Happy Fishing! Check out this week's Big Bend fishing report
APALACHEE BAY
Otto Hough (myhometownfishing.com) says, ”Hot. Little more needs be said than air temps in the mid-to-upper 90s coupled with mid-to-upper 80s for the waters of the Big Bend definitely signal full blown summertime fishing conditions. The elevated water temps have created an aggravation with the unseasonably early broken off sea grasses floating with the tides. Given the bathtub water temps, look for rock grass beds, as these areas near river and creek mouths will provide shade and ambush areas for the trout.
"With the combination of heat and hot water, there's really not much happening when it comes to radiational cooling overnight. Summertime fishing conditions have begun to push the fish into deeper, cooler waters by midmorning. However, the skinny waters, when fished just after safelight are giving up good trout and reds on topwater plugs when grass free areas are located. If not into topwater plug casting, think in terms of getting down in the water column with softbaits like the Z-man or Saltwater Assassin five inch jerk shad worked slowly in the deeper oyster bar and creek mouth cuts or over the spotty bottom deeper water in five to seven feet range. It doesn't seem like much, but those bigger trout will hang out in the cuts that are just a few feet deeper than the surrounding waters. That slight variation in depth along the tidal flows will cool the water a few degrees, much to the liking of the trout. These jerk shad also work nicely when rigged on an Equalizer or a Cajun Thunder utilizing about 24" leader. When fishing this style, pop it hard, let the ripples subside, then pop it hard again! It is never too loud. Don't be tentative, pop it hard! Those trout lying in ambush mode are drawn to the vibrations created from the pop. Also, if drift fishing, the bigger trout love to feast upon a lively pinfish floating freely under a popping cork. The reds, especially around the edges of the many coastal oyster bars located in the skinny waters, will slam a lively shrimp under a popping cork. Not my preference, but both these offerings will generate action for those anglers utilizing that set-up. Personally, I can be found, 99 times out of a 100, tossing my favorite five or seven inch jerk shad rigged on a 4/0 wide gap worm hook with no cork assistance.
"The challenge this weekend will be stiff westerly winds for the next few days along all the coastline if the midweek NWS Marine Forecast holds true. If drift fishing Friday, make certain to have drift sock on board as the drift lines will be quick without one or two drift socks. Saturday, check the NWS Marine Forecast before shoving as the west winds are predicted to be stout with a pretty hefty chop across Apalachee Bay.
"Now, continuing to sound like the never ending stuck record, I shall again admonish all to wear an auto-inflatable PFD. Again, make sure to eyeball the latest NDBC (National Data Buoy Center)readings for wind velocities before shoving off as elevated wind levels can churn up Apalachee Bay. Boat safely. Just FISH!!"
ST GEORGE ISLAND
Captain Russ Knapp (850-653-5072) reports, “In the category of " you can never say you have seen everything" a cold front is going to approach our area Friday into Saturday and most likely stall out. The net results of this strange event is a forecast for a rough weekend on the water with seas 3 to 5 feet up to 6 feet on Saturday followed by seas 2 to 4 feet on Sunday. The forecast also has winds 20 knots from the West Saturday followed by more West winds 15 to 20 knots on Sunday with the bay being choppy (read that as rough) and a good chance of rain both days. This is written on Wednesday afternoon and as we know things change quickly but this is definitely a "double check the weather weekend " before you head out.
On a brighter note, fishing in the bay has been good this week with Capt. Dan Fortunas (850 980 0101) reporting nice Speckled Trout on the flats behind Little St George and good-sized Mangrove Snapper around any structure in the Cut. Capt. Dan suggests fishing a yellow/beige grub 18" under a popping cork in 3 to 4 feet of water for the Trout and fresh shrimp on a #1 bait holder hook on the bottom for the Snappers. Capt. Jack Frye (850 247 8134) reminds you to check the buoys for Tripletail as you pass by them as his parties have been putting good numbers in the boat all week. Fish a live or fresh shrimp either under a Cajun Thunder rig or free sinking near the buoy and hopefully you will put a great dinner in your box.
Offshore, Capt. Clint Taylor (850 370 6631) is finding the blue water in as close as 30 miles and with-it good numbers of Pelagic fish resulting in two Wahoo strikes this week just a bit further offshore. Capt. Clint says the Red Grouper bite on live bottom has been strong but unfortunately there are a lot of fish just a tad too short which fortunately hasn't been the case with Gag Grouper which also are hungry and bigger to boot. Based on the size and number of Red Snapper being caught by the Captains that have Federal Reef Permits and an open season, when recreational Red Snapper season opens its going to be a great year so hang on your turn is coming soon.
Tip of the week -- STAY HYDRAYED --- STAY HYDRATED---STAY HYDRATED -- while the air temperature hasn't been over the top the humidity has been sky high and will put you on the deck if you're not careful. We say this every year but alcohol and caffeine are not your friend when you are on the water so save them for another time and drink Gatorade type products and water to stay hydrated and stay safe.
KEATON BEACH
Trout fishing was great last weekend as we whacked 20 keepers Friday with 3 reds for my crew of 5 (rare exception), and we threw back 6 over 20 inches long including a 24.25” beauty.
Saturday, this same crew, “Jackson Five” (I call them) had 15 slot trout and one 24.75 inch fish but the real story was the 9 over 19 of which 8 were over 20 and 5 over 23” with two of those over 24”
The water temps were running 88.5 degrees by the end of the day and we caught most of the fish a mile or two off the hill. 4.5 – 5.5 feet deep water produced most of these fish and all were caught on live pinfish Saturday while three came in on shrimp on Friday.
Capt. Dave Malone had his limit of 20 trout for 4 anglers (also Jacksons) also from Opp, Alabama Friday. Dave also produced a limit of four reds for his party. They were fishing with live pinfish and shrimp.
The Hardegree clan was down from North Georgia and brought back limits of trout on Saturday and Sunday for two boats. They fished with a mixed bag of shrimp, pinfish, shiner tails, hard jerkbaits and even got a few on topwater walking baits early. 3 to 5 feet was the ticket for their weekend according to Jim.
The summer trends have set in and I expect little to change for a month or two. Live bait is the most reliable due to the floating grass and the HOT 88 plus degree water. We saw very little bait or any surface activity for that matter for the two days.
I fished Wednesday, by myself, and caught 5 trout to 19” on live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders in 3.5 – 4.0 feet of water on the falling tide. It took about one and a half hours once I found them.
ECONFINA
Captain Randy Peart (captpeart@yahoo.com) says, ” Fishing pretty good at St Marks/Aucilla area. Good Trout fishing in 5 to 8 ft of water. Try a 3 in Gulp Shrimp on a 1/8 or 1/4 Oz jighead. Some nice Reds along the shoreline, try a 1/2 Oz gold or copper Spoon on the higher tide phases. Or fish the creek mouths with a live shrimp or cut bait. Some Cobia around, try a live pinfish around any structure."
MEXICO BEACH
Capt. Kevin Lanier of KC Sportfishing Mexico Beach, Fl (850-933-8804) reports”, Wow, all I can say is wow. I knew leading up to June 1st that the Federal Charter Red Snapper season that the Snapper were biting every and once it opened it would be outstanding. I never dreamed it would be as good as it is. This past Sunday we put a 32.20-pound Red Snapper in the boat. Biggest one I have ever seen personally. We caught that fish in 98 feet of water on a live Grunt. In 6 days of fishing, we have put 12 Red Snapper in the boat that weighed over 18 pounds. Fishing has just been incredible.
The Grouper bite has been insane as well. I think we have landed more Gags since June 1 than we did the entire summer last year. Make sure your gear is ready Recreational season opens on June 18th and all indications are it should be awesome Fishing is hot all around the area, looks like we have some weather coming this weekend, so everyone be safe.
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 a EXCITING morning with the West family from Thomasville Georgia 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,”The bass bite on Lake Iamonia is still good, but the summertime heat pretty much has the bass hanging under the pads in water five to seven feet of depth. For the greatest success, fish as close to sunrise as possible before that sun gets too high in the sky. Those Z-man FrogZs are drawing attention of some fine Iamonia bass in the five to six pound range when worked over the fringe pads. Plus, the Zoom Speedvibes are still weaving magic. Inching closer to the coming full moon, the bite for both bass and bream ought to pick up a bit, but the predicted west winds may present challenges when trying to fish the pads this weekend.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Happy Fishing! Check out this week's Big Bend fishing report
