When you’re tomato plants have a hard time budding, you know summer comes earlier than the calendar here in Florida. June marks the beginning of our Atlantic Hurricane season. Water levels will be the key to finding fish. If we get high levels in June there will be a lot of places for fish to hide as pastures get flooded along the St Johns.
Shad schools are downstream for the most part. Fish for bass early in the morning, during the June ‘Noon’ bite, and late evenings. Schooling bass can be found at the mouths of the lakes along the St Johns River in Central Florida. Swim baits, crank baits, and rattling lipless crank baits (Rattle Traps) are best bet lures. If you find shad getting busted by largemouth bass, throw a crankbait and retrieve with the stream between the school and the bank for sunshine bass.
Catfish: Now is the time to catch large blue channel catfish. When rainwater flushes out of the creeks and rivers, the cats swim upstream to find forage and nesting areas. BnM Poles makes special catfish rods and they are worth a look. Use a foot of 20lb. test fluorocarbon leader and a 2/0 Daiichi bleeding red circle hook pinned with just enough weight to hold the bottom. Visit the saltwater bait store and get live shrimp. Other good baits are red worms and store bought shiners are sometimes what the cats want.
Panfish: Spawning will taper off in June. Best bets are full and new moons. Look for beds in the straight areas of the river along the bank in 2-5 feet of water. Bluegills like sandy bottom or shell bottom for nesting. Use crickets for best results but always have worms with you. Try a four-foot piece of 8lb. test fluorocarbon leader in clear water for more hookups.
