FISHING REPORT: Casting doubt on a fishing hole? Might be time to pull up that anchor
“Just passing through.”
We should say it more often.
Maybe it’s an unreasonable onslaught of optimism, the old saw suggesting good things come to those who wait.
Or maybe . . . well, OK, most likely . . . we’re often just too damn lazy to pull up the anchor and move along.
Whatever, the fishing hole is the one place left on Earth where too many of us exercise an improper amount of patience.
“Don’t marry a spot,” an old fishing friend hollered quite often.
“I’ll stay in a spot anywhere from five minutes to a half-hour,” says Capt. Michael Savedow, a veteran Indian River fishing guide (EdgewaterRiverGuide.com). “If it’s a spot I have confidence in, from a lot of years fishing that spot, it’s closer to 30 minutes. I know that a school of black drum could come swimming through at any time.
“Now, if I catch three catfish in three minutes, I’m gone in three minutes. If I have a four-hour charter, I’ve only got so much time and no time to waste. But usually it’s all seat-of-the-pants, going by your gut.”
Capt. Billy Pettigrew has just one hard rule for such things, as well as one that’s more about vibes, feel and his own eyes.
“Three catfish and I’m out,” he says. “Or, if I’m not getting a hit or seeing activity on the water, maybe 15 or 20 minutes.”
Over on the St. Johns, the bowfin is the nasty cousin of the ICW’s hardhead cat. Its preference for muddy environs, while leading to an obvious nickname, doesn’t lend itself to welcoming arms. If, a billion years ago, we’d begun evolving from this creature, we’d likely all be sewer rats.
“When we’re fishing for bass with wild shiners, if I catch more than one mudfish in a spot, I’m moving on because I’m in a mudfish hole,” says Capt. Bryn Adams (Highland Park Fish Camp).
What if you can't blame the muddy guy?
“I think intuition and experience has a lot to do with how much time you give a spot,” Adams says. “Of course, factors like weather patterns, pressure systems and time of year play a big role.”
Exceptions? Of course there are exceptions.
“For the most part, if we’re not having much luck, I’m not hanging out long,” says Capt. Jeff Patterson (Pole Dancer charter).
Ready for it? You know it's coming.
“However (there it is!),” Patterson goes on, “there are times I’ll stay in a spot longer if it’s near a tide change, especially in certain areas like the inlet or around bridges. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been fishing the inlet and not having any luck, and after the tide switches it’s ‘game on!’
“It’s especially rewarding when I am with clients and I explain to them that we’re going to stay in a certain area until the tide changes because I have a good feeling that the bite will turn on . . . and then it happens.”
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Halifax/Indian River
Might as well let Capt. Jeff lead off the roundup over on the intracoastal side.
“Ormond has been really good for redfish and seatrout in the Tomoka Basin and around the clinker Islands in the intracoastal, especially first light,” he says before tossing out the T-word.
“There’s been some juvenile tarpon on the west side of the Basin. They’ve been hanging out about 100 yards off the bank. Free-lined mullet are a good way to target them."
Capt. Savedow likes to visit the backwaters of Edgewater with light tackle, where these days you can find mangrove snapper, jacks and ladyfish. But also this past week he reports some slot-size trout and some black drum up to five pounds.
“The most surprising catch,” he says, “was a five-pound permit.”
The earlier the better, he adds, so set that alarm.
Surf/Piers
Haven’t heard much this week, but Dustin Smith (NSB Shark Hunters) checks in briefly.
“All I’ve caught is whiting, catfish and croakers,” he says. “And sharks, of course.”
Same, basically, from Gene Lytwyn (The Fishin' Hole, Daytona Beach), who's hearing of whiting and every so often, a stray pompano taking its time heading north.
Offshore
After much delay due to unrelenting winds, the Halifax Sport Fishing Club finally crowned winners of its annual Offshore Challenge.
Capt. Daniel Levesque and the team aboard his "Rare Breed" took overall honors, as well as first place in wahoo and second place in mahi.
Dan Jacobs' "Tuna time" won the mahi group, while Capt. Randy Beardsley won the kingfish category.
Though the conditions were finally manageable, it was hardly easy, tournament officials say.
Remember all those windy days the Sea Spirit sat alone at its Ponce Inlet slip? The crew is making up for lost time these days. A big variety of snapper have been making their way — reluctantly — from the deep blue back to home dock.
Mixed into a bunch of half-day outings is a sold-out full-day trip Saturday.
Also, they’ve already sold out of spots for the July 8-9 red snapper “season.”
Gene Lytwyn said he was getting good reports of mahi “before the weather got rough.”
“Quite a few anglers are planning to see if they’re still there as soon as the weather allows,” he says.
A few wahoo and sailfish were also chasing bait.
St. Johns
Bluegill? Warmouth? Maybe another panfish favorite?
“I’ve said it a lot recently but now is the perfect time to get out on the water if you're looking for panfish,” Capt. Bryn Adams tells us from Highland Park in DeLand. “The time is here. Pitching a live cricket or minnow against the bank around structure is a surefire way to target these fish.”
Might want to set the alarm.
“Because the weather is heating up, it’s important to get out on the water early," Adams says. "By 11 a.m. or so, the fishing drastically slows down.”
Up the way in Astor, at South Moon Fish Camp, Kerry McPherson is preparing for a Memorial Day crowd that doesn't necessarily use the coolers for fish.
“It's a party crowd. A lot of them come up from Cocoa and Mims,” he says. “From here they head off to the springs for the day. Some boat over to Silver Glen or Juniper, some go to Salt Springs.”
But if they’re so inclined . . .
“Stripers are doing well in the river and Lake George,” McPherson says. “They seem to be doing better in the river.”
This & That
• Remember the earlier mention of tarpon? Curious to learn more about the beloved silver king and its high-flying ways?
Go listen to Dr. Aaron Adams at the next meeting of Mid Coast Fly Fishers, June 13 (6:30 p.m.) at the FOP Lodge at 471 Old Mission Road in New Smyrna Beach. No charge.
Adams is on the staff of the Miami-based Bonefish and Tarpon Trust.
Adams’ talk will also include discussion about the ongoing challenges facing local fisheries.
More info: Mid-coastFlyFishers.org.
• Another reminder of the 34th annual Lady Angler Tournament, June 11, targeting mahi. The event is conducted by the Halifax Sport Fishing Club. Email any questions to tournaments@hsfc.com, or scour the club’s website at HSFC.com.
Hook, Line & Clicker
We want to see your most recent catch. Email your fish photos to ken.willis@news-jrnl.com.
Please include first and last name of angler(s), as well as type of fish (we're occasionally stumped). All are included with our online fishing report, and some occasionally make the print edition.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Cast away or pull out? Tips from the fishing hole with some exceptions
