Some laid back fishing in a flat with less than 10 inches of water, we sure like it when it gets LOW...
staugustinebackwater.com
Gettin' ready!
Chilly days can make it tough to locate fish, as the clear water brings the schools together and makes for spooky reds. To capitalize on each opportunity is very important, as these schooling reds will not often give you multiple casts at them. When you locate fish, it will be a spectacular sight, with some schools numbering in the hundreds of fish. Bait placement is key, with a solid lead on the front fish being a necessity. All that work pays off though, with average catches looking like this:
Tight lines
Big green FISH?
A little change of pace for me, but we got to spend a little time alligator hunting, swamp peeps style! We used the "hunt and snatch" method with no baiting. This style allows us to leave the smaller lizards alone and target gators that are over the 8 foot mark. I had the opportunity to allow my 9 year old son to help us out on the trip, and wouldn't you know it-success on his first try! This fella went 10 feet 3 inches! He was caught on a 65 pound spinning rig and put down by my friend Malcolm with a .357 mag bang stick.
Late season storm approaching...
Here's a few limits...
This has been a common sight...
And one of my favorite customers, this lady always brings the luck and outfishes everyone!
An oversize 32 incher makes a nice throwback!
Keep watching as the cooler temps promise to bring on some of the best Redfishing of the year!
Dog Days cooking us good...
The waves of tropical systems moving past Florida has brought some of the highest humidity levels we have seen in a long time. The heat has a pleasent side effect though, it has kept the fish metabolisms high which makes them have to EAT!
Keeping it in the family
this ones good...
...and this ones even better!
Top of the slot pig!
Double ups!
Gettin' HOT around here!
I have been struggling to keep up as this is turning into the busiest year yet! The warm winter gave us a disappointing Cobia run this year, but the Redfish have been on fire!
We did manage to pull off a few 'cobes tho...
Who left the fan on?
As we round the corner of the 2nd week in March, all I can say is WOW it sure has been windy. With front after front moving through the area, one of the mildest winters in a decade has given way to a wicked transition to spring. This week has finally brought some calmer conditions, and sunny skies are a welcome sight. The changing weather has kept the fishing patterns moving, so we have been making adjustments daily to accommodate. Redfish have been steady, with occasional runs of good trout and flounder. Here are a couple random pics...
Things cooling off...a bit
The last few days have brought some frigid temps, we actually got down to almost 40 degrees out! The front that moved through brought some stiff wind and caused the fish to move into unexpected places, so it has taken some extensive scouting to find quality bites. I don't mind a challenge, though, and it has paid off with big fish on almost every day this week. Here's a pic from yesterday, this one a tad too big to keep:
I'll be back on the water with trips booked almost every day this week, so check back for updates!
I'll be back on the water with trips booked almost every day this week, so check back for updates!
A long, cold winter?
The middle of January and it's almost 80 degrees outside! That's made for some comfortable days on the water. The warmer weather has kept me busy fishing almost every day...although I did get last Sunday off for some Playoff football with my son :)
Here's a few random shots from the last several days, I've had clients from Minnesota to Maine to California and right here in Florida!
Here's a few random shots from the last several days, I've had clients from Minnesota to Maine to California and right here in Florida!
Greatest Redfishing of the Year!
The colder days of winter are bringing some of the best sight fishing conditions of the year to our area. This is the time of year when the cooler water temps kill off all the algae in the water and provide "gin" clear visibility on the flats! The clear water also bring the smaller schools of Reds together into super-sized schools numbering in the hundreds. This behavior is for protection as the fish feel more exposed to predatory birds such as large ospreys and the Bald Eagle. You will find most flats without much traffic on the colder days, and if you take your time on the trolling motor or push pole a school or 2 is bound to cross paths within casting range. Here's a few pics from some "school chasing".
Here's one on and one in the boat:
...And the second half of the double-up:
More updates to come!
Flounder in the Fall
This is typically the best time of year to get hooked up on a doormat, and this year has had some great days for flounder-and some tough days as well. We have luckily had the ever-present Redfish to keep things interesting when the flatties shut down.
We lost some great fish near the boat on this trip, but here's one that didn't get away! This was a fun crew, days like these don't seem like work...we got "up close and personal" with some native wildlife (inside joke:)
We lost some great fish near the boat on this trip, but here's one that didn't get away! This was a fun crew, days like these don't seem like work...we got "up close and personal" with some native wildlife (inside joke:)
FAT Redfish!
This 42 inch Red was caught recently in the flats! We were fishing in about a foot of water near Devil's Elbow, and this pig hit a popping cork rig on 10 pound test! This was Joe's first Redfish, so I had break the news that the rest of the fish we were gonna catch would be "little 6 pounders" ;)
Afternoon delight!
This was an afternoon trip for some redfish for the dinner table. Another father and son team, youth beats out experience again with a monster oversized fish to go with a beautiful sunset out of Devils Elbow.
Cobe&Red...'nuff said!
Still playing catch up on video editing for this summer, here's another typical summer trip from this year. A morning beach run chasing manta rays followed by slamming the redfish in the afternoon!
September Flood Reds!
It's that time of year again, when the new moon brings beastly high tides to Northeast Florida. These "spring" tides (the name for a higher than normal tide) come every fall, and usually occur around the new moon. Any east or northeast wind can also raise the water during the days between the new moons. If you are looking at the local tide charts, any tide above a 5.1 can produce a good flood. A 4.5 or better combined with a hard wind can also bring on water that would have the resident wildlife lining up two by two! No matter if the flood is predicted (by chart) or unexpected (pushed up by wind), the Redfish know it's coming, and they can't wait to storm the grass and chow down! This is the best time of year to find our resident fish tailing like mad, and fishing for these bruisers is more akin to hunting than fishing. You get to see your fish before you make your cast, and it is not unusual to make multiple casts at the same fish before you trick him into slamming your lure. Here's a little video from the other day, we have the boat poled up on a grass field that sees water just a handful of days out of the year. This was Malcom's first flood tailer, caught on his first flood trip!
We are using scented Gulp! baits with Mustad weedless hooks for pulling through the grass, but any soft plastic/weedless combo will work just as effectively. The key to success is presentation, not specific lure type or color. The best technique is to cast at least five feet beyond the fish and pull the bait slowly back to the fish. Spooked fish may only move a few feet and start tailing again, or they may bolt off the flat altogether. We often fish from the boat, but wading can sometimes be the best and only way to get to fish working in seven inches or less of water. The biggest floods of the year are right around the corner, so get ready to chase some tail!
staugustinebackwater.com
We are using scented Gulp! baits with Mustad weedless hooks for pulling through the grass, but any soft plastic/weedless combo will work just as effectively. The key to success is presentation, not specific lure type or color. The best technique is to cast at least five feet beyond the fish and pull the bait slowly back to the fish. Spooked fish may only move a few feet and start tailing again, or they may bolt off the flat altogether. We often fish from the boat, but wading can sometimes be the best and only way to get to fish working in seven inches or less of water. The biggest floods of the year are right around the corner, so get ready to chase some tail!
staugustinebackwater.com
Summer Cobia!
2011 brought one of the longest lasting cold water upwellings in a decade, with water temps in the 70s throughout the "dog days" of this year. While this can make for tough Tarpon fishing, the Cobia bite is a pleasant option! Sightfishing is the name of the game-accurate casting is a must to get the larger fish. Here's a little video of some fantastic beach fishing right out of Matanzas Inlet.
Summer Cobia fishing in St Augustine from Matt Valliere on Vimeo.
staugustinebackwater.com
Summer Cobia fishing in St Augustine from Matt Valliere on Vimeo.
staugustinebackwater.com
Father's Day In August?
While officially one day a year in June, most of us dads like to take time out of our hectic schedules and spend some one-on-one time with our sons. There is no better place than out on the water, away from everybody with nothing but God's greatest work to surround us. Here's to Father's Day, any day we can make it!
Rockin Redfish
The ridiculous redfish bite continues, we have boated literally HUNDREDS of reds in the last 6 weeks. This has been a summer for slamming reds like we haven't seen in years. Usually in summer we don't find the big schools, but this year we have found them packed up in 500+ fish wads! This video was shot on one of the slowest bites of the summer, and we still boated 4 studs and a couple of rats. Enjoy!
Matt & friends from Matt Valliere on Vimeo.
staugustinebackwater.com
Matt & friends from Matt Valliere on Vimeo.
staugustinebackwater.com
Punkin Chunkin!
Latest video report, just another day slamming the local redfish! This group got 26 reds all over 24 inches, all the way up to 30 inches! Just another day in the greatest office on Earth!
Punkin Chunkin! from Matt Valliere on Vimeo.
staugustinebackwater.com
Punkin Chunkin! from Matt Valliere on Vimeo.
staugustinebackwater.com
Latest pics!
A few shots from last week, we have been slamming fish every day! Stay tuned for more videos coming soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)