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Left out of the ramp at the fort at dark-thirty. Third truck in the lot. Very cold run out to favorite rocky areas a few miles south / southeast of the rock garden. Knew the sea bass would be there on the early morning falling tide. Was thinking about ceviche the whole time.

Wrong. Nothing. Threw everything, cut mullet, shrimp, squid, bucktails, not a bite. Lockjaw was in full effect.

Ran back up to Port Leon Creek and then St. Marks past the power plant and was also greeted with lots of nothing.

Went to a deep hole close to Shields and found the trout. Lots of small ones, a few nice ones, lost two monsters at the boat. A ton of fun anyway. Noticed four boats trolling for trout and they were catching a lot more than us. Looked like they were using chartreuse paddle-tails.

Had a great early supper at Riverside to end the day. Always impressed with the service there. And the onion rings were superb. Obviously homemade and not dumped out of a bag into the grease.

Ya'll stay warm tonight!

I bet they are thick in the river after the next two days of cold....

You weren't alone. I had the same plan and the same luck. I can't believe the rock bass weren't biting. I didn't think it was possible.

Fishin' was tough yesterday. Went to my closest RB hole and only got 4-5 barely legal. Made the run to the fartherest hole that always produces,
did get about a dozen nice ones, but had to work hard for'em

Noticed four boats trolling for trout and they were catching a lot more than us. Looked like they were using chartreuse paddle-tails.

That's the first I have heard of folks trolling for them around here. I lived near Jacksonville for a while, fished with my uncle who grew up there...that was the only way the old-timers seemed to fish for them in the winter. Most days they slayed them once they located them. I was wondering if it worked around here as well...sounds like it’s worth a try.

youngbearman wrote:

Noticed four boats trolling for trout and they were catching a lot more than us. Looked like they were using chartreuse paddle-tails.

That's the first I have heard of folks trolling for them around here. I lived near Jacksonville for a while, fished with my uncle who grew up there...that was the only way the old-timers seemed to fish for them in the winter. Most days they slayed them once they located them. I was wondering if it worked around here as well...sounds like it’s worth a try.

I guess you have never been to the st marks river in the winter. Lots,and I mean lots of folks troll up and down the river. Paddle tails, lipped plugs and spoons are popular.

Do you mean...lots? Your right, I’m not big on crowds. Where would you get live pinfish or sardines this time of year?