How do I get them?

[michaelsen]

Yesterday I went out in Indian River, close to Sebastian Inlet. Around the small islands out there a lot of fish was jumping. I think it was trouts. I jumped of the boat in a flat area with knee-high water and the fish was crazy there. They jumped within 15ft of me and some of them was in pretty good sizes. I did not catch a thing! I used light spinning gear with all kind of spinners and top water poppers. I had a set of these different color rubber things (don't know what they are called)that you put on the lead/hooks that also is in the set, and it gave me a bite two times. I didn't get the fish in though.<br />What else should I try? <br />And BTW what is the reason for the fish jumping? <br /><br />Regards<br />Mike

 

[Quiller]

Re: How do I get them?

Mike, I aint real sure what kind of fish they were, but since you got a couple hits on what sounds like rubber worms, try some REAL worms. Get a dozen nightcrawlers from your local bait shop or Walmart and go back. I aint met a fish yet that don't like worms. As for WHY the fish were jumping... either top water feeding or just playing. Maybe was getting chased by a much bigger fish, ya think? I like to think "wishfully" on those kinds of things.

 

[michaelsen]

Re: How do I get them?

The ones i used looked like these from Cabelas <br />I didn't know Wal-Mart sold worms. I will give it a try. I'm not sure I can stay away today. I have to go back and try again

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: How do I get them?

Mullett jump like mad and get up to an intresting size. The problem is they are filter feeders but in finger sizes make great baits. The larger ones make good cut baits and not bad whole offshore baits but for all sizes you need a cast net. If you want to catch trout the #1 way is to use a popping cork/equalizer with about 2 to 4 foot of leader underneath tied to a #4 trebble (use a single hook if you plan to release) you then hook a shrimp onto the hook through the Head/horn avoiding the dark spot. Yoe let this drift through areas that hold fish or sometimes pop it and retrieve like a popper. The fish hit the shrimp any you got them. Most likely though pinfish will eat the shrimp as it sounds like that was what was hitting the plastics anyway. If you must use artificials I use grubs like these Curly Tail or these Shrimp Tails But baits like these Baits and these Baits also work.

 

[derwood]

Re: How do I get them?

I agree with Peter,<br /><br />They most likely were Mullet. Mullet Are Always jumping, and the fact that you did not catch a thing just reafirms that notion.<br /><br />They are non fish eaters. If you want to catch them you can make up a big batch of oatmeal....make it sticky....get yourself some smallish hooks and some pieces of white rubber worms....alot of pepole use cane poles for this....use the oatmeal for chum when you see a school of mullet and when the start feeding good sneak the little pieces of white worm in with the oatmeal.<br /><br />Now You can try to eat these fish however you like I guess but.....The only way I like them is smoked with lots of salt or as bait for real fish.<br /><br />Now Trout are a whole diffrent ball game. Right now most of the bigger (gator) Trout are loners or in schools of 2 or 3, all of the "Gator" Trout are females. The smaller the Trout the larger the schools they will be in.<br /><br /> If you are catching 12" Trout you are fishing in a school of younger fish. There are usaly some keepers on the edges of the schools though.<br /><br />Keeppers are in or next to deeper water right now (not counting alot of gator Trout) and they will go where comfort and food are located....You have to find them where you are at.<br /><br /> The gator Trout are Way back up in the creeks and on the oyster bars. You can fish for these like reds or snook with shrimp and pinfish for live bait and all kinds of lures....Jigs are good (I don't fish jigs but lots of pepole catch mounds of fish on them) spoons are good and I like copper colored johnsons and mepps in gold or copper with a chartruce skirt. D.O.A. shrimp are good and the new mirror lure catch 2000 semi sinkers are good to.<br /><br />Best time is in the EARLY morning....don't leave when its getting light, start fishing when its getting light, that kind of early.<br /><br />Too much to tell you that you can learn by yourself....some stuff I just don't know how to explain. If you want good Trout action....wait till winter and hit the creeks and canals with lures before dawn and live bait as soon as you can see a bobber.<br /><br /> Like peter said, those cajun thunder bobber rigs with the beads and a 2-4' leader are killers. They were desinged to mimic feeding Trout and work very well.<br /><br />You will catch other fish like this as well....you just never know.<br /><br />Derwood.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: How do I get them?

It's mullet season... This time of year they move into the shallow areas..I don't know why they jump, they just do..Don't even bother with them..Now on the other hand, The redfish action should be good right now up there... Trout and snook too...Looks like you've got the right tackle.. Stick with the grubs on the lead head hooks and you might supprise yourself with a keeper snook or red..Or try peterfishbusters tactics as it will produce some nice trout, though it's a little too hot right now for trout..Derwoods on target with jigs and spoons too... <br />Leave a few for me..