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So one thing I've been doing since this winter is keeping a detailed log of every fishing or waterfowling trip I've taken. That way if I ever leave and come back or just plain forget the info, I can look it up and try to figure out the pattern.
Unfortunately, I haven't recorded any of the trips I've taken in my 3 years here, so I tried my best to write down the general pattern that I've seen in the area through the seasons.
I won't share the detailed logs with you guys (TMI!), but I'll post up what I wrote down for the seasonal patterns I've experienced. Keep in mind all of my fishing is from kayak, and I am no artificial snob, so it might not be for everyone.
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Winter
-Late December, January, early February.
-Fish mostly after fronts pass through. At least a day after the wind dies to manageable levels, and the water returns.
-If the wind is reasonable, fish mid-bay reefs for specks. Look for tide movement or wind-blown currents
-Drum, reds, and sheephead can be caught with good success on shell reefs with decent depth (>3’). Use dead shrimp on 3-way rig
-If the wind is too brutal, deeper chanals can hold specks and be reasonably protected.
-Afternoons are often the best for bay fishing.
Early Spring
-Late February, early March
-Continue to key in on days not immediately post-front (surf fishing exception!)
-Trout fishing remains strong over shell reefs.
-Afternoons are good times to fish, as the water heats up some.
-Fishing for drum, reds, and sheephead in the surf begins to pick up (They say when the water temp reaches stays around 60F regularly). Fish with fresh dead shrimp on the bottom. Key in on days where the surf is flat. Look for right after a front passes, the half-day where the N. wind just died, but the S. wind has just started, and hasn’t kicked up the waves yet. Days with flat surf from weak S-type wind work well too.
-Around the same time, fishing for oversized black drum in the channels (crab halves and crawfish on the bottom) picks up.
Spring
-Late March, April, early May
-Trout begin to turn on in the bay as water warms and bait streams in.
-Areas with passes nearby like SLP area become great for specks.
-Trout also return to sand flats, geotube cuts, and areas with grass nearby.
-Topwater fishing seems better too.
-The drum/red/sheephead pattern is at its strongest. Days with flat surf, fish the dead shrimp!
-Oversized drum in the channels is at its strongest.
-Small spanish mackerel make their way inshore. Fish for them with small crappie jigs and “mackerel sabikis”, as they are feeding on tiny fry.
-Flounder gigging becomes more effective, especially later, as they are returning too. Calm nights (or protected water) with low tides are ideal. Areas with shallow sand flats are great. Proximity to passes, deep channels, and grass are pluses.
Early Summer
-Late May, early June
-Around this time the dead shrimp in the surf pattern becomes impossible due to trash fish
-Specks are still entering passes, making these good areas, especially when the wind blows out the surf.
-Speckled trout begin to enter the surf! June is one of the best months. Wait for calmer days due to weak S-type wind. Medium SE wind can clear the surf too. Fish before first light with topwaters, and plastics as the day progresses. Live shrimp work great too.
-Surf trolling should become effective too, with the increase in trout and mackerel.
-Sharks begin to return to the surf as well, but their numbers are higher mid-summer.
-Fishing anywhere in the bays is good. Fishing early/late/overcast days is preferable.
-Flounder gigging is effective on calm nights.
Summer
-Late June, July, August, early September
-The surf has all of its summer species by this time. Trout, mackerel, jacks, and sharks are strong.
-Fish for trout when the surf is calm.
-Trolling for trout and mackerel should be good on medium surf days.
-Sharks are in full force in the surf.
-Bay fishing can get hard because of the heat. Try to fish early in the day, especially for shallow fish.
-Marshes near deep water can be good redfishing. For example, marshes, as well as the S. side of the ICW are protected, and can be good on blown-out days.
-Gigging remains effective.
Early Fall
-Late September, October
-Fishing for trout in the surf tapers off. Mackerel and sharks remain strong until mid-October.
-Fishing all over the bays becomes great. Bait is plentiful, and all fish are feeding for the winter.
-Late October, flounder begin to migrate out of the bays (Wait for a few fronts, or a single strong one). Fish for them in the channels.
-Bull redfish fishing in the surf becomes excellent.
-Flounder gigging becomes excellent.
-As water begins to be flushed out of the marsh, fishing can be outstanding in deeper holes once the water recedes enough to show some mud.
Fall
-November, early December
-Warm-water fish have left the surf.
-Flounder migration is strong. Fish in channels. Jetties may be good in early December, as the last flounder leave.
-Bay fishing remains excellent in most places all through November, and tapers off with the arrival of real cold weather.
-The marsh is generally flushed by late November, but can be excellent (especially in low tide deep holes) until then.
-Gigging is illegal in November, but may still be worth a shot in early December.
Unfortunately, I haven't recorded any of the trips I've taken in my 3 years here, so I tried my best to write down the general pattern that I've seen in the area through the seasons.
I won't share the detailed logs with you guys (TMI!), but I'll post up what I wrote down for the seasonal patterns I've experienced. Keep in mind all of my fishing is from kayak, and I am no artificial snob, so it might not be for everyone.
--------------------
Winter
-Late December, January, early February.
-Fish mostly after fronts pass through. At least a day after the wind dies to manageable levels, and the water returns.
-If the wind is reasonable, fish mid-bay reefs for specks. Look for tide movement or wind-blown currents
-Drum, reds, and sheephead can be caught with good success on shell reefs with decent depth (>3’). Use dead shrimp on 3-way rig
-If the wind is too brutal, deeper chanals can hold specks and be reasonably protected.
-Afternoons are often the best for bay fishing.
Early Spring
-Late February, early March
-Continue to key in on days not immediately post-front (surf fishing exception!)
-Trout fishing remains strong over shell reefs.
-Afternoons are good times to fish, as the water heats up some.
-Fishing for drum, reds, and sheephead in the surf begins to pick up (They say when the water temp reaches stays around 60F regularly). Fish with fresh dead shrimp on the bottom. Key in on days where the surf is flat. Look for right after a front passes, the half-day where the N. wind just died, but the S. wind has just started, and hasn’t kicked up the waves yet. Days with flat surf from weak S-type wind work well too.
-Around the same time, fishing for oversized black drum in the channels (crab halves and crawfish on the bottom) picks up.
Spring
-Late March, April, early May
-Trout begin to turn on in the bay as water warms and bait streams in.
-Areas with passes nearby like SLP area become great for specks.
-Trout also return to sand flats, geotube cuts, and areas with grass nearby.
-Topwater fishing seems better too.
-The drum/red/sheephead pattern is at its strongest. Days with flat surf, fish the dead shrimp!
-Oversized drum in the channels is at its strongest.
-Small spanish mackerel make their way inshore. Fish for them with small crappie jigs and “mackerel sabikis”, as they are feeding on tiny fry.
-Flounder gigging becomes more effective, especially later, as they are returning too. Calm nights (or protected water) with low tides are ideal. Areas with shallow sand flats are great. Proximity to passes, deep channels, and grass are pluses.
Early Summer
-Late May, early June
-Around this time the dead shrimp in the surf pattern becomes impossible due to trash fish
-Specks are still entering passes, making these good areas, especially when the wind blows out the surf.
-Speckled trout begin to enter the surf! June is one of the best months. Wait for calmer days due to weak S-type wind. Medium SE wind can clear the surf too. Fish before first light with topwaters, and plastics as the day progresses. Live shrimp work great too.
-Surf trolling should become effective too, with the increase in trout and mackerel.
-Sharks begin to return to the surf as well, but their numbers are higher mid-summer.
-Fishing anywhere in the bays is good. Fishing early/late/overcast days is preferable.
-Flounder gigging is effective on calm nights.
Summer
-Late June, July, August, early September
-The surf has all of its summer species by this time. Trout, mackerel, jacks, and sharks are strong.
-Fish for trout when the surf is calm.
-Trolling for trout and mackerel should be good on medium surf days.
-Sharks are in full force in the surf.
-Bay fishing can get hard because of the heat. Try to fish early in the day, especially for shallow fish.
-Marshes near deep water can be good redfishing. For example, marshes, as well as the S. side of the ICW are protected, and can be good on blown-out days.
-Gigging remains effective.
Early Fall
-Late September, October
-Fishing for trout in the surf tapers off. Mackerel and sharks remain strong until mid-October.
-Fishing all over the bays becomes great. Bait is plentiful, and all fish are feeding for the winter.
-Late October, flounder begin to migrate out of the bays (Wait for a few fronts, or a single strong one). Fish for them in the channels.
-Bull redfish fishing in the surf becomes excellent.
-Flounder gigging becomes excellent.
-As water begins to be flushed out of the marsh, fishing can be outstanding in deeper holes once the water recedes enough to show some mud.
Fall
-November, early December
-Warm-water fish have left the surf.
-Flounder migration is strong. Fish in channels. Jetties may be good in early December, as the last flounder leave.
-Bay fishing remains excellent in most places all through November, and tapers off with the arrival of real cold weather.
-The marsh is generally flushed by late November, but can be excellent (especially in low tide deep holes) until then.
-Gigging is illegal in November, but may still be worth a shot in early December.
LIVIN THE SALT LIFE 
COMMUNITY WITH A LARGE
PROBLEM AND A 
PROBLEM.
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