2017 Shad Run

the_stalker

Has anyone been catching any Shad on the Saint Johns? Got my gear all rigged up and waiting to here there are some fish to catch.

trousertroutman

It is way easier to catch them if you wait until the summer, they school up off the beach and you can cast net all you want.

Only difference is you have to call them "Pogies"

capt louie

trousertroutman wrote: »

It is way easier to catch them if you wait until the summer, they school up off the beach and you can cast net all you want.

Only difference is you have to call them "Pogies"

Wrong species. American shad should be getting close . I haven't heard any reports. Yet..

silverg

Coming down to pick up a skiff in Orlando tomorrow. Was hoping to fish Saturday. Catching would be great but also looking forward to just exploring the river some.

Mad Man Mike

I live in Geneva on the St Johns, Haven't caught any yet. I will be fishing in the morning, I will report any results

Kennyg

Where can I get bait (minnows) around Geneva? Heading to CS Lee Park in the morning from Lakeland.

Thanks

Mad Man Mike

Kennyg wrote: »

Where can I get bait (minnows) around Geneva? Heading to CS Lee Park in the morning from Lakeland.

Thanks

Geneva General Store, they have sandwiches to go and live bait. It is a white building on the right just before you go through the Geneva Red Light. I will be fishing Lake Harney in a white 16' center console, and a white dog

Kennyg

Great Thanks

the_stalker

Is there a Shad and Crappie Derby this year? I use to get my token at Mosquito Creek in Apopka, but their closed.

the_stalker

Found the Shad today. Got them one after another all morning and early afternoon in the river near Mullet Lake

crabby

I am a saltwater guy. Why do you catch shad? Fun, food, bait or all of the above ?

Mad Man Mike

I caught quite a few Shad trolling in Lake Harney for Crappie over the weekend

mplspug

crabby wrote: »

I am a saltwater guy. Why do you catch shad? Fun, food, bait or all of the above ?

They are fun, the eggs are delicious and not for bait.

the_stalker

Pound for pound, nothing fights harder.
They can be 2 feet long and weigh 4 to 5 lbs.
Using a tandem rig, doubles are not uncommon; and on light spinning tackle you get a real fun battle.
The best fishing is in the middle of the day, when the sun is high in the sky and its nice and warm out.
Great way to spend a weekend afternoon in the winter when the ocean is not cooperating.

crabby

Thanks for the info about shad. Sounds like a lot of fun. I would like to take my wife and daughter out for some shad fishing. They are not fans of open water fishing, so this might get them on the water.

MRichardson

Mad Man Mike wrote: »

I caught quite a few Shad trolling in Lake Harney for Crappie over the weekend

Me too, but I was drift fishing w/minnows.
Were you in one of the boats with one of them 5-rod trolling rigs set up?

Thomaswolfe

Has anyone been catching any sunshine bass around the mullet lake/lake harney/puzzle area?

crabby

Do the shad make it down to the southern end of the St. Johns river? I been gator hunting a number of times out of Lone Cabbage and Hell n Blazes. I know the river better in this area. Thanks again for any intel.

wareagle85

Crabby,

In general, they can't get past the weir at Lake Washington unless the water is high (definitely not this year). I know some guys are catching a few around the 520 bridge, but the majority of the fish seem to be around the SR 46 area or SR 50.

crabby

Looks like I am going to need to take a road trip with the family soon. Thanks for the info.

hookinthumb

We picked up a few near the Econ last Saturday. There were a pile of fish in there but not eating much. Should of gone to Mullet lake I guess.

trousertroutman

crabby wrote: »

I am a saltwater guy. Why do you catch shad? Fun, food, bait or all of the above ?

They make great bait for lunker bass, also some people eat them pickled or smoked.

mplspug

I am shore bound. Can you walk to the mouth of the Little Big Econ through the Little Big Econ forest? Could I expect a reasonable chance of catching one? I am just interested in the sport of it and to be able to add it to my list of fish I caught.

I did contact Little Econ State forest and they told me where I can park off 46. But I also Googled it and the pictures I saw made it look like the walk is a bit muddy and mucky once you get close to the river.

capt louie

Water levels are a problem I'm told.?

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?238984-Sunshines-and-Shad-*-Navigating

mplspug

Thanks! I wonder if you walk in from the park you'll need mud boots? I'm totally ignorant of the area, but it seems on normal years its muddy, so maybe with the water way down it will be dryer land. It's a hike, so its not worth not being prepared for some muck.

Side note, the retention pond by my house that I fish when I need to satisfy a quick itch is way down too. And the bass seem to be a lot less active or at least the action isn't as hot as I expect.

the_stalker

You can catch them off the bank just north east of the Mullet Lake Boat ramp

mplspug

mplspug wrote: »

I am shore bound. Can you walk to the mouth of the Little Big Econ through the Little Big Econ forest? .

To answer my own question you can hike it from 46. There is a little lot there and it is quite the hike. I suspect most of the time it is even more difficult, but last spring a friend visited in the middle of the drought after the shad run and we had no problem walking thought the pastures. On our way out we crossed a couple bulls who made us a little uneasy.

MRichardson

Just keep your friend between you and the bull, no problem.

mplspug

We went on the other side of the barbed wire that was along the path...into the unkempt brush hiding the rattlers. :hairraiser