Low tides create wary fish, but mullet offer aid

By ROB GORTA
Published January 19, 2007

Some of the lowest tides of the year occur this week around today's new moon.

Grass flats will be totally empty. The only place to start will be on the edges of sandbars. I start by push-poling along the edge with a client throwing soft-plastic jigs rigged Texas style. I put a small split shot next to the hook to help with casting. Texas style keeps the lure from hanging up in the grass and allows for effective blind casting.

Once the tide starts to flood, I anchor my skiff out of the path fish want to travel, put on my waders and look for mullet.

Mullet start to return from their offshore spawning run. The large number of fish in the same area as trout and redfish helps to shield us from our target. Mullet usually mingle just below the surface and will jump out of the water to help digest their food, which is vegetation. When they jump, it shakes their gizzard and helps break down what they have eaten. With large numbers of fish jumping at the same time, it provides natural noise and disturbance on the water, and that allows us to get closer and use artificial lures. Redfish and trout let their guard down near large schools of mullet.

I also look for "gator" trout. These large trout often show up in shallow water when the mullet return. They have a huge yellow mouth and large canine teeth.

I start with a top-water plug early in the morning, then switch to soft-plastic jigs as the day gets brighter.

Blind casting into mullet schools is one of the best ways to target these trout. It is important to release these fish. Large fish lay millions more eggs than a smaller, 18-inch fish. That is why you may only keep one fish over 20 inches.

Rob Gorta charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 647-7606 or visit www.captainrobgorta.com.

[Last modified January 19, 2007, 01:50:14]