Feb 18, 2008

By | February 18, 2008

Winter is quickly slipping by. Some good reports of redfish in Warsaw. Most of the catches were ten fish or less. Winter can be a tricky time to fish. Days when the water just appears to raise and fall can be difficult to fish. Little current means fish aren’t as likely to move and cold water means fish aren’t as eager to feed. Noise on days with little current can be another big factor. Seek spots where there is more current such as creeks, creek mouths and heads. Where you find current a food chain is possible.

This week we’ve caught some nice seatrout and redfish. Most of the were on Glups (only caught a few on bait – mud minnows and shrimp). Glups aren’t the only plastic that will catch fish but this week we leaned on them. My suggestion is fish a couple of different plastic as well as a Glup. Switch to Glup if it is out performing the other. One day we did well on Glups. The following day we pitched a Booyah Boogee Bait, Bass Assassin jerk worms and Glups. All caught fish. Nonetheless, it’s hard to get away from a Glup when you’re thinking the bites might be few. The Booyah Bait is large mouth bass bait and should be excellent for stripers, redfish and trout. The bait pushes a lot water can be slow or fast, white color, good wide gap hook. Very good all purpose bait.

Not a lot of reports. Most of the fishing has been those targeting sheepshead on near shore wrecks as well as by inshore fishermen. Tides the last few days were good for those targeting sheepshead. The inshore catches have been respectable but most of the fish are small with a few bigger ones thrown in..

As weather warmed caught some large seatrout on plastic fishing the heads of creeks. The bite wasn’t fantastic but have had several in the three pound range. For the most part the bites weren’t aggressive rather a small bump or bumps. A fast hook set will likely mean you’ll miss a fish. As temperature continue to raise anticipate a faster harder bite.

This time of porpoises can be problem. If after an hour or so on a favorite mud flat you detect no life you might as well take your chance and look elsewhere. It’s likely porpoises have already worked over the flat you’re trying to fish. Just because a flat looks beautiful doesn’t mean it’s holding fish. Fish move. It’s not uncommon in the winter to have incredible bite one day and nothing the next. Winter fish can be very spooky and will tolerate only so much pressure from fishermen or porpoises. During the winter keep your eye pealed for any sign of bait. Popping finger mullet can give away seatrout or redfish. Fishing during the winter is a little tricky. On the other hand you’ll likely have the river all to yourself and never know you could have a great day that could rival fishing at anytime of the year!

Larry of Larry’s bait shop (912.272.7339) in Port Wenworth is now carrying fiddler crabs. Larry’s is the only local shop with shrimp and one of the few shops open. Nonetheless it’s still winter. Call ahead to make sure he still has bait. This is a difficult time to find bait and stay stocked. He’s done a great doing what he’s done. Local fishermen need to show their support. Shrimping is a tough business. Winter is a particularly tough time of year to be on the water.

Hope several of you who are reading this report were at Miss Judy’s Inshore seminar on Saturday Feb.16th. and plan on attending next year! Fun day with lots of story told!

Hope this of help! Good Fishing! Capt. Jack McGowan