The last of January Patrick came to catch bass for a half day. The morning greeted us with a low temperature of the year. Expecting to find the bass a little tough we were surprised to find them biting right away. Very nice bites and very intent on eating our wild shiners. Patrick and his fishing partner came prepared for the cold the photos show. Upon the completion of the fishing morning I indicated that if they were to stop at a convenience store on the way home they should remove some clothes.
On the first of February Joe Dove returned. Joe has had some awesome trips with me. A wonderful day at the spillway catching lots and lots of bass including an eleven and a twelve. That trip was followed by another outstanding trip with several large bass. Joe kept telling me he was supposed to jump up to the thirteen pounder. I kept trying. Those trips were last year. This year's first trip produced a ten and an eleven.
Well, I was expecting another awesome day. The weather warmed. The wind turned to being from the South. The water temperature warmed up six degrees. To our dismay and disbelief the bass turned off and got really tough to catch. Joe had some nice bites. Just not near the numbers of previous trips. He still is waiting for the thirteen pounder.
On Friday the Second of February Bruce Brantley came with three of his buddies. Steve p was our second boat Captain. Steve and I arrived at the Stick Marsh ramp about 6:00 and 6:15 AM. Steve told me he had listened to the radio and that there was a tornado in Lake County and it was heading our way. Schools may close in Brevard County. Mean time our conversation was almost drowned out by the pounding waves of Stick Marsh and the wind blowing through the Palm Trees.
Bruce and buddies arrived on time - 6:45 AM. I briefed the four clients of the weather situation. Tornado or not the wind would make Stick Marsh and the Farm very difficult to fish. I advised we make the trip to Garcia. The four clients had been discussing the weather on the way to the ramp and were pleased with the option to go to Garcia.
At Garcia we fished the Northern Blocks with wild shiners. Steve got two phone calls indicating that a Tornado hit Blue Cypress and was on its way to Fellsmere. We kept fishing. We kept catching. Big bass of the trip was one estimated to weigh 9.5 lbs. It was 26 inches long. Really a nice catch. There was a competition between the boats. Steve's boat had first bass - fairly quickly! My boat had one more caught and the largest.
The bass at Garcia have improved over the years. There is a good supply of four and five pounders and several sevens have been reported this year. While the bass are not the size as they are at Stick Marsh and Farm 13 there are occasions when you can catch at Garcia when all you can do at Stick Marsh and Farm 13 is try to fish. The key is to know the difference and take advantage.
There is some hydrilla growing at Stick Marsh and Farm 13. It is not enough to try to fish. It is enough to be very encouraging regarding the future. I spotted the grass a couple of weeks ago with a few sprigs growing to the top in 2.7 feet of water. I have not thoroughly searched the area to determine the extent of the growth. I know it's there and I know it will only spread. The Game and Fish is not out to find it and eradicate it. Neither is the St. John's Water Management District. There appears to be more and more floating vegetation growing. If this trend continues the floating vegetation should slowly move into deeper water. Thereby creating bass condominiums.
When you are ready to catch bass give me a call 321-722-3134 or drop me an e-mail - Hugh@HughCrumpler.Com.
