Vilano's Landscape

Went on an afterschool outting to Vilano on Monday (9/24) in search of Black and Red Drum.  Its defintely been over a year since my last visit there and man has it changed!  From the first set of Rocks on around the inlet it appears they've added tons and tons of sand with vegetation on top to prevent erosion.  The access to get around the inlet has dramactically decreased.  I was there an hour before high tide and left two hours into the outgoing.  Three cars pulled up to leave and were denied by the surf being so close to the access point. 

The fishing itself was very good.  Bite was almost non-stop.  Fished about 200 yards from the first set of rocks and the whiting were very nice size.  Caught six of those along with 5 lady fish an undersize pompano and several catfish.  Bait was day fresh dead shrimp bought live earlier in the day, sandfleas and cut mullet.  Had three strong hits on the mullet with no catches.  Was using 6/0 hooks on fish finder rigs with the mullet.  Thinking blues not big enough to get the hook in their mouth.  Switched to 4/0's with no luck.

There have been reports of Pompano at the Jax pier the previous week.  Water is still very warm for them so Im thinking they were barely legal and only a few were probably caught.  The bouy at Fernandina has only been as low as high 78 deg and was back up touching 80 today.  The smaller the Pomp the least resistant to cold, so the smaller ones lead the migration home.

Decided later in the week to hit American Beach and see what was going on there.  Report to follow.

Water Temps 9/21

Water temps are steadily decreasing! Savannah Georgia came in at 78.7 while Fernandina dipped as low as 80.4.  Not much longer and the Pomps will be in Florida water!

Heading out to Vilano on Monday to use whole finger mullet & live shrimp for Red & Black Drum. I heard at Jax pier the Red Drum have been full of sandfleas!

Surfside Park - 9/18 & 9/19

Primary goal was digging for sandfleas.  Mission accomplished.  Started digging near high tide on the outgoing.  Further out the tide got the fewer fleas found.  Got about 150 fleas.  Think that will be enough for about 4 or 5 trips.  That should get me to early November.

Did throw a couple lines out.  Water was dirty in close and that resulted in a couple hard head cats.  Also caught a few whiting, barely enough size to keep.  Did get a bite off.  Whole finger mullet on 4/0 hook.  Probably a shark.

Trying to find a day next week to hit Vilano on the incoming for Reds in the surf.  Hoping to find an incoming tide around 10am.

Water temp in Fernandina finally broke under 82 degrees today.  Looking for 77 and Pompano.  Also hoping to start catching them at Talbot Island in about two weeks.  Fingers are crossed!

The Fall Run - In Full Swing!

With mullet in the surf and temps heading lower the fall migration is underway in earnest!  Fish are returning to Florida from the northern states and their in the Surf dining on mullet.  Black drum over 5 lbs have been report as well as Reds from the undersize to the Bulls.  Sharks are stacked up as well particularly Spinners and Blacktip as they make their way to warmer waters.

My plan is to prep blue crab as bait as well as rake for Sandfleas.  I plan to be fishing the surf hard each week over the next few months!  Theres just something about the returning migration that more special than the spring migration!

Time to start...

...monitoring water temps.

Grays Reef (Savannah) 81.5 deg
Ft. Pulaski GA - 81.7
Fernandina Beach 82.5

Was hoping we'd be closer to Pompano temps. Still about 3 weeks about I'd estimate; first week of October.

I have heard that Black drum have shown up at the Jax pier with good size whiting biting as well.  Plan to head out Weds to fish American Beach and rake for sandfleas.