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Fishing Northeast Florida - Amelia Island to St Augustine
Capt. Ron Schurr
October 11, 2007
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
With all the wind, rain and red tide from last week behind us, fishing should improve dramatically this week. Here in Northeast Florida, fall means flood tide redfishing. Higher than normal tides occur throughout October and November which gives anglers a unique and exciting opportunity to stalk and sight fish to tailing redfish on foot. These high tides enable reds to access areas that are normally high and dry, feeding on marsh crabs and fiddlers.
Look for areas that have short spartina grass just off the Intracoastal Waterway from Sisters creek north to Nassau sound. I use the Mayport tide station as a benchmark to determine the best times and most importantly, height. Look for high tides of 5.4 ft or higher. Timing is very important, as most flats will only hold enough water for a couple hours. A productive method for finding “tailers” is to use the trolling motor to patrol along the edges of the flat, keeping the boat in deeper water. Look for pushing fish or very subtle movements as the water starts flowing onto the flats. The redfish follow the rising water higher onto the flooded grass. Once the water reaches a foot or higher, look for the fishes tails, as they are nose down in the grass rooting crabs. This is when you can slip off the boat and continue the hunt on foot.
This type of fishing is tailor- made (no pun intended) for fly fishing and light tackle.
Small crab patterns and spoon flies are perfect ammo for long rod enthusiasts. Soft plastics such as Berkley’s cammo tubes and Gulp shrimp rigged weedless are popular lures with spinning tackle.
Look for flood tides in the morning all this week and again the last week in October.
Trout have been slamming topwater lures in the first light hours. I had reports of consistent trout action last week topped off by a 7.5 lb speck caught this past Saturday.
Bull redfish are continuing to school up along the deep drops of the St Johns River and Mayport jetties. Look for the best action to come on the turn of the tide, usually in late afternoon or early evening.
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