Wind Brings Fin
Story/Photos by Matt Badolato
Well, surfs up! With six footers rollin in as I type this and double those heights expected for the coming week, we are certainly in for some killer fishing when this all clears through. Cooler temperatures and sudden weeklong bursts of wind trigger migrating fish to get moving because winter is on the way. In the coming month the baitfish will be making their final spree down the coast and every predator will be fattening up for the season.
The inlets are a great place to be on windy nights. The bugs are gone, the bait is trapped against the rocks and pilings, and the fish are hungry. Throwin heavy jigs upcurrent will be the best bet, for casting light plugs and baits is tough in heavy winds. Snook and reds will be the mainstays, but this is the time of year the tarpon generally start movin on in to hang out for a month or so.
These onshore winds bring in a lot of sargassum and flying fish, both necesities of productive trolling. After these fourteen foot seas subside to manable heights, get out there and drag some ballyhoo, because this is the time of year when the dolphin are migrating back down to warmer waters and they are pretty much stomachs with fins. If the winds calm down for a couple days and weedlines have the chance to form up, the patches of sargassum will be a sure bet for offshore anglers.
This past full moon was an excellent time to hit the inlet. I fished one night off school down on the south jetty and hand a blast catching one snook after another. Using STORM swimbaits I started catching small, 24-26" snook and as the incoming current starting moving faster and faster I started catching bigger and bigger ones. I caught a nice keeper that I gave to a friend and released a couple more keeper sized fish. I was getting ready to leave when I had a huge hit followed by a drag screaming run. The fish ran and ran and ran and finally I was able to slow her down using 10lb power pro on a little 2500 Stradic. With a little help from a fellow angler I was able to climb down on the rocks and grab the fish, a 40" snook! After that I called it a night and headed home for some dry clothes.
Well, either surf the washing machine or fish the tides. Its all good in the hood.
Matt Badolato from Whitey's Bait and Tackle
www.whiteysonline.com
