way to the third pier- nothing. There were baitfish but nothing big seemed to be chasing them.

I tied the jig back on, their were more baitfish and it seemed like the trout were here. After two casts I got a hit and the next cast I caught a very nice 16" slot that rocketed in the air twice before coming in. "That's 2," I thought, "both keepers!"

The next trout hit two casts later and was even bigger, She stayed down for a pic:


     A nice 19" trout, my third (click pic to enlarge)

I lost the biggest trout soon after. She was well over 20" and jumped and the lure pulled out.  This was one of three I had on that I lost there. Every trout I caught there was a slot, 15-20" or bigger. No dinks today!!!



                   My seventh trout, another 18"

I caught 10 trout in about 30 minutes there and missed a couple and lost a couple. The water was only 3 feet deep at the max and I was catching some of them in shallow!!! I was moving the jig quickly and the water was so clear, they must have been able to track it down easily.

I tied on my Zara Spook and headed South. I was determined to catch a big one. I went all the way to the 5th weed-bed about 1/2 mile with no bites. I tied the jig back on and cast around the area. All the trout have been shallow in a certain spot and finally I found them. I caught one small 14" and then lost one, before pulling in my 12th trout, a small 12".

I fan cast the area then suddenly I heard a giant splash behind me. I turned around while I was reeling in my cast. Only 30 feet away a giant mullet, over two pounds, was being chased by a big fish. I couldn't see the big fish but the water boiled!! Another splash, the mullet careened into the air, then skipped on the top with the big fish splashing after it. Then I saw a v-wave, the mullet was high-tailing it to the shallow water- then another swirl. The mullet got away!! I cast with my little jig and pulled in. I immediately switched to the Zara Spook --immediate was like a minute :) since I had to retie and cast the area. Nothing.

If I had been throwing the Spook to begin with there would have been a chance!! I fished the Spook back to the third weed-bed , nothing. I put the jig on, it was getting hot. The water was so clear I could see the bottom in 4 1/2 feet!!! I cast my way back in and took a pic of a sting-ray:


Sting-ray, watch your step!!! (click to enlarge)- it's on the left middle, pinkish

I was 0-2 with the Zara Spook. When will I catch one with it??!!?

My totals: 12 trout, 10 nice ones, 2 dinks. Lost one big trout. A beautiful hot day on the water.
 _________________________________

Fishing Report 2: Atlantic Ocean; Hermann's (North of Stuart) 6:15 PM. low, incoming tide. 3/8 jig with paddletail

Went with my neighbor, Jim. Caught two snook, both around 24" and 1 Jack and 1 ladyfish casting in the surf. My first snook in the surf.

Walking the Dog: Fishing report 5-18-15

Hi,

I have two dogs and I walk them with my girlfriend most every nite. But I was talking about fishing a Zara Spook. You may not catch as many fish but you can catch some whoppers. So this morning, that's what I did: I walked the dog.

Fishing Report, Walton Scrub 5-18-15 Low tide, then incoming 6:50am. No wind, then mild wind SE, then wind from SE about 10mph. Water water in low 80s, temp outside around 91, sunny, some clouds. Fishing Zara Spook, then 1/8 oz CAL jighead with several DOA paddletails.

I learned to fish a Zara Spook about 10 years ago when I was bass fishing, you twitch it then it turns to the right and you twitch it and it turns back to the left--it's called: walking the dog!!! It didn't take me long to remember how to do that- twitch, twitch, reel some line (repeat). The tide was very low and some baitfish were shallow-- but nothing was eating them!!! I went deep (past sandbar) and cast from Walton Scrub to the third pier with the Zara Spook- nothing, not a swirl or a hit. The thing about the Spook is: when you catch one it will be a big fish, probably a big trout, snook, or Jack. My neighbor Jim (and others) takes the 1st hook off leaving only the back hook. If he catches one it's easier to release.

I switched to a 1/8 oz CAL jig with a white DOA paddletail. Some baitfish were in the area. It only took three casts to have a trout grab my paddletail- fish on!!!

                                             My first trout a small slot (click pic to enlarge)

I pulled it in and used the piers to get the lure out. I noticed, when it came in, that another slightly bigger trout was following it!!! Too bad it took so long to get the lure out!! A few minutes later, I was still fishing the third weed-bed when I felt some weight, hook-set, trout on!!! This one was slightly smaller:

                                                      My second trout (click pic to enlarge)

I went South some and small schools of bait were on the surface. Just below one of them I caught my third trout and my biggest one, a 17"er.

     My third and biggest trout of the day, over 17".

I couldn't rouse a 4th trout there so I headed to the 5th weedbed, briefly fishing the 4th weed-bed (a shallow flat with patches of weeds off the 6th pier) with no results. I started fishing the 5th weed-bed deep and had a tap as I pulled it up. Several casts later a large trout came up and chased my lure as I pulled it out of the water, I could see enough of it to know it was over 20". It struck, hitting the lure, then swirled the water.

Eventually I fished shallow and felt some weight, hook-set, fish on!!!


                 My fourth trout of the day!!!

I caught one more trout (my fifth) after a couple minutes, then went to the last pier, which again was not productive. Just not enough water there. The last week every low tide has been so low that it's pushed the fish out to deeper water. Not many fish are shallow. In the winter, they would stay there but they can't now.

I went deep and fished back towards Walton Scrub. In the second dead zone, a huge fish struck on top after a baitfish. I didn't see the fish but it was big, probably a snook. Too bad I didn't have the Zara Spook on!! I cast there to no avail. It was getting very hot, so I fished back quickly with no strikes, and got off the water.

My totals: 5 trout (1 nice trout missed). A beautiful day on the water!!!

Where Have All The Fishes Gone? Report 6-17-15

Hi,

Where have all the fishes gone,
Long time passing?
Where have all the fishes gone,
Long time ago?

Was this a Peter, Paul and Mary kind of day?? A Pete Seeger parody kind of day???

I met Ken Turner at Walton Scrub and we scrubbed around searching for fish- we found a few, but like the song, we were wondering where they've gone. Ken has fished Walton for many years (starting 6 years ago, when he lived at Palm City) and remembers when nearly every cast was a fish- ah!! the good ol' days!!! The same thing has happened to me but only in spurts!!

Fishing Report 6-17-15 Walton Scrub on the water around 7:15. Bright, hot (92) and sunny. Water very clear and warm over 80. A soft breeze developed out of the Southeast and when we left it was around 5mph. Low tide, then incoming.

Ken and I went deep past the sandbar and fished South. There were schools of baitfish when we first got in and not much eating them. Ken was throwing a white forktail DOA and I was throwing different color paddletails.

We worked our way South to the first spot out from the third pier. Ken hooked a nice small snook and released it then hooked an even smaller one that flipped off. At that point he lost the bail screw, dropped his bail in the water, retrieved it and messed with it--fixing it temporarily so he could fish.  

I waited for a while then started moving South. Ken's bail fell in the water again and after waiting for 10 minutes I just went to the next spot, the 5th weed-bed where I caught fish yesterday.

I cast shallow, and tap, tap, hook-set, fish-on!! I pulled a small trout to the top of the water and skated it over to me. I grabbed my camera but lost he fish before I could get a photo. At last I caught a fish!! I had another tap and missed one then I hooked anther small trout and pulled it to me. This one was well hooked and I took a pic of it:

                                           My second trout of the day (click pic to enlarge)

As I was trying to find my third trout Ken reappeared and started fishing. He caught several trout. Ken and one of his trout:


             Would you settle down for a sec!!!

Ken also caught this small slot:


               Ken posing with a trout

The funniest moment of the day was: Ken's bail popped off in the water again- only the water was 4 feet deep!!! He went diving for it twice before finally grabbing it. He was soaked but still smiling!!!

We went shallow and fished the last pier with no luck. On the way back we each caught a trout on the 5th weed-bed. It was getting hot, we talked and fished back to the 3rd weed-bed. I caught two small trout there and we headed off the water.

Where have the trout gone, long time passing? There were still some trout in the likely places but in general they have been small and fewer in number. The water is heating up!!! Time for some top-water action. So tomorrow it'll be Zara Spook time!!

Our totals: Ken caught a snook and 4 trout and I caught 5 trout- all small. Still-- it was a great day on the water, but a sloooow day.

Somewhere over the Rainbow: Fishing Report 6-16-15

Hi,

Somewhere over the rainbow,
Way up high,
There's a land that I've dreamed of,
once on a lullaby.

Yes, there was a rainbow. It was above the first pier and it wasn't long or very bright but it was there:


           Rainbow above 1st pier (click to enlarge)

Fishing Report, Walton Scrub 6-16-15, 7:15am, tide low incoming, water clear. Wind gentle from Northwest, eventually blowing 6-8mph from Northeast, mostly East. Water temp in low 80s. Sky cloudy then sunny.

It was a beautiful morning:


Morning sky around 7:20am (click pic to enlarge)

If only the fishing was as good as the weather!!! Can't have everything. I went str8 out from Walton Scrub and fished deep. This was the first time it wasn't too windy to fish the 2nd weed-bed edge in a week. No trout there now- same for the first weed-bed. The heat has changed everything. The trout have moved. I went through the "dead zone" South to the first pier. There I caught my fist trout- an nice 16" fish:

                                                       My first trout of the day!!

The trout had moved from the South part of the 3rd weed-bed and my best spot for the last few days had vanished. It was early and the wind wasn't bad. I headed South for the 5th weed-bed and fished as I went. I got no strikes and eventually reached the 5th weedbed. Two guys were wading with live shrimp there. They said all they caught were needlefish. I went out past them and they headed off the water.

I cast shallow to the weeds in the 5th weed-bed. Tap, tap, hookset, Trout on!!! Trout off!! I cast again- this time I hooked a small trout and pulled him to me. He flipped off as I pulled him up- small, around 12". That's 2 trout!! I caught a larger trout around 14" on the the second cast who also flipped off as I was trying to take a pic.

I cast shallow- tap, hookset, trout on!! I pulled him up and took a pic:


       My 4th trout of the day (click to enlarge)

I had found them, all the ones I caught there were small under the 15" slot limit. I lost two more and ended up with 10 total trout (9 there). I headed shallow to fish the last pier. Under the pier were minnows- thousands of them:

                                         Minnows under the last pier (click to enlarge)

The tide has been so low that no big fish can stay shallow- they would need to come shallow after the tide comes in. I got no bites shallow except for a mudfish that ripped my DOA shrimp in half!!

I went back deep and caught my last trout before I got to the 3rd weedbed. I only found one spot for trout and caught 2 trout roaming. It was starting to get hot-- I got off the water around 11:20am.

My totals: 11 trout; a beautiful day on the water!!!