Friday Fishing Report with Captain Adam Morley

Hey everyone!

Captain Adam Morley here with your latest fishing report for the Flagler News Weekly. It’s been a scorching week out there, with water temperatures in the Matanzas River pushing close to 90 degrees. As you can imagine, that kind of heat has driven schools of redfish into deeper, cooler waters. But don’t worry, the bite is still on—you just have to know where to look.

I had the pleasure of taking my family out earlier this week, and we had a stellar trip. We managed to catch over 20 redfish along the edge of the Intracoastal Waterway. We were using a mix of Fishbites, Skinny Water Lures’ Pickle, and live shrimp, and they were all hitting like crazy. The deeper channels are definitely where you want to be right now if you’re targeting redfish.

In addition to the reds, we’ve been getting solid reports of mangrove snapper and flounder coming into the shop. The snapper have been hanging around rocks, docks, and pilings, while the flounder are showing up in their usual haunts—creek mouths and sandy drop-offs. Both are great targets if you’re looking to fill the cooler.

Now, let’s talk about the snook and tarpon. With the mullet run just starting to get underway, these predators are on the move. The inlet has been particularly productive, with snook and tarpon feeding aggressively as the mullet make their way through. If you’re after one of these big boys, now’s the time to gear up and hit the water.

Looking ahead to the weekend, conditions should remain productive. As long as you’re prepared for the heat and focus on those deeper, cooler spots, you’ll have a good chance of landing some quality fish.

Tight lines, and see you out on the water!

Captain Adam Morley
Genung’s Fish Camp and The Inlet Beach and General Store

Chris from Skinny Water Lures brings you his fishing report from this week.

* Water Temperatures: 75-82F (22-26°C)

* Tides: Moderate with a slight increase in tidal flow

* Weather: Partly cloudy with light winds and scattered showers

Fishing Report:

The inshore fishing scene in Palm Coast, has been lively this week, with a variety of species biting. Here are some highlights from our week.

Species Reports:

* Redfish: Good numbers of redfish have been caught in the shallow waters of the Matanzas River, High Bridge and surrounding areas. Look for them in areas with structure such as mangroves, oyster bars, and seagrass beds.

* Trout: Speckled trout have been active in the creeks and rivers, particularly in areas with sandy bottoms and plenty of cover. Topwater action has been good early in the morning and late in the evening.

* Flounder: Flounder have been caught in the same areas as trout, with the best action coming on Skinny Water Lures curly tail grub.

* Snook: Snook have been active at night, particularly in areas with structure and plenty of baitfish. Live baits and SWL suspending twitch bait have produced good numbers.

* Black Drum: Black drum have been caught in the same areas as redfish, with the best action coming on live baits and crabs.

Hot Spots:

* The Matanzas River has been producing good numbers of redfish, trout, and flounder.

* The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve has been a hotspot for snook and black drum.

* The area around the Palm Coast Marina has been producing good catches of redfish and trout.

* High Bridge area has also been producing good numbers of redfish and upper slot snook

Tips and Tricks:

* Fish early in the morning and late in the evening when the fish are most active.

* Soft plastics just as the SWL 4inch paddle tail or SWL curly tail grub can also be effective for species like trout and flounder.

* Hard plastics lures such as the SWL topwater and suspending twitch baits has also produced good numbers early morning and late evening.

* For those using live bait, Use live baits such as shrimp, minnows, and crabs to entice a bite.

* Pay attention to your tackle and make sure you’re using appropriate gear for the species you’re targeting.

* Be prepared to adapt to changing conditions such as tides and weather.

* Remember stay hydrated and wear sun protection.

* TIGHT LINES!!