The trout bite on the Banana River continues to be the game of choice. Bigger trout are available early on topwater baits and the schoolies up to 14 7/8 can be caught in double digit numbers.
Two excellent anglers from the Orlando area spent one day on the “Finding Equilibrium” with trout catches up to 17 inches. Ted put the biggest trout in the boat in the early morning using a topwater chugger. Later Ted and his son Brian started catching one trout after another. By the time the bite subsided they had caught and released about 80 of the hungry trout.
The majority of the trout came on Rip Tide 3 Inch Mullet in the Nite Glow color. Rigged on a ¼ ounce Rip Tide Pro jig head, the mullet were cast out far from the boat and retrieved in a lifting and then falling routine. The trout would often take the mullet on the fall. Other colors worked too, but Brian and Ted continued to prefer the Nite Glow. Once you develop confidence in a color it makes sense to stay with it. A couple of ladyfish were mixed in with the trout.
Later we moved to a mangrove lined shoreline where Ted and Brian peppered the shadows with the same Rip Tide Mullet. Both anglers were excellent casters and it finally paid off. Brian hooked and boated a nice 24 inch, Banana River Snook, to end the day. All in all, it was a day full of action, but still no real bragging rights. The trip was a birthday gift from Brian to his dad.
Redfish are still a favorite target on the river. They will also jump on a well placed Rip Tide Mullet. The one pictured below measured in at 23 inches. This fish came right off the bottom in front of the mangroves in about 9 feet of water.
Mullet are all over the flats right now and should continue to attract predator fish. It will only get warmer (I should say hotter) from here on out, so start early and take advantage of the early morning temps. The winds also seem to be improving are likely to be calmer early in the day.
That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.
Capt. Ron Presley
http://www.blogger.com/www.inshorefishingadventures.com
presleyr@bellsouth.net
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