Palm Coast/ St. Augustine Fishing Report
Capt. Chris Herrera
April 26, 2009
St. Augustine - Saltwater Fishing Report
Now that the winds have let up these past few days finding fish on the flats has been easy. Poling the shallows looking for pushing fish (wakes) has been my way of getting my clients to hook into large redfish using live shrimp or mud minnows pinned on a 1/4 ounce jig head. The topwater bite has been picking up at first light for Gator Trout, Snook and Redfish. Walking the dog with Skitter walks or Top Dogs has produced heart stopping explosions.
When the sun is high we have switched techniques and targeted Trout, Lady fish and Redfish along the ICW with popping corks and shrimp using a Daiichi D85Z 1/0 circle hook. It's a great way to spend the hot afternoon especially when fishing with kids and you need steady action.
St. Augustine Fishing Forecast:
Fishing at first light or last light still proves to be successful with topwater plugs. High Rollers 4.25 stick bait in a mullet pattern proved to be the gator trout lure of choice along with High Rollers Rip Roller prop bait for those who cannot "walk the dog". When the topwater bite tapers off go for subsurface suspending baits like a MirrOdine or lipped diving plugs worked with a stop and go retrieve.
Redfish continue to shadow mullet seeking refuge on top of oyster beds and will be fooled by FishBites Extreme Jerkbaits rigged on a Daiichi 5/0 Buttdragger hook. Gold spoons and other bait fish imitators will get the Redfish fired up to bite. If opting for live bait a chunk of lady fish or mullet head resting near oyster beds is hard for a Redfish to resist.
Look for Snook to show up heavy this month, local bridges, docks and seawalls fished at night will produce linesiders. Live select shrimp, pinfish and lipped diving plugs are local favorites when chasing snook but remember to use a minimum of 30lb. leaders to avoid cut offs. Day time Snook fisherman will opt for top water at sunrise and pitching jerkbaits or live shrimp under docks in the afternoon.
Inlets and nearby creeks with hard bottom and a good drop off will hold flatties and doormats waiting to eat a live mullet on a fish finder rig (1oz. egg sinker and Daiichi D18Z 2/0 hook) or mud minnow pinned on a Slayer 1/4oz. jig head. For shallow water flounder try a Slayer inline spinner matched with a FishBites Extreme Paddle tail.
Spanish Mackerel are still hanging around our near coastal waters just outside of Matanzas Inlet. Proven techniques for Spanish is to slow troll spoons or look for acres size schools chasing bait on the surface. Blues, Jacks and Lady fish will be in the mix so make sure to bring plenty of tackle or live bait and most importantly wire leaders.
Target Species:
Redfish, Trout, Snook,
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