Inshore Report
Fall bite inshore for red fish, spotted sea trout, and flounder is pretty darn good….live shrimp, mud minnows, and artificial shrimp patterns are head turners for these fish…please know that as the water cools down so does the way a fish feeds in some cases they are in the wide open mode eating everything while other times it take a bite of finesse to catch them..as long as you have this information on board you won’t get a frustrated ..the bottom line to all of this uncertainty is sooner or later on most any given day these fish have to feed to survive…because time is running out due to the fact water temperatures are in a daily cooling mode…
Water temperatures are getting cooler everyday!
Water temperatures have started that downward swirl, which means it going to drop a little each week. And it also means that we still will have hot days and yes the water temperatures will temporally heat up, but as I said, it’s only temporary. Here’s the thing that we fishermen need to know about this situation:
As the water temperature drops whether or not its stays that way continuously fish know cooler water temperatures are on the way. Fish that migrate during this time start making plans. Those fish that do not migrate have to go into that feeding process for making their winter coat. Don’t laugh, putting on a winter coat for a fish means that they have to eat more to get ready for the colder water/weather. This is when their food supply is limited, because those baits that they feed on during the warmer months will also go into hibernation mode or just will be gone until spring time conditions return.
When these changes take place all fish whether they are “movers or stayers” can be caught in the most unusual places. And by the way this is great situation for the fishermen. I can’t tell you how many times I have gotten some of the strangest fishing reports…just last week I got this report…and it went like this… “While fishing with live shrimp under traditional adjustable fishing corks hits received weren’t very hard, but they were just enough to kill my bait!” With a little thought the fisherman decided to change up to standard Carolina rig, which turned out to be a hit! They started catching everything that they weren’t supposed to from red fish to spotted sea trout to flounder as well as other biters while fishing with live shrimp, dead shrimp, and shrimp pieces and parts right on the bottom. And here’s why I think this happen this way…firstly as discussed the season is changing like it or not. Fish are not just looking in all the same places as they do in the warmer months, because they know their feeding arena just got larger! The bottom line all fish are doing it and fishermen need to make this change too!!
Captain Alan Collins of Miss Judy Charters takes the ladies inshore fishing!
Captain Alan Collins, Marie Daugherty, and Betty Porch went fishing and a red fish they did catch!
Let’s all go, because now we know the fall fish eating drill!
Captain Alan Collins of Miss Judy Charters Strikes again!
Saturday November 8, 2014
Gish Inshore Fishing Team
Bubba and Kristen Gish of Clifton, Colorado, Ismalael Panic of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Brent Johnson of Cleveland, Ohio
The team departed at 9 am on a 4 hr trip. As Captain Alan rounded the bend heading towards the river he knew that there was 10 to 15 knot north east wind a blowing and a 8.6 tide that he would have to deal with. What does this mean to a charter captain? Limited spots to fish, which most likely will offer considerable muddy and rough water conditions! Under these most of time considered hard core conditions here’s Captain Alan’s procedure! First, Captain Alan went through his log book to see if I could find a good outgoing spot were the wind would be at their back and where the water wouldn't be ripping. The he decided on three spots, one in the sound the other two in the rivers. First spot fished was to be the sound drop with hopes of making it before the water starting moving too fast. Once arriving he found the formed eddies a little on the rough side, but still fishable. For bait they were using live shrimp under adjustable corks. They started fishing in the grass, after about 15 minutes of nothing the first fish, which was a flounder and then a nice trout was landed. Captain Alan then decided to stay at this drop until the tide dropped. After all they were sitting on a pretty good trout and promising flounder bite. When the water came out of the grass the redfish bite turn on. The team started catching one red fish after the other. Heck, several times they had three red fish on at one time. While all this catching was going on, Captain Alan made sure that he kept bait in the strike zone, which is one of his key secrets to keeping the bite alive. According to Captain Alan by doing this it was easier to follow the location of the school. As they were catching the winds were building prompting Captain Alan to make a moved more inland. Once getting anchored on his second spot they caught a few more trout and red fish! The bottom line to this report is simple that is if you have the fishing information to refer too! Captain Alan’s personal log book has proved many times over that it pays to keep fishing records. In this case, even with these windy conditions, his own records showed him the big time catching way!
Photo by Captain Alan Collins
Please meet the Gish Fishing Team!
Bubba and Kristen Gish of Clifton, Colorado, on the right in the Grey pull over is Ismalael Panic of Colorado Springs, Colorado and in the red pull over is Brent Johnson of Cleveland Ohio.
Offshore at artificial reefs located in more than 50 feet of water ….bottom fishing for black sea bass has picked up…
And we have had a rash of kings caught around the artificial reefs located in 55 feet of water..L Buoy, CCA Buoy, and J buoy! Please know, most all artificial reef buoys are not longer exist!
Offshore artificial reefs located in less than 50 feet of water and any structure such a rocks, docks, and jetties near the beach fronts.
The big bulls have arrived and they are making a showing at places near as well as offshore. During this time of the year it’s not usual to catch a few of these fish while you are bottom fishing or trolling. Red fish also known as bull reds are federally protected meaning catching and release only! However, the best news is that this fish puts up a great fight on just about any size tackle.
As far as best methods to get this fish’s attention here’s what I suggest:
This fish will eat just about anything from cut fish to shrimp to squid. We catch them all of the time while we are plain old bottom fishing with single or double hook rigs baited with this regular bait. If a fisherman wants to take this opportunity one step further I suggest once catching or see some of these fish on the fish finder that you just start jigging something. As far as best jigs, here’s the list: diamond jigs with or without the trailing red/green tube tail, white hair jig heads with or without a tipped bait. If you tip your jigs I suggest using something that would be streamline to the lure. The reason being is you don’t want to effect the way the jig works in the water. Artificial or real bait such as plastic eels or strip bait or cigar minnows makes great baits when worked with a jig.
Captain Judy, David Miller, and his son Christopher holding up his just caught his first bull red for the day!
Savannah Snapper Banks
For the best in fishing this is the place to go! Offshore snapper banks …bottom fishing continues to be fun because every time to drop you catch a fish..
Bait Shop Tips
Here are some tips if you are looking to catch Spanish sardines and cigar minnows. I have found that there have been quite a few pods of these baits holding at the artificial reefs. However, if you don’t pass the reefs on your way to the banks and don’t feel like making a detour to “maybe or not catch bait” this is usually my plan. First I decide on whether or not to make the detour, I make my decision on the sea conditions. If it is rough and due to sea condition will delay my arrival to the banks I just keep heading that way. However, if it is not rough I make the detour just to take a look see. If I can’t visibly see the birds feeding or bait hovering on the surface I head towards the structure on the reef that is going to offer the highest vertical structure. In my world as a charter boat captain every minute counts, especially the fall/winter when we have less daylight. Let say I don’t stop, when I get to the banks I look for any ledges that are holding baits in the upper water column. To get your best chance at catching these up column bait is to drop a sabiki rig into their holding pattern on the ledge. Try to keep your bait rig off the bottom. The reason being is once hitting the bottom you will load it up with fish that will likely break your rig.
Lately, I have been able to catch enough live bait to stay ahead of the bottom bite. When using two hook bottom rigs I suggest using live fish (Spanish sardine or cigar minnow) on top hook and cut fish/squid on the bottom one. There isn’t much distance between both bottom hooks, but it just might be enough to get your best chance at keeping that big grouper from getting back under the ledge. Chances are that a big fish can see the top bait just as good as the bottom one. And of course, if you can always try to bring a box of frozen bait just in case…
Search Fishin.com
Recent Articles