St. Johns River Shad Run

The shad run on the St. Johns River is also in full swing however, getting the fish to eat is another story.

Fishing has reportedly been challenging but the bite is expected to pick up with the upcoming weather change.

Most of the shad are being caught by fly fishermen using chartreuse or white Crazy Charlies.   The fish that have been caught were mostly found in the upper portion of the water column.

I've been getting consistent reports of shad, crappie and lots of good sized bluegill being caught on the St. Johns. by fly rodders.

With the current moon phase; the bite should be improving by this weekend.

There are good schools of redfish around the very shallow flats in both the Mosquito Lagoon and north Indian River Lagoon.    A canoe, kayak or very shallow draft boat that can navigate really skinny water is definite asset this time of year.

The fish are really spooky, as is usual, in the gin clear water and a delicate bait presentation is in order if you want to catch some fish.

Poling the boat, or careful paddling, is also very important to as not to spook the fish.

I sometimes get better results by power poling down and waiting for a school to come by.    Sitting on the platform and making long casts to the fish usually gets results.

Using light lines of 8 to 10 lb. test and light wire hooks also get more hits from the schooling reds.

For me the baits of choice are D.O.A. shrimp, Gulp jerk baits, and finally live shrimp if all else fails.

I'm looking forward to at least one successful day on the water this weekend.

Mosquito Lagoon & Northern Indian River Lagoon Report

Winter clear water conditions have been providing anglers wonderful opportunities for fine catches of redfish, sea trout and black drum in the Mosquito Lagoon and northern Indian River Lagoon areas.

The water temperatures have been in the upper 60 degrees during the nice warm winter days, to the mid 50 degrees during the cold fronts.

When the sun comes out over the lagoon flats, and depending on the type of bottom found there, the water temperature can vary as much as fifteen degrees.

Except during the very hot summer months on the flats, redfish and trout usually frequent the warmest water available to them.

In the winter, in this area, it means that the fish will be frequenting the deeper flats early in the day and as the sun rises higher over the lagoon; the fish move into the very shallow grass flats to take up residence in the white sandy holes found there.

As you pole the boat, the white pot holes should always be your primary casting target.

I have noted in my previous reports that stealthy approaches and delicate long casts with lighter lines are recommended. These fish become very spooky in the clear water.


Unlike the Mosquito Lagoon's flats; the Indian River lagoon shallow water flats are usually dark mud bottom; this warms the water a bit faster.

Colder days require slower presentations and the deeper holes and troughs are the areas I prefer to fish first.

My wife uses live and dead shrimp almost exclusively, however, I prefer casting a DOA shrimp or a 3" to 4" jerk bait rigged with a crimp weight on the bend of the hook if needed deeper water
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I like fishing lighter (clear with a green tail or white) colors in clear water and darker (root beer or purple with green tip) colors in tannin colored or darker water. This is pretty much the rule of thumb for any type of fresh or saltwater fishing.

Later on towards spring I change over to the Creme swim baits or top water plugs that usually produce for me.

I usually fish the surf at Playalinda beach only when my buddy Lou visits.  He's below with a nice redfish he caught on the Mims flats.

However, with fishing reports of whiting, pompano, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and an occasional black drum being caught from parking lots #9 through #11; I've gotten the itch to pitch the troughs.

I usually fish the #8 lot just past Eddy Creek, or #9, which has a relatively deep trough running parallel to the beach.

I use sand fleas and shrimp are for the pompano, whiting, and drum, and frozen mullet rigged with a long shank hook tied directly to mono, or a 4" to 6" single strand wire leader, for the blues or mackerel when they are running.

The last report I received today was that the surf was pretty rough and 4 or 5 oz. sinkers were necessary to hold bottom.

The weeds also made it tough to feel a bite.   For me, I usually don't bother surf fishing when each cast gets you several pounds of weeds.

I figure that by the time I get back home this weekend, it should be pretty good fishing.

Better check to see if my annual pass is up to date.

I try to get out a fly rod this time of year and pitch some flies to the shad that start running up in the St. Johns river.

I've gotten reports they are already in the Lake Harney and Marina Isle areas.

These fish put up a very respectable fight on light tackle and I love eating them.

As a youngster, I used to fish for them in the Delaware River with "shad darts" from the Pennsylvania side of the river.

Unfortunately, my dad loved to eat fish, but wasn't much of a fisherman, so I never got to fish for them as much as I wanted.

Oh well, maybe now I can make up for my misspent youth!

Take a kid fishing!!!
It might keep him from going to jail some day.

Till next time, Tight Lines and don't keep what you don't eat!