With high tide in the mornings, this weekend will be some of your better fishing opportunities on the falling tides. If you are looking to have some fun bending the rods with the kids there are a ton of lady fish and jacks on falling tide around creek mouths in the waterway. Use ¼ ounce jig heads on a 20 Ib. fluorocarbon leader, tip with live shrimp or mud minnows. When casting, throw up current towards the creek mouth slowly retrieving the slack out of your line. While fishing this way you also have a good chance of catching some nice flounder, redfish, and trout.
If you are looking for something with a little more fight the bull reds can be found in the St. Johns river between the Mayport Jetties and the entrance to Mill Cove. You want to anchor up on the roll down edges of the channel in 40 to 50 feet of water. You will need to use a 5000 or bigger spinning reel on a 7' heavy action rod spooled with 30 to 50 lb. braid. The rig should have a 7/0 to 8/0 circle hook tied to a 60 Ib. fluorocarbon leader connected to a swivel. You will need to use a slider snap swivel above the swivel, it will allow the weight to slide freely on the braid. Depending on the strength of the current, an 8 to 1 0 oz. bank sinker will be needed.
Cut lady fish, cracked crab and 8 to 10-inch mullet are my baits of choice. When these bull reds are caught, make sure to use a venting tool to properly release the fish so it can make it back down to the bottom and they will live to fight again.
Best Bet this weekend:
Target: Jacks
Bait: Live shrimp
Rig: ¼ oz. jig heads on 20 lb. leader
Where: creek mouths, falling tides
Remember to take your kids fishing and create memories that last a lifetime!
