Time to nab some tasty sea bass
The St. Johns River and area lakes Transition, that’s what the pros call it. And we’re in one. It was a pretty good bet that the speckled perch would begin their first real spawn on the full moon last night. That may still occur. But the warm spell we’re enjoying may slow things down in that regard. There’s really not telling, though. Just go to your favorite spots and drop a jig or minnow. The largemouth bass bite has improved all week, as it should. This is the transition time when bass want to head to the beds to spawn. What they’re doing right now is gorging if they can, laying on enough weight to make it through the spawn. The springs off Lake George are beginning to attract a few spawners – but a lot more anglers. Some of the warmer coves would be a good place to look for both feeding and spawning bass right now. The bream bite is OK. There are some stripers being caught outside the springs in Lake George. The Intracoastal Waterway
It’s been a little slow with all the weird wind and warm weather. Black drum and sheepshead will be the most consistent bite this weekend. The trout are scattered and the reds are on the small side. The 312 Bridge is a good place to look for the sheepshead. The whiting bite has been excellent in the inlet – lousy on the beaches - and should continue to be good throughout the weekend. The Atlantic
The offshore fishing has been good on the few days the boats can make that 45-mile run. The wahoo bite has been better from due east of the inlet and north. Those crews fishing south had a lot slower days. The farther north you go, the better the fishing has been – especially for the blackfin tuna. Fernandina has been excellent. You’ll go through 10 bonito to get one tuna, but the action’s good. The black sea bass bite will be very good bet for the weekend. They’re what we call greenheads locally; big ones. With all the closures in place the sea bass are just about the only game in town other than ringtail porgies. You don’t need bait. Two-ounce jigs will kill them. C&H’s Alien Jigs have been especially deadly – in both white and chartreuse. And in jigging them, less is best. A little twitch a few inches off the bottom and you’re set. Weather
Winds will be northerly all weekend at 10 to 15 knots. Seas will be 2 to 3 feet; bigger out past 20 miles. Calendar The GTM Research Reserve, 505 Guana River Road in Ponte Vedra Beach, hosts two programs this month. On Jan. 20 the there is a biodiversity program and field trip for observation. On Jan. 22 learn the art and science of tracking wildlife. Participants will find, identify, document and interpret animal tracks, scrapes and scat on the Guana Research Reserve lands; including bobcat, gator, raccoon, coyote, deer, hog, possum, turkey, squirrel and otter. 823-4500 Cast Off Fishing Tournament is Jan. 22 out of the Conch House Marina in St. Augustine. Participants can fish from shore, piers or boats. Eligible species include redfish, black drum, trout, flounder and sheepshead. A weigh-in and oyster roast will begin at 1 p.m. Entry donation for the event is a minimum of $25. The event benefits the American Cancer Society.825-0566 Public hearings on several fisheries issues will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Jacksonville Marriot Hotel, 4670 Salisbury Rd. in Jacksonville. The hearings are on three separate amendments. Most importantly, annual catch limits on the snapper/grouper management complex, dolphin and wahoo will be discussed – along with discussions on Catch Share initiatives in South Atlantic waters. 296-2222. A Day in Old Florida will be celebrated Feb. 19 at Faver-Dykes State Park south of St. Augustine. The event features living history demonstrations including pine needle basketry, a 1700s Trapper Trader Camp, blacksmithing, a Timucuan Native American display and a demonstration on the art of mullet net knitting. Special children’s programs will be provided all day. There will also be interpretive programs scheduled such as birding and wagon tours of the park(386) 446-6783
The annual speckled perch tournament at Pacetti’s Campground and Marina on Trout Creek is Feb. 19. Entry fee is $50 per boat with a maximum of three anglers and eight poles per boat. Check-in starts at 5:30 a.m. and fishing begins at 7 a.m. Weigh-in begins at 2:30 p.m. First place pays half of the entry pot. Second place pays 30 percent and third pays 20 percent. There’s a $10 optional big fish pot as well.522-1374Read More ...
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