I had an incredibly productive first week of the mullet run. The redfish action has been fantastic, ranging from the Matanzas inlet all the way into the marsh grass. They’re primarily targeting finger mullet or imitation artificials. My go-to lures, the Kiss My Fish “Creeper” in bone color and Fishbites Fight Club Lures, have been working wonders for most of my reds. However, using live finger mullet under a popping cork around grass lines and submerged oysters has also been a surefire way to catch fish.
Not only the reds, but the tarpon and snook are taking full advantage of the abundance of finger mullet in and around the inlet during this time of year. Although flounder numbers are down, the ones I’ve encountered are of impressive size.
The water temperature in the tidal areas of the Matanzas River has been holding steady in the mid to upper 80s. The most productive tides for me have been the first few hours of the falling tide, but it’s worth noting that different reports suggest varying tide stages. The fish seem to be on the move, and as long as the water is flowing, they’re eager to feed. Slack tide appears to be the slowest bite, as reported by many anglers.
On Thursday afternoon, I had the opportunity to demo a Flood Tide Boatworks skiff with Mike Cook, aka St. Augustine Sandman on YouTube, and the company owner Sam. We had a highly productive trip with multiple reds coming from inside the flooded grass, a 20″ flounder, a lost snook at the side of the boat, and several fun Jacks. The boat performed exceptionally well, and I’d highly recommend checking them out if you’re in the market for a skinny water skiff that won’t break the bank.
As for lunar phases, we have a waning moon this week with a new moon on the 14th. While some anglers believe it affects fishing, I’ve personally never noticed it to be a make-or-break factor. The best time to fish is whenever you can get out on the water and enjoy this incredible mullet run action. Tight lines!
