Fishing the St' Johns River

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Fishing the St. Johns River Guana Lake Hosted
by Thrifty Outdoors Capt. Jim Anderson
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Mayport Bull Redfish
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Fishing the St Johns River

• Where do I start?
• Maps Charts
• Weather Tides
• Tackle Rigs
• Cast Nets
• Artificial or Live Bait
• Bridges, Docks Drop Offs

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Where Do I Start?

• Narrow down the options.
• 10 of the water holds 90 of the fish.
• Solicit local knowledge tackle shops, newspaper
  magazine articles.
• Spend time on the water

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Maps Charts

• Study maps such as satellite maps, Hot Spot
  Florida Sportsman charts.
• Identify points, structure drop offs.
• Make a list of locations to try.
• GPS Great tool.

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Weather Tides

• Seasonal patterns
• Recent weather rainfall, wind temperature
• Tides - Fish like moving water. Refer to tide
  tables www.fishfactorchaters.com
• Plan the time you want to fish based on tide
  temperature.
• Fish the up current side of the structure

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Tackle Rigs

• 7 medium action spinning rod with 2500 Shimano
  Stradic
• 7 medium action baitcaster rod with Penn 930.
• Line 20lb Power Pro
• Leader 20lb Vanish fluorocarbon
• Hooks 3/0 Octopus, ¼oz jig head

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Cast Nets

• Use a good quality net Hightider, Cracker,
  Calusa, Betts
• Minimum 6 with 3/8 mesh
• Webbing needed for deep water
• Instructional videos
• Proper care rinse, dry store

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Artificial or Live Bait?

• Artificials Grub jigs, topwater lures, gold
  spoon bucktails.
• Live Baits Shrimp, crab, pogies croaker
• Where do I find live bait? Doctors Inlet,
  Mandarin Point, Ortega River, crabbers.
• Be observant Look for schools of bait on
  surface and on bottom with fishfinder.

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Bridges, Docks Drop Offs

• Many bridges in our area, all hold fish.
• Anchor on the up current side of the bridge.
• Use a float rig to drift bait back to the bridge.
  Keep it moving.
• Look for current eddies.
• Fish different areas of the bridge

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Bridges, Docks Drop Offs

• Docks Moving water is the key.
• Old docks on/near points are prime.
• Anchor or pitch, your choice.
• Drift a live shrimp under dock using float rig or
  Cajun Thunder.
• Shellbeds near docks hold fish.

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Bridges, Docks Drop Offs

• Drop Offs study charts to identify steep
  transitions, channel edges, etc.
• Fish will hold along these drop offs.
• Use a fishfinder rig to fish the bottom.
• Float rigs also work well drifting along the edge
  of the drop off.

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Targeted Species

• Redfish
• Speckled Yellowmouth Trout
• Flounder
• Black Drum
• Sheepshead
• Stripers
• Channel Cats

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Fishing Guana Lake

• Guana Lake is a state park
• Managed by the FWC for waterfowl
• Know the regualtions Winter closure, 10hp engine
  maximum
• Two ramps, Six Mile at the dam
• Shallow lake, no tide, no oyster bars
• Best fishing March November

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Guana Tactics

• Artificals gold spoon, topwater lures, grub
  jigs, swim shads, bucktails
• Live bait shrimp, mullet, crab
• Look for areas holding bait
• Many fish are caught in open water
• Work shorelines early and late

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Guana Tactics

• Cajun Thunder with live shrimp
• Jighead live or fresh dead shrimp
• Look for firm bottom when fishing baits on the
  bottom.

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Guana Lake 35 Redfish
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Guana Lake Gator Trout
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Guana Lake Flounder
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St Johns Striper
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St. Johns Redfish
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St. Johns Redfish
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St. Johns Channel Cat
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St. Johns Black Drum
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St. Johns Sheepshead
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Questions? www.fishfactorcharters.com