Successful trip out of Ortega

Battlefish

Put in at Fishing Creek, fished around the docks in the St Johns just south of Ortega river. Caught three 18" reds which I released, then one 19" trout and one 26" red which went into the cooler. Was back at ramp at noon. Using the Tsunami 4" green paddle tail shad and the 26" red hit an H2O Croaker swim bait. Had the drag really tight because I saw a tarpon roll, when the red hit the reel broke off. Video to follow. 

BTW none of these fish were even near a dock. All were in 2-3' of water between the docks. I rarely get any fish near or under a dock, but I keep throwing to the docks. Go figure. 

No shrimp, no catfish, no stingrays. ARTIFICIAL BABY!

bswiv

Have you tried dragging a Rat-L-Trap across those same areas.....or a firetiger of chartreuse shallow running crank bait?

You are right I think in that lures often do seem to produce a better overall grade of fish, maybe not as many bites, but better fish. Which reminds me of something we learned a long time ago while fishing tournaments, a few good bites were worth far more than a bushel of pedestrian ones.

So....snook......you caught any this summer yet?

We've had only one on that I can think of, which in comparison to the last couple of years is low.

Battlefish

I caught a 29" on a green silver Bomber rattle trap in June (video) when we ran into those schools in front of Moosehaven. The regular green silver floating Bomber has done well in the past. Both from Walmart bottom shelf usually $2.50 each. That Croaker swim bait though is my new favorite. Expensive though. Frankly I think its about finding the reds and they will eat anything. I throw a lot of casts, I've learned to stop the lure/line, with my index finger, in the air and start the retrieve as soon as it hits the water. The bait is moving before it hits the water. The hits are usually the first two cranks of the reel between the docks in 1-2' of water. The speed of the retrieve does not seem to matter but I usually retrieve pretty fast. I'm a manic caster. 

No snook this year yet. Some guy caught a 38" one in Drs Lake several weeks ago, my neighbor saw the pics. 

icantfish

bswiv said:

Have you tried dragging a Rat-L-Trap across those same areas.....or a firetiger of chartreuse shallow running crank bait?

You are right I think in that lures often do seem to produce a better overall grade of fish, maybe not as many bites, but better fish. Which reminds me of something we learned a long time ago while fishing tournaments, a few good bites were worth far more than a bushel of pedestrian ones.

So....snook......you caught any this summer yet?

We've had only one on that I can think of, which in comparison to the last couple of years is low.

The snook population is strong in our area now. Ortega area is loaded with them especially in creek. There are definitely a lot more slot size around so it’s worth the extra 10 bucks for a snook stamp to bring one home for dinner every once I awhile. 

Battlefish

icantfish said:

bswiv said:

Have you tried dragging a Rat-L-Trap across those same areas.....or a firetiger of chartreuse shallow running crank bait?

You are right I think in that lures often do seem to produce a better overall grade of fish, maybe not as many bites, but better fish. Which reminds me of something we learned a long time ago while fishing tournaments, a few good bites were worth far more than a bushel of pedestrian ones.

So....snook......you caught any this summer yet?

We've had only one on that I can think of, which in comparison to the last couple of years is low.

The snook population is strong in our area now. Ortega area is loaded with them especially in creek. There are definitely a lot more slot size around so it’s worth the extra 10 bucks for a snook stamp to bring one home for dinner every once I awhile. 

Thanks, you made me look it up. I'm 67 so I do not need a license, to get a $10 snook stamp you have to buy a saltwater license too, according to the FWC website. So $27 total. I'll wait till season opens Sept 1. I do like snook. I ate them a lot when I lived in Ft Myers, caught them in the Caloosahatchee River near my first house. Would walk to Peppertree Point marina and catch them off the pier. I could get a 10 pounder in less than 10 minutes on a spoon or a green tube lure. My dad and mom lived at Punta Rassa and kept his Grady White at Pier 50. In the winter the snook were stacked up under the floating docks like cord wood. They looked like they were hibernating. They would not eat anything when it was cold. 

Battlefish

Here's one i caught last year. https://youtu.be/AJ4beUWg_rg 

Battlefish

Here's the Ortega St Johns video. Broken reel 26" red, three 18" reds and a nice 19" trout. All before noon. H2O Croaker swim bait and Tsunami green shad paddle tail. 

https://youtu.be/8YyZEYRQPR8

LakotaRain

I live in Ortega Forest and the Seaboard ramp is my launch site when I am not keeping the boat on a lift.  We fished a little south of you on Saturday.  I agree that the fish are holding between docks not under or around.  I found a nice roll-off edge that consistently holds fish on the shoal side and the dropoff.  Got a bunch of short reds and this Trout, then some ravenous ladyfish showed up which was fun for a bit.  I will be looking for those Snook icant mentioned!!     

bswiv

I'm startin to wonder whether we be should be telling everyone about the river......could end up as bad as the intracoastal

LakotaRain

Luckily it is a BIG river...  Has been intimidating for me to learn since I swapped the offshore boat for an inshore rig...  

icantfish

Listen real close. These snook we are talking about are all lies. Lies I say lol

Battlefish

Landed a 33" red today out of Goodbys, near Beauclerc Bluffs. The Only bite. On the H2O Croaker swim bait. There is quite a difference in the fight between an 18" a 26" and a 33" redfish. 

Battlefish

LakotaRain said:

Luckily it is a BIG river...  Has been intimidating for me to learn since I swapped the offshore boat for an inshore rig...  

Cover a lot of area and throw a lot of casts. 

carolinablue2

I lucked into 3 nice specks in the river today. 21” and 2 20”. Also several mangroves and a baby jack Cravelle.

Battlefish

Better than me today! Nice job.