St. Marks 6/2

[tin can]

Launched at the lighthouse at 0730 this morning. Headed to an area west of the channel I haven't fished in some time. Water temp was 81 degrees this morning. The wind was out of the northeast early. The water was a little stained. The bottom was visible up to 4'. All my fish were caught in 3' to 4' of water.

Started catching a few fish immediately. The bite was slow early. Around 1000, 30 minutes after low tide, the wind switched to the southeast. Then the bite was on. Caught fish continually until the high tide at around 1330.

The Cajun Thunder was the preferred bait of the day. I caught a few fish early on a White with red head catch 2000. Lost a 2000 to a large lady fish. Tied on another one and threw it for a while. When I switch to the Cajun Thunder, and fished it slow, the bite was continuous, near every cast.

Fished until 1430 with not many fish after the tide turned. Water temp was up to 84 when I loaded up.

Catch of the day:

Several lady fish, some as much as 30" long
6 bluefish
1 small pompano
6 Stockwells
I quit counting trout. I would estimate over 100, with 8 over 20". The larest was 25". Only 4 shorts all day.

The bite was on this morning, but you had to fish slow.

A very pleasant day on the water, and I was off the water when the storm hit.

[Chalk]

Sounds like a fishing tale to me.... ..WTG...

[tin can]

You should know as well as anyone, I always do well when it doesn't count.

[birddog]

Very nice. WTG.

[tin can]

I forgot to mention all fish were released to fight again another day.

[Tom Keels]

Plus your boat got washed.

[Aucilla]

OK! Stupid Question Time! I have fished with a CT plenty of times, but I am only just now getting into artificials. My experience with jigs and lures is very recent and limited, and I have never used a CT with them. So, when do you use a CT with a jig [when it works!]? How long a leader? Do you therefore NOT bounce the jig on the bottom? And what about with a lure like a Yo-zuri silver minnow or a Rattlin' Bug?

I know this is a whole can of worms, but I needs ta know!!

[CSMarine]

Eight fish over 20 inches! That's outstanding fishing TC.

[wevans]

OK! Stupid Question Time! I have fished with a CT plenty of times, but I am only just now getting into artificials. My experience with jigs and lures is very recent and limited, and I have never used a CT with them. So, when do you use a CT with a jig [when it works!]? How long a leader? Do you therefore NOT bounce the jig on the bottom? And what about with a lure like a Yo-zuri silver minnow or a Rattlin' Bug?

I know this is a whole can of worms, but I needs ta know!!

Ifin ya come to the Bash this weekend in C'Belle, you will get not only answers, but demonstrations

[ALMAR]

BOY THAT SOUNDS GREAT, IF ANYONE CAN CATCH THEM TROUTS IT IS YOU. GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO FIND THEM. I HAVEN'T FISHED TO THE WEST IN A LONG ,LONG TIME. MAYBE I SHOULD TRY THAT AREA ON THE MOON ONE NIGHT. GLAD YA GOT INTO THEM.
PA

[EddieJoe]

TC:

Fabulous day of trout catching. I have found that right before a storm or front moves in the trout (and other fish) bit like crazy.

Great report.

EJ

[dbplug]

Tough to beat TC, glad you were able to go.

[tin can]

Aucilla, it's rare for me to use live bait. I almost always use artificials under a CT. I use a 1/4 oz. jig head and some sort of soft plastic. No one is going to believe I wasn't throwing chartreuse today, but I was using a Reaction Lures Bayou Chub Minnow. The color was electric chicken. In an attemp to answer your questions, leader length varies from day to day. Today I settled in on a 3' leader. This kept the bait off of the bottom. I try different length leaders until I find what works. I've used as short as 12", and as long as 5 ft. I've never tried using hard baits under a CT, but I'm sure it would catch fish. I have used weightless soft plastic jerk baits, DOA's, and freshwater bass worms. I usually use a 3" to 4" grub or minnow.

All that said, there is no wrong way to use a CT. It's the most versatile bait setup you can use. I vary my retrieve until I start getting bites. Today I would let it sit 8 to 10 seconds between jerks.

There is no doubt a CT rig will catch fish. I would suggest you experiment and find what works for you. If you spend some time learning to fish a CT you'll quit fishing with live bait. But don't throw your other artificials away. Today was the first day I've had this year that a CT out produced hard baits.

One last comment. Anything works when they're biting!

[Chalk]

Them rattl'n corks are good another way too, just leave it alone and let it sit there, dragging behind the boat... make sure you have it tied down...I have had some violent strikes fishing it that way, if you call it fishing.

I haven't done much with CTs this year, them hard baits have been too good to me this year.

Still a nice report....

[tin can]

Chalk, I couldn't get the hard baits past the lady fish today. I think there's more, and bigger, lady fish out there than I've ever encountered.