By Bob McNally
Not too many years ago the idea of seeing and catching redfish on shallow flats in Northeast Florida made about as much sense as catching bonefish and permit along the First Coast. Since bonefish and permit are unavailable in this part of the state, getting redfish on the flats obviously made no sense either.
But things have changed dramatically for redfish over the past 15 years or so, and itâs all to the good, both for the fish and the anglers of Northeast Florida who pursue them.
Northeast Florida always has had outstanding red drum fishing. But in recent years it has become truly remarkable, thanks to redfish harvest restrictions and the state net ban. The regulations have worked so well that now there are more small redfish (under 8 pounds) in Northeast Floridaâs estuaries and creeks than many anglers can remember. What this has done in Northeast Florida is create an entire exciting flats fishery for red drum.
Just a few years ago no one in Northeast Florida would have given flats fishing for red drum a second thought. Now there are so many redfish in the inshore creeks and marshes, that flats are jammed with reds, and a whole new flats âsight-fishingâ army of anglers pursues them.
Another plus for Northeast Florida flats redfishing is that the creeks and inshore marsh areas where the fish are found are enormous. Nassau, Duval, St. Johns and Flagler counties are among the most pristine in marsh habitat. Unlike much of the rest of coastal Florida, in these counties rare are the condominiums and hotels on valuable marsh land. Thus there are plenty of creeks and flats for redfish to roam, and anglers can have their innings with shallow water reds like never before.
Flats redfishing in Northeast Florida has become so good, that a whole new cadre of anglers dedicated to pursuing thin-water redfish has emerged. And over recent years they have developed techniques and lures that are deadly effective for reds.
One of the best red drum flats fishermen in Northeast Florida is guide Jeff Crabtree of Jacksonville. Jeff has watched flats fishing for reds grow from a time when there were almost no fish, to today when in a typical good morning heâll get âshotsâ or casts to several dozen fish in a single tide phase. Flats redfishing in the First Coast can be good year-round. Winter is the only time when fish vacate the flats, and thatâs only when itâs unusually cold. Summer through November is prime for flats redfishing, with fish averaging 4 to 6 pounds.
Northeast Florida flats redfish are best caught during the last couple hours of an outgoing tide and the first two hours of an incoming tide. The action is especially good when these tide phases coincide with low- light conditions of dawn or dusk. During a typical âgood tide day,â anglers can enjoy outstanding fishing for about four hours in the morning, then about four hours in late afternoon when the same tide conditions exist during the low-light of dusk. Such ideal flats redfishing conditions typically occur for one week. Then the next week the best tides occur during mid-day, which usually produces less good fishing. Thus, prime tide conditions for flats reds occur for one week periods, every-other week. âThe flats in Northeast Florida have dark, tannin-stained water,â notes Jeff Crabtree. âBut even in that dark water reds donât like real bright sunlight, like that found in mid-summer. This is why itâs important to have the best tides for fishing during dawn and dusk, or when itâs overcast often in late summer afternoonâs. Later in the year, during autumn and winter, good mid-day fishing can be found because the sunâs angle into the water isnât as direct as it is in August or September.â
Jeff fishes mainly in creeks and bays off the Intracoastal Waterway just north and south of the St. Johns River. Seldom does he make more than a 20-minute boat run to locate flats full of redfish. And Jim fishes just one small area of Northeast Florida. There are hundreds of creeks, bays and tidal washes that abound in the areas around Fernandina Beach, Mayport, Fort George Inlet, Nassau Sound, St. Augustine and Matanzas Inlet. The region is a vast labyrinth of tidewater, and all of it has potential for offering outstanding flats redfishing.
Crabtree guides inshore fishermen from a broad 22-foot Skeeter bay skiff with a bow- mounted electric motor. Small johnboats, kayaks and flats skiffs also can be used very effectively. Electric motors or poling work best to approach redfish in shallows, which range from 18 inches to three feet in depth. Reds are much spookier in shallow water than many people give them credit for. Keep boat noise to a minimum, and approach fish with the sun in your face to avoid casting a shadow over reds when casts are made.
Because Northeast Floridaâs flats have dark water, anglers seldom see cruising redfish beneath the surface like a fisherman spotting bonefish or tarpon. Usually, a wake is seen, or a small part of the fish is spotted breaking the waterâs surface. Caudal and dorsal fins poking above the surface usually give away a fishâs presence, but donât overlook leaping baitfish or shrimp as they scurry away from a feeding red. Sometimes spartina grass can be seen moving, as reds grub around the emergant plants for crabs and other food.
Calm conditions are best for spotting redfish, but sometimes during strong norâeasters great flats action can be had. During a typical storm, tides swell high and flood huge marsh areas, which draws redfish onto grass flats.
Long casts with weedless lures like Johnson Spoons and soft plastic jerk baits often produce big catches of reds at such times. Fly rod fishermen also do extremely well. Flats redfishermen commonly catch flounder, too. And when autumn norâeaster tides flood marshes, sheepshead frequently swarm onto the flats. Iâve even caught a few sheepshead with lures from flats when fishing for reds. But a small piece of shrimp or fiddler crab bait is a much better sheepshead producer. Bait is deadly for reds, as well.
One of the best things about flats redfishing in Northeast Florida is itâs predictable. Given a good tide, itâs almost a sure bet anglers will get âshotsâ or chances at fish. Even when itâs windy, small creeks can be probed that are out of the elements and hold plenty of fish. That says a lot for an area that just a decade ago had virtually no flats fishing available. Now some of the worldâs most exciting angling—âsightâ fishing—can be found year-round in Northeast Florida, by almost anyone with a small boat and the will to use a push pole or electric motor.
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