Short night report

[Reely Out There]

I was up late tuning some baits and about midnight I went out behind the house in the canal to see how they looked in the water. Before I even made a cast I noticed several mullet doing their thing. I tossed the bait (modified jerk bait) out into the light and started messing with it (looked really good). On the third cast I was stunned to see a nice trout come up behind the bait on snatch it off the surface. I have not seen or caught a fish in the canal since some time in November ( I am out at least couple days a week "tweaking baits"). The fish was about 20 inches and fat. I left it in the water, and ran upstairs to get the camera. I took a couple quick pictures and turned it loose.

Now the bad news: about 5 minutes later it surfaced and looked to be in distress. It took me another 5 minutes to foul hook it, since it was on the opposite side of the canal. By the time I got it in it was obviously not going to make it, so I will have fresh fish tonight for dinner tonight.

I do not know the water temp in the canal, but obviously the fish are still a bit stressed. The fish had about 5 small fresh shrimp in it's stomach, so they are feeding. If you catch any trout, and you are not planning on keeping them, treat them very carefully till the water ges a little warmer.

Mike

[caz]

thanks for the report.. you fishing jam. beach canals??

[only lures]

great report i have had trout die on me like that before to its a shame but shoot i bet it will taste good

[Milkjug]

Thanks for the light report. Good to hear they are alive and feeding at least.

[FP10]

thanks for the report

[Explorer21]

I saw some bait under our light last night, might have to check it out. Thanks

[michelle]

i haven't seen a mullet in months. i'll have to give it a try.
and just what are you doing fishing my canal???lol
michelle

[imhammer]

Thanks for the report Mike....Nice to hear there are still trout out there. I think this is the first report I have seen since before the freeze.

[Ibtsoom]

Nice report, thanks for the info.

[gsb]

Cool, Mike. Glad you were able to snag the carcus, too.

[troutchaser213]

must be nice to have that in your backyard but great catch cant beat trout under the lights

[TTU Wader]

Nice job. The canal we are on in JB is either void of anything living or the trout are burried in the mud with just there eyeballs poking out. I fished the canal a lot when It was freezing and couldn't buy a trout, caught one nice flounder but that was it. I don't understand, unless those trout swim across the bay to the ICW, that's the deepest water for miles.

Good job on the release, maybe with this warming weather you can get a few tonight .

[nokatchin]

Nice catch and nice job on the retrieve

[Explorer21]

FYI, I saw a bunch of bait under our light last night. Not sure what it was, because they took off when I got close.

[speckledred]

Nice report. I need a canal to test baits in when fishing is slow.