Finally, it's time to get ready for the spring fishing season in the Big Bend
What in the Wide Wide World of Sports is going on with this weather! Just when I put the cold weather clothes to rest we get Da bomb dropped.
This weekend would be a great time to get ready for the upcoming spring fishing season. With temperatures supposed to be averaging almost 80, look for area saltwater fish to cruise the super shallow flats near the mouths of creeks and rocks. Oh wait, that was the report two weeks ago. “My bad”.
Couple tips to help you prepare for spring fishing fling. Line: check your reels. A little oil goes a long way. If your line is over a year old, replace it. Braid can last longer and you’ll know quick enough if it breaks when that first redfish is being brought in. Rod: Take a cotton swab and run it through the eyes of your rod. If any cotton gets stuck in the eye chances are it’s ceramic and has a crack. This will ultimately lead to a disappointing day.
Boat and trailer check: Keys are really important, so is the plug. Have two on hand. I was working on the boat not long ago. Took keys out to wash and wax that area. Got to the boat ramp and remembered the keys were probably laying on the counter. Same goes for the plug. Especially with kids. Those little things disappear just like the matching sock in the dryer.
APALACHEE BAY
Otto Hough (Facebook @myhometownfishing) says,”Well, Ma Nature teased us all with springtime fishing conditions less than a week ago for a good long stretch. Now it appears she's slapping us in the face with a step back into late wintertime conditions given frosty air midweek with strong winds throughout the weekend. The cold front that passed through midweek dropped skinny water temps back down into the mid-60s going into the coming pre-new moon weekend. Couple that with extremely elevated northerly winds predicted over the weekend and it's shaping up to be somewhat challenging fishing all weekend, if any fishing at all given predicted winds. Simply stated, marine conditions aren't looking good all weekend long! However, anglers always have hope!
Tides this weekend will start out with negative readings, made substantially lower by stiff northerly winds in the current NWS Marine Forecast for Saturday and Sunday. Though the tide charts reflect over four feet of the returning water during the rising tides into early afternoon, expect to encounter less water at full high tide. Those northerly winds are going to hold back the incoming tides over the weekend. If trying to fish, hug the hill while motoring slowly!
If enough water does return by midafternoon, slipping into a coastal creek to fish the holes and cuts should offer up some good catches. Those stout offshore winds will pretty much nix any chance of enjoyable outside fishing for the sheepshead. That's a sad thing as the sheepies are currently thick over the shallow water rock piles and reefs.
Before dropping in over these next three days, especially on Friday, take time to check the radar and Weatherstem wind readings along the coast. Don't be a stupid boater, aka boating statistic. As always, wear an auto-inflatable PFD for safety's sake. Boat wisely and safely. Just FISH!
INLAND
The post spawn bite has been on fire in both Lake Iamonia and Miccosukee during the major solunar feed periods this past week. The cold nighttime times have slowed the morning bite, but by midafternoon or so the past few days, the abundant afternoon sunshine has jumpstarted an aggressive bite, especially on large worms, like the Speedvibes and frogs worked through and over the thin pads in four to six feet of water. Sadly, if the winds remain elevated out of the north as currently predicted, both lakes will be tough to fish until winds diminish. Fingers are crossed for late afternoon fishing sometime during this new moon phase.
ST GEORGE ISLAND
Captain Russ Knapp (850-653-5072) reports, “Well folks, it looks like a "wild weekend" and not of the good kind with a strong cold front Friday PM kicking the wind up to 20 to 25 knots from the North both days with seas running 5 to 7 feet Saturday and 4 to 6 feet on Sunday. To add to the fun there is a good chance of rain Friday night into Saturday morning so it looks like a good weekend to stay on the hill.
Tide wise at the Cut, you can expect low tides around 8 AM at -.3 feet followed by a 4 PM high tide of 1.2 feet but with the strong North winds I'm pretty sure the tides will be lower than the prediction.
In the bay, Capt. Dan Fortunas (850 980 0101) is catching slot Reds and Speckled Trout around the Cut while fishing fresh Shrimp on the bottom. Fishing around the causeway put some nice Black Drum in the box and they are hungry for the same fresh shrimp again fished on the bottom. Remember that a large Black Drum is almost sure to have worms in it so please release it so it can make more Black Drums and not end up the garbage can.
The strong North winds should make for some good fishing conditions off the beach and with the Whiting and Pompano starting to show up it may be the best plan this weekend. I've noticed a good number of sand flea shells on the beach so bring your rake if you have one -- stop and pick up some fresh Shrimp if you don't.
Offshore at this time looks like a major no go but when things calm down Capt. Clint Taylor (850 370 6631) suggests fishing live bottom for Red Grouper and Triggerfish with live bait the key for the Groupers. Mangrove Snapper should be hanging around most any structure and on close in live bottom and will be happy to eat small live or dead baits.
Tip of the week-- comes this week from Capt Clint who suggests never take an inexperienced angler offshore on a nasty day as the last thing you want is for them to have a bad experience and never want to go again.
KEATON BEACH
Captain Pat McGriff (onemorecast@gtcom.net) says, “Trout and reds were just beginning to get right before this present cold snap. Water temps were getting close to 80 degrees in the late afternoons ( albeit early for that) I would settle for mid 70’s. Bait schools are just now showing up and we have already caught a few Spanish Mackerel so the rest of the pelagics are not far behind them. Heard tail (sic) of a large school of large reds around Piney Point but I haven’t found them yet? they could be at Rock Islands by now lol. We have already begun to take limits o trout on live pinfish on board One More Cast , while also catching them on live shrimp and Assassin plastic bounced. I expect his cold front and rain to shut them down this week but when it comes back around to high seventies in the afternoons for a few days Look out it should be on again. Meanwhile we need the rain. that last one was spectacular... just too long in coming.
MEXICO BEACH
Captain Kevin Lanier of KC Sportfishing charters (850 933 8804) reports,” This week we traveled to Venice Louisiana to hunt Giant Yellow fin Tuna and Wahoo. Our travels took us from Daphne Alabama to Venice via Mobile Bay into Baptiste Colette pass, the Mississippi River and Venice. A trip of 136 miles. 4 days in intense fishing produced 9 Wahoo and approximately 12 Backfin Tuna.
The Wahoo all came on troll using large deep diving plugs and trolling about 7 mph. If you have never hooked a Wahoo the strike is incredible. When boating these fish remember they have razor Sharpe teeth.
Our Tuna came on Johnnie Jigs Slow pitch jigs in a pink and white color and some on chunked tuna. This is what they call chunking. With the jigs, once you locate the fish on your depth sounder drop the jig below the school and work your way up through them. Hang on.
It was a great trip and one you should do at least once
BIG BEND KAYAK REPORT
Salt strong coach Matt Lanier (Matt@saltstrong.com) tells us, “This cold front moving through has definitely affected the fish, but the good news is, they will be ready to eat once this weather moves past us and brings back the warmer weather we have all been waiting for.
With the warmer temperatures, the fish will feed much more than they did in the cooler days. They will be searching for bait schools to make the feeding quick and easy for them. With the warmer temps, fish will feed more as they burn more calories, so you can start to go with some more aggressive tactics, like you favorite topwater or swimming paddletails.And with the warmer temps it will be no surprise to find the fish cruising around in those spring trends on the flats, points, and in the creek mouths.
The trout will be schooled up in the deeper holes, and on the ledges of the flats, or even the opening of the river channels. Be sure to use jig heads heavy enough to get you down in the deeper part of the water column, where those fish are at.
With the warmer temperatures, and low winds you can start the mornings with a topwater plug of choice to entice those massive blowups just after sunrise. With these warmer waters we can start speeding up the speed of the retrieval, but be sure to start slower and work your way up to something faster to see what the fish want.
Once the sun is up in the sky, redfish can be found roaming the flats in some of those spring habits, cruising around creek mouths and oyster beds during the rising tide; and in the soft current seams of depth changes on the falling tide. When the tide is up they will push into those grass lines and look to feed in there when the water level allows. Working the grass lines at high tide is always a great producer of solid fish.
Productive lures range have been ranging from paddletails and jerk baits, to shrimp imitations, as well as top waters & hard baits, but the biggest factor moving forward will be finding the bait. If you can find the bait, and find the current, you will find the fish.
If the sun is shining, your lure choice can be a bit more aggressive and you can fish faster, but if it is a dark and cloudy day, try to go something smaller, and more subtle to illicit those strikes from fish that are slower to react, especially after this front moves through.The Florida Redfish Series Stop 3 is this weekend, in Jacksonville, FL at the Jim King Ramp, and the Captain’s Meeting will be held at The Palms Fish Camp. There is a boat and kayak division, so all anglers are welcome in any water worthy craft. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Captains Meeting this Friday, in preparation for some awesome fishing! Be sure to go to flredfishseries.com for more information on this event and others upcoming.
If you find yourself on the water and fishing in a spot where you haven’t gotten a bite for the last 15 minutes… it’s time to move. Keep looking for the 90/10 zone where those fish are holding. Don’t waste time in unproductive areas. The fish are moving and so should you!
To get the kids on some fish quickly, a live shrimp or GULP! under a popping cork around creeks, creek mouths, and even grass lines is a solid producer of fish. And the best part is you never know what you’ll catch because everything eats shrimp… EVEN ME!For an easy way to find the 90/10 zone, go to www.saltstrong.com/recipe for some tips on finding the fish in your area!
If you plan on getting out this weekend, be sure to wear sunscreen! Even though we may be feeling some comfortable temperatures, you might want to consider sunscreen moving forward as the sun can take its toll very quickly! Stay covered up and always make sure you check (and double check) your gear and the weather. But most importantly… STAY SAFE & HAVE FUN!
LAKE SEMINOLE
The Bass fishing on Lake Seminole has been excellent this spring with the warmer weather the water temperature is in the low to mid 70”$! The Bass are spawning and can be caught in shallow water we have been averaging 20 to 30 Bass a trip !
The Crappie have been bedding and has also been very good this month and we been catching BIG ones as we move into April the Crappie fishing will get even better!
For an exciting Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure for Bass and or Crappie, email us @lakeseminolefishingadventures@gmail.com or follow us on Instagram @capt.paultyrefishing and Facebook @capt.paultyrefishing
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Here is this weekend's Big Bend fishing report
