The redfish bite has been good this past week around our area. The full moon had currents moving pushing bait around and had the redfish feeding actively throughout the bay and intercoastal areas. Most of the redfish caught were around the docks, mangrove shorelines and oyster bars but also the flats produced some nice fish too. These guys were loving live pinfish or white bait but also the soft plastic paddletails and gold spoons.
Snook action was a little slow this past week during the day, but more fish caught at night around the passes, docks and mouth of the bay. During they day they seemed to be a bit more lethargic and harder to get chewing. However, we saw some nice snook caught around the mangroves, grass flats, passes and beaches during the day. They just weren’t as aggressive and cooperative as they have been. While at night, the full moon gave plenty of light for them to feed actively and they sure took advantage around the docks and bridges of the passes. Inside Johns pass, many anglers caught them on the flairhawk style baits, soft plastics and jerk bait artificial lures. The live bait that’s been working well is finger mullet, live pigfish or white bait for snook.
Trout have been active lately around the area. At night, you can find them on the residential dock lights or bridge lights of the passes. During the day, the edges of the grass flats or potholes of the flats is a good place to try and catch them. Trout like the soft plastics, live shrimp or live white bait most of the time. Lighter tackle and stealthy approach and presentation is key to catching plenty of trout. Also, remember they have a super soft mouth so a slower action rod with lighter drag is a much better option for targeting trout to ensure you don’t pull the hooks from their mouth at hookset or during the fight.
Sheepshead are still prolific through the area feeding pretty well despite the warmer temps. Look for these guys on the docks, bridges, piers, or jetties around the structures. They are spreading out and getting less aggressive with the warming trends we are seeing currently. Early morning is a good time to try and pull a few when the water is a bit chillier.
Mackerel seem to be everywhere at the mouth of the bay, in the passes, on the beaches and even a few around the flats. Fast moving flashy lures are best for the mackerel. Keep an eye out for bird action while out on the water you will typically find the mackerel working a bait school to the surface and frenzied feeding at the surface while the seabirds try and pick off a few baits of their own from the top of the water.
Pompano are fairly prolific right now along our beaches and inside the sandier passes of our area. They cruise the sand bottom looking for crustaceans to feed on while moving in small schools. Most people target them with the weighted lures bouncing them along the bottom. If your using a pompano jig the best idea is to cut the feathers or hairs of the jig just behind the apex of the hook shank to ensure they are just barely hiding the hook. This provides a smaller bait to ensure you don’t miss the bite when those small mouthed pompano decide to ambush your lure on the bottom.
