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Fernandina to Saint Augustine & St. Johns River
Capt. Bob Cosby
November 2, 2005
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
The name of the game right now is bull redfish! They're all around the tips of area jetties and channel edges. Fish deep with crabs, mullet, pogies, or croakers to hook into these hard fighting fish. Cut ladyfish is also a good bait. It's advisable to use 30 or 40 pound class tackle to subdue them fairly quickly so they're not too exhausted at the end of the fight. It's best to release them in the water without dragging them over the gunnel if possible. If you need a picture, use a large net to lift the fish into the boat, and hold it horizontally for the photo. Take the time to revive these fish before letting them go just like you would a tarpon. Hopefully, they will linger in our area into November. There are also reds in the surf feeding on finger mullet, though usually not so large as the deep water fish.
This is a good month for flounder as they congregate near inlets, docks, and rocks to ambush finger mullet migrating south. A finger mullet on a fish finder rig behind a 1/2 or 1 oz. egg sinker is deadly worked slowly along the bottom. They can also be fished on 1/4 oz. jig. I've always had the best luck the last of the outgoing and first of the incoming tides.
Reds and speckled trout are in the creeks, and occasionally a black drum will pick up your bait. On the high spring tides reds and sheepshead can often be taken wading the more firm, flooded spartina flats. Top water plugs fished early on high tides are effective for trout. Jigs and live shrimp fished around oyster bars will catch just about anything in the creek (except mullet).
Whiting have been biting in the surf and area inlets such as Nassau Sound. A few pompano have also been taken. October definitely offers a great many options for the inshore fisherman.
Good fishing!
Captain Bob
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