SUMMER TIME IN THE CALM MARSH

DAY 2 WITH THE "TRAVELLER" LEFT MAYPORT AT 1pm DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH 6 HRS OF A RISING TIDE AND NO BITES LIKE YESTERDAY. INSTEAD..."WE NEVER CAUGHT THE FIRST REDFISH?" NOT FROM A LACK OF TRYING, THATS FOR SURE. BUT, AS THE TIDE TURNED WE CAUGHT PLENTY OF TROUT, WITH 4 GOOD KEEPERS, AND LOTS OF FLOUNDER. AND 2 KEEPERS. THE SO-CALLED 5-10 KNOT WINDS UP IN THE CREEK WAS THE "JOKE ON US". IT WAS SUPER WINDY. BUT BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS. WE AT LEAST ONLY HAD TO WASTE, AND WE DID GETTING WAKE IN THE RIVER, 2 HRS OF THE HIGH TIDE, AND CAUGHT BASICALLY ZERO, STILL LOOKING FOR THOSE SCHOOLS OF YELLOWMOUTH TROUT ON PLACES WE CAUGHT THEM "EVERY YEAR THIS TIME, EXCEPT...THIS YEAR!!!" ANOTHER JOKE ON US. WE HAD A GOOD TIME UP IN THE SALTMARSH, AS THE DAY GOT LATER IT TURNED REALLY NICE. THE "NO REDFISH" THING WAS CONFUSING. BAIT EVERYWHERE AT DEAD LOW. BUT MY OLE SAYING STILL RINGS TRUE FOR BAZARO WORLD FLORIDA, "BAIT BAIT EVERYWHERE AND NO FISH TO EAT THEM". ON THE WAY OUT OF THE CREEK, WE SLOWLY DRIFTED SOME GIANT OYSTER MOUNDS LOOKING TO SEE IF REDFISH WERE AROUND. MAYBE THERE WAS. BUT THE TRAVELLER SAID, "I'M DONE", SO WE HEADED BACK TO MAYPORT BOAT RAMP TO MAKE THE DONUTS. TRAVELLER BOB DOESN'T DO THE INCESSANT HEAT THING OF SUMMER. HE'S NOT LIKE THE AVERAGE TOURIST. HE'S A TRUE ANGLER, ONE OF THE FEW I'VE HAD AS REPEAT CUSTOMERS. HEAT AND SWEATING HE KNOWS ISN'T THE FINEST FISHING IN JAX. SO THE NEXT TIME HE'S COMING WILL BE LATE OCTOBER OR EARLY NOVEMBER. THE "TRAVELLER" ONLY TRAVELS WHEN THE TEMP IS RIGHT. NEXT TIME HE VOWS WON'T BE ON RISING TIDE DAYS. THATS FOR SURE.

REDFISH, BE IT ON SHRIMP, MULLET, OR SOFT PLASTICS ARE THE MAIN SPECIES IN THE SALTMARSH. SPECIAL KIDS TRIPS (not offered here) ON EASTER SUNDAY. DEAD SHRIMP ON THE BOTTOM PRODUCED 2 BLACK DRUM, A SPECKLED TROUT, AND SEVERAL PINFISH FOR 2 LITTLE TOTS WITH DAD.

THE TROUT WERE STACKED UP. NOTHING BUT A SOFT PLASTIC ''MATRIX SHAD'' ON A JIGHEAD, IS ALL IT TOOK....(WATER TEMP UNDER 68) HAD THEM FIRED UP. LOVE THE IDEA OF CATCHING THEM (AND REDFISH) WITH PLASTIC....NO WASTING TIME, AND MORE CASTING!