10.12.07
The Fall mullet run is here and in full force! The southerly migration of the small silver and black baitfish has put these fish on our doorstep and we are opening the front door on a daily basis to target the predators that are awaiting this prey. Here on the treasure coast, mid September through mid October is the general arrival time period for the pods of bait and how long it actually will last from one year to the next is anyone’s guess so we position ourselves to take full advantage of the phenomenal fishing that these little baits inspire as they pass through our area. The beauty (which also can be the challenge) of fishing this time of year is that there are so many different ways to fish and be rewarded.
Top water lures: This of course is one of the most exciting ways to fish because when the fish strikes the plug everyone on the boat hears and sees it! Casting and retrieving top water lures is an effective way to fish in our area 12 months out of the year however this time of year is special in that a perfect cast or technical retrieve is not always necessary to catch fish. It seems as though the target species are genetically programmed to feed up in the Fall and will often move out of their comfort zone to strike a lure.
Sub-surface lures: Take your pick! Of course everything does not work all of the time but choosing a confidence bait that resembles a 3-6” bait fish is a good place to start. We like DOA baitbusters, jerk baits and terror-eyz as well as Mirror lure and Luckycraft suspending jerk baits. Often our first choice is the soft plastic lures due to their effectiveness as well as most of them encompass a single hook as opposed to multiple trebles which I believe results in less -lost or missed- fish. The single hook is not only better for the fish as there is only one hook point to penetrate the fish it also insures a more sporting battle as the hook point will most likely be in the mouth of the fish enabling the angler to control the fish from the head as opposed to several treble hooks which can end up lodged in a dorsal or anal fin or worse. When a double digit fish is boated Single hooks are also safer for everyone on the boat considering the head thrashing of a large fish with large treble hooks on its body.
Fly fishing: The night time dock light and bridge fishing on fly is excellent here most months out of the year. This time of year lends itself to daylight fly fishing for snook as well as any other. The year before last I had a stretch in the late morning hours where I caught 13 snook and a trout on 15 presentations. Mullet size flies often get the nod over small minnow patterns for obvious reasons so a rod weight capable of throwing larger patterns is necessary. An excellent fly pattern that worked well for us in the past is the Hot flash minnow. There are many variations of this pattern and the version I tie is that similar to a mullet of course, the mackerel pattern has worked well for us some days as well. When in doubt tying on a clouser minnow and working the water column at different levels is a great approach.
Live bait: For our inshore fishing Capt. Ray and I have both always seem to prefer to fool the fish with artificial offerings as opposed to fishing with live or dead bait and waiting for the fish to find it. That being said there are times throughout the year and especially this time of year when the fish are so tuned in to all of the live bait surrounding them that it is all they will eat. When the mullet schools are prevalent we throw our cast nets on them and fill the bait well for some live bait fishing. Free lining finger mullet with no weight is not only productive but a really fun way to fish! These baits swim close to the surface as long they can and while they don’t always stay in the strike zone eventually they tire and find themselves struggling over an area where they can be trapped, blasted and consumed. Because they are trying to hold close to the waters surface they are often visible lending themselves to kind of a livebait-topwater style of fishing. This is really cool to experience for many reasons and again when the fish strikes you are able to hear and see it as well. At times an egg sinker tied in line is necessary to coax the fish to strike and provides opportunities for other specie such as large flounder. When the mullet are here thick as they were last week it is common to spot them in virtually any area of the waterway. Last year I was giving a fly casting lesson at a park situated on the St. Lucie River and my student pointed over my shoulder to the river where a school of bait several hundred feet in diameter worked its way up the river channel. Rivers, seawalls, dock lines, mangroves, bridges, inlets and of course the beaches are all highways or holding areas for these migrating baitfish. This seasonal fishing pattern if one of many that we enjoy in this fishery but the Fall mullet run is here now and who knows how long they will bless us with their presence, sooo Now is a great time to be on the water and see this spectacle and go fishing!!! Have fun, be safe and we wish good fishin’ to you!
Capt. Duber Winters
Green Water Charters
772-631-1023
