Happy Fishing! Check out this weekend's Big Bend fishing report

APALACHEE BAY

Otto Hough (Facebook @myhometownfishing) says, ”Southwest winds and lots of pop-up thunderboomers made the past weekend and the first couple of days of the week made it challenging all along the Big Bend coastline for all anglers, both inside and outside. Sadly, the Big Pond can turn deadly in a heartbeat when a boomer pops up. Just this past week, a scalloper in Hagen's Cove lost his life when a boomer hit. Always be aware of the surrounding weather during the summer months.

"When the windows of opportunity did open, anglers found reds and trout dining in the skinny water on topwater offerings if the floating grasses weren't troublesome. The trout bite was there, but not as strong as the redfish bite. Outside, even with marginal conditions, anglers found red and mutton snapper still dining.

"The good news is, while still definitely summertime, southwest winds and seas in NWS Marine Forecast are expected to lessen, much to the liking of all. Expect conditions to be pretty darn good in the early morning hours during the rising tides into the mid-to-late morning hours. If fishing skinny, work those topwater plugs like the One Knockers, Skitterwalks, Super Spooks and Moonwalkers. The bone patterns have seemingly been the best action generating color over this past week, both east and west of the Lighthouse as well as on Turkey Point Spit. On up into the morning hours, get the softbait offerings down in the water column.

"Outside, hopefully Ma Nature will allow offshore anglers a few good days of targeting the red snapper. Lots of quality snapper are being found over live hard bottom in 90 feet of water or so. Getting the baits down through a gauntlet of hungry snapper to reach the gags has proven to be challenging at times.

"Wherever the boat may go these next three days, always keep nautical safety at the forefront while respecting Mother Nature who can become fickle all too quickly on the Big Pond. And y'all will read it again, wear those auto-inflatable PFDs! Boat safely. Just FISH!"

ST GEORGE ISLAND

Captain Russ Knapp (850-653-5072) reports, “Well, if the forecast is correct it looks like the nicest weekend for boating in a while with seas running 1 foot or less, 5 to 10 knot light winds and a slight chance of a stray shower. It's going to be a bit on the hot side so be sure to pack your cooler full of water and Gatorade type items and as always recheck the forecast before you head out. Tides at the Cut are also on the favorable side with a 1.7 high tide at 10 AM Saturday followed by a 0.0 low tide at 7 PM while Sunday has a 1.8 high at 11AM with a 0.0 low coming at 8pm. Expect the current to be strong in the afternoon as 1.7 feet is a big tide fall for our area and with The Cut not being a natural channel it can really run hard.

"In the bay, the surprise of the week was Capt. Dan Fortunas' (850-980-0101) party hooking a Tarpon in the Cut while fishing with frozen Finger Mullet. Needless to say, the fight didn't last long as there was a lot more Tarpon than fishing tackle but it did put on a quick air show before taking off for parts unknown. Aside from the Tarpon, Capt. Dan has been catching nice slot Redfish and a stray Flounder or two around the Cut while fishing live and cut bait on the bottom with a 2.0 circle hook. The flats are holding good Speckled Trout with the best fishing early and late in 4 foot of water using a Cajun Thunder popping core with a DOA or Gulp shrimp 18 to 24 inches down on a fluorocarbon leader. There are a good number of 3-foot Blacktip Sharks cruising around and a Finger Mullet on a flat line has a good chance of giving you a great fight with one.

"Offshore, Capt. Clint Taylor (850-370-6631) reports one angler caught a Wahoo this week on the Apalachicola Reef which is pretty much unheard of and must have been a very lost Wahoo. There are two weeks left in recreational Red Snapper season and with the excellent weather forecast, if you want to be eating Red Snapper this is the weekend to get out fishing for them. Capt. Clint suggests if the wrecks and reefs are slow than move to live bottom and drift large live baits but do remember that Gag Grouper closed in state waters (out to nine miles) on June 30th. As we tell you every week, be sure to put out a flat line while you are anchored or drifting as you never know what is swimming around the area looking for an easy meal.

"Tip of the week -- if you are out on the boat and things start to go sideways either from weather or anything else that can result in an emergency situation contact someone and let them know where you are and what the situation is. You can hail the USCG on channel 16 and declare a PON PON situation which is a level below Mayday.  The Coast Guard will give you instructions and set up times for you to contact them until the situation is resolved and you are in a safe place . If you are unclear as to the terms PON PON and MAYDAY-- LOOK THEM UP-- and be sure to understand what you are declaring before you use them on the radio to avoid needless confusion. Running aground, running out of gas or some other minor mishap is a call to Sea Tow or the like not the USCG."

MEXICO BEACH

Capt. Kevin Lanier of KC Sportfishing Mexico Beach, Fl  (850-933-8804) reports, "There is just under 2 weeks left in this year’s summer recreational red snapper season. We are coming out of our second full moon of the season as well. The bite has been a little slower but there are still limits of fish to be had. It is as if the fish slow down during the full moon phase and become less aggressive. When the skies are clear overnight, and the moon is full the fish can feed all night, so it does slow them down

"Black fin Tuna are showing up in good numbers now along with King Mackerel. Both fish can be caught using a live bait or a dead bait floating near the surface. Do not be surprised if a big Red Snapper hit that bait as well.

We had 2 nice Cobia approach the boat, we hooked one and it went right between our motors and broke off. Cobia will also hit that floating bait as well. Inshore action has slowed because of the high-water temps but there are still some really nice Redfish being caught. Try a gold spoon. July 30 is our annual Mexico Beach Artificial reef association King fish tournament. Check out MBARA.org for details."

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. The Bream and Shellcracker continue to bed  around the lake and can also be caught on Crickets and worms along the grass lines. The Crappie are schooling up and are being caught on minnows and jigs! 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: Here is this weekend's Big Bend fishing report