Jax ICW help

[tcole220]

Looking for some help on catching reds in the ICW. I've been putting in at Beach Blvd and heading north. I've tried some of the creeks on the east side and haven't had any luck. Can anyone recommend on some areas and what to use? I've thrown spooks / spinners / live mud minnows on the bottom.

[Tomatwork]

I like east Chicotpit and Pablo Creek. Pick a area and check it out at low tide. Look for oyster bars and drop offs from grass banks and bars. Fish off of oyster bars and drop offs. At Hightide the reds will be in the grass and all the way up the creek where its hard to get to without tipping them off that your there. They can shut down when they hear a boat, but will forget about it after awhile if your there long enough. So you can not move around allot because evertime you move to a spot they are spooked for about 10 minutes. Get into place before they arrive at low tide. If you can set up long cast into areas where they are that can work. If they are in real shallow water they will spook easily even by a splash of your casted bait. But they have short term memory so if you can wait them out and not spook them any more they will bite. Best bait Mullet live and shrimp live they will not let go of live bait. So dont be in a hury to set the hook unless your using artificial. Early and late in the day they are easier to catch. If you use top water and get hits you need to wait until you feel the fish on before you set the hook and with trebled artificials you dont really need to set the hook. Reds are very bad at actually getting the top water lure in there mouth but they will keep at it until they do or loose it or see your boat. You can sometimes be fishing in the wrong spot and be 10 ft from a hot spot. Catch one remember that spot exactly there will be another one there now and in the future. You can fish the hightide just put your bait in the grass edge and wait them out they patrole the edge and go in and out. Best is incoming tides morning get in place before them.

[Zecura]

Hey Tom. For that selfless help you have won the contest for 6/25. Congratulations and thanks for generously sharing your knowledge.

[Zecura]

Please e-mail me your delivery info or set up PMs in the user cp.

Nmomot@aol.com

Thank You.

Nick

[ndirish8178]

been having alot of luck with slot reds lately over here by powerplant...using cajun thunder popping corks with live shrimp of a jig head tipped with dead shrimp dragging the bottom...fish the drop offs from the grass line and oyster beds as Tomatwork recommends...youll get snagged alot on the bottom with the jig head and lose alot of bait that way but seems to be effective at getting them to bite...once u find a spot u like try to push pole into the area so not to spook them....fishing the grasslines during high tide has had good results but again u run into the snag problem...low tide throw at the drop offs and in front of the oysters and good luck....i use 10lb power pro line with size 2 circle hooks...lots of fun especially when u get a bigger slot size one...still searching for some bulls

[fbtcu]

nice info, I'm going to be moving to Jacksonville the end of the July and am eager to get back to some reds. And this is very helpful to help me get started. thanks!

[SlugO]

Today is your lucky day.. I fished that area for 7 years and just moved away from there. Head south from the boat ramp and go under the bridge. First spot on the left 200 yards from the bridge is an old wreck that on high out going is good for reds and trout with a popping cork and gold grub.

On the right side which is the first creek with all the houses that mouth holds trout on the high outgoing... Also fish the 6 docks in that creek because they all hold nice reds.

I will work both sides of the ICW with a silver and gold spoon to cover water faster but the fish love it. This is a high boating area so go early or late and during the week if you can.

Also before you get to the JTB bridge there is an mud flat on the right and it holds a ton of fish if you can get on it with a flats boat. Live or artificial bait works wonders in this area.

Oh yeah... Don't be suprised if you hook small tarpon or snook in this area while looking for trout, reds, and founder.

Slug-O

[fbtcu]

couldn't ask for anything more, thanks slugo!

unfortunately I was landlocked for 18 months and boat was in storage, so having to get some work done on it before I can hit the water. dropping it off at the shop tomorrow morning, and hope to get it back by next weekend. and I will certainly try your suggestions!

[fbtcu]

hey slug0, maybe a stupid question....but I'm not a real fan of throwing a cast net....any good live bait stores in the area? I haven't really seen any, so don't know if they just aren't that abundant here or what?

I'll throw a cast net if needed, but I'd rather spend my time fishing rather than baiting!

[SlugO]

Bait is soooo thick right now that launching at Beach Blvd ramp and catching bait is a snap.. If not just before you turn left to go to the boat ramp is a bait shop. 8/23 I took my seadoo up to the mud flat and saw 3 very nice reds working the shoreline...