St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Use this area to post inshore fishing reports from the area. Please try to include relevant information such as:
Location, date, time, water conditions, weather conditions, baits, techniques, species caught, etc.
Image

Moderators: bman, Tom Keels, Chalk

Mook!
Site Sponsor
Posts: 537
Joined: May 5th, 2007, 7:13 am
Location: Tallamahassee, FL

St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by Mook! »

Had to think a minute 'bout where to put this one. Decided since we set out planning on huntin reds agian, I'd put it here. Got out around 6:30 - 7:00 Sunday. Had to put in at shields cause there wasn't enough water at the fort to get mojo's boat off the trailer with the wheels on the edge of the concrete. It's the least water I've ever seen. Wind was ripping just like the previous day, maybe even worse. It was also a little bit cold out. The weather drove us up the Wakulla lookin for any place with warmer water and maybe some kind of flow or creek. Asked everyone we passed on the river if they got anything, only had one boat out of about a dozen tell us they caught anything at all, and I'm pretty sure they were crappie fishing.

We ended up going clear up near the 98 bridge where we saw some reds last weekend. I got the first fish of the day on a 7" curt-tail Mookbait, and the second fish 2 casts later on the same rig.

Image

Lots of fish around there but none of the saltwater type we like so much, so we worked our way down the river, hoping some of our favorite spots between the fort and lighthouse would be accessible. They weren't - I'd estimate the predicted +2.6 high tide turned out to be more like -0.5 or so at the highest all day.

We were forced to fish where we could find water, which limited the choices horribly. went up and down St Marks and Wakulla all day having to move slow since there was no water anywhere and all sorts of new hazards popped up here and there. We couldn't resist the urge to check out the river mouth around high tide; the oyster bars looked like mountains from the low water, and by the way there is (was?) a whole tree laid up on Spray Bar - we saw it floting down river last weekend and it moved maybe half a mile that day. We saw it Saturday and Sunday high and dry on Spray Bar this weekend. Beware if you should head out toward the west sandbar across from the bird rack, as I imagine it will continue to head south as soon as there's wnough water to get it off that bar.

Anyway, wind and lack of water made it another bad day. Close to sunset we fished around the shallow area across from Shell Island and I popped a couple more bass with a Zara Super Spook Jr. (same one I caught my 30" redfish on last weekend). Ended the day with 4 keeper ... bass?!?!?

Image

Took my boat out again today just for a few hours, more to check on the motor and new tach and whatnot than for fishing. Water was 1.5 - 2 feet higher than yesterday but still somewhat low for good fishing. Winds hadn't let up much and it was gustier today. Didn't spend a whole lot of time with lines in the water. We did go up one creek off the St Marks not far south of the fort and saw a whole bunch of mullet and a few reds, but the tide was going out fast and we didn't want to be stuck up there without a paddle, so we had to leave them. Got some hits on topwater around the graslines near the fort around sunset, but no catches today. Overall, this was the absolute worst fishing 3-day weekend I can remember.
Mookbait! At least 401 times better than live bait!

He who have signature line make bigger post.
User avatar
jsuber
Site Sponsor
Posts: 3352
Joined: January 12th, 2006, 2:57 pm

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by jsuber »

At least you caught some nice fish. Better than ice fishing up North, so count your blessings.
Image
User avatar
Chalk
Moderator
Posts: 9550
Joined: March 9th, 2002, 7:00 pm
Location: 30° 13' N, 85° 40' W
Contact:

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by Chalk »

Nice Bhass :thumbup: :thumbup:
User avatar
Barhopr
Site Sponsor
Posts: 3738
Joined: September 25th, 2006, 10:21 pm
Location: Bainbridge/Beacon Hill

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by Barhopr »

least you went and caught fish :thumbup:
VIVA la BT

Image_______________Image
User avatar
RodBow
Site Sponsor
Posts: 2074
Joined: March 14th, 2004, 9:53 am
Location: Tallahassee (native)

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by RodBow »

I too saw the floating cypress log with knob last Saturday upriver from the fort.
I thought seriously about lassoing it but since it had a crabtrap float on it - thought I'd leave well enough alone... didn't want to look like I was taunting the local crabbers messing with one of their traps :-?

Guess I should have thrown caution to the wind and latched hold of it.. but then what to do with it?

I think I'll save my trips for spring but on tourney days.

I haven't ever seen the fort like you described being that low... must have been LOW!
use your opportunities ...

218 Carolina Skiff
25 Bayliner Deck
User avatar
tin can
Site Sponsor
Posts: 10124
Joined: May 6th, 2002, 8:00 pm
Location: Tallahassee, Florida

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by tin can »

That's die hard. :thumbup:

Way to hang in there and make lemonade out of lemons.
What was I supposed to do today?
User avatar
wevans
Site Sponsor
Posts: 10244
Joined: June 12th, 2002, 11:06 am
Location: Sopchoppy

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by wevans »

Them Bass is goodddd eatin :thumbup: it was tuff catchin a fish most everywhere this weekend :smt012 :beer:
“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
Image
DixieReb
Site Sponsor
Posts: 2072
Joined: April 26th, 2003, 6:27 pm
Location: Moultrie,Ga.

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by DixieReb »

:thumbup: :thumbup: Not bad a-tallll.Good to know there's still bass way up river.
Yours in the South
User avatar
mojokoko
Posts: 597
Joined: October 7th, 2003, 5:52 pm

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by mojokoko »

You're really starting to make me look bad.....

:smt102
Team Diehard -> Will Fish on an Inner-tube with a small craft advisory. Booyah
Proud member of the AKL
Mook!
Site Sponsor
Posts: 537
Joined: May 5th, 2007, 7:13 am
Location: Tallamahassee, FL

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by Mook! »

Mojo - post up those pictures you took of the fort sans-water when we drove by on the way out from Shields.
Mookbait! At least 401 times better than live bait!

He who have signature line make bigger post.
User avatar
mojokoko
Posts: 597
Joined: October 7th, 2003, 5:52 pm

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by mojokoko »

I hate you.

:smt005
Team Diehard -> Will Fish on an Inner-tube with a small craft advisory. Booyah
Proud member of the AKL
User avatar
SHOWBOAT
Site Sponsor
Posts: 2627
Joined: March 7th, 2006, 9:12 pm
Location: Tallahassee, FL

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by SHOWBOAT »

nice report Mook; way to tough it out.

Careful with those gloves; treble hooks and gloves can be a bad combo.
In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. And we will understand only what we are taught.
flounderpounder
Site Sponsor
Posts: 728
Joined: December 21st, 2006, 7:23 pm
Location: Oyster Bay, Florida

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by flounderpounder »

Tough trip guys and a brutal weekend for fishing. Whats all the hype around this signature lure of yours? Do tell. :thumbup: :beer:
Image
Image
Mook!
Site Sponsor
Posts: 537
Joined: May 5th, 2007, 7:13 am
Location: Tallamahassee, FL

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by Mook! »

flounderpounder wrote:Tough trip guys and a brutal weekend for fishing. Whats all the hype around this signature lure of yours? Do tell. :thumbup: :beer:
I'm not aware of any hype - but they say if you want something done right...yada yada yada
Mookbait! At least 401 times better than live bait!

He who have signature line make bigger post.
User avatar
mojokoko
Posts: 597
Joined: October 7th, 2003, 5:52 pm

Re: St. Marks / Wakulla 2008.01.20-21

Post by mojokoko »

Where can you get one of these MookBaits?
Team Diehard -> Will Fish on an Inner-tube with a small craft advisory. Booyah
Proud member of the AKL
Post Reply