SHRIMP RUNNING THE RIVER AND ICW

Description

FISHING REPORT

**Shrimp running the river and ICW**

All the buzz this week has been predictably on shrimping. It continues, but doesnt seem to be continuing to improve  though it is early, yet, to see the large shrimp in the nets. Theyre growing, and will likely molt gain on the new moon Saturday night.

The shrimp also seem to be moving a lot. What hot around Mile Marker 18 in Green Cove Springs one day, may be miles south the next day.

They are spread from Jacksonville down to Lake George. Little Lake George to the south and the Shands Bridge area are both good places to begin.

If youre land bound, try the county piers in Green Cove or the municipal marina in Palatka. It will be crowded.

Bass fishing is very good for those netting live river shrimp and pitching them under docks on Carolina rigs. A big bonus has been the number of redfish and flounder caught in the same haunts in the same manner.

The bluegill bite is steady, but youll be doing a lot of culling, or should be.

The strange thing all week has been a big spawn of shellcracker in Lake George and bluegills, but to a lesser degree. Theyre whacking the schellcracker on shell bars around Hog and Drayton islands. Catfish are picking up as well.

**The Intracoastal Waterway**

The really big buzz is the shrimping in the ICW this week. The ditch doesnt normally give the river a run for its money in the shrimp department, but it is now. The numbers and the size are better in the brackish water. But if you think about it, the truth is the St. Johns salinity cant be that far off the ICW.

At any rate, the shrimp might be all over the ICW, but the shrimpers are targeting the deeper holes and eddies from Guana River up to Pine Island. Five-gallon limits are the norm: Figure around 35 pounds. Lots will be on the small side, so if youre on them, think about getting the small ones back into the water as quickly as youre putting the big ones on ice.

Otherwise, it the normal summer pattern for redfish and flounder, which remain, on the small side. A few drum and sheepshead are being caught. Mangrove snapper are showing up in sufficient numbers to target them on docks and rocks, with light line, small wire hooks and live shrimp or mud minnows.

**The Atlantic**

There been a real nice bite of kingfish most of the week. Theyre still out on the reefs and wrecks, but have moved onto the beaches in 35-45 feet of water. Most of the action was north of the inlet up around the Red Tops in South Ponte Vedra Beach. A couple of captains reported catching monster jack crevalle as well. These fish are in the 40-pound range. Theyre beating up the charter customers so bad, captains are thinking about making them sign waivers for injury or death.

A few cobia were caught along with the kingfish. Live pogies are the best bet for bigger kings. But some of the larger charter boats that cant troll slowly enough to do that, are pulling drone spoons or Sea Witches on planers or downriggers and blistering them inside 100 feet, over the reefs and wrecks.

Surf fishing has been pretty poor. But I can vouch for one angler who limited on Pompano both trips down to Vila no Beach from Jacksonville. He says the first of the rising tide has been best. Fresh, cut clams are as deadly as live sand fleas, he reports.

And the farther you can cast, the farther youll stay away from bonnet head sharks, sail cats and other less lordly species.

The monthly meeting of the Ancient City Game Fish Association is Aug. 18 at the Shrine Club, located on Brainerd Street. Social hour begins at 6:30 with business at 7:30.

**The weather**

Look for the normal southerly winds this weekend, blowing gently at 5-10 knots with 2-foot seas closer in, and building slightly in deeper water.

**PHOTO**

A lot of tops of a lot of 5-gallon buckets looked like this one all week long. The St. Johns River has its share of shrimp but the better catches came from the Intracoastal Waterway, generally between Guana River and North Pine Island.

**How To Throw a Cast Net**