Capt. Chris Herrera's Fishing Report | Palm Coast Fishing With Capt. Chris Herrera

Palm Coast Spring Break Fishing Report

By admin on April 15, 2019 / Captain's Blog, Fishing Reports

It’s time to pray for west winds and hit the beach as cobia will be invading our nearshore waters. Hit the beach when the sun is up and watch for cobia piggy backing on Manta rays as long as water temps stay in their comfort zone (68-72). Unpressured cobia will eat just about anything (flies to plugs) but for picky eaters keep some live bait (pogies, mullet, shrimp or even mud minnows) handy and ready to fire.

Fishing at first light or last light still proves to be successful with topwater plugs. Rapala Skitter Walks, Top Dogs and Zara spooks are top water lures that has proved to be the gator trout lures of choice along with any kind of popper top water for those that cannot “walk the dog”. When the topwater bite tapers off go for subsurface suspending baits like a Sebile Magic Swimmer or lipped diving plugs worked with a stop and go retrieve. Live shrimp and a bb split shot tossed up current along the ICW will produce trout for live bait fisherman.

Redfish continue to shadow mullet seeking refuge on top of oyster beds and will be fooled by Fishbites Extreme jerk baits, gold spoons and a Sebile Stick Shadd. Bouncing jigs with shrimp or mud minnows around oyster beds will also produce good catches of reds and flounder.
Slot snook are starting to show up this month, local bridges, docks and seawalls fished at night will produce linesiders. Live select shrimp, pinfish and lipped diving plugs are local favorites when chasing snook but remember to use a minimum of 30lb. leaders to avoid cut offs. Topwater enthusiast can also trick snook into biting at first light off the ICW where bait is available.

Inlets and nearby creeks with drop offs will hold flatties and doormats waiting to eat a live mullet on a fish finder rig or mud minnow pinned on a jig head. Best tides or during change of tides at area inlets or outgoing tides at creek mouths. For shallow water flounder try a Slayer Inc. spinner baits or inline spinners.

Spanish Mackerel, blues and jacks will invade our near coastal waters just outside of Matanzas Inlet, proven techniques for Spanish is to slow troll spoons or look for acres size schools chasing bait on the surface. It’s a great time to grab a fly rod and practice catching as spanish mackerel or ferocious eaters.

Capt. Chris Herrera
palmcoastfishing.com 386-503-6338

Palm Coast Inshore Report

By admin on March 5, 2019 / Uncategorized

Fishing for redfish has been great last few days on the shallow flats and in deep water. Low tides and no wind had made finding schools of redfish easy by slowly covering water till you see the schools either feed or “push” water giving away their location. Easing up with live shrimp on a jig head or soft plastic lures has been our go to presentation that works well.

Fishing along the ICW has been tougher since you cannot sight fish but using todays technology it has been easy to find them with Humminbirds Helix 10 Si mega imaging. Check out the image below:

Palm Coast Inshore Report

By admin on December 31, 2018 / Uncategorized

With the holidays here it was time to get back to work and put my clients on some fish. We had some bad days in the beginning of the week due to high winds and dirty water making sight fishing almost impossible. Now that the wind has finally died we had many opportunities at catching shallow water redfish with live and artificial lures. Best live bait has been live mullet as the redfish are hammering schools of mullet. I like to rig my mullet with a Daiichi 3/0 circle hook behind the dorsal fin so it swims away from the skiff and closer to the surface of the water.

When it comes to artificial lures I always suggest “matching the hatch” so a paddle tail has been my go to lure rigged weedless. I like brands like Z-man or Slayer inc. lures rigged both with a 1/8th ounce jig head or a weighted weedless hook.

Last of the outgoing tide has been the best for me as we can see the redfish pushing wakes in less than a foot of water. A stealthy approach is a must and preferably by polling but a troll motor will work at low speeds.

Brian nailed them today with paddle tails.

Taylor tricked this fish with a Slayer inc. jerkbait.

Flounder Pounder Time!!!!!

By admin on November 5, 2018 / Captain's Blog, Fishing Reports

Get your medium heavy rods ready as the flounder are coming! Its that time of year where water temps dropping to 68 degrees will trigger the fall flounder run as they make there mass exodus out of our passes looking to spawn offshore. Last of the outgoing tide with live mullet or mud minnows will be your best bet for that doormat flounder.

My go to rigs consist of 1/4-3/8 ounce jig heads with a live mud minnow when the tide is slow enough to reach bottom, during fast moving water a 1-2 0z egg sinker on a fish finder rig is my go to. Picking the right hook is most important as flounder are what I consider “slow” eaters, meaning when you feel the “thump” give them time to eat (1-2 minutes). I like to use a Daiichi D18z wide gap nickel hook. (The size of the hook depends on the size of the bait. Standard sizes are 1/0 to 3/0)

Best places to fish are at your local inlet as the “bottle neck” limits the amount of area needed to cover. I look for sandy bottom adjacent to rocks and slowly bump my baits in constant contact with the bottom waiting to feel a bump or some weight. Once I feel a thump I give a little slack and start the waiting game. Flounder have a tendency of holding on t0 your offering before inhaling it. I typically give it about a minute before setting the hook unless the flounder starts to swim off then I set it right away.

Southern flounder are typically the most abundant type of flounder in our area but we do get gulf flounder and summer flounder as well. You can tell the difference by coloration, spots and size.

Here is a photo of a gulf flounder who found my mud minnow and jig head combo.

Redfish also share the same area so its not uncommon to go flounder fishing and end up redfishing.

Capt. Chris Herrera

www.PalmCoastFishing.com

Mullet Run Snook Report

By admin on September 20, 2018 / Captain's Blog, Fishing Reports, Fishing Tips, How-To

The mullet are here!!!!! Some of the best fishing of the year can be had during the fall mullet run where million and millions of bait fish migrate their way back south and offshore to spawn. This type of bait run brings out all the predators to gorge themselves into food coma. The mullet will make their way down the ICW and beach which gives anyone an opportunity to catch fish whether by boat or land.

Common species found mixed with the mullet are redfish, trout, snook, tarpon, flounder, jacks and sharks. The best bait to fish with is obviously mullet but artificial fisherman can use any lure that mimics a mullet. Some of my favorite type of fishing is using a topwater plug during low light conditions.

Where I fish is chosen for the species I am after. If snook fishing I concentrate around the residential canals targeting seawalls, docks and rip rap. Redifsh are found on the flats, docks and especially at the inlets and beaches. Tarpon are loaded up on the area inlets especially if the big mullet are around if not look off the beach.

Rigs for fishing live mullet depends on structure and water depth. Some of my favorite setups are live lining a mullet with a hook in its back and a fish finder rig. I use a free lined mullet when targeting tarpon on open water or pitching to shallow docks. Fish finder rigs I use when fishing deep water structure for flounder and redfish.

Capt. Chris Herrera

www.PalmCoastFishing.com

386-503-6338

Palm Coast Inshore Fishing Report

By admin on August 22, 2018 / Captain's Blog, Fishing Reports

The summer bite continues to be hot like the temperature but that is why we start early. Early risers not only beat the heat but take advantage of the first light feeders. Schools of jacks are seen cruising shorelines eating everything in their path! Topwater, soft plastics or live bait will all get a line tight as the schools of jacks pass by.

First light feeders also include tarpon! Whether you chose to fish for the juvenile or fully grown tarpon, first light is most productive especially inshore. Beach tarpon are at peak right now as they are seen crashing in the pogie pods along the beach.

Early morning for redfish also means topwater explosion time! Walking the dog action on topwater plugs is a great way to find redfish on the flats. The click clack sound and motion make it almost irresistible for redfish and other species like trout and snook.

Palm Coast Fishing Report

By admin on August 13, 2018 / Captain's Blog, Fishing Reports

Last chance fishing before heading back to school has been nothing short of great! Tarpon, redfish, snook and jacks have been our targeted species and they all have been eating good. From 10 pounders to 150 pounders the tarpon bite has been explosive at first light.

Low tide has been keeping us busy seeing redfish and catching them, from artificial lures to bait fishing they have been eating it all.

Jr. Dant is shown here with one of his few snook he caught this day.

Palm Coast Tarpon Fishing

By admin on July 22, 2018 / Captain's Blog, Fishing Reports

Tarpon come in all sizes from 2lbs. to 200lbs. but my favorite are the 20 lbers that are targeted on fly or light tackle. Palm Coast host a great juvenile tarpon fishery in the summer months. Call today to book your chance at the silver king.

Capt.Chris Herrera

Palm Coast Summer Fishing Report

By admin on June 21, 2018 / Captain's Blog, Fishing Reports

Summer time and the heat is here along with a good early morning bite. Early morning starts from Bings Landing has us fishing the cooler part of the day and typically best time as the fish are waking up for breakfast. Our morning start has been fishing the shallow flats for redfish with topwater plugs or live bait which it all depends on anglers skill level. As the sun rises we start fishing a bit deeper for redfish and flounder or hit the beach for tarpon.

Tarpon have been crashing the pogie pods at first light right off our beaches. 80-130lb tarpon are about the average size and will test your stamina. Other fish being caught are big jacks, sharks and king fish.

Capt.Chris Herrera

386-503-6338

Palm Coast Inshore Report

By admin on June 11, 2018 / Captain's Blog, Fishing Reports

Summer vacation is in full swing in Palm Coast and my anglers are catching! Fantastic redfish bite last few weeks as we head out at first light to picturesque and tranquil flats in search of red drum.

We have been catching them on topwater plugs, soft plastics and live bait like shrimp and mullet.

Tarpon fishing has just kicked off and we are throttle down! From the little ones to fully grown ones we are getting shots at hungry fish that are willing to test your tackle and stamina.

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