Mullins, mats and manatees

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David Mullins had a solid morning flurry, sacking more than 16 pounds before noon. I tracked him down, he was working a creek off the St. Johns River. “It’s been pretty good,” Mullins said when I idled up. By the end of the day he put 19 pounds, 7 ounces on the scales.
David Mullins had a solid morning flurry, sacking more than 16 pounds before noon. I tracked him down, he was working a creek off the St. Johns River. “It’s been pretty good,” Mullins said when I idled up. By the end of the day he put 19 pounds, 7 ounces on the scales.
Mullins was fishing shallow, picking apart the cover scattered down the banks of the creek.
Mullins was fishing shallow, picking apart the cover scattered down the banks of the creek.
Laydowns, lilies and bushes were prime targets.
Laydowns, lilies and bushes were prime targets.
After a dead calm morning, the breeze picked up as the post-frontal conditions set in.
After a dead calm morning, the breeze picked up as the post-frontal conditions set in.
Mullins front deck was lined with rods rigged with different bait options, but he stuck with a couple of the options while I watched him.
Mullins front deck was lined with rods rigged with different bait options, but he stuck with a couple of the options while I watched him.
Manatees are found throughout the river system.
Manatees are found throughout the river system.
Mullins made dozens of casts, picking apart the cover, as I watched. And it finally paid off when a solid bass swallowed his lure.
Mullins made dozens of casts, picking apart the cover, as I watched. And it finally paid off when a solid bass swallowed his lure.
The catch allowed him to cull up, adding a little more weight to his limit.
The catch allowed him to cull up, adding a little more weight to his limit.
Mullins said one of the keys to his success was current flowing over and around cover like this letdown.
Mullins said one of the keys to his success was current flowing over and around cover like this letdown.
Covering a lot of water was important to his pattern, so he put his trolling motor down and kept moving steadily down the bank.
Covering a lot of water was important to his pattern, so he put his trolling motor down and kept moving steadily down the bank.
Little points formed by bushes received repeated casts to ensure no bass were hiding in the current breaks.
Little points formed by bushes received repeated casts to ensure no bass were hiding in the current breaks.
Terminal tackle care was important because he was constantly pulling his bait through and over cover.
Terminal tackle care was important because he was constantly pulling his bait through and over cover.
About 2 p.m. Mullins declared, “I’ve about had enough of this,” and picked up a plastic bait to change tack.
About 2 p.m. Mullins declared, “I’ve about had enough of this,” and picked up a plastic bait to change tack.
He moved to flipping pads to see if he could connect with another hefty cull fish.
He moved to flipping pads to see if he could connect with another hefty cull fish.
After flipping a patch of pads without success, Mullins headed out of the creek to find other lilies fields.
After flipping a patch of pads without success, Mullins headed out of the creek to find other lilies fields.