Greetings from Tru Luvin fishing and Hagan Coastal Outfitters. This blog provides you with a front row seat to what we are seeing on the water from our kayaks as we chase inshore fishing species in Northeast Florida, primarily using artificial lures. We will include occasional bonus reports from fishing trips around the state. We want to keep you informed of what is biting, what lures are working for us and what gear has been helping us get on the fish.
Overall Fishing Report
Fishing was really good in May but…that sure escalated quickly. Record breaking heat in May fast forwarded the fishing calendar and water temperatures from Spring to Summer in a flash. Thankfully the fish are still adjusting and have continued to eagerly feed.
Multiple trips in different creek systems produced consistently strong results in both low tide and high tide conditions. The key for us has been transitioning to Summer tactics of fishing from first light until mid-day. First light is that magical half hour just before sunrise when the sky lights up with the rising sun just before it breaks over the horizon. Topwater lures have been producing quality Redfish and Trout from first light until about 9am. We like to fish top water lures on grass lines during higher tides and near structures such as oyster mounds at low tide. Flounder action continues to be strong in our creeks, and we have been finding them holding on structure at lower tides.
Road Trip!
A crew of 4 of us headed South to Jensen Beach, Florida to fish the DOA Lures Paddlers tournament. DOA hosts the paddle craft only tournament out of River Palms Cottages in Jensen Beach, and all proceeds benefit their Local Chapter of Heroes on the Water. This is a nonprofit organization that takes military members, veterans and first responders kayak fishing as therapy. The tournament entry fee buys you a tackle box of DOA products and those are the only lures you are permitted to use while fishing the tournament.
The fishing was fun but challenging, and DOA put on a first-class event. We all caught fish down there and we are proud to report that Troy Rhodes from our crew finished second in the Redfish Division of the tournament and collected a really nice prize pack from the tournament sponsors. Congratulations, Troy! If anyone is looking for a paddle craft only tournament outside of our area, this is a family-friendly annual event in May, and we would recommend it to anyone who might be interested.
Tactics That Are Working
Inshore water temperatures soared into the 80s following a record warm month of May. These water temperatures are ideal for steady top water lure action as noted earlier. There is nothing more rewarding than a surprise top water blow up from a big Redfish or Trout going after your plug. We consistently caught slot Reds and Trout on our trips in May. The Mirrolure Top Dog Junior was a standout this month. Our bait fish are still small and at four inches, this lure blends well. It also weighs in at a fairly hefty 3/4 of an ounce which gives you two advantages. It casts well, even into the wind, and it sits down nicely in the water. This allows for a smooth dog walking retrieve even on choppy days when the wind is up.
We have also continued to experiment with our favorite cold water tactic during these warmer months. We are happy to report the Ned rig continues to catch fish, especially around structure such as oyster mounds and docks at lower tides. This is a fun finesse tactic that requires more patience than technical expertise. ZMan TRD and all of their Ned profiles consistently produce fish. A slow drag and pause along the bottom or a subtle hop are all that it takes to entice strikes.
Lessons Learned
You need to read the water. It is easy to get into a rut and fish your favorite lures, but sometimes you have to take your cues from the fish when deciding on lure selection. We love to throw twitch baits such as the Mirrolure 17mr, and typically do well with them. However, this month the fish taught us a lesson. The Redfish were abundant on the flats of the creek systems we fished this month but they often did not want what we were throwing. The fish did, however, provide us with a clue. Fleeing showers of shrimp from the water in the shallows were a clue that the Redfish were focused on feeding on shrimp. We switched up our lure selections to shrimp imitations such as the Z-Man PawnstarZ 3.5” and the bite was on. We caught our best fish this month on shrimp lures once the top water bite cooled off each morning. Sometimes you just need to read the water and match the hatch.
Tackle & Equipment
Matching the right fishing rod power and action with our tactics was key this month. Heavier top water lures require a Rod with back bone to be able to get a long cast and proper action on your retrieve. A medium-heavy fast action rod was perfect for the Top Dog Jr. The PrawnstarZ Shrimp requires a more subtle touch with less overt lure movement. A quality medium-light fast action rod provided the best performance in casting and retrieving this lure and other shrimp imitations. Having the right lure with the wrong rod will cost you bites and fish. Make every cast count!
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