Each year at this time the shad fishing in the St. Johns River heats up.
American shad run the entire east coast of North America, but each winter return to the mighty St. Johns to spawn. They enter the river at Jacksonville and head south to their favorite nesting grounds south of Lake Monroe in Sanford down to State Road 50. Fishermen in the know flock there each winter to do battle with the acrobatic shad.
The area I go to is just south of Osteen. There the river narrows and, at times, the shad are plentiful. Shad are game fish and may be caught on all manner of small lures. They average around two pounds and a five-pound one is a whopper. This is mostly catch and release fishing.
I use tiny freshwater jigs of the type you might use for specks. I like to bring along a variety of colors to see which they prefer on a certain day. Once hooked, they become a leaping, tail-walking dynamo that is a sight to see and feel.
Due to their agility and willingness to take a lure they are a favorite of fly fishermen. Each year fly rod clubs descend on the lower St. Johns to test themselves against the determined shad. Some say that they bite more out of aggravation than hunger.
The theory is they will hit anything that invades their nest. I’m not sure about that, but I do know they are a lot of fun. I like to troll with a couple rods, leaving the line out about 50 feet behind the boat. If you hook two at once, you will have your hands full.
I have had several jump and hit the sides of my outboard and once I had one jump into the boat. Great fun!
As I said, most people turn them back although their roe is considered a delicacy. Shad are the only fish I have ever encountered that have so many bones you cannot find a square inch of boneless meat on the entire fish. No matter, the fun is in the catching.
Folks this is easy fishing. Bring along a nice lunch and the kids to take a leisurely boat ride along the beautiful St. Johns. Wading birds abound along with a few alligators. If you really want to get up close and personal with gators, turn down any narrow tributary and find lots of them catching the sun on the banks. As you troll, you may also pick up speckled perch, largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass and gizzard shad.
This is a great trip for beginners or those who seldom fish. Not much talent is needed to troll and the payoff is a spectacular game fish. It’s not too often the inexperienced get to catch such a fish. The shad run will last into early March.
From Daytona Beach, take State Road 415 south to State Road 46 at Osteen. Turn east and go a few miles to the boat ramp at the foot of the Lake Jesup Bridge. There is little there, so bring along all that you need to make yourself comfortable and don’t forget the camera.
Dan Smith has fished the waters of Volusia County for more than 40 years. Email questions and comments to fishwdan@att.net. His book, “I Swear the Snook Drowned,” is available for purchase for $10.95 at (386) 441-7793.
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