Took my dad out to “my” spot on Yellowhouse Creek. Got to the spot about an hour before dead low. We got right on top of one school of redfish and had two other schools show up. The three schools were going up and down the bank chasing what few mullet were around.
We threw everything in the boat at them including artificials and mud minnows. The only thing the one I caught would eat was a artificial baby blue crab with some Pro-Cure blue crab scent smeared on it. The solo red was 26". I didn’t weigh this one, because I fought it so long and wanted to get it back in the water fast.
My dad caught a catfish in Grove Creek on a purple trick worm, which was the first time either of us had ever seen that. We got lots of hits in Grove Creek, but couldn’t get anything else to eat.
Water temp 52 degrees.
Sunny Skies and I’d say about 75 degrees for the air temp.
Dad’s “Catch of the Day”:
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
So I was right up the creek from you… I know this because I heard you talking to a boat that pulled up to you while you were fishing. I was a beautiful day today no doubt! My buddy and I picked up 3 reds in that creek mouth we were working. There were a couple of schools of redfish moving back and forth… mostly because we kept spooking them. Two of the reds were around 24" and six pounds and the third was around 14" and 2.5 lbs. The bite turned on for us right as the tide switched, and then turned off abruptly as that other fella polled right past us, through were we were fishing, and into the creek that had pretty much no water in it. Had I not been fighting a red he would have poled right through my cast range. Other than being unhappy with that dude it was a beautiful day. Mud minnows on jig heads for us… one miss on a storm wild eyed shad.
Those two guys were my uncle and a friend of his. They are very impatient old timers. They got frustrated quickly with seeing fish but not getting bit. I really enjoy just watching that many big fish swim around me. It’s a challenge trying to get them to eat this time of year.
They went further down Yellowhouse, I think. They hooked up on two trout, a slot red, and a catfish (so they said). They told us they just trolled down hitting creek mouths.
We’re you in the black boat with the platform or was that the encroaching boat I saw?
I was in the yellow boat. My uncle and his buddy were in the camo john boat.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
I was the one with the platform… it’s more a dark blue tho. I kept saying to my friend that you guys must know each other with how close they came to you and everything. I was getting a little impatient myself but I didn’t dare leave a spot with that many visible fish to go somewhere else. I knew eventually we’d be able to approach them without spooking them. And of course right as we got it figured out the other guy basically drove right up to us and then poled right where we were fishing as I fought one red. I don’t know if that’s a regular practice or acceptable but I wouldn’t… I’d find somewhere else to fish. Lot’s of water in that area. Oh well, it was a good day on the water.
Was there a guy poling without a platform? Is that who you’re talking about?
I don’t roll up on anybody who’s already in a spot. That’s why I went to the other end of that flat. That’s also why I fish during the week anytime I can. I have come around a corner in a creek and had to turn around and troll the other way before.
I think it’s polite to give other people space if I can help it.
Three is pretty good on those fish. They’re super tight lipped right now. I’m averaging one per trip on them right now.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
Yeah, single guy in a john boat. I fish pretty much just for fun/hobby so it’s apparently not as important to me as it is to others. I’m more like you, I don’t like disturbing people when they are fishing a spot. There are times when I don’t even like passing people in certain parts of Yellow House. All good, today is another day.
That area has produced fish for me the last three trips. That creek opening and the area to the west as the water was coming out or just starting to go back in.
Just my 2 cents worth, but I have found that this time of year, when they are eating little to nothing, the secret is often to not move a bait at all - and I mean bait. Cut mullet work well. Just drop it in around the fish with little or no weight and wait. Takes patience, but after a couple of minutes, one will pick it up.
Were you fishing the mud minnows like a lure? Dragging them along? I would have though the bass would take them if you just let them sit.
I had a rod with a small bobber above one mud minnow on a small circle hook, free swimming with no weight. I also had a mud minnow on a fish finder rig with a 1/4 oz egg sinker. They were swimming right past both setups, their noses were coming within inches of the minnows. I think these fish are just very educated from being pressured all the time. I will be trying some shrimp and cut mullet next time.
JAinSC, where did you catch that flathead?
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
