MNfisher
01-21-2014, 07:05 PM
Went to visit my mother-in-law over MLK weekend. I headed out to some flats on Saturday and it was tough to say the least! 25-30 mph NW wind with a high of 53 for the day. Water temps were down in the 53-54 range. Snook start dying at 51. So the fish were very lethargic and just trying to warm up!
I woke up Sunday to a sunnier and calmer day. I waited until afternoon to let things warm up a bit. I went to the same flat and it was a negative tide, which I like because it really pushes the fish in the holes and ledges. I paddled up to a nice cut in the flat, casted a jig out and BAM! big ol redfish! Taped her at just under 28" and let her swim, 2 more hours of fishing resulted in 1 bluefish! I spotted a nice school of reds, but they didn't want anything to do with my offerings.
Monday headed out with my buddy on a boat, Jenn joined my this time. We headed to the same cut, found a nice school in it and we tossed out some shrimp and waited. Finally my wifes line took off and landed her first red right at 27"! It was a blast to watch her fight it!
We dropped Jenn off and headed to a canal that the snook like to flock to when it gets cold. We fished it hard, but no bites, but we spooked SEVERAL snook in the 35-40+ inch range, true giants for the gulf! But they were just not in the mood. Finally found a dock with black plastic pontoons under it. The sun must have heated the black plastic because there were tons of fish of several species just under the plastic. We sat there for about an hour and a half and caught about 25 jacks in the 1-2 lb range, a half dozen sheepshead, 3 mangrove snapper and a nice fat 28" red.
It was tough fishing, but still had a blast. Even thought i only caught one red, it was worth it, It definitely gave me a ride in the kayak!!
I woke up Sunday to a sunnier and calmer day. I waited until afternoon to let things warm up a bit. I went to the same flat and it was a negative tide, which I like because it really pushes the fish in the holes and ledges. I paddled up to a nice cut in the flat, casted a jig out and BAM! big ol redfish! Taped her at just under 28" and let her swim, 2 more hours of fishing resulted in 1 bluefish! I spotted a nice school of reds, but they didn't want anything to do with my offerings.
Monday headed out with my buddy on a boat, Jenn joined my this time. We headed to the same cut, found a nice school in it and we tossed out some shrimp and waited. Finally my wifes line took off and landed her first red right at 27"! It was a blast to watch her fight it!
We dropped Jenn off and headed to a canal that the snook like to flock to when it gets cold. We fished it hard, but no bites, but we spooked SEVERAL snook in the 35-40+ inch range, true giants for the gulf! But they were just not in the mood. Finally found a dock with black plastic pontoons under it. The sun must have heated the black plastic because there were tons of fish of several species just under the plastic. We sat there for about an hour and a half and caught about 25 jacks in the 1-2 lb range, a half dozen sheepshead, 3 mangrove snapper and a nice fat 28" red.
It was tough fishing, but still had a blast. Even thought i only caught one red, it was worth it, It definitely gave me a ride in the kayak!!