fish hard 79

Just checking to see how anyone else has fared. I've been out a bunch latley searching for those stripers whichare supposedly there. Have notfigured them out yet, but have caught plenty of specks, whitesandsome reds mixed in. Most are short. But best to date this fall. One speck 19" and one red 26". Any one else fishing the blackwater?

fish hard 79

Thought I had my first Striper of the season tonight. Fish slammed a rapala husky jerk. Rod doubled over. I thought this is it. Got the fish up from the depths. Gar!!!, my heart dropped. Big one too about 3 1/2'. Oh well still great day on the water.

Ajerv

Could someone briefly summarize the overall striped bass bite in Blackwater on this post? Do these fish come down from fresh water in the north land and school in the winter in Blackwater? Do they follow the bait with a water temperature change in the winter? What bait? What water temp does it have get down to before the bite is on? Is it all schooling fish one targets or are there stragglers all around as well? I have heard the bite is good in January, but would anyone tell us the month the bite starts and when it is over? What about tide and time of day? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!



Thanks...........AJ

fish hard 79

Call the Blackwater fish Hatchery. They can give you a bunch of info on the bass in the river. I've talked to them about the life cyle of the fish in the river and how they are differnet from the ones up north. They will be more than happy to talk to you, or call you back if you leave them a message. I've done alot of research on the fish and have caught plenty when I lived up north. These fish are a bit more tricky. One reasonbeingbecause the river is notloaded with them like some others I've fished. Their spawning in the riverhas notbeen very succesfull so the only way to provide a fishery is by stocking. I can tell you December and January the fish will begin feeding alot more in order to put back on weight fromwhich they lost over the summer and to fatten up for the spring spawn up river which usually occurs in March or early April, depending on water temp. I just starting fishingthe blackwater and havedone lots of research and scouting.Hopefully it will pay off when the fish start biting.The fish love moving water so as long as you have some current your good. They say a falling tide is best. Also the bass don't like bright sunny days. If it is they will spend the day deep toavoid the sun. This is whyvery early morning or just before dark is best. Or of course night fishing. Cloudyor raining daysare great because the fish will be on the prowl for dinner all day. They spend the summers up river in search of colder water either deep or upcooler springs like the Coldwater. When they feed much less and loss weight. The escambia and yellow river also holdthese fish locally.Live bait is always the best "finger mullet". Hope this helps.

PF22

I lived just north of I10 on the water for a few years. You can catch them year round on the deeper points. I've caught many on topwater just after sunset. They will be right on the edge of the grass. Look for an eddie.Don't use light tackle or you will get schooled. Those salts get 35lbs+.

In the winter when the north wind and low tide coincide they would get in my canal and run bait. One day I caught 2 trout over 22" and 2 stripes that were bigger in 5 casts. I was grilling out around Thanksgiving and saw all heck breaking loose in the canal and had a rod with a chug bug handy. One of those moments.

I never tried the deep hole below the trussle but it always lit up the bottom machine.