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John N. Felsher's Redfishing Adventures
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“I can’t slow down or we’ll get stuck in the mud,” the captain yelled as he
skillfully piloted his shallow-draft craft through a maze of channels that looked
more like muddy slurry. “It’s actually pretty treacherous to get in and out of
some places without knowing exactly where to go, but it’s a pretty good area
for redfish.”
For more than 20 years, as a recreational angler, guide and redfish pro,
Capt. Tommy Derringer of Inshore Adventures explored these marshes and
flats between Palm Coast and St. Augustine in northeastern Florida. He
specializes in catching redfish in extremely shallow water, places where most
people cannot venture. He powered down in a wide flat about 100 yards from
a pod of redfish attacking baitfish in water less than 18 inches deep.
“We are near Pellicer Creek,” Derringer explained. “This whole area has
a real backcountry feel, but we’re really not far from the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a
totally different world out here. The area only has about a 1- to 2-foot tide, but
a six-inch depth variation could mean the difference between being stranded
and getting out just in time.”
Designated as an Outstanding Florida Water, Pellicer Creek begins in
southern St. Johns County and runs east through marshes and tidal flats
between St. Johns and Flagler counties. It hits the Matanzas River system
through the Intracoastal Waterway south of Matanzas Inlet. Part of this pristine
estuary remains protected by Faver Dykes State Park, Princess Place
Preserve and Pellicer Creek Conservation Area.
“Pellicer Creek is a fantastic place to catch redfish all year long,” agreed
Capt. Chris Herrera of Palm Coast Fishing. “A maze of creeks leads to a
bunch of small flats that are all loaded with redfish. It has great flow coming in
from the ocean into the back estuaries. Besides redfish, we catch flounder,
trout and an occasional snook. The area is not very heavily pressured
because it takes a very shallow draft boat or a kayak to get back there.”
As quietly as possible, Derringer poled closer to the fish while Dr. William
Carr and I prepared our rods. The captain advised us to rig our lines with 3-
inch white FishBites Xtreme Scent Release Paddle Tail baits on 1/8-ounce
jigheads.
“I almost exclusively use FishBites instead of soft plastics,” Derringer
said. “It outfishes everything else I’ve tried. Compared to similar baits, the
FishBites Paddle Tails have more action. It’s like fishing with a piece of cut
bait that looks alive. Sometimes, I just stop the retrieve and let it sit on the
bottom. The scent alone attracts fish and they pick it up.”
A University of Florida professor and zoologist, Carr helped establish the
C.V. Whitney Marine Laboratory in Marineland, Fla. The scientist spent
decades researching how fish detect odors in the water. With this knowledge,
Carr developed the scent-dispensing biodegradable technology incorporated
into FishBites products.
“Fish don’t smell odors the way we do,” the doctor explained. “Fish can
only detect and react to chemicals that have been dissolved in water. Odors
that persist in the air do not necessarily dissolve in water and are therefore
not detectable by fish. FishBites products are infused with a concentrated
flavor that replicates natural feeding stimulants and creates a powerful scent
trail. FishBites Xtreme Scent Release lures hold almost all of its scent inside
the lure body until it hits the water. In short, it’s the scent that melts in the
water, not on your hands -- or more importantly, not in the bag.”
Almost immediately, redfish sucked up our FishBites while others tried to
steal from their brethren. These waters typically don’t produce many giant
spot-tails, but the area holds countless reds in the 5- to 7-pound range with
some breaking 10 pounds. Occasionally, someone lands a fish exceeding 13
pounds.
As the sun warmed the waters, fish moved into deeper creeks. Holes
along some creek bends drop to six or eight feet deep. Anglers also find deep
water in the Intracoastal Waterway. In such a shallow environment, even the
slightest drop in depth could make a big difference.
“In the summer, fish are more spread out,” Derringer explained. “During
an outgoing tide, fish go into deeper sections of the creeks, but ‘deeper’ could
mean two feet. At low tide, I look for oysters sticking out of the water and
return there to fish on high tide. As long as we find oysters with water slightly
deeper than surrounding waters flowing over or around the bars we’ll find
redfish.”
Returning to the landing at lunchtime, we headed to JT’s Seafood Shack
(www.jtseafoodshack.com) on Highway A1A in Palm Coast. The staff at JT’s
cooks the anglers’ catch of the day with all the trimmings.
For booking trips, contact Derringer at 904-377-3734 or visit
www.inshoreadventures.net. For Herrera, call 386-437-2545 or visit
palmcoastfishing.com. For information on FishBites, see www.fishbites.com.
skillfully piloted his shallow-draft craft through a maze of channels that looked
more like muddy slurry. “It’s actually pretty treacherous to get in and out of
some places without knowing exactly where to go, but it’s a pretty good area
for redfish.”
For more than 20 years, as a recreational angler, guide and redfish pro,
Capt. Tommy Derringer of Inshore Adventures explored these marshes and
flats between Palm Coast and St. Augustine in northeastern Florida. He
specializes in catching redfish in extremely shallow water, places where most
people cannot venture. He powered down in a wide flat about 100 yards from
a pod of redfish attacking baitfish in water less than 18 inches deep.
“We are near Pellicer Creek,” Derringer explained. “This whole area has
a real backcountry feel, but we’re really not far from the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a
totally different world out here. The area only has about a 1- to 2-foot tide, but
a six-inch depth variation could mean the difference between being stranded
and getting out just in time.”
Designated as an Outstanding Florida Water, Pellicer Creek begins in
southern St. Johns County and runs east through marshes and tidal flats
between St. Johns and Flagler counties. It hits the Matanzas River system
through the Intracoastal Waterway south of Matanzas Inlet. Part of this pristine
estuary remains protected by Faver Dykes State Park, Princess Place
Preserve and Pellicer Creek Conservation Area.
“Pellicer Creek is a fantastic place to catch redfish all year long,” agreed
Capt. Chris Herrera of Palm Coast Fishing. “A maze of creeks leads to a
bunch of small flats that are all loaded with redfish. It has great flow coming in
from the ocean into the back estuaries. Besides redfish, we catch flounder,
trout and an occasional snook. The area is not very heavily pressured
because it takes a very shallow draft boat or a kayak to get back there.”
As quietly as possible, Derringer poled closer to the fish while Dr. William
Carr and I prepared our rods. The captain advised us to rig our lines with 3-
inch white FishBites Xtreme Scent Release Paddle Tail baits on 1/8-ounce
jigheads.
“I almost exclusively use FishBites instead of soft plastics,” Derringer
said. “It outfishes everything else I’ve tried. Compared to similar baits, the
FishBites Paddle Tails have more action. It’s like fishing with a piece of cut
bait that looks alive. Sometimes, I just stop the retrieve and let it sit on the
bottom. The scent alone attracts fish and they pick it up.”
A University of Florida professor and zoologist, Carr helped establish the
C.V. Whitney Marine Laboratory in Marineland, Fla. The scientist spent
decades researching how fish detect odors in the water. With this knowledge,
Carr developed the scent-dispensing biodegradable technology incorporated
into FishBites products.
“Fish don’t smell odors the way we do,” the doctor explained. “Fish can
only detect and react to chemicals that have been dissolved in water. Odors
that persist in the air do not necessarily dissolve in water and are therefore
not detectable by fish. FishBites products are infused with a concentrated
flavor that replicates natural feeding stimulants and creates a powerful scent
trail. FishBites Xtreme Scent Release lures hold almost all of its scent inside
the lure body until it hits the water. In short, it’s the scent that melts in the
water, not on your hands -- or more importantly, not in the bag.”
Almost immediately, redfish sucked up our FishBites while others tried to
steal from their brethren. These waters typically don’t produce many giant
spot-tails, but the area holds countless reds in the 5- to 7-pound range with
some breaking 10 pounds. Occasionally, someone lands a fish exceeding 13
pounds.
As the sun warmed the waters, fish moved into deeper creeks. Holes
along some creek bends drop to six or eight feet deep. Anglers also find deep
water in the Intracoastal Waterway. In such a shallow environment, even the
slightest drop in depth could make a big difference.
“In the summer, fish are more spread out,” Derringer explained. “During
an outgoing tide, fish go into deeper sections of the creeks, but ‘deeper’ could
mean two feet. At low tide, I look for oysters sticking out of the water and
return there to fish on high tide. As long as we find oysters with water slightly
deeper than surrounding waters flowing over or around the bars we’ll find
redfish.”
Returning to the landing at lunchtime, we headed to JT’s Seafood Shack
(www.jtseafoodshack.com) on Highway A1A in Palm Coast. The staff at JT’s
cooks the anglers’ catch of the day with all the trimmings.
For booking trips, contact Derringer at 904-377-3734 or visit
www.inshoreadventures.net. For Herrera, call 386-437-2545 or visit
palmcoastfishing.com. For information on FishBites, see www.fishbites.com.
Putting the "Bite" on red marauders
in the northeast Florida backwaters
in the northeast Florida backwaters
TOP: Capt. Tommy
Derringer of Inshore
Adventures Fishing
Charters admires a redfish
caught by Dr. William Carr
on a FishBites
scent-release bait in a
coastal flat near Palm
Coast, Fla.
RIGHT: Capt. Tommy
Derringer of Inshore
Adventures Fishing
Charters shows off a redfish
he caught in a coastal flat
near Palm Coast, Fla.
Derringer of Inshore
Adventures Fishing
Charters admires a redfish
caught by Dr. William Carr
on a FishBites
scent-release bait in a
coastal flat near Palm
Coast, Fla.
RIGHT: Capt. Tommy
Derringer of Inshore
Adventures Fishing
Charters shows off a redfish
he caught in a coastal flat
near Palm Coast, Fla.
