Trout prowl the oyster-laden shorelines.

On incoming tides, creekmouths are fish magnets. In addition to Pellicer Creek, Moses Creek flows into the marsh and enters the ICW about a mile north of State Road 206. Jacks, bluefish and ladyfish feed with abandon as the rising water moves across the flats and funnels baitfish, shrimp and crabs into these tributaries. For access to the marsh lying closer to Matanzas Inlet and Moses Creek, you will want to use the ramp at Devil’s Elbow Fish Camp. It is also possible to launch a canoe or kayak from alongside either end of the SR 206 Bridge, but this can be difficult during lower tides.

You have several options as the water level approaches full tide. Jim Webb, who has fished these waters since his youth, prefers to stay on the outer edges of the marsh with a kayak or canoe and fish just inside the flooded grass. Jim notes, “You can cast a soft-plastic jerkbait into the grass and retrieve it without getting hung up. Trout and redfish are back there to feed and will jump a jerkbait right now.” He cautions, however that “you have to pay close attention to what your line is doing because you’re bumping into a lot of grass and often pulling it right through a clump. The tug you get doesn’t feel that much different from when a fish bites.” That is, unless you see a bronze-backed red boil on the bait.

Coastal creeks flowing through the marsh also have a lot to offer, especially in cooler months. Matanzas Inlet is near the northern limit for snook on the east coast of Florida. During winter, snook here typically use deeper holes in the coastal creeks to ride out the cold. Come early spring, they join seatrout in moving out of the creeks and back to the outer edges of the marsh.

An angler moving up the creek with an incoming tide at this time of year is likely to cross paths with a significant migration of snook or trout. Where you find one, you’re going to find several. I prefer to use jigs with a soft-plastic body or 3-inch soft, freshwater tube lures that look remarkably like shrimp.

Redfish frequently move only a short distance up the creeks, typically no farther than where you stop seeing oyster bars. They feed best when the water is flowing hard, on either incoming or outgoing tides. Since you will be fishing over and around oyster bars, a topwater lure, single-hook spoon or soft-plastic jerkbait rigged weedless are excellent choices.

On an outgoing tide, move out in front of the creekmouths and wait as forage is funneled onto the flats. In addition to redfish, trout and flounder that make up what is commonly referred to as a “slam” in Northeast Florida, you can also catch bluefish, jacks and ladyfish. All are good sport on light tackle.

Another ploy is to move up and down alongside the marsh on the outgoing tide, casting back to the edge of the grasses. As the water retreats from the grass, a variety of small crustaceans and baitfish flush into open water. Redfish and trout patrol the edges of the grass while flounder lie in wait to ambush unsuspecting prey on the outgoing tide.

As water levels fall, retreat from the creeks and fish the oyster bars that begin to emerge on the flats. The water will soon be flowing around them instead of over them and channels will again become obvious. Remember to retrieve your lures and live bait in the direction the water is moving.