The lingering Fall pattern has definitely been a blast. We have so many options in the river right now. Slot and Bull Reds on the river Flats, Speckled and Yellow Mouth Trout all over the river, Black Drum in the Inlet and Sheepshead showing up in all their usual haunts.
Inlet Sheepshead
The Sheepshead bite is very good in the Inlet. The down side is the rough weather we're having out there. But, that doesn't mean you can't still catch a few in the Inlet. Don't let a "Small Craft Advisory" trick you into thinking the Inlet isn't an option. Sure, the East half of the Inlet is a definite NO GO but, the west half always has fishable jetty that isn't nearly as intimidating. Inside the North and South rows, especially on the west end of the Inlet, hold some of the best Sheepshead fishing in the area. The trick is to grab 2 or 3 fish and move. Unless of course you're in a hot bite and are able to continue catching in one spot. Normally, you'll get a few convicts and the bite will die off until another school comes through. The problem with rough weather is that they seem to slow down. That's why you need to move often. It doesn't take long to fish out a spot. Get your couple and move down the row 50 or so feet. It's work but on rough days, that's what it takes if you want to put Sheepshead in the cooler. This kind of fishing is where an IPilot really shines. Especially with the slower winter currents.
The bigger fish have started showing up. we got an 8 pound Sheep yesterday and lost another around the same size.
Sea Trout
The Trout bite is on fire right now. You can go to virtually any known Trout hole and find a few. Rock piles, drop offs, holes in the bottom, Shell bottom, protruding structure, tide breaks of any kind, all of these are green lights for a productive Trout spot. I'm finding them everywhere from Trout River all the way to the Inlet.
There are so many ways to target these guys. Slip Corks are deadly with a live Shrimp. You'll see the ole timers in stump knockers beating the breaks off the Trout this time of year using corks. Simple, reliable, and inexpensive with little to fear of snagging. In spots with granite boulders or rocks in general, floats are the ticket. Anchor up current, float a live Shrimp suspended just above the rocks and wait for the float sink.
Carolina Rigs with a live Finger Mullet are also deadly. Fan cast the rig while slowly retrieving the Mullet back to the boat and you'll quickly find a Trout or two if they're in the area.
Evening and early morning topwater fishing is always a reliable way to wear out some bigger Trout. I went out last night with my buddy Scott and we tore em up casting Skitterwalks, Mirrodines and Gulp on jig heads. We lost a few studs! I haven't had a lot of time to appreciate this kind of fishing with my work schedule but, I will have to start making time because it's just too much fun.
Black Drum
The Black Drum bite is definitely on in the Inlet. We caught 3 on Fiddlers while Sheepshead fishing this week. We probably threw back another 10 or so that were under slot. These guys show up out there every year after migrating from the southern regions of the St. Johns River. For the last month they were being caught at the mouth of Trout River. They should remain in the Inlet for a few weeks. Catch them while you can. Blue Crab chunks, Shrimp and Clams are all reliable baits to catch these guys. Deploy any of these baits on a bottom rig and before long you'll start catching a few. They seem to be holding in water around 20-30 feet deep(10-20 yards off the rocks) on the inside of both the North and South rows. The out going tide has been best.
For information regarding Red Fish, just check out my last fish report. The information is still relevant right now. Not a whole lot has changed. The Bulls have slowed down a little bit but they are still here. All Bulls in both these threads were caught on Medium/light tackle.
http://forums.floridasportsman.com/s...h-Trout-Report
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Danny Pardue