Late Afternoon Topwater Action

Finally got a chance to get out of the house to wet a line and get in some topwater action with some ladyfish this afternoon.

I didn't get out until quite late and it had just stopped raining when I got to the grassy flats I usually fish.

The wind put a nice ripple on the water and was blowing right into my face, making casting and working a topwater bait a challenge.

I started fishing with a gold and black back BadonkADonk topwater lure smeared up with some Pro-Cure.

I'd like to say that I nailed the hell out of the fish but I had to work for every bite I managed to eke out.

After several unfruitful casts and a couple of birds nests in the Power Pro I was using, I finally picked up a ladyfish that hit the topwater and danced all over the flats before giving it up.

I took a quick pic before releasing the fish and continued casting into the wind.

I caught two more ladys about the same size as the first fish and released them both before moving on to an area that was less windy.

At this spot I changed baits and started tossing a Bass Pro topwater bait I picked up on sale when I was working in Mobile, Al.

After several casts and a couple of follow ups, I hooked into a small tarpon that made two jumps right at the bank before pulling off.

I spent the next half hour casting, hooking and releasing all sizes of ladyfish that just couldn't leave the smaller topwater plug alone.

Finally, after a 7' gator started getting too interested in my topwater baits, I decided to head for home and call it a day.

In total I managed to hook, land, and release seven ladyfish in all sizes.  

I just had to take a pic of the smallest one I hooked who had an appetite of a gator trout and the mouth of a guppy.

Till next time, Tight Lines.

 

Topwater Action On The Flats

When I hit the water late yesterday afternoon to get some topwater action on the flats, all I managed to do was wear out my casting arm.

The fish just were not in the mood to eat any of my offterings.

This afternoon was an entirely different scenario.

I left the house at around 6:00 pm and hit East Gator Creek a short time later.

There were tons of people still having social distancing fun at the causeway but along the road I was fishing, only three or four vehicles drove by during the time I was there.

I bought another new Penn Fierce III liveliner from Bass Pro that was delivered Friday afternoon, so I decided to give it a workout.  

I loaded it up with 30# Power Pro, tied on a 20# fluorocarbon leader, and finished it up with an old trout pattern SkitterWalk.

After juicing up the lure with some Pro-Cure Gel, I was ready for some action.

The wind was coming towards the South and there was enough of a chop on the water to make walking the dog a challenge.

At my first spot, my very first cast produced a small ladyfish that I quickly released after snapping this pic.

The release piqued the interest of this gator that decided to stick around the neighborhood.

After several casts without even a followup, I moved to another spot where the water was less choppy.

I hooked a small juvenile tarpon that flipped off the bait after the second jump and after a few more casts, landed a slot sea trout that nailed the SkitterWalk at the bank.

I was going to change baits but the trout pattern seemed to be the ticket today, so after another followup from something real small, I moved to a third spot to try my luck.

This area is one of my favorites and if you can cast to the opposite bank without getting into the bushes, you can usually pick off either a ladyfish, tarpon, or sea trout.

It took me three casts to pick up another trout that I almost didn't bother capturing on my phone.  

But, I took this quick pic before I released the fish and decided to head to Catfish Creek Loop.

I made one stop at the culvert when I saw that the water was flowing into the marsh canal and decided to walk the SkitterWalk around the edges of the mangroves to see if anything was hungry.

The second cast produced a nice sea trout was a little over 22 inches.

The fish nailed the topwater plug half way down the middle of the marsh canal right in front of a Green Heron and a large alligator.

The fish sloshed around a bit before I landed it and decided to try to make a "selfie".

I'm not really into selfies, but this is the best I could do.

Anyway, after several more unfruitful casts into the area, the gator was getting too interested in my plug, so I drove towards Catfish Creek Loop.

As I entered the road, I spotted a fellow angler with a tight line so I decided to video the action.

I thought he was hooked into a big black drum, but after taking almost forever landing the critter, the "fish" turned out to be a large soft shell turtle.

The guy, his wife (I assume) and I were surprised at the catch and I made a stupid crack about how not to land a fish.

Anyway, I took this rather lengthy video of the entire action that you might, or might not, enjoy.

By the time the turtle broke off, it was time to leave the refuge, so I drove around the loop and made my way to the house.

Till next time, Tight Lines.

Weekend Topwater Action

Got some late afternoon topwater action in yesterday around East Gator Creek road in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

In an hour of fishing, I nailed six ladyfish, mostly all dinks, and one very stupid sea trout on Chug Bugs and and XPS popper I picked up at Bass Pro while I was working in Mobile, Al.

None of the fish were outstanding so I didn't bother taking any pics, but I plan to get out tomorrow or Monday to target tarpon in the ditches.

The vehicle traffic in the refuge was heavy and a lot of anglers were on the water pitching a variety of artificial baits and fishing cut baits for reds.

Till next time,

Tight Lines.

Looking For Some Topwater Action

I was looking forward to some topwater action all week so when I got home from work on Friday, I unpacked my gear, loaded up a couple of fishing rods and headed for Peacocks Pocket road.

I only had an hour or so to fish before dusk so I headed for a couple of spots I hoped held fish this time of the year.

The water in the marsh area is lower than normal for April and the areas where I stopped to fish didn't produce anything but a couple of taps on a paddle tail bait.

I decided not to waste any time in the area so I moved up the road to another spot that normally holds redfish during low water periods.

I spotted two nice reds and a couple of black drum cruising up the marsh canal but they weren't interested in either my Chug Bug or Creme paddletail bait.

The weather was in the 70s and the wind was mild.  The water temperatures are up and the baitfish are in the lagoons, so the bite should be on.  Unfortunately, in this area it was not.

As it got closer to dusk, I continued tossing a Chug Bug randomly and did manage to pick up a couple of ladyfish that did their best to commit suicide on the lure.

Although both fish put up a nice battle and jumped all over the place before being landed, I was more interested in catching a redfish.

Somewhat disappointed but happy to just enjoy the evening, I decided to call it a day and give it another try tomorrow.

This area of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge has been under heavy fishing pressure lately and the fish have seen just about every artificial lure known to man. In addition to all the vehicle traffic they endure, especially on weekends, the fish have become harder to catch consistently.

If the weather holds up, I'll try to get some topwater action in tomorrow in another area.  I think Patillo Creek is open.

Till then, Tight Lines.