Happy Fishing! See where the fish are biting in Big Bend waters on Easter weekend
They say April showers bring May flowers. What about April showers making fish bite!
Recent bite across the St Marks area regarding redfish and trout has been less than stellar. Last few trips have revealed squat. Rocks are holding some nice red’s and trout but they are focused on mullet. Even my most cherished mullet knock-off doesn’t warrant a sniff.
Going to try my luck in the Hatch this weekend. Stienhatchee that is. Redfish, trout, even snook cruise the grassy waters 60 miles East.
Rain gear is a must if you’re a die hard. For me I have no loyalty. If it keeps me dry and comfortable I’m in. Gortex is key. Followed by a lightweight Frog tog jacket.
Back in the trophy bass chasing days, a full face motorcycle helmet was a must. Running across area lakes and rivers @ 70mph was both fun and dangerous. Wearing a helmet enabled me to focus on the road vs bugs or rain drops in the eye. Of course I wouldn’t suggest anyone do this without proper training, time on the water and a good life jacket.
Nowadays life is slower. So is the boat. Bigger, yet slower. 55 still seems fast. Wind, waves, weather in general is a bigger challenge on the Big Pond.
Lake Talquin features the yearly TBA Bass Fishing Tournament. As many as 100 boats will make their way up and down the lake looking for that winning stringer. Weigh in runs for a couple hours. Bring the kids and a folding chair to cheer on the competitors at Ingram’s Marina.
NFGFC or North Florida Fishing Club has their monthly tournament out of Stienhatchee this Saturday. Local club members travel to what some consider an in-shore mecca for trout and redfish anglers. Men, women and children are all welcome to participate. For more information find them on Facebook.
Until next week, be safe, have fun and ALWAYS wear your life jacket.
APALACHEE BAY
Otto Hough (Facebook @myhometownfishing) says,” Well, anglers got about a half a weekend of decent fishing conditions last weekend. The one good day, the bite was sporadic along the coast for trout and reds. Offshore, the sheepshead bite was on and has continued to be through these past few days for anglers targeting that species.
Fortunately, if the NWS Marine Forecast holds true for the coming Easter weekend, there should be some fine fishing conditions over these next few days. Full moon tidal flows will be swinging a decent amount of water between the mid-morning lows into mid-afternoon highs, almost three feet. Major solunar feed periods over these next three days will pretty much track the last three hours of the rise.
As for the trout and reds, it had been a bit of a crapshoot as to where the hot spot is going to be on any given day. It seems the trout east of the Lighthouse on towards Aucilla are beginning to feed more aggressively than those to the west, back towards Shell Point and Oyster Bay. However, when artificials haven't produced, anglers east and west are having decent luck with live shrimp and pinfish offered up under an Equalizer or Cajun Thunder. Those anglers targeting sheepshead over the shallow water rock piles and reefs are finding quality fish. Don't really want to steal the scoop from the SGI guides, but the pomps and reds have been tearing it up in the surf on the east end of SGI.
Over the coming three days, only Saturday appears to be a little iffy weather wise with some scattered showers potentially in the afternoon mix, though not too likely. With fine full moon tidal flows along with skinny water temps hovering near the 70 degree mark, all species, inside and outside ought to offer up tugs on the line.
As always, boating safety is paramount, especially on a holiday weekend. Remember to have all on board wear an auto-inflatable PFD or, at the very least, know where the regular PFDs are located. Boat safely, have fun, just FISH!
INLAND
Iamonia continues to produce quality bass and bream. Those big bream are bedding on this moon. Get a bunch of bonnet worms and go catch up a fine mess of bohunker Iamonia bream. As for the bass, they are slamming large worms and frogs working across the pads in water 5 to 6 in depth.
ST GEORGE ISLAND
Captain Russ Knapp (850-653-5072) reports, “At the risk of sounding like a broken record -- this week’s cold front is due late Friday night, but except for a 50 % chance of rain all weekend it won't do much.
Saturday's forecast (guess) is for winds SE 5 to 10 knots with seas running 2 feet followed but NE winds at 10 knots on Sunday with 1 foot seas.
Tide predictions for the Cut this weekend have early morning high tides of 1.7 feet, followed by a mid-morning 1.3 low and finishing with a 2.1 high tide around 4 PM.
In the bay, Capt Jack Frye (850 247 8134) is pleased to announce that with the water temperature pushing 75 degrees the Pompano have made their return to our waters. You can fish for them off the beach or around area pass's with live sea fleas being their favorite food but Nylures, sand flea favored "fish bite" and fresh shrimp all worthy baits.
Capt. Dan Fortunas (850 980 0101) reports the Spanish bite remains strong so look for diving birds and have a rod set up with a silver spoon on a wire leader. Capt. Dan reminds you to retrieve the spoon at a high rate of speed for best results and beware of some very sharp teeth when you catch one.
On the interesting catch front, one of Capt. Dan's parties caught a baby Hammerhead Shark while fishing around a channel marker in the bay. It seems Hammerheads give live birth in shallow sheltered water and the young stay in close until they grow up a bit.
Offshore, the Red Grouper bite has been strong on live bottom in 100 feet of water or more when fishing large live bait.
For those of you that want to stay in closer fishing the bridge remains reef has produced nice catches of Lane Snapper with some quite large Key West Grunts mixed in. The word is, use a small hook with a bit of Squid on it for a good dinner but be ready to catch and release a lot of Red Snapper.
Tip of the week -- as of last year you are required to have a lease from you to the emergency kill on boats under 26'. I haven't heard of anyone getting a ticket yet but it’s always a good idea to be legal (and safe) and you can pick up what you need at any boat store sure as Wefings in Eastpoint.
KEATON BEACH
Captain Pat McGriff (onemorecast@gtcom.net) reports,”We had limits on trout both last Friday and Saturday. Most of these trout were caught on live bait; but we had four of ten keepers, Friday on Assassin 5” in the Watermelon Slice pattern. Man some really nice trout are being caught and biting like the six over 20” we threw back Saturday with three Brock Coogler of Rome, Ga. caught back to back on live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders. We also caught three reds throwing back the largest a 24” red which ate a live shrimp.
When the w-i-n-d blows we can catch some fish then when it doesn’t ...well not so much. Today, we went over three hours without a keeper, then in less than an hour put 7 in the boat coming in with 11 trout and a nice 16 “ flounder for the Stewarts of Waycross, Ga.
3.5 ft. seems to be the Magic depth for me with no fish in less than 3 and only one or two in 4.X etc. The moon tides this week have the fish scattered a bit but be ready when they do start as these flurries of late can make a bunch of fish in a hurry. Jonathon Sisson and his wife are down from Gainesville, Ga. way and they had a limit of trout , Saturday as well as a 26” red all on lipped jerkbaits and MirrOdines.
MEXICO BEACH
Captain Kevin Lanier of KC Sportfishing charters (850 933 8804) reports,” Get out and fish as the weather settles down. Fishing this week was Really good. We headed offshore from St. Andrews pass in Panama City and proceeded out 30 miles. The Gulf was a little lumpy to start the day off but finished out nicely with about a 2-foot chop. We used 2-hook dropper rigs with Squid and Cigar Minnows. Trigger fish were aggressive, and we ended up with a boat limit. We found some really nice Red Grouper as well. The Grouper came on a Cigar Minnow and one of the double hook rigs with squid. It was quite a surprise. We ended up the trip with a load of Bee Liners. Landon Halvorson of Panama City pictured caught a Nice Red Grouper.
Inshore fishing is a bit spotty with these big temperature swings but should become more consistent and we move further into spring.
Watch the weather and enjoy
BIG BEND KAYAK REPORT
Salt strong coach Matt Lanier (Matt@saltstrong.com) tells us, “Hopefully Mother Nature gives us some decent weather rather than the rain, as looks to be projected, but if the weather holds out, go get those fish!
If we do get some rainfall, the fish will often have a good feeding window before and after the rain, which can be a great time to get some tight lines. They will be hungry as they have been burning up calories in the warmer water, so you can start to cover ground faster with faster moving baits. Targeting points and flats in front of creeks will be a great place to start looking.
The trout, typical to their natural trend, will be in the deeper holes, on the ledges of the flats, or even the opening of the river and creek 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.
If the winds allow, 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 with a faster speed to your 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 target closer to the grass, when the water level allows. Working the grass lines at high tide is always a great producer of solid fish, especially first thing in the morning.
Productive lures 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.
One important thing is to keep moving if you aren’t finding feeding fish. With the warmer temperatures, the fish will be on the move and we need to be doing the same to find their preferred feeding zones. Try not to spend too much time in one area if you aren’t getting the bites you are looking for.
The Florida Redfish Series Stop 4 is this weekend in Crystal River, and we are hoping to set records again with both the kayak and boat divisions! There were some solid fish brought into the weigh in at Jacksonville, so I’m excited to see what happens here in Crystal River! The Captain’s Meeting is Friday evening at 7pm at Copp Brewery, Winery & Prohibition Grill in C.R. Come join us for some great fishing! Be sure to go to flredfishseries.com for more information on this next 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, 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
Capt. Paul Tyre says," The Bass fishing has been very good the first quarter of 2023!
The water temperature is in the low to mid 60’s to low 70’s. The Flint River arm of the lake is muddy due to recent heavy rains above us.
The Chatahooche River arm is stained while Spring Creek and Fish Pond Drain remain clear.
Despite the muddy water the Bass fishing has been excellent this week! The Shad have been and will continue to spawn along the grass lines on the main lake. A variety of lures are productive, like lipless crank baits, Spinnerbaits and even plastic worms, fished along the grass lines.
The Shellcracker and Bream are bedding and can be found around the sandbars in three to five feet of water.
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
Joe Hingson holds a fine shad spawn bass, caught while fishing with Capt Paul Tyre on Lake Seminole this past week. (lake Seminole fishing adventures photo)
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Here is this weekend's Big Bend fishing report.
