Winter Bite Still Hot!

Spring fishing is in full affect! Extreme fluctuations of barometric pressure, and cold fronts have had the bite all over the place. One day fish can be turned on and smashing the first thing that hits the water and the next spooked off with a fly hitting the water. Matching the hatch with the bait that I am seeing in the systems has been the go to trick for me. When fishing artificial or fly I have had my anglers fish very slow and controlled. Sight fishing wise, cast 2-2.5’ in front of the fish so that the fish feels like he found it. Those two tricks have worked wonders for me. Creeks/ Marsh: Redfish are starting to break off of the larger schools. I am finding a lot of 2-4 fish schools working the systems and occasional singles. Current breaks on bends, folded over Spartina and oyster beds have been the main targeted areas. Lots of creek shrimp right now, when hunting redfish keep an eye out for where the shrimp are popping. They have been snitching on where they Reds are as they swim through and work. Open water: Still finding fish in the same places they were during the winter. I spend most of my time in creeks but when low waters keeps me in the main rivers I work creek mouths where larger oyster structure is. Also drop offs from main shoreline. The Flounder bite has greatly increased and should only get better as the water continues to warm. Bonnetheads are back in town and being caught, though I have yet to see any in back waters. Flies: My motto over the past couple of weeks has been “ Elephants eat peanuts”. Small black and purple or natural colored bonefish shrimp patterns have been the trick as well as smaller bead eyed clousers. Ive added 2’ of 10lb tippet as well. Flooded grass areas have also provided some feeding fish. Ive stuck with smaller crab patterns with Zonker to maximize the fly movement with minimum movement from the angler. Artificial: Zman Ned Shrimp on a Zman Ned Head have been the go to with spooky fish. Texas Eye Eye Strike paired with a Gulp Translucent ( I prefer Scooby) have also proven great results. Don’t be scared to jazz up some of the artificial with Procure as well! Live: Live shrimp, cut mullet, and mud minnows are the baits I have had best results with. That being said I have yet to try crab but speaking with some other captains in the area, cut crab has also turned them on. I like floating live bait mid to upper water column. Tight Lines!

My favorite time of the year to fish! Water temps have been fluctuating from low to mid 50's which has the Redfish in the normal winter time feeding patterns. Larger schools in the back of creeks and transiting fish on a falling tide in the system that don't hold water. The systems that are dry during the low, I'm finding the fish have moved out of the creeks and are usually within 100yds on the creek mouth on the shoreline. For the most part they all seem hungry and happy! The water clarity has been amazing! Majority of the bites we have been able to watch as it happens. This is the time of the year for sight fishing! We have been able to spot fish way out and pursue them. Artificial: Zman ned shrimpz, gulp translucent shrimp on a texas eye strike head, and a slow retrieve 3" paddle tail has been the trick for me. Fly: Darker colored clouser and shrimp patterns have been the go-to. Flies with a zonker strip and a little bit of flash have provided a little better results for me. Most of my bites are happening on the fall of the fly during my retrieve.

June/August fishing has been hot, hot, hot! Creeks and shorelines are loaded with shrimp, crabs, mud minnows, and mullet so the fish have had no shortage of food. Open water I'm seeing large school of menhaden working in and out of the inlets as well as holding off of the back side of the breakers near the beach. Having a great bite consecutively first thing in the morning. On spinning gear in creeks, live shrimp and minnows on around 8" of leader have been working well. I've also had really good luck with center cut portions of mullet for Redfish. When fishing open water cut menhaden on a cork with 2.5-3ft of leader have been also working well for Reds. Early morning bite has also been producing fish on top water plugs as well. For Flounder I have had the best luck with throwing Gulp translucent Scooby shrimp rigged weedless and retrieving extremely slow bouncing on the base of oyster mounds at creek mouths. Also Voodu's and DOA shrimp have been doing well bringing flounder to the boat. Fly fishing has been a blast. Small light weighted flys have been the ticket for me. Clouser minnows and shrimp patterns have been the most productive. Ive liked a darker colored black/purple clouser and natural colored shrimp. With the barometric pressure staying in the 30's i've been focusing on flys that will not make much of a splash and giving my Redfish a lot of lead, allowing the fish to find the fly and not the other way around.