Fishing Report - Jack Crevalle, Trout, Sheepshead, Mangrove Snapper 8-25-12

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Tide: fished last of incoming then beginning of Out-going
Time Fished: 7:00 am - 10:00m
M.F.-6:20 AM
Partly Cloudy
Wind: NE at 8-12 mph

Other Observations: The water was pretty clear coming in but one it started out it turned red brown from the freshwater runoff. It does not seem to be bothering the fish.

Catch:
-(1) Jacks Crevalle
-(0) Trout  (3 Trout short strikes)
-(4) Mangrove Snapper
-(2) Sheepshead, small

Though I got into some pretty good action with dad Friday morning in Ormond, I couldn't stop thinking about the great top water bit that I found up near Marineland the morning before. My plan was to be on the water about daylight and work them over before the bite turned off.

Unfortunately, the fish were not striking bait on top like I had hoped . In fact I saw only a little top water striking action but I managed to get a good bit of attention on my 5M51 MirrOlure. I had three trout strikes where the trout came completely out of the water. I caught a Jack first thing and had one real good fish on that ran for deep water and really pulled, only to tear off 10 feet from the boat.

I had another 4-5 fish on that came off pretty quick and a number of other strikes and follows.

Though I love to fish top water I have to admit that you will not catch nearly as many fish that you will sub-surface. That's just the way it is. Many end up foul hooked outside the mouth and end up tearing off the hook.

I did catch 3-4 Mangrove Snapper and 2 sheepshead on fiddler crabs but all were small and below the legal minimum so they received a stay of execution.

 

 

One more interesting thing was the Ribbon fish were still around and I got to see them chasing bait and leaping completely out of the water. I clipped a photo out of the video of a ribbon fish in mid air. Pretty wild!

There is a ton of bait in the river right now and it looks like there is no shortage of fish feeding on them.

The wind was a pain in the neck but all in all it was a decent trip.

 Trout strike that also missed the plug!

 

 Trout strike, jumped completely over the plug! Never even touched it!

Larry S.

Fishing Report - Jacks, Mangrove Snapper, Trout 8-23-12

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Tide: Tail end of Out-going
Time Fished: 8:00 am - 10:00m
M.F.-4:30 AM
Partly Cloudy
Wind: SW at 2-4 mph

Other Observations:

Catch:
-(6) Jack Crevalle
-(1) Trout
-(1) small mangrove snapper, (finally crossed up a legal one).
-(1) Ribbon Fish!!!!

I put in at the launch north of Marineland again this morning. I was running a little late but probably got on the water by 8:00 AM. That was late and had I been there at daylight I could have easily had a 20 fish day!

I brought a plug rod with me this morning due to the top water action I saw the last time I was there. Boy did that turn out to be a winning idea.

As soon as I got within sight of my destination I could see fish chasing small bait on top and striking.
The top water action was some of the best I have seen in a while. They were not large fish but it made for some pretty good fishing.

Most of the fish were small schooling jacks but even a small jack can stretch your line! I saw several fish feeding in the mix that would jump completely out of the water and something told me they were ribbon fish though I had never seen them feed like this before.

I had the GoPro camera running and had just made a cast. I started to say I have never caught a ribbon fish before but before I could get the whole sentence out.....wham! Fish on! You guesses it, a Ribbon fish about 30" long had been fooled by my 27MR MirrorLure.



I found out a Ribbon fish can really jump!

There was almost a constant top water strike going on for the 2 hours that I was there and on a super low tide no less.

I did catch one keeper Mangrove Snapper on a fiddler crab but no sheepshead could I find.

about 10:00 I decided I needed to get going and said o.k., last cast. about 20' from the boat a nice little trout blew up on the MR though he was a little short of a keeper.

I had one nice fish break off and rob me of a $8 MirrOdine

My Dad had fish the intracoastal down in Ormond this morning and landed (3) nice trout on live croakers. One was a super nice Trout that weighed right at 5 lbs.

 That's one trophy Trout!

I have been promising him I would fish with him one morning so I guess that is my destination for in the morning.

Larry S.