Happy Fishing! Check out this weekend's Big Bend fishing report
As Red Snapper season comes to an end, news of a fall season has yet to be announced.
Seems those Rosy colored fish are super popular by all the pics across the internet and social media.
Gotta say, I’m guilty myself with the obsession. Just ask my empty wallet.
Like chasing anything else offshore, it’s expensive. Beefed up rods and reels, spooled with heavy line can get you for a grand or two. Terminal tackle alone is several hundred.
Day of is another $500. Gas, bait, ice, sunscreen, water, snacks, etc. we better make that $1500 if your boat carry’s more than 100 gallons of fuel.
Boat. Did we even get to the price of a boat yet? It may be cheaper to hire a guide.
Seemed once you found the fish, the catch was easy. Snapper are voracious feeders. Target grouper when surrounded by snapper and you may not be able to get your bait to them.
Regarding table fare, grouper are my preferred flavor. Texture too. With so many ways to prepare the gag grouper it’s absolutely my favorite fish to chase in the gulf. Unfortunately area freezers will be bare for months at a time with the new gag grouper regulations. Once the season closes in 2022, fishing for gag’s in State waters won’t open again until September, 2023.
Spiny lobster mini season is over. July 27th and 28th. Regular season opens August 6th for both recreational and commercial. Get there early, stay late as they get picked over quickly. Favorite place to target these is the Keys. Especially around upper Marathon and adjoining keys.
No word on the $10,000 bass still swimming around in Lake Talquin. Catch the bass with the Pink tag, turn it in and be eligible for even more prizes. One of Trophy catch programs to bring more attention to the healthy bass population around our state. Visit MyFWC.com for more information.
APALACHEE BAY
Otto Hough (Facebook @myhometownfishing) says, ”Hopefully, these next three days will allow anglers an opportunity to enjoy some fine post new moon fishing conditions. In spite of summertime warm fishing conditions, fishing should be pretty good given great tidal flows, especially on the rise into midafternoon, followed a whole lot of water departing during the fall into early evening near negative lows. Seas and winds look to be angler friendly for all three days ahead, with southwest winds Friday, shifting from the southeast over the weekend. All of the storms that eased across Apalachee Bay at the start of this week served to drop skinny water temps a few degrees cooler than prior weeks. Most definitely, the drop in water temps along with the pre-new moon tides helped stimulate the inshore and offshore bite. The same or similar bite should hold true during the post new moon tides.
"Hopefully the current NWS Marine Forecast for the weekend will hold true for the last two days of the longest red snapper season in many years. If luck prevails, this season snapper season should finish on a high note for those anglers who have been targeting that species over the 57 day season. It truly has been a highly successful season for those anglers who concentrated on the snapper along with the deep water gags in the same areas, especially since local State waters are closed for gags till September 1st.
"For those anglers targeting skinny water species, both the trout and reds have been liking topwater plugs worked during the rising tides that have been closely aligned with the major solunar feed periods this past week leading into the Thursday new moon. Bone color patterns in the One Knockers, Skitterwalks, Super Spooks and Moonwalkers along with pink Top Dogs have all been producing for anglers "walking the dawg" early morning and late in the day. If active baitfish pods are spotted in skinny water, expect to find the trout feasting. Give them a topwater plug for dessert. Those finicky trout have gotten stirred up around Turkey Point Spit as well as the bars in eastern portion on Alligator Harbor going into the new moon. To the east of the Lighthouse, it's been the early morning bite that's been best near Grey Mare rock eastward. Find baitfish pods inside, fine trout.
"Boat safely over the coming three days. It's summertime! Scallopers are still enjoying the final days of the first month of the season that runs into September. Be aware of the boats displaying dive flags. Also, remember those pop-up coastal showers and boomers are always in the mix during July, though chances are greatly reduced in the current forecast from the past highly active midweek levels. For safety's sake, keep an eye to the sky while occasionally taking a peek at the radar app. Plus, if not monitoring the NOAA weather channel, take a moment to check the latest NOAA marine weather broadcast for the Big Bend.
"Staying on the safety theme, do NOT bowride, even though it appears cool, it's dangerous! Just this past week, a pontoon bowrider in Destin area was thrown into the water by a rogue wave, resulting in significant body injuries the that boater from the prop. And more safety tips as y'all know it's going to get mentioned by me. Wear those auto-inflatable PFDs when the big motor is purring. If removing the auto-inflatable while fishing, make certain the sufficient number of regular PFDs are on board for all on board. Stay safe. Just FISH!!"
ST GEORGE ISLAND
Captain Russ Knapp (850-653-5072) reports, “At the risk of jinxing things, I must say the weather for the weekend looks pretty nice at this time (Wednesday evening) with seas forecast at 2feet and winds variable blowing 5 to 10 knots. It's going to be HOT so keep a good weather eye for a thunderstorm appearing out of thin air and of course recheck the weather before you head out. The tides at the Cut this weekend feature an early morning high of 1.6 feet followed by a 1.1 foot low around 11Am then ending with a 1.7 foot high near 4:30 PM.
"In the bay, Capt. Dan Fortunas (850-980-0101) reports the Speckled Trout are still on the flats in about 4 feet of water and are feeding early and late as the water temperature is running around 85 degrees. A Cajun Thunder popping cork with a Gulp or DOA shrimp hung 20 inches under it is the best set up and of course do remember to pop it hard. Be sure to bring your cast net as there are large schools of baitfish roaming the bay and fishing a live bait around the Cut should attract a Redfish to your rig. If the fish is either too large or too small, please carefully release it while it's still in the water and be sure to fish with circle hooks for easy releases.
"If you have the kids along, Capt. Dan suggests pick up some finger Mullet at the bait shop and go fishing for Black Tip sharks, they can be found this time of year around most any structure and in the deep water of West Pass. Hook the Mullet though the eyes with a #2 non-stainless-steel circle hook with a 25 lb. fluorocarbon leader and a light weight for best results. To avoid becoming a mini version of a Jaws victim, Capt. Dan says lets the Shark run until it is tired than get a hold of it in the gills and turn the fish on its back for an easy hook removal . Capt. Jack Frye (850 247 8134) put two whopper Tripletail in the boat this week so take a quick look at most anything floating as they are still around and hungry.
"Offshore, its the last weekend of recreational Red Snapper season until the fall weekend seasons so it goes without saying that should be your first priority. If you want to do a charter with a Federally permitted Captain, whose season closes on August 19th you need to get on the phone now as they are close to booked out. Capt. Clint Taylor (850 370 6631) reports there are still some very large Red Snapper being caught with the addition of a strong Scamp bite out in the big water. As always bring the Sabiki rigs to catch those large live baits and get the flat line out whenever you're drifting or anchored.
"Tip of the week -- There is almost nothing as painful and annoying as having Yellow Flies in your boat and from my experience, sprays with deet seems to only make them bite more. But I have some outstanding news to pass on to all you Yellow Fly suffers as one of my clients told me about the wonders of Sawyer 20% Picaridin spray. I've been using it for the last week and believe me so far it has done the job of keeping the Yellow monsters away. You can buy it locally at any number of stores such as Walmart, Bass Pro and Camping World and it works on ticks and chiggers too."
MEXICO BEACH
Capt. Kevin Lanier of KC Sportfishing Mexico Beach, Fl (850-933-8804) reports, "This week the bite has picked back up and the fish have become more active. King Mackerel are showing in good numbers with daily catches occurring. Black Fin Tuna are also becoming a regular catch when fishing in waters over 200 feet.
"This weekend we are having our annual Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association King Mackerel Tournament. This is a wonderful organization and the work they do has made our areas fishing phenomenal This week we hit the Jackpot with a rare Black Grouper. I say rare because in my 6 years here this is only the 3rd Black Grouper I have seen or heard of caught in our area. These fish are more common further south.
"Fishing should continue to be good through the end of the recreational Red Snapper on July 31, with the Federal permitted Charter season running until August 19."
LAKE SEMINOLE
Capt. Paul Tyre reports, “The Bass fishing on Lake Seminole has been excellent the last couple of weeks, especially the topwater action! We have been getting some ferocious strikes on Frogs and Buzzbaits! Plastic worms have been producing some nice bass along the edges of the grass lines.
"To combat the South Georgia Summer heat, we offer morning and evening trips! As the grass gets thicker in July the hollow belly frog becomes my go to topwater bait in July I prefer the Spro Bronzeye Popping Frog, it has a double heavyweight Gamakatsu hook that is extremely sharp and heavy enough to get the big Bass out of the grass! I like to fish the Frog over the grass and through holes in the grass. Rod, line and reel choices are very important with this technique! A high-speed reel is a must, at least 8:3.1, and a heavy Braided line I prefer is 65lb Cortland Master Braid on a 7’3” XH Temple Fork Outfitters Tactical Bass Rod. This rod has a fast tip and has the backbone to get the biggest Bass out of the grass!
"The Flipping bite starts heating up in July as the grass is getting thicker. Rod choice is critical when flipping big Bass out of the Grass my go to rod is a TFO Tactical 8’ extra heavy moderate action rod that has the backbone to get the biggest Bass out if the thick Hydrilla. Line is critical and braided line is a must, I prefer 65lb Cortland Silent Flip braid it is a 16 strand that is very quiet going through the vegetation which will get you more bites! For a Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure give me a call to check availability at 850-264-7534 , follow us on Instagram @ Capt.paultyrefishing or email me @ paultyrefishing@yahoo.com."
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Happy Fishing! Check out this weekend's Big Bend fishing report
