John “Chappy” Chapman
The Fishing Connection
904.962.5996
https://www.fishingconnectionusa.com/
I feel like every month I start out the same way, but really, time sure does seem like it is flying. I mean it is already June. Tarpon on the beach, aggravating Jacks of all sizes everywhere, bait so thick along the beaches you can actually see spinner sharks sky out of the water eating pogies. Fishing has been pretty darn good this year. The flounder started running early in the creeks and, well, they are still running. There are some really nice flatties being caught all over the river lately. Funny thing is when they are biting they are on fire.
Mud minnows, jig head with a plastic, float fishing shrimp, and or dragging them on the bottom with a jig head are all productive. Creek mouths and grass shorelines with some roughed-up bottom all produce. Additionally, the redfish are absolutely biting all over the river. They love all kinds of bait and will usually come to dinner
with all the popular offerings. If you want to catch them on artificial bait then try your luck with the bright chartreuse gulp variations and it seems like, this time of year, they prefer the jerk bait as an alternative to your
whites and light colors. That always seems to be the case for me this time of year.
This brings me to my absolute favorite way to fish and this is the best time of year to do it. Top Water will work almost anywhere right now. Remember there is absolutely no wrong way to throw topwater. If you maintain contact with the water with your lure you are doing it right.
Now there are thousands of people to tell you the right way but the truth is, as long as there are willing fish around - topwater is a great, great way to entice a bite. They absolutely can’t stand the thought of an easy meal getting away.
Here’s another thing that is a common misconception. If they want it, you can’t reel it away from them.
Now they might be picky and want a certain presentation but those fish are faster than you could ever crank a reel.
Last of all, get yourself, someone, you can fish with and will also throw the opposite colors/lures of what you are throwing, so you can combine and conquer.
My buddy Flint is all about that and he puts up with my insistence on throwing topwater to entice “the big one” to bite. More often than not, it doesn’t happen but occasionally it all works out as it did for us last night.
We combined a two fish weight of almost 10 pounds with his Red and my Trout and had a great time. Revo even went along to help out, literally he jumped in after the trout in the process of netting her.
It was during a fun Wednesday Night tournament with a three-hour time limit. Lots of fun and teamwork was the name of the game.