St. Joe Bay 5/30-6/1
Posted: June 2nd, 2008, 3:21 pm
Went down in hopes of good fishing/light winds and thats exactly what we found. Friday morning we started in the head of the bay trying to catch some redfish. Pat (FinsNGrins) boated a nice 25 1/2 incher right up near shore. We lost several others and saw several others smashing bait on top, but we gave up and headed around the point knowing their would be clear water due to the east ish winds.
We found clear water, pompano, and a redfish or two on the beach but couldn't hook up with any because of the hot ladyfish bite.
Headed back into the bay with a livewell full of greenbacks and tried to use them. Fished outside of where we caught the redfish that morning in about 2 1/2 feet and got them fired up with some live chum. I caught one that went around 22" and lost another one. Pat left his rod in the rod holder and got broke off cork and all. Came back to the same area late in the afternoon at low tide for some topwater action. The bite was strong for about 20 minutes. We were getting blown up by redfish and big trout during that time period almost every cast. I couldn't keep anything buttoned except small trout, but Pat boated two nice reds.
Saturday morning went pretty slow like Friday morning but Pat once again was able to boat another nice redfish. Saw a few more and lost a few more.
Called it quits fairly early that morning and made a mistake that ended up being crucial to our success that afternoon. Left the flats barge too close to shore and took a 30 minute siesta. Tried to push it off but all we got was pulled muscles. We got a lift from a friend that brought his boat down. He dropped us off in the middle of nowhere at around 5:15 pm to do some wading. It was low tide again in the exact location where we had so much action on topwater the afternoon before, and also the location where we saw an 8' bull shark the day before. Fished for 20 minutes with no luck until I noticed some extremely nervous water approaching from the north at around 200 yards. As is got closer I started seeing little red fins sticking up and reality struck me. There was a school of 150-200 tailing redfish coming right for Pat and I. I yelled at pat who was about 50 yards from me to give him heads up. Pat had two rods, one with topwater and one with a gulp jerkbait. All I had at the time was one rod with topwater rigged. I waited and waited until these fish were about 30 to 40 feet away from me. They got so close I could see the spots on their tails and became extremely intimidated. I held off on casting until they got in range for Pat because I didn't want to spook them. Pat hooked up immediately and the school dispersed into three different directions. I tried to hook up as they were fleeing to no avail. Pat ended up catching 5 slot reds that afternoon and a couple of trout. All I caught was a ladyfish and left with the most incredible humbling fishing experience I have had and will not soon forget. The biggest fish was around 26" caught on topwater.
Sunday morning we were greeted by no wind, glass smooth waters, few boats and killer noseeums. We started on the shorelines in from where we caught them the day before and immediately started seeing wakes. I pitched to the first one that was about 20 feet from the boat and hooked up. A good 24". Continued working down the shoreline picking off 7 one after another by sightcasting to their wakes. Spooked some that were in a huge school sitting still right on the grass edge. All fish boated were between 19"-24". I redeemed myself with 4 of the 7. One of my most memorable trips down there after fishing the bay my whole life. Can't wait till next time.
We found clear water, pompano, and a redfish or two on the beach but couldn't hook up with any because of the hot ladyfish bite.
Headed back into the bay with a livewell full of greenbacks and tried to use them. Fished outside of where we caught the redfish that morning in about 2 1/2 feet and got them fired up with some live chum. I caught one that went around 22" and lost another one. Pat left his rod in the rod holder and got broke off cork and all. Came back to the same area late in the afternoon at low tide for some topwater action. The bite was strong for about 20 minutes. We were getting blown up by redfish and big trout during that time period almost every cast. I couldn't keep anything buttoned except small trout, but Pat boated two nice reds.
Saturday morning went pretty slow like Friday morning but Pat once again was able to boat another nice redfish. Saw a few more and lost a few more.
Called it quits fairly early that morning and made a mistake that ended up being crucial to our success that afternoon. Left the flats barge too close to shore and took a 30 minute siesta. Tried to push it off but all we got was pulled muscles. We got a lift from a friend that brought his boat down. He dropped us off in the middle of nowhere at around 5:15 pm to do some wading. It was low tide again in the exact location where we had so much action on topwater the afternoon before, and also the location where we saw an 8' bull shark the day before. Fished for 20 minutes with no luck until I noticed some extremely nervous water approaching from the north at around 200 yards. As is got closer I started seeing little red fins sticking up and reality struck me. There was a school of 150-200 tailing redfish coming right for Pat and I. I yelled at pat who was about 50 yards from me to give him heads up. Pat had two rods, one with topwater and one with a gulp jerkbait. All I had at the time was one rod with topwater rigged. I waited and waited until these fish were about 30 to 40 feet away from me. They got so close I could see the spots on their tails and became extremely intimidated. I held off on casting until they got in range for Pat because I didn't want to spook them. Pat hooked up immediately and the school dispersed into three different directions. I tried to hook up as they were fleeing to no avail. Pat ended up catching 5 slot reds that afternoon and a couple of trout. All I caught was a ladyfish and left with the most incredible humbling fishing experience I have had and will not soon forget. The biggest fish was around 26" caught on topwater.
Sunday morning we were greeted by no wind, glass smooth waters, few boats and killer noseeums. We started on the shorelines in from where we caught them the day before and immediately started seeing wakes. I pitched to the first one that was about 20 feet from the boat and hooked up. A good 24". Continued working down the shoreline picking off 7 one after another by sightcasting to their wakes. Spooked some that were in a huge school sitting still right on the grass edge. All fish boated were between 19"-24". I redeemed myself with 4 of the 7. One of my most memorable trips down there after fishing the bay my whole life. Can't wait till next time.
