So, Speaking of the San Bernard . . .
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 3:16 pm
We went there to do more than see the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, we were fishing. And doing some exploring. It was a warm day, with a bit of wind from the SE – not too windy but enough to cut the heat when you had it. Water temp in the mid 80’s! The salinity moderate at the ICW but higher closer to the coast and in the old river channel to the SW.
There was bait and fish activity right from the start along the bank of the ICW. But nothing for us for a time. I finally landed a flounder in some moving water from the incoming tide further down the river. This was followed quickly by another in the same spot. Both were 14-15” range, but I let them go to get fatter. I continued exploring some in the old river channel and eventually toward the mouth but my explorations yielded no more fish. Lots of bait and mullet tho, as well as bird action.
Mike stayed back in the main channel catching fat trout under a popping cork while drifting back and forth with the current and wind.
I caught back up with him after my explorations and we drifted back north. Along the way we hit an area that looked good for flounder. And you know what – I get a nice thump, reel it in, finally coax it off bottom, and I have a nice 20” flounder in the boat. Now that is an energizing experience.
I soon get another thump, but this one runs. I saw a flash of silver and hoped it would be a trout, but up came a silvery red at about 17”. So I continued on trying to avoid hanging in the oysters and come up with another flounder at 16”.
We continued on for a time figuring there would be other fish on since the bait action was going crazy – mullet were jumping constantly and my jerk shad would cause small shrimp to jump when I retrieved it quickly on the surface! We tried several different offerings but the fish were done with us it seemed.
So, we finished up a beautiful day on the water, not overly active with catching fish but we each took dinner home. Then we got to drive through that heavy rain and lightning that came through town that evening – what a light show – plus a nice washing of the kayaks!
Enjoy your next outing!!
There was bait and fish activity right from the start along the bank of the ICW. But nothing for us for a time. I finally landed a flounder in some moving water from the incoming tide further down the river. This was followed quickly by another in the same spot. Both were 14-15” range, but I let them go to get fatter. I continued exploring some in the old river channel and eventually toward the mouth but my explorations yielded no more fish. Lots of bait and mullet tho, as well as bird action.
Mike stayed back in the main channel catching fat trout under a popping cork while drifting back and forth with the current and wind.
I caught back up with him after my explorations and we drifted back north. Along the way we hit an area that looked good for flounder. And you know what – I get a nice thump, reel it in, finally coax it off bottom, and I have a nice 20” flounder in the boat. Now that is an energizing experience.
I soon get another thump, but this one runs. I saw a flash of silver and hoped it would be a trout, but up came a silvery red at about 17”. So I continued on trying to avoid hanging in the oysters and come up with another flounder at 16”.
We continued on for a time figuring there would be other fish on since the bait action was going crazy – mullet were jumping constantly and my jerk shad would cause small shrimp to jump when I retrieved it quickly on the surface! We tried several different offerings but the fish were done with us it seemed.
So, we finished up a beautiful day on the water, not overly active with catching fish but we each took dinner home. Then we got to drive through that heavy rain and lightning that came through town that evening – what a light show – plus a nice washing of the kayaks!
Enjoy your next outing!!