The 5 Basics

10:03 AM jbond352 0 Comments

If you are into fishing and browse the internet in your free time you will notice one big thing: our space is dominated by companies and advertisers that want you to spend spend spend and get the latest and greatest.

One of the reasons I began paddle fishing is because of the simplicity. No need for expensive motors, trailers, dry storage, expensive vehicles, $ hundreds $ in gas to run offshore and the list goes on.

Even in the paddle fishing space there are things that are cool but a huge waste of money and unfortunately add stress to outings on the water: peddle drive boats, rod/reel combos that cost upwards for $300, live wells, power poles....

While these things have their place, my personal philosophy is that less is more. Here are 2 pics of my rig. A cooler simply lashed to the deck of my board, a broom stick to position myself in the mud, and a bait bucket.

I want to give the person looking to get into fishing our marshes a basic, and by no means complete list, of 5 things they need to catch fish. This list assumes you have a paddle craft, life jacket, and whistle.

1. Rod/Reel

A medium action 7' rod/reel combo. I recommend the Penn Battle II combo. This thing is priced right at $100 and has a great warranty. The best price in town is at West Marine.

2. Braided Line

Many people go overboard with the braided line in terms of what pound test they choose. 10 pound test is all that is needed for 99% of inshore fishing here in NE FL. I choose 10lb because of its castability, even with lighter jig heads. KastKing Fortis is the best bang for the buck in my opinion.

3. Fluorocarbon Leader.

I use a uni to uni knot to attach my braided line to my leader. Don't skimp and get a leader made out of anything else than fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbon is invisible in the water and very resistant to oysters. 20lb or 25lb test is all you need.

4. Jig Heads

Go to your local tackle shop and ask which brand they recommend....because there are a bunch. You don't need anything fancy, just 1/8 or 1/4 oz depending on how windy it is out (heavier for windier conditions).

5. Mud Minnows

These things are the caviar of the marsh....sea trout, reds, flounder, bluefish and the occasional sheepshead eat these things. If I had to pick ONE bait this is it. They are right around $3 a dozen, can be kept overnight in the garage, and stay alive all day while you are out in the water.

What are your thoughts? What would you add? What are YOUR 5 essentials?

-Josh Bond
352-217-6925

Fishing Report 1/1-1/8

1:02 PM jbond352 0 Comments

Happy New Year!

January is currently taking revenge on us as we experience our first cold front....or should I say "REAL" cold front. Today at my house we didn't get out of the 30s' until noon.

The fishing is about to change. When the water drops below 65 degrees all of the mullet move out of the creeks and into the river. Bait shops will no longer carry fresh live shrimp. Fish become sluggish.

No this isn't the fish-apocalypse, just a change of tactics!

On sunny days the mud flats will warm up significantly more than the areas around them, causing redfish to move onto them to get warm. When casting to them it is important to present the bait slowly and to be patient.

Redfish warming up on the flats won't be able to say no to mud minnows as well as quartered crab. My "go to" for artificial this time of year is a D.O.A. shrimp with glitter pattern worked slowly.

Quartered Crab

Yesterday morning I met up with a buddy and we fished in hellacious conditions- 25 mph winds/mid 40s. The water temp was right around 62 when we started but had dropped to the mid 50s' when we were done.