Mouth of the York River

[Nitefly]

I will be staying at house on the York River near the mouth of the river for a few days starting tomorrow. I am bringing my kayak and looking forward to fishing a new area. What can I target there? Is anyone fishing that area now?

[rwh]

This year, the flounder bite has been REALLY slow, but there are usually flounder to be caught. Speckled trout and puppy drum around Goodwin Island, and the Amoco refinery pier. Should have no problem catching some croaker just about anywhere in the York. You may even try your luck for juvenile sheepshead around the rocks in the power plant hot water discharge and the pilings of the refinery pier. Some large croaker at the "T" of the refinery pier.

[Nitefly]

I think I see the refinery pier on google maps. I'm staying almost directly across the river in Hayes. I see some small islands on the north shore that will be a very easy paddle. Are they known to hold speck and puppy drum? I've never caught either, so that would be choice! Does anyone fish for Cobia around there? And any rigging advice for the speck and drums?

[rwh]

I haven't personally fished that island, but I would say that you could catch them there (as well as the marsh areas to the east labeled Hoffman's Farm Airport and Monday Creek on Google Maps). Anywhere there is submerged grass or grassy shorelines (there are some really grassy spots around Goodwin Island :-) ). If you can get some live bait (bull minnows or finger mullet) use them under a popping cork or even on the bottom with a Carolina rig. Peeler crab or hard crab fished on either rig will do as well. Gulp! shrimp or swimming mullet on a 1/4 to 3/8 oz jig head bounced off the bottom are always a good option as well. I would say that the cobia wouldn't be the best there, they are usually caught in the bay a little further from the mouth of the York. If you want to try the south side of the river, it's just a short drive across the Coleman Bridge on Hwy. 17 ($2.00 toll to get back to the North side). You could paddle across if you wanted, just be careful, the current can move pretty swift through there. Here are some public launch points on the South side:



Good luck!

[Nitefly]

Thanks! I'll post back after the trip with a report. If you go out in the evening over the weekend, send me a message and I may join you.

[rwh]

Hope you had better luck than I did this weekend. I was in a different area but caught a complete skunk. Couldn't even catch bull minnows in a minnow trap!

[Nitefly]

I was able to get on the water three times during my trip. The first time was Friday evening. I only had an hour or so and it was windy, so I just went out in front of the house. The croaker were biting on every cast, but they were all very small. My next opportunity was on Sunday morning. I had a few hours this time so I paddled to those islands on the north side. I saw some surface disturbances and thought it might be Reds. I had my ultralight rod rigged for Spot with fishbites so I tossed that in while I was preparing my other rod. A minute later I saw the line start to move much faster than the current and I knew a Spot couldn't move the line like that. I went to pick up the pole and as soon as I put resistance on the line the fight was on! I got the fish up to the edge of the boat and he ran under and got wrapped in my anchor line where I lost him. It was a very exciting fight on the UL rod! I put the same bottom rig on my other rod after that and also put a fishbite under a float. I caught an 18" Red on the bottom rig and later had a good hit on the float, but I didn't hook that one.

I found the Reds to be great fighters and a lot of fun. Those islands looked perfect for them. I got to go out for 90 mins this morning before heading home. My Sunday success came on an incoming tide close to high tide. I went back to the same spot but this time it must have been close to slack tide and it was low. The Reds were not concentrated this time and even though I saw some, they weren't interested in gulp or fishbites. I was hoping to get some bait, but never was able to get to a tackle shop.

Thanks for the tips! Fishing for Reds was fun and I hope to find some closer to home!

image.jpg

image.jpg

image.jpg

image.jpg

[rwh]

Nice! Glad you got some pullage. That's a nice fish.....love the golden brown color! I agree about the reds on light tackle. They are always a blast and the York is a great place to fish for them.