FLAGLER

FLAGLER FISHING: Time, tide can make difference between success, failure

Capt. Mike Vickers Correspondent
Annie Williams is all smiles as she hefts a 28-iinch snook in the boat during a recent fishing trip in Flagler. [News-Tribune/Capt. Mike Vickers]

Anglers wetting a line in the Matanzas Inlet area have been catching plenty of redfish and flounder. East of the bridge, the northeast shoreline has been a hot spot. West of the bridge, anglers fishing the southwest area from the rocks back to Summer Haven River are putting keepers in the cooler.

A majority of the fish are eating live finger mullet or a fresh chunk of mullet. A few have fallen prey to an artificial swim bait, but your best bet is to fish with mullet.

Anglers fishing from the bridge over the inlet are also getting in on the action.

The downside is that the main bite, or action time, only lasts for about an hour during a moving tide. So the line on that in Vegas, I think, is 1-in-24 that you will be there during the bite or 1-in-23 that you won’t. Study local tide tables to improve your chances of a hookup.

South of the inlet, redfish have been following the mullet schools traveling along the grass line in the Intracoastal Waterway during low tide and moving into flooded grassy areas in the back waters during high tide.

Trout are starting to show up in greater numbers. Larger fish in the 20-inch-and-over range can be found before daybreak and some will attack a top-water plug. You might catch a few after first light, but they will be small fish. Best trout fishing remains at night.

Flounder can be found around shell banks and are happy to eat a new penny color 3-inch Gulp shrimp on a yellow 1/8- or ¼-ounce (depending on tidal movement) jig head.

Snook bite seems to have heated up near the Hammock toll bridge and docks south of it. Many of the fish have been in the slot limit of 28 to 32 inches. Live mullet or a big artificial suspended bait fished around the bridge fenders or dock pilings have been the best target areas.

The middle and main canals of Palm Coast are holding juvenile tarpon that can be caught on fly rod or standard spinning gear free-lining a live finger mullet.

Not much to report from the surf fishing scene last week due to wave action from Hurricane Florence. However, the water will calm down and the fishing should be returning to normal now.

Capt. Mike Vickers is a full-time charter captain offering inshore fishing and boat rentals. Contact him at 386-569-9674; captainmikesfishing@yahoo.com; or web site palmcoastfishingandboatrental.com or on Facebook at palm coast fishing and boat rental.