Fernandina Beach to Flagler Beach
Includes Jacksonville and St. Augustine.

Feb. 5-7

Offshore

Last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were just picture perfect days to get out and try the Gulf Stream for wahoo. A few were caught, but water temperature drops and full moon hampered the bite. At least one boat left the pack and trolled waters way north to bag 5 wahoo. Steve from C&H Lures worked his butt off to get three wahoo high-speed trolling in the Gulf Stream. Most fish were in the 30- to 40-poundrange. The next chance to get out will be early Monday and Tuesday, so make your plans because there won't be a full moon to blame and water temps should stabilize.

C&H Lures reports seabass are hot and heavy at most wrecks—CH or FS for example. Mike Williamson and Thad Penland did not let a slow wahoo bite ruin there trip—they fished near the 50-mile range to load the cooler with limits of seabass and triggerfish.

AC Charters, out of Fernandina, reports seabass are on fire at wrecks at least 17 miles out; limits are no problem. A few oversize redfish are also on wrecks—don’t remove them from the water if you don’t have to. Avid Angler bait and tackle reports fair wahoo fishing off their shores (St. Augustine) and decent seabass at most wrecks starting 20 miles out.

Steve from C&H Lures will be hosting a wahoo seminar on Tuesday Feb. 16th at 7:00 pm at Dicks Wings in the Pablo Plaza. Chip Davis, owner and avid angler, deserves credit for introducing a platform that allows the best local anglers to teach other anglers. These planned events are well worth attending to give you an edge next time you get out.

Inshore

Last week had some beautiful days and low tides. Light winds and clear water made for some good sight-fishing opportunities for redfish. But fishing was challenging. Talking to Capt. John Eggers (rocknreelcharters.net), he went stealthy and push-poled his clients on schools of redfish off the Intracoastal. Though he mostly uses artificial lures for redfish, on these full moon days Eggers tossed live shrimp on a jighead. Eggers said he lets the baits settle on the bottom for redfish to pick them up. Most redfish would just swim over and not even take the live shrimp on these tough days. How frustrating!

I had my own troubles drifting redfish schools, to watch them swim off when a lure was cast in front of them. Surprisingly, I noticed some large flounder spooking off the mudflats. With spring around the corner, cranking a spinnerbait over large, shallow mudflats would be a good idea this month. I ran away from the mudflats and did better off main river rock banks, using grubs to find redfish that would eat. Closed trout season is in full force until March. You can still catch-and-release; clamping barbs on all hooks can make trout survival much higher. Besides, a quick release gets you on the next bite faster.

AC Charters reports whiting have turned on in the surf at Main Beach, American Bach and the south end. I like the freshest shrimp I can get. Use long rods, with plenty of line to make that long cast when needed. Local pompano expert Larry Finch is a mainstay at all the Florida Sportsman Fishing Shows and he will happily answer all your questions about surf fishing.

Black drum are still bending rods wherever there is deep water and hard bottom. Creeks, the Intracoastal and main river areas have been good. Limits are plentiful from so many different creeks that I can say, without a doubt, drum are on. Good eating and a good fight, try these guys out. Simple bottom rigs with quartered crab or dead shrimp will work just find.

Avid Angler bait and tackle, from St. Augustine, reports black drum and sheepshead are around bridge pilings (especially Lions, 312 and Vilano). North river deeper holes have been consistent for black drum. I like the mouth of Casa Cola Creek as a personal drum area. Devil’s Elbow, from south St. Augustine, reports schools of redfish and black drum on mudflats. Fish seem to like their own personal areas of the flats. Pelicer flats are a prime area to try. Matanzas Bridge is producing decent whiting and sheepshead catches. This has always been a good public area to fish with a nice view to boot.

Protest at Washington D.C.

Captain Vic, of vic2fish.com, is going to Washington D.C. on Feb. 23 to march in favor of recreational fishing rights, in particular the right to harvest offshore bottom species like red snapper and gag grouper. If you are interested, there is a bus that is part of a shared expense package. Please contact Capt. Vic for trip details.

Have a good super bowl weekend and make time to go fishing!

bumptroutmaster@gmail.com | www.captainrogerbump.com

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