By Captain David Lifka
mail@floridanewsline.com
What to do, what to do?
We have now reached the time of year when fishing on the St. Johns River is really beginning to turn up a notch or two — or three. We have shrimp in the river, and we have fish that feed on the shrimp in the river. Sometimes trying to decide whether to fish, shrimp, or fish and shrimp can be difficult. Making the right call could be the difference in coming home with a full or empty cooler.
To avoid a “feast or famine” type situation on your next trip out, think like a boy scout and “be prepared.” If you are going shrimping, bring fishing rods. If you are going fishing, bring your cast net.
The best shrimping (like fishing) is often tidal. When the tide is not right, shrimping can be a lot of work with minimal results. When this happens, try taking off for an hour or so to your favorite nearby fishing spot. Set the rods out, relax and rehydrate. If the fish are biting, take advantage and keep on fishing.
The same can be done if you are fishing first. Try a few throws of your cast net before you fish just to catch bait. If you just happen to get on them really well (like dozens per throw), then take advantage and load up. After getting enough shrimp for a dinner or two and bait, continue on with your fishing plans.
Through the month of August and into September we can expect shrimping and fishing to continue to improve. We can also expect the shrimp to get larger as the season progresses. Weather often plays an important role in the length and quality of our shrimping season, and the fishing that coincides. Let’s hope that this year’s weather mix delivers the proper formula needed for a long and prosperous shrimping (fishing) season.
Just a thought. Often when culling our bycatch of smaller shrimp, we are tossing back shrimp that have already died. Keeping these same “toss backs” in the mix of your five-gallon bucket has been for many, a money saving practice. By saving these smaller shrimp for future fishing trips, the need and hassle to purchase bait is eliminated.
Fishing Report: Reds, drum, croakers (all cousins) being caught from Buckman to Green Cove. Shrimp from Doctor’s Lake to Green Cove. Still decent size whiting in surf at area beaches.
Whether you catch one, some or none, the family time spent fishing will last a lifetime.
Email your Catch of the Month photo to catchofthemonthpictures@gmail.com. Be sure to include the name of the person(s) in the photo, the name of the person who took the photo, the type of fish and date and location of the catch. We will select a photo each month for publication
Photo courtesy Bill Edwards
Jim Bagnardi caught a 21” flounder in the Intracoastal Waterway near the St. Augustine inlet on July 10.
