Happy Fishing! Check out this weekend's Big Bend fishing report
Extended weekend is finally here. If the forecast holds up, families and friends will get together for remembrance to all that have died in service to our country.
Three major holidays to honor or remember. Memorial Day, kick off the summer, 4th of July, break up the summer and Labor Day to close out summer.
Pink. A favorite color for many. In bass fishing it has a whole other meaning.
To help promote and grow the sport of bass fishing, FWC has tagged 10 largemouth bass in different lakes throughout the great state of Florida. Just so happens our very own Lake Talquin is one of them.
It’s so easy to participate and prizes are yours to keep. Simply catch one of the pink tagged bass, take a picture holding it up and submit to Florida Trophy Catch. Take the tag and call the number on it. It’s that easy.
May 22, 2022 on Lake Griffin, local angler Dale Dew hooked up with a winning fish while throwing a simple plastic worm. Dales efforts “netted” him $5000.00 for the tag, a chance for an additional $10,000.00 and an assortment of other prizes.
Inshore anglers. A few weeks back there was concern and feedback on the proposed redfish rules. It’s time to solidify or cancel at the upcoming redfish workshops. Workshops start June 1st, run through the next 15 days. Locations vary. Our local participation spot is June 15, 6–8 p.m. EDT. Wakulla County Community Center, Wakulla Room, 318 Shadeville Road Crawfordville, FL 32327.
Extended forecast this weekend includes partly cloudy Saturday, lots and lots of sunshine Sunday, and possible afternoon showers on Monday. Don’t let that scare you away, it’s Florida after all.
Fishing, boating or both? If you’re wanting to just chill on the boat, try one of the areas sandbars or gathering spots like Oklockoknee Shoals or St Marks sandbar. Shoals are marked on many marine maps. They’re a little further out, but emerald water, marine life and serenity makes this a favorite for those with just a little bigger boat. You can get to the shoals from many different areas. All depends how much fuel you want to spend.
If you’re launching from Panacea to Aucilla, St Marks sandbar is another great attraction. There are actually a couple different sandbars where people gather. With the tidal movement this weekend, combined with a really high tide around noon, many will want to visit the sandbar just East of the lighthouse. The flow of water moving in and out of the creek has created a beautiful sandbar, complete with deep water access for boats or fishing. The main sandbar is located just off the St Marks river while heading South. This is also on your mapping.
For those of you heading to the water for one, two or all three days. A few things you will want to do. Fuel up! Be prepared for sticker shock if you haven’t yet paid for non-ethanol gas. Make a list. Plug, water, keys, sunscreen, hats, sunscreen, water (yes I said it twice), safety equipment including horn, throw device, fire extinguisher, flares (inter-coastal) and probably the most important, life jackets.
When running up and down the rivers remember you need to have your kill switch attached to your person anytime you’re on plane.
Patience will be a virtue. Exercise during lines at the boat ramp. Please don’t be one of those to create a hostile crowd at the ramp either. Ramp etiquette includes having your rig ready BEFORE you actually get on the ramp. If possible, have someone help with backing up, watch for children or pets and stay with your boat once it’s launched. When parking, do it with a little class. If everyone is parked at an angle don’t be the odd one. Try to get a door opening away from the vehicle next to you. No need to leave 4’ or 5’ between.
Last piece of advice, have fun. Be safe out there but have fun and enjoy all that mother nature offers!
APALACHEE BAY
Otto Hough (myhometownfishing.com) says, ”What can we say, but Ma Nature is in control, totally. She chose to elevate the winds on and off over the past weekend on into midweek. Fortunately, it appears she's going to be benevolent over the Memorial Day holiday weekend as the NWS Marine Forecast is predicting light seas and west/southwest winds by Saturday on through Monday.
"With the new moon coming, those tidal swings over the next four days will be significant, especially the late afternoon falling tides into dark-thirty along the Big Bend coastline. Early morning lows around sunrise won't create overly skinny water in close, though it'll be thin. However, great conditions should be present early on for topwater plugging if targeting trout and/or reds. With the warmer skinny water temps in the low 80s, after early morning topwater fishing, shift gears to start working the slow suspending, stickbaits and softbaits down in the water column.
"Outside, it appears seas and winds will be light enough to afford all anglers an opportunity to enjoyably chase the gags and more outside. With the incoming tidal flow through the morning hours coupled with an extended new moon major feed, the gags ought to be chomping as well as other offshore species.
"Given this is a big holiday weekend with the great weather in the current forecast, expect crowds to be present at all the landings along the coast. It's a concept seemingly foreign to all too many, but practice ramp etiquette. Load the boat away from the ramp. Only proceed to back onto the ramp when the boat is totally ready to be launched. Also, practice nautical etiquette as well while wearing an auto-inflatablePFD. Boat safely over holiday weekend. Just FISH!"
ST GEORGE ISLAND
Captain Russ Knapp (850-653-5072) reports, “The weather forecast for the weekend has me in shock as for once it doesn't look too bad -- at least fair to middlin with seas at 1 to 2 feet and no rain but remember this is a Wednesday P M forecast. The tides at the Cut this weekend look to be 1.3-foot lows arounds 8AM , followed by 1.7 highs at 1 pm and ending with -0.3 lows at 9 PM. In other words, nice easy rise in the morning followed a strong out flow in the afternoon and just in case you haven't heard the Cut was dredged recently so plan on things being a bit different.
"In the bay, Capt. Dan Fortunas (850-980-0101) is catching nice Speckled Trout on the flats behind Little St George in 3 to 4 feet of water using Salt Water Assassin Chip in Chain and Electric Chicken lures fished 18" under a Cajun Thunder float. Capt. Dan also reports you can find good numbers of Bonnet Head and Bull Sharks just outside the Cut that would love to bite down on a chunk of cut bait and give you a work out. If you don't mind making the oil company's richer and riding around a bit, the Tripletail are hot around any structure or floating object. They are hungry for a live/fresh Shrimp or piece of Squid on a #2 J hook fished 4 or 5 feet under a popping cork.
"Offshore, Capt. Clint Taylor (850-370-6631) reports the Pelagic are right around the corner so this is the time to get your trolling gear squared away and ready for action. The Triggerfish and Amberjack bite has been good but don't forget their seasons close next Tuesday, May 31 so get them while you can. Capt. Clint again reminds you to always have a flat line out whenever you are drifting or anchored and as you never know what is cruising around under the surface.
"Tip of the week -- if you're having strange electrical issues go to your battery and have a good look at the wire ends at the terminals and if they are anything less than perfect replace them with new heat shrink ones. The tachometer on my boat was jumping around and being generally strange and while my wire ends didn't look bad replacing them resolved the issue and made me a happy boater. One last bit of advice on heat shrink connectors is always use a heat gun to shrink them for a clean connection and not a lighter which puts off soot."
MEXICO BEACH
Capt. Kevin Lanier of KC Sportfishing Mexico Beach, Fl (850-933-8804) reports, "Our first tropical wave is moving through the western Florida panhandle the next few days, so it is time to do things around the house and work on the boat. Fish has been excellent both inshore and offshore.
"Cyndi Lanier from KCsportfishing and Tammie Mathews of Port St. Joe Fl. join Captain Jordon Todd of Saltwater Obsession Charters for a day in St. Joe Bay. Trout and Redfish were the target, and they were not disappointed. Shrimp below Bobber and casted spoons nailed several Trout and some superb Redfish. You can tell the ladies were excited by the smiles on their faces.
"Offshore, the Trigger fish and Amberjack are attacking baits. Anything you put down will get bit. Live bait is best for the AJ’s. Keep the bait near the surface and let the fish come up for it because you will need the distance to stop the fish before it gets back to the structure. Red Grouper have been on the bite and Red Snapper continue to be a menace since we still cannot retain them. Federal Charter Snapper season begins June 1 with recreational season beginning June 18."
LAKE SEMINOLE
Capt. Paul Tyre reports, “The Crappie on Lake Seminole have been moving out of their spawning areas and into their deeper post spawn areas. They have been biting on minnows and jigs. I had a fantastic trip with Mike and Jane Radney from Gulf Breeze Florida! We caught over 30 BIG Crappie using jigs with forward facing sonar witch is a absolute blast!
The Bream and Shellcracker continue to bed I had an exciting morning with the West family from Thomasville, Georgia, as we caught over a 150 Shellcracker! It was awesome watching Ryan and Riley 10 year old twins have a blast catching all those Shellcracker! The Bass fishing continues to be very good as the Bass are beginning to school and feed up for the upcoming summer! Spinnerbaits and Topwater lures have been very productive!
For a Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure for Shellcracker and/or Bass this April give me a call to check availability at 850-264-7534 , follow us on Instagram @ Capt.paultyrefishing or email me @ paultyrefishing@yahoo.com."
FRESHWATER
Otto B. Fishing says, ”Happy to report the water quality and level on both Lake Iamonia and Miccosukee is awesome. Also, the pre-new moon bass bite has been on fire. Even with stiff midweek winds, those anglers getting out at sunrise were able to fine good success working Zoom Speedvibes and Horny Toads on the fringes of the pads in 4 to 7 feet of water up and down the lake. Lots of 14 to 16 inchers, as well bass over 20 inches were caught this past week in the early hours. With light winds in the forecast along with a mid-to-late morning major feed, expectations are that good fish should be actively foraging. Get on either lake early to be heat while snookering a good bass or two.
"Cyndi Lanier from KCsportfishing and Tammie Mathews of Port St. Joe hold up a couple beauties caught while fishing with Captain Jordon Todd of Saltwater Obsession Charters in St. Joe Bay. (KC Sportfishing photo)."
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Happy Fishing! Check out this weekend's Big Bend fishing report
