Fished with John. We got to the public ramp at 8:15 AM, and we were in the water by 8:30. A dozen or so cars were already at the ramp.
Air temp was in the 60's, water likewise. There was little wind when we arrived, but it blew a little stronger once we hit the water. Water was murky, maybe 2-3 feet of visibility. Lots more grass now than in Jan/Feb. Moon was waning crescent, 15% visible. Sunrise 6:36a, moon rise 3:58a, moon set 3:21p. Majors 8:07a -11:07a, 9:32p- 12:32a, minors 2:58a - 4:58a, 2:21p - 4:21p.
Projected low tide was 11:15a, and it was pretty much right on the money. The tide was lower than I had seen it before, which made some areas I had fished before inaccessible. We found an oblong cove with mixed grass/sand bottom and fished it for about 1.5 hours. Lots of little strikes, probably small trout or ladyfish. The spot looks like it *should* hold fish, so it will be worth a return trip.
Once the tide turned, the wind laid down quite a bit, so we decided to scout the area where I had caught fish in January. I put on a Gulp shrimp on a 1/16 oz jig under an Equalizer. My float submerged on almost every cast, and after 20-30 minutes of work, I finally landed an 8" trout. We continued to work the area until the tide changed.
At about 1p, we paddled back against the incoming to the cuts I had worked last time. We each landed small trout again, but nothing worth keeping. The water toward the ramp was considerably more clear, and we identified a big sand bar that dropped off from 2 -6 feet. We worked that area, but didn't catch anything. Another spot worth a return trip.
We used a variety artificial baits (flukes, shrimp, crabs) on jigs, swimbait hooks, and under popping corks.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Ozello, FL North Ramp, 02-05-2012
The reports I had been reading all stated the colder water was pushing the bite back later in the day in Ozello. I decided to launch later than usual, and I ended up putting in right at noon, which was a little later than I wanted.
The wind was also stronger than had been forecast, about 10 MPH out of the WNW. Partly cloudy, 80 degrees. Water temp in the low 60's, slightly murky inland, clear closer to the ramp. sun rise: 7:17 a, moon rise: 4:15 p. Moon phase was Waxing Gibbous, 94% illuminated. Majors: 10:17 AM - 1:17 p, 9:42 p - 12:42 a. Minors 4:20 a - 6:20 a, 3:15 p - 5:15 p.
Rode the incoming tide back to the spot where I had been successful with the redfish bite on previous trips. The wind was not favorable for those areas, however, and I spent a lot of time repositioning myself. I worked the shoreline and adjacent drop off for an hour and a half with no success. I used Exude shrimp in Golden Bream and Gulp shrimp in natural.
I decided to use the wind and tide to my advantage and drifted further into the marsh than I had been (from the ramp, that is). I ran across a school of ladyfish that kept me busy for a while until the tide changed. The wind picked up at about 3 PM, so I decided to paddle back toward the ramp and work those areas.
I worked two small cuts near the ramp where I had spooked fish before. There were small mangrove islands with sharp drop offs from angular rocks down to oysters. I worked these edges in the narrow cuts and boated two under-slot trout, and two small reds, all within 15 or 20 minutes between 3:15p and 3:45p. I worked that area until about 4:15p with no further act
ion.
On the way back to the ramp, I spotted a ledge that dropped off to about 3-4 feet positioned in the lee behind an island. I worked this area for about 10 minutes, and hooked a big trout (est. 20-21 in.). I got him to the boat, but he spit the hook.
No action after the trout. I was off the water by 5:30p. All fish were caught on Gulp shrimp in natural, on a 1/8 oz Bass Assassin red jig.
The wind was also stronger than had been forecast, about 10 MPH out of the WNW. Partly cloudy, 80 degrees. Water temp in the low 60's, slightly murky inland, clear closer to the ramp. sun rise: 7:17 a, moon rise: 4:15 p. Moon phase was Waxing Gibbous, 94% illuminated. Majors: 10:17 AM - 1:17 p, 9:42 p - 12:42 a. Minors 4:20 a - 6:20 a, 3:15 p - 5:15 p.
Rode the incoming tide back to the spot where I had been successful with the redfish bite on previous trips. The wind was not favorable for those areas, however, and I spent a lot of time repositioning myself. I worked the shoreline and adjacent drop off for an hour and a half with no success. I used Exude shrimp in Golden Bream and Gulp shrimp in natural.
I decided to use the wind and tide to my advantage and drifted further into the marsh than I had been (from the ramp, that is). I ran across a school of ladyfish that kept me busy for a while until the tide changed. The wind picked up at about 3 PM, so I decided to paddle back toward the ramp and work those areas.
I worked two small cuts near the ramp where I had spooked fish before. There were small mangrove islands with sharp drop offs from angular rocks down to oysters. I worked these edges in the narrow cuts and boated two under-slot trout, and two small reds, all within 15 or 20 minutes between 3:15p and 3:45p. I worked that area until about 4:15p with no further act
ion.
On the way back to the ramp, I spotted a ledge that dropped off to about 3-4 feet positioned in the lee behind an island. I worked this area for about 10 minutes, and hooked a big trout (est. 20-21 in.). I got him to the boat, but he spit the hook.
No action after the trout. I was off the water by 5:30p. All fish were caught on Gulp shrimp in natural, on a 1/8 oz Bass Assassin red jig.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Ozello, FL North Ramp, 01-21-2012
Decided to focus on Ozello since the regulations for redfish and trout are more favorable in this region starting 2/1. I am continuing to scout and familiarize myself with the area.
Got to the public ramp at 6:30 AM and was in the water by 6:50 AM. The launch took longer than usual due to my new rudder assembly. I was on the water right about sunrise, though, which was the plan.
The temperature was about 50, and the forecast wind was 8 mph. There was no wind when I arrived, but it slowly built to 8-10 mph over the next hour. Water temp was in the 50's. Water was very clear, with visibility to any depth I ran across, up to 8 feet or more. Moon was waning crescent, 3% visible. Sunrise 7:50a, moon rise 6:23a, moon set 3:37p. Majors 9:27a -12:27p,
9:25p- 12:25a, minors 5:23a - 7:23a, 2:37p - 4:37p.
Tide was moving out, as expected. However, the actual tide time was miscalculated, so I ended up launching at the beginning of the outgoing. Not optimal, since the site is very close to open water in the Gulf.
Drifted along with the tide/wind, blind casting a MR19 in moss green/silver. Landed an 18" trout on the edge of a choke point beside a mangrove island about 7:30 AM. Continued to drift out with the tide until 9:30 AM with no further success. Sunny and windy.
Not knowing the tide was miscalculated, I started paddling back inshore. My expectation was that the tide would turn to the incoming around 10 AM. Stopped at a sand bank to get out and stretch, and tossed an Exude in Golden Bream with no success. Paddled further inshore, and old man near the launch informed me that the low tide would be closer to 3 PM.
Worked the area around the launch for a while. Totally overcast now, and chilly from the consistent 10 mph wind with stronger gusts. Noticed the old man was free-lining live shrimp in the deeper channels just SW of the launch. He was losing bait, but it appeared to be pinfish or something of the sort. He never landed a fish.
At 11 AM I decided to tuck into the leeward side of an island and soak some bait. I put a Gulp shrimp on in new penny and tossed it into a deep cut. I put an Exude in Golden Bream on a 1/8 oz jig under a cork and cast that in the channel, as well. Laid back and rested/dozed for an hour with no activity.
At about noon, I padded farther SW across a large open water section to a small island. I was positioned immediately west off the bridge going to the ramp. I cast the Exude shimp on the jig to either side and in the lee, but had no luck. Still totally overcast and windy.
Decided to paddle over to a larger island to the west, as it had a larger area protected from the wind. The bank turned out to be a long flat running east to west. I cruised close to the bank to protect myself from the wind and cast toward deeper water with the Exude on the jig. After only a few feet, I spooked a school of reds sitting in about 1 ft of water.
I stopped and immediately cast parallel down the bank as far as I could. Landed a 23" red on this cast, in 18" of water or less. Worked this bank for the remainder of the day, drifting or wading back and forth. Ended up catching 3 reds (23, 22, and 21") and several small trout in this spot. The redfish were usually in shallower water, the trout in the deeper sections, about 3' or so.
Here are the second and third reds I caught here:
#3 had an electric blue tail, must have been eating lots of crabs:
The tide started to turn near 2:30 PM, so I paddled into a small cove on the NW side of the island. I paddled around the cove, casting into the center. At the western-most tip of the cove where the incoming tide was flowing strong, I caught a 22" red. Still totally overcast and windy.
Photo of the last redfish:
I started to work my way back and fished along the way. I hooked two trout (one good one) in the deeper cuts I had soaked bait in earlier, but was unable to boat either. Fished around the launch a little with no success. Pulled the boat out at 3:45 PM.
Got to the public ramp at 6:30 AM and was in the water by 6:50 AM. The launch took longer than usual due to my new rudder assembly. I was on the water right about sunrise, though, which was the plan.
The temperature was about 50, and the forecast wind was 8 mph. There was no wind when I arrived, but it slowly built to 8-10 mph over the next hour. Water temp was in the 50's. Water was very clear, with visibility to any depth I ran across, up to 8 feet or more. Moon was waning crescent, 3% visible. Sunrise 7:50a, moon rise 6:23a, moon set 3:37p. Majors 9:27a -12:27p,
9:25p- 12:25a, minors 5:23a - 7:23a, 2:37p - 4:37p.
Tide was moving out, as expected. However, the actual tide time was miscalculated, so I ended up launching at the beginning of the outgoing. Not optimal, since the site is very close to open water in the Gulf.
Drifted along with the tide/wind, blind casting a MR19 in moss green/silver. Landed an 18" trout on the edge of a choke point beside a mangrove island about 7:30 AM. Continued to drift out with the tide until 9:30 AM with no further success. Sunny and windy.
Not knowing the tide was miscalculated, I started paddling back inshore. My expectation was that the tide would turn to the incoming around 10 AM. Stopped at a sand bank to get out and stretch, and tossed an Exude in Golden Bream with no success. Paddled further inshore, and old man near the launch informed me that the low tide would be closer to 3 PM.
Worked the area around the launch for a while. Totally overcast now, and chilly from the consistent 10 mph wind with stronger gusts. Noticed the old man was free-lining live shrimp in the deeper channels just SW of the launch. He was losing bait, but it appeared to be pinfish or something of the sort. He never landed a fish.
At 11 AM I decided to tuck into the leeward side of an island and soak some bait. I put a Gulp shrimp on in new penny and tossed it into a deep cut. I put an Exude in Golden Bream on a 1/8 oz jig under a cork and cast that in the channel, as well. Laid back and rested/dozed for an hour with no activity.
At about noon, I padded farther SW across a large open water section to a small island. I was positioned immediately west off the bridge going to the ramp. I cast the Exude shimp on the jig to either side and in the lee, but had no luck. Still totally overcast and windy.
Decided to paddle over to a larger island to the west, as it had a larger area protected from the wind. The bank turned out to be a long flat running east to west. I cruised close to the bank to protect myself from the wind and cast toward deeper water with the Exude on the jig. After only a few feet, I spooked a school of reds sitting in about 1 ft of water.
I stopped and immediately cast parallel down the bank as far as I could. Landed a 23" red on this cast, in 18" of water or less. Worked this bank for the remainder of the day, drifting or wading back and forth. Ended up catching 3 reds (23, 22, and 21") and several small trout in this spot. The redfish were usually in shallower water, the trout in the deeper sections, about 3' or so.
Here are the second and third reds I caught here:
#3 had an electric blue tail, must have been eating lots of crabs:
The tide started to turn near 2:30 PM, so I paddled into a small cove on the NW side of the island. I paddled around the cove, casting into the center. At the western-most tip of the cove where the incoming tide was flowing strong, I caught a 22" red. Still totally overcast and windy.
Photo of the last redfish:
I started to work my way back and fished along the way. I hooked two trout (one good one) in the deeper cuts I had soaked bait in earlier, but was unable to boat either. Fished around the launch a little with no success. Pulled the boat out at 3:45 PM.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Ozello, FL - Bridge Launch, 1-15-2012
Put in under the 494 bridge @ 8:30 AM. Incoming tide, approximately 2 hours left. Cold, with temp @ 29 F. Water temps in the 50's. No wind. Water was very clear. Sunrise 7:54 A, no moon rise, moon set 10:43A. Waning gibbous, 57% illuminated. Majors 3:46-6:46A, 3:42-6:42P. Minor 9:43A-11:43A.
Paddled north to Salt River, through The Narrows, and in to Dixie Bay, approximately 3 miles. Saw no fish, but did not stop too often to cast on the way up since I was paddling against the tide. Stopped at 9:30 to fish some and to take this beautiful photo (looking NW in Salt River) :
Once I got into Dixie Bay, I set my drift and headed back into The Narrows. Wind started to build to 10 mph WNW. Difficult navigating with tide in one direction and wind in the other.
Drifted along, blind casting for couple of hours without any luck. Tried 3 different colors (Exude Golden Bream, Glow/Chartreuse, and Gulp New Penny) of soft plastics. Tried bouncing them on the bottom under 1/8 oz jig, under a popping cork, under an Equalizer. Nothing. Tried a gold spoon with the same result.
Stopped to stretch and eat about 1 PM, just over halfway back to the launch. Waded a little, but still had no luck. High temps had reached 70 or so, clear skies, strong sun.
Finally saw some action at about 2 PM, within a half mile or less from the launch. Same area where I had caught a big redfish in November. I brought a small redfish right to the boat before "self release", and I boated a small flounder. Both fish were caught between 10 minutes of one another. Both were caught with a Gulp Shrimp in New Penny worked along the bottom.
Fished that area for another 30-45 minutes with no success. Continue to drift toward the launch, and ultimately paddled beyond the launch into the vacant residential canals, but had no further success. Paddled back to the launch and was loaded and in car by 4 PM.
Paddled north to Salt River, through The Narrows, and in to Dixie Bay, approximately 3 miles. Saw no fish, but did not stop too often to cast on the way up since I was paddling against the tide. Stopped at 9:30 to fish some and to take this beautiful photo (looking NW in Salt River) :
Once I got into Dixie Bay, I set my drift and headed back into The Narrows. Wind started to build to 10 mph WNW. Difficult navigating with tide in one direction and wind in the other.
Drifted along, blind casting for couple of hours without any luck. Tried 3 different colors (Exude Golden Bream, Glow/Chartreuse, and Gulp New Penny) of soft plastics. Tried bouncing them on the bottom under 1/8 oz jig, under a popping cork, under an Equalizer. Nothing. Tried a gold spoon with the same result.
Stopped to stretch and eat about 1 PM, just over halfway back to the launch. Waded a little, but still had no luck. High temps had reached 70 or so, clear skies, strong sun.
Finally saw some action at about 2 PM, within a half mile or less from the launch. Same area where I had caught a big redfish in November. I brought a small redfish right to the boat before "self release", and I boated a small flounder. Both fish were caught between 10 minutes of one another. Both were caught with a Gulp Shrimp in New Penny worked along the bottom.
Fished that area for another 30-45 minutes with no success. Continue to drift toward the launch, and ultimately paddled beyond the launch into the vacant residential canals, but had no further success. Paddled back to the launch and was loaded and in car by 4 PM.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Banana River No Motor Zone - 01-07-2012
Started out the year at the Banana River No Motor Zone. Put in the kayak at the Patrick AFS fence at about 8 AM. Temp in the 50's, some early fog, which had cleared by sunrise. Calm wind. Water temps were in the low 60's, and the water was slightly murky. Moon was waxing gibbous, 97% illuminated. Sunrise 7:17 A, moonrise 12:11 P. Major solunar, 9A-Noon, minor 2:30P - 4:30 P.
Headed East toward the shoreline, then North. After no action early, I followed a smallish school of mullet, blind casting an Exude shrimp in Golden Bream pattern on a 1/8 oz jig. A solid bite started at 9:30 AM. Landed a 19" redfish, then a 22" trout, and a 21" trout in rapid succession. Photos of the first two:
The bite remained solid throughout the day. I anchored over a hole near some old dock pilings and caught trout after trout, the smallest being about 18 inches. I then made my way back to the south, probing the 18"-24" water depths. I started catching redfish again closer to the south end, and I caught one after another for about an hour.
I was off the water by 3:30 PM, as the wind started to pick up to 5-10 mph. Total haul was 20 large trout, 10 bottom slot reds. All fish were caught on the Exude Golden Bream.
Headed East toward the shoreline, then North. After no action early, I followed a smallish school of mullet, blind casting an Exude shrimp in Golden Bream pattern on a 1/8 oz jig. A solid bite started at 9:30 AM. Landed a 19" redfish, then a 22" trout, and a 21" trout in rapid succession. Photos of the first two:
The bite remained solid throughout the day. I anchored over a hole near some old dock pilings and caught trout after trout, the smallest being about 18 inches. I then made my way back to the south, probing the 18"-24" water depths. I started catching redfish again closer to the south end, and I caught one after another for about an hour.
I was off the water by 3:30 PM, as the wind started to pick up to 5-10 mph. Total haul was 20 large trout, 10 bottom slot reds. All fish were caught on the Exude Golden Bream.
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