Fishing Report December 2016

5:43 PM jbond352 0 Comments

This is a December Fishing Report in conjunction with www.Jaxpaddlesports.com

The departure of Fall and transition to Winter has been a smooth one on the First Coast. Years past we have had to battle early season cold fronts, strong winds, and higher than normal tides. This year has been different.

Nearly the entire month has been fishable with light winds, fog, and water temps ranging from 62-70, which are ideal conditions for a backcountry fishing trip. The lighter winds have made long exposed paddles enjoyable and less of a burden.

Launching early to catch the tide

"Glassed out"

Dolphins are a common occurrence in the ICW and St. Johns

Launching two hours before the predicted low of the area you are fishing is a solid strategy for finding fish. Low tide = the same amount of fish with less than half the water.

All of my trips in December were focused on targeting redfish. Baits used were artificials, mud minnows, and live mullet on a "no brainer" rig.

Redfish get feisty and feed aggressively when the water is in the 60s. Redfish this time of year primarily congregate around drop-offs, oyster beds, and ledges where they are waiting to ambush bait.