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FARM 13 / STICK MARSH FISHING REPORT
FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2003
November 24, 2003
You never know when and who you may fish with.
Around noon, as I was putting in for a half-day trip, I got to talking with two guys who were rigging out their boats. Tim May and his buddy, Dale, had just driven straight through from Columbus, OH, and were itching to get fishing!!
Seeing the guide service data on my truck, they started to ask some questions about 'where and how'. But, these two were at a major disadvantage to start with. They had a very small boat and only an electric motor to propel it. That meant they did not have any hope of getting to some of the better fishing we are enjoying right now. So, I tried to steer them to something that would work -- the 'back-40' flats west of the ramp; the stump clusters just outside the tree opening into the Marsh; and, down the tree line on the north side of the Marsh.
The next morning around 8:30, the telephone rang. It was Tim. He said they didn't do anything at all the day before and wanted to catch some Stick Marsh bass before they went back north. "Are you available?", Tim asked. About two hours later, Tim, Dale and I pointed the STRATOS in the direction of what we hoped would be fish.
I had the guys pick up a couple of dozen shiners before meeting me at the ramp. We immediately put them to use. Dale got a nice bass and some small ones, while Tim lost a really big bass because the guide's line broke. I guess the line had a bad place, but that is not a good excuse. The chain pickerel worried us to death and, in the end, we saw about as many of them as we did bass on our few shiners. But, we saw not another bass caught by the other three boats in view that were also using shiners.
Two dozen shiners don't last long on the Stick Marsh. So, before long, we were heading for the rear area of the Nursery at the SW end of Farm 13. There, we rigged up the Yum Dingers and Stik-Os with a tiny BB-shot about 18-inches up the line. Tim and Dale caught on to that lure really fast and it was only a few moments until they were catching bass. There were lots of small bucks in the area, but we also saw a number of fat females. In that the bass spawn will start in this latitude around mid-December, the females are both feeding up for the ritual, as well as starting to mature the egg sacs. Of the bass caught, there were two good fish - one at 5 lbs. and one at about 5.5. But, the Ohio crew did not get their giant.
In general, we worked the soft jerkbaits fast, with series of rapid, sharp wrist snaps. After each series of 3-4 darts and dives with the lure, we stopped and let it drop for 3-4 counts. Sometimes the fish grabbed the lure while it was in motion, while other times it was on that drop period. A few even met the lure on the surface as it hit the water.
The storms are gone and the weather is cool and comfortable. However, the winds are a bit of a nuisance, as they will be until May (it's the same every year in this part of the country). The tiny grass gnats are still a real bother, if the winds lay for any period. Hopefully, we'll get a cold snap that will end them. Until then, I suggest you always have some long sleeve and long pants along with you, as well as a headnet. Coleman makes a good headnet that sells for about $2.00 and is carried in most Wal-Mart sporting goods sections.
November 22, 2003
We recently had Ziggy, from way out west in Los Angeles, as our guest for a half-day of fishing enlightenment on the Stick Marsh. I have to apologize right now, in that I cannot recall Ziggy's last name. He told me and I wrote it down. But, I guess the dog ate the piece of paper. So, Ziggy, I am sorry. Getting old is hell, my man.
I believe the fish though his last name was 'Catchem', though, as Ziggy proceeded to give the fish and me a few lessons we did not know about.
Our intent was to fish for about four hours and then Ziggy would race to the Orlando airport. Since he had specified both a few crappie and a few bass as targets, I knew we could slam the crappie, even if we missed the bass. Well, as it turned out, this man knew how to fish and he slammed both species!
Starting out at coordinates B-3 (see our interactive map), we worked the area of water in the rear of the Nursery. Generally, we covered about an area from the south reed stands, back north for about 150 yards. We used the Yum Dinger jerk bait, as well as the Bass Pro Shops Stik-O. About the only difference in the two lures is the degree of softness of the plastic body. The Yum Dinger is much softer and easier to set the hook with. However, when the grass got thick, we switched off to the denser Stik-O to keep the hook from being pulled out by the grass snags. An interesting point is that both of these soft plastic jerk baits use the same Yum Bait Company scent attractant.
Whereas I like to work this style of soft jerk bait with quick, sharp wrist snaps, followed by a 2-3 count drop period, Ziggy indicated that he had better luck out west using a slow pull and a longer drop. Reminding him that the water was shallow and grass-laden, I cautioned against too long a drop period. As seems to be my recent habit, I caught a small bass on my second 'demonstration' cast. Then, I laid the rod down and watched. Ziggy fished that jerk bait so slowly, that I saw nearly all his strikes, as the line would 'tick' as the fish took the lure. I am sure the lack of stretch in the Fireline made that possible. True to his word, my client for the day worked that soft bait slowwwww. At times, he let it drop all the way to either lie on the grass or the bottom. Often, he let it lie still for 10-15 seconds. Then, he just pulled it slowly by moving the rod tip from 4-O'clock to 1-O'clock. He then just dropped the rod back down and let the lure drop. Interestingly, a LOT of his strikes came while the lure was lying motionless. We fished this area for about three hours and Ziggy boated in the mid-30's, with most being 2 to 2-1/2. A good 5-lb.+ topped his catch. I don't think he missed setting the hook well on more than three or four and I suspect those were probably needlefish.
So, I learned that, without a doubt, you can't fish that lure too slowly!!
Moving over to the east side of the Farm, we took up the little PERFECT jig to try the crappie. I used my cinnamon body/blue tail favorite, while Ziggy opted for the bright chartreuse body/blue tail. It only took a few casts and we had a nice slab. So, I put down my ultralight and held the boat in close to the grassline. Again, Ziggy and I had a difference in the technique of presently the lure. I fish a crappie jig with a slow and steady retrieve 99% of the time. Ziggy, on the other hand, liked to let it fall to the bottom and then jerk it upwards. It appeared he would pop the jig off the bottom about 3 feet and then he just let it fall back on a tight line. Again, his approach worked very, very well. And, again, the Fireline allowed me to see nearly every strike.
Having explained that we were fishing grass along the edge of a submerged canal, Ziggy asked how deep the canal, itself, was. Since it was only 8-9 feet deep, he turned and started to cast the jig down the canal in that deeper water. I eased the big STRATOS out from the grass to give him a better casting line. Again, he let the lure settle to the bottom and then proceeded to work it back by raising the lure off the bottom and letting it 'swim' back down on a tight line. And, guess what?!? That's where the BIG crappie were! We were catching keepers all along the grassline. But, the big 1-lb.+ crappie were out there in the deeper open water.
It did not take long to burn up that last hour and we headed in. I trust my partner made it to Orlando on time. As usual, it was an enjoyable trip to the Stick Marsh. And, this time, the guide was the one who learned a few things!!
November 18, 2003
THE STICK MARSH IS TRULY HOT!!
It is remarkable just how much great fishing the Stick Marsh produces. Right now, the winds are still up and a good cold front is moving in. That may change things. But, the bass and the big crappies have been so active and so aggressive the past month, we really won't be able to compain if it ends completely.
I tried to post a detailed report on the BFHP Reports section. I can't post pictures there, so I referred the report reader to my website for them. Even said email me for where/how data, if they liked. As usual, the good old webmaster there deleted my message. He probably still smarts from the fact that I decided not to feed him any more money for his advertisement services, which were of questionable value, at best. Some of the other guides have decided the same thing, it appears.
Anyway, here's the current Marsh scoop.
 BASS: They are everywhere, it seems. And, you can catch them on just about anything you like. Spinnerbaits, Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, shallow cranks, Traps - you name it and it works. Probably the best artificial remains the 5-inch Yum Dinger soft jerk bait (it is like the SENKO, only senseably priced; or, like the BPS Stik-O). The Yum Dinger, unlike the others, is soft and hooksetting from a weedless hook rigging is much easier. Plus, they hold onto the soft plastic better. I like the JuneBug color, but all seem to work OK. Whereas we like to work that type lure really fast across the surface, the better approach now is the 'Don Hitchcock' method. Don puts a very small swivel about two feet ahead of his soft jerk bait and uses that bit of added weight to function like a Carolina rig sinker. I use a bb-size split shot, myself. It does the same thing, while eliminating weak knot points. We fish the lighted weighted rig veryyyy slowlyyyyyy. After letting it sink for 3-5 counts, we gently pull it forwards 2-3 feet and then let it sink again. The pull brings it back towards the surface, so we have a continual rise and fall of the lure. Most strikes come on the drop phase. It is easy to detect strikes with this setup. If you feel ANYTHING, just stop and see if there is a gentle tug or a swim-off. As one of my 80+ year old clients, Dave Brewer, said, "Grass doesn't swim, but a bass does." That's how he quickly learned to effectively fish the rig.
The south end of the Farm 13 side is good all over. Plus, there are schools working the northern portion of the N/S canals. One school, on the western-most canal out in the Farm (interactive map coordinates 4-7 and between B and C) will chase the baitfish on the surface pretty good at times. These are 3-4 lb fish and really great catching. The Stick Marsh side has a LOT of fish out in the wood, west of the red ball (which is just south of Twin Palms). A shallow crank plug, a spinnerbait or a soft jerk bait allowed to rise and fall will get them. Your problem then becomes getting them up and out of all that wood.
Shiners are eating the bass up (no pun intended) around virtually any grass, stump field or movement route. The south end of the Farm, particularly along the submerged N/S canal traces, are excellent. Set the shiners at about three feet. Add a good sized split shot to give them incentive to stay down. Hook them through the lips, so they live longer. Tie your but to the boat set and hang on!!!
 CRAPPIE: These tasty panfish have really started early this year. We have been catching limits of good keepers fro a month now. And, the size is gradually improving. The forthcoming cold front should really get the giants out of the grass beds and into the open water. We have been getting a LOT in the neighborhood of a pound, with some running as high as 1.75 lbs. The average, however, run around 3/4 lb. We are using our PERFECT jig along the edges of grasslines adjacent to submerged canals, as well as in the trace of the canals, themselves. The winds have been terrible, so we anchor upwind and cast downwind, parallel to the grass. Works great, if we can't get on the leeward side and in a protected area. Live minnows are also great and make for some fine 'bobber watching' action. We made the minnows work to perfection by working along the grasslines with the bobbers, dropping the bait into small holes and pockets. This got us a lot of fish, but no giants. The giant crappie came by getting right in the canal, itself and tightlining the minnows at about 6-8 feet deep. Then, we just drifted until we ran into a school. I had recent crappie parties with Lou Daniels and then with Larry parks, both of which produced filled livewells.
 By the way, Kenansville reservior, just to the west of the Stick Marsh will give you limits of good crappie right now by drifting the minnows in the east and south border canals. Set the minnows only 5-6 feet deep there. Some days, the panfish will also work on the jigs well around the reeds along the south end canal.
So, if you get the chance, go catch your share. Feel free to call (321-951-7841) or email (jporter@stickmarsh.com) me if you need current information for a trip down here, or if you have a problem making it work. I won't erase your message.
November 6, 2003
I’m a real lucky so-and-so. I get to fish a lot and I get to meet so many great folks.
As I said once before, it is really great when the fishing clients also happen to be old fishing buddies that go way back. Such was the case recently when Dan Smith and Eric Hornquist signed on for a day and a half on the Stick Marsh. Old fishing friends ALWAYS have some great tales to tell and a lot of BS to put on their partner. The bass cooperated with gusto and the good times rolled.
Our period of strong NE and east winds was still upon us when Dan, Eric and I met at the ramp. It was howling right well and the whitecaps were a’rolling on. So, again, I pointed the big STRATOS at the partially shielded SE corner of the Farm 13 side and the floodgate basin. A couple of boats had seen a party and I a day earlier working over the bass with shiners pretty good and I hoped they had not taken our ‘magic grassline’.
Sure enough, there were two other boats in the basin, but none on the grassline we had found so productive. Setting up, we again took advantage of the small obstruction protruding off the floor of the basin and set our anchors to drag and catch on it. Adjusting the ropes, we got the boat sideways and just right.
Pitching the shiners up to the edges of the grass, the action immediately began. Splash - bang - pow – gotcha!! ---- the shiners really started to take a beating. Two things made this outing exceptional: first, there were a lot of doubles, as Dan and Eric would have simultaneous hookups on a regular basis; and, all of the bass were in the three pound range, or larger. Only a couple of small bass were caught. A couple of bass in the five pound ranged topped the day, but no giants came aboard. Eric did get the distinction on being the ‘chain pickerel king’ for the day, as well as leading the pack with catfish. In fact, I seem to recall he also hair-lipped a mudfish, too. But, there were so many bass, it did not matter. In fact, we went through our seven dozen shines in just a few hours.
The next day, we again managed to get out of the strong winds and on the grassline. This time, the winds had shifted slightly and we had to address another section of the grass. We placed the anchors on the obstruction just fine, but now the winds were from the SSE and pushed our shiners to right of our ‘hot spot’. But, all that clean living paid off and, sure enough, the bass were again stacked for us. Being a short trip this time, we only had three dozen shiners and they went very quickly. The size of the bass remained about the same, as did their ferocity at obliterating the baitfish of the World.
In trying to figure which angler caught the most fish (we lost count of them), it was decided that ‘he who keeps his bait wet the most probably catches the most fish’.
That is a good point to remember.
November 3, 2003
FLASH!!
Two more shell-shocked anglers are still trying to believe what happened at the famous Florida Stick Marsh!
 Walt Oakden and Larry Parks came up from south Florida with one thing in mind – “We want to catch a lot of bass and, hopefully, one of those big hawgs!” That’s what Walt said when he called me one night from Del Rey Beach to set up a guide trip. I told him that the Marsh is a great place to make that happen and I sure hoped it would happen for him.
The day before our trip, an interesting weather situation had formed out in the Atlantic. A high-pressure system was lying off Georgia and a low-pressure trough was in the vicinity of Bermuda. With clockwise circulation around the high and counter-clockwise winds around the low, we were experiencing sustained 25-20 knot winds from the northeast, with even higher gusts. I mean, it was sailboat time on the Stick Marsh and was about as rough as I have seen it get.
I called Walt and advised that we had this weather issue, but he and Larry were setting on ‘go’ and said to go for it. I said we probably would have to do all shiners, rather than half live bait and half artificials. Both readily agreed and I went to call my shiner lady, Tina, at Palm Bay Fishing Outfitters.
(By the way, Palm Bay Fishing Outfitters (alias ‘Shiner City) is under new management. Al and Tina Bermitz are the new owners. All the services and fishing tackle are still there, with an expanded line of lures having been added. There has been so much demand that the Swimming Worm and the PERFECT jig even have a wall of their own, too. Al is also a reel repair expert, if you have an equipment problem in the middle of your trip to the Marsh. Call them at 321-952-4435, or toll free at 321-952-4435. On the web, use www.pbfishingoutfitters.com.)
The next morning, we left the ramp with the winds literally howling out of the ENE. This was one of those times we were sure glad to have that big 21-foot STRATOS under us. Turning the corner into the Farm 13 section, we went hard left and ran along the divider canal’s levee to get as much windbreak as we could. This greatly protected us (also spelled ‘kept our butts dry’) from the onslaught of the winds. Near the east wall, we turned south towards the big floodgate basin in the SE corner of the Farm. It was there, in that semi-protected area, that we expect to be able to handle the winds sufficiently enough to swim the shiners effectively.
Guess what? That wind came blasting into the basin like a thunderbolt. Even two anchors would not hold us. As the anchors lost their grip and let us slid into the shoreline, Larry had a good 5-pound fish take his first shiner. The boat went into the grass bed, the big fish jumped, and Larry’s hook and shiner went airborne. Hot dog, it looked like the bass were there. Now, if we could just fish for them!!
Then, I recalled an obstruction on the basin floor. If we could get the anchors to catch on it, we would have a fighting chance. Cranking the big motor, we eased back upwind and over 50-75 feet. Then, we attempted to re-set the anchors.
Sure enough, we managed to catch the first, and then the second, anchor on the obstruction. Once firmly secured to the bottom, we let out all the anchor rope we had to place the boat close to the grass and hyanciths protruding from the nearest downwind shoreline. By making a long cast and letting out line, we could almost get the wind to push a shiner back to where Larry lost the big bass.
But, it turns out that it did not matter. Not one bit! The grass mat to our front was full of fish. Shiners ran for their lives and water flew from leaping bass. The action was great and constant. ‘Doubles’ came with regularity. And, the fish were ALL really good bass. Most ran in the 3-3 ½ LB range, with a few fours and a couple of fives on top. As I recall, there was only one, maybe two, small fish. But, alas, for all the many good bass released, we never did see a true Stick Marsh giant.
But, Walt and Larry did have one of their goals met: they caught a LOT of bass!!
Today's Weather for
the Stick Marsh Area
Past Stick Marsh Fishing Reports
Farm 13 / Stick Marsh Information Guide
Email questions to jporter@jimporter.org.
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