First, a note of caution ... Sunday afternoons are not the ideal time to put a boat in the water. The limited number of ramps, made more difficult by weekend boating "gentry," makes parking a rarity. Fortunately, we were able to get on the water around 2:00 in the afternoon. Fished some creeks north of Mayport. Temps were in the upper 70s, low 80s, water temps in the upper 60s. Fishing with live shrimp, mud minnows, and soft plastics, we only brought one redfish (a three-spotter, though) and two bluefish to the boat. An inauspicious beginning, but chalked up by a mid afternoon start.
Monday turned out to be a much better day. Joining us was Curt's friend and inshore expert Kenny Richards. We headed out from the dock in Curt's 15 foot Maverick skiff around 0900 or so and proceeded south to fish San Pablo Creek. The morning was partly cloudy with temps again in the upper 70s, and water temps starting around 68 degrees, rising into the low 70s by the time we headed back. San Pablo creek was your typical tidal creek branching out from the intracoastal. No more than 100 feet at its widest, surrounded by tall grasses, and the home to at least one 8 foot gator, which slid into the water as we rounded a bend in the creek.
Today was about catching. Almost immediately the snapper bite was on. We boated 21, with two keepers, and probably twice that many having chewed off our shrimp and mud minnow baits before a hook could be set. Included in the day's catch were two amberjacks, three redfish (Kenny boating the only keeper), and Curt's keeper flounder. Unfortunately, a nasty front was forecast to roll in late in the afternoon before we could complete the North Florida Slam with a seatrout. So, discretion being the better part of valor, we headed back up the creek, fished the grasses around a local marina (Curt nailing a red on his first cast) for a bit, then got off the water just as the rain was starting to fall. The rest of the day was spent cleaning our catch for a splendid fish taco meal, courtesy of Curt's lovely bride Michele, who has graciously put up with our fishing and late night bourbon swilling for quite some time.
One of my rules of fishing is that you need to schedule three days of fishing to get one good day in. Tuesday bore out that maxim, as the front moved in overnight, with thunderstorms, wind, and heavy rains that didn't clear out until the late afternoon. So instead we headed out to Black Fly fly shop, which has a restaurant, The Taproom," attached. Enjoying a fried cobia sandwich and an IPA while watching episodes of "Silver Kings" on the bar TV was a pretty decent audible.
In all another great trip to the Bold New City of the South, and a nice way to kick off the 2017 fishing season. With opening day of trout and trophy striper seasons just around the corner, time to dust off the fly rods, make sure the waders don't leak, and get out on the water!
Tight Lines,
Mike D Fishing
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