Ochlockonee Bay

[DHaun]

Nikie's step-dad Jack lives on the Ochlockonee River near Apalachicola in a super small town called Sopchoppy. We went down to see him and his wife Diana for Memorial day weekend. They have white squirrels in their yard - something I have never seen before... This was not really intended as a fishing trip but I managed to squeeze in some fishing and catch a couple this time.

The bay was not productive as I had hoped (1 Sailcat on a DOA shrimp beneath a Cajun Thunder) but the dark-brown freshwater river that feeds the bay held some gorgeous pumpkinseed bream that demolished a pink rooster tail.

Last time in the bay, Nikie and I encountered a school of Spanish Mackerel and she once again out-fished me catching a nice one on a red/white curly tail grub with NO leader while they continuously cut me off at the barrel swivel where the fluorocarbon was tied...

I visit this area often (from Ochlockonee - Apalachicola - Port St Joe - Pensacola) for just getting away and know of several decent places to fish along the way. I need to go back on a dedicated fishing trip sometime soon! Some pics from our trip:

http://www.maxxcode.com/picview/Default.aspx?PicDir=album\Ochlocknee2005

 

[rsimms]

Ahhh! Cajun Thunder.... nothing like yanking one of those across the St. Joe Bay grass flats and watching a gator trout or redfish move in for the kill. I've actually thought about trying the Cajun Thunder for rockfish up here... but just can't make myself quit throwing the redfin.

 

[polo-dog]

Yep, redfins are hard to beat. The one ounce, throw a mile redfin is the one to throw or at least it used to be. I caught a few down below Chickamauga dam years ago. It seems that the water flow has to be just right and the level be just so to be able to catch them from the shore like I have. Just before daybreak you could hear them coming to the top like somebody throwing cinder blocks into the water. Those rock fish really can make some noise!

 

[rsimms]

You're right about "flow" being right to catch them from shore. Basically it's a matter of which turbine/s TVA is running. If they are running #1 and/or #2, you're often better off fishing from shore. However if they're running #3 and/or #4 turbines, it pulls the fish out far from shore. That's been the pattern the last two springs. But three years ago it was better fishing off the rocks than from the boat. Not so the last two years.

 

[DHaun]

Nice red Richard! Was that a St. Joe slot Red? I had a few of those DOAs shredded at Indian Pass last fall.

Okay, now you both have me wanting to chunk a redfin tied to a cajun thunder for Rockfish! I wonder what a threadfin shad might do below one early in the morning when they are crashing like that? I have fished for Jacks when they are boiling but unfortunatly have yet to experience the rockfish frenzy. What about cut bait on a cajun thunder drifted at night for the whiskered ones that like feeding near the surface at that time? Sure makes one wonder... I think they have that ball bearing click sound to emulate a shrimp/baitfish when you pop-em. Fish come to investigate the sound and then see the bait and then, well you know... That could conceivably apply to saltwater (or any other predatory) species in fresh. I have also heard that zara spooks properly walked can elicit a similar response on top. I am definitely going somewhere soon to see. Hopefully #1 and #2 will be on.