Happy Holiday Fishing! Check out this weekend's Big Bend fishing report
It’s here! Scallop season opens in our area Friday, July 1st.
These tasty treats can be found up and down our coastal region. To the East, scallop season is two weeks in. Our area which includes NW Taylor, Wakulla and Franklin counties opens July 1st. Gulf county just to our West opens August 16th. Most seasonal scalloping runs through September 24th.
Scallops are fairly easy to find and loads of fun for family and friends. Watching little flippers, snorkels and masks porpoise up and down while searching is enough for guys like me. As the Captain, I’m content to sit back and watch.
Chasing scallops is best done with a few basic tools. First you’re gonna need a boat. Once you’re on the water a mask and a mesh bag is all you’ll need. Bag limits and laws change so be sure to check MyFWC.com for details.
A dive flag is also required ANYTIME your anchored and someone spends time diving or snorkeling. Know your limits on how far you can stray from the boat. Always have a spotter. I do not recommend going alone.
Easiest way to clean them I’m told is with a small shop vacuum. Also, be sure to keep them iced down once aboard the boat. They’ll die and rot quickly in 100 degree heat.
4th of July. Hard to believe we’re that far into the season already. Seems like yesterday we were talking about cooler gulf temperatures in April. Not the case anymore. Recent triple digit days have warmed gulf and area lake temperatures into the 90’s in some cases. Offshore temperature was hovering in the mid 80’s over the weekend. Storms may bring that down, but another spell of heat is forecast.
Boat ramps and waterways will surely be busy this weekend. It’s of the utmost importance to exercise patience and safety. Not just for your sake but the well being of others.
On the fourth, fireworks shows are being planned from St Marks at the Fish Camp, to the Oklockoknee Bay. I’m told if you position your boat just right, you can see them all.
Whatever you decide to do this holiday weekend, be sure to have fun, be safe and enjoy your time with family and friends. We’ll see ya’ next week.
APALACHEE BAY
Otto Hough (myhometownfishing.com) says, ”For those anxious to chase the bivalves, Friday, July 1, marks the opening of scallop season in the Big Bend. Though not overly thick in numbers yet, with the awesome water clarity in Apalachee Bay, securing a boat limit shouldn't take too much extra dive time. Remember to have the dive flag flying high.
"As for chasing our finned friends, every species normally sought this time of year provided lots of opportunities this past weekend on into the week. The past new moon bite was a strong one in spite of water temps all across the Big Bend hovering at 90 plus degrees for a few days, with triple digit heat indices also in the mix. Fortunately, it appears the Fourth of July should have cooler air temps, albeit still in the 90s, but lessened heat indices with light southeast breezes coupled with seas running 1 to 2 feet that should make for an enjoyable holiday fishing weekend. Hydration! Stay hydrated on the Big Pond. Post new moon tidal flows will be great, with early morning high tides happening about an hour before safelight.
"If waters off the creek mouths can be located with little to no floating grasses present, topwater plugging could be awesome. With the high water temps and increased boat traffic, the grass beds are "shedding", creating inordinate amounts of floating grass. Should the floating grasses be present, shift gears to get a five inch jerk shad rigged on a weighted 1/16th ounce wide gap worm hook down in the water column below the surface grass. To achieve this with success, my two favorite jerk shads are the Saltwater Assassin glow/ chartreuse and Z-man glow. Both trout and reds like these offerings.
"Outside, the run for gags will now be nine miles or more to reach Federal waters as the Four County Big Bend Zone for gags in State waters closed June 30, reopening September 1. So, July and August, it's Federal waters only for gags. Both the gags and red snapper have been loving live bait offerings dropped over live bottom in 50 to 90 foot depths. However, in the absence of live bait, squid and frozen LYs will also attract takers.
"It's a combo weekend ahead. A major holiday weekend along with opening weekend of scallop season, so expect to encounter an inordinate number of ramp crazies if getting to the landings after midmorning. Ramp etiquette will be paramount as well as boating safety given all the holiday boating traffic. As is and always will be my admonishment to all, wear those auto-inflatable PFDs. Happy to report that I had five separate folks inquire this week about recommendations for a comfortable, yet affordable auto-inflatable PFD. Safety on the water is always advisable. Enjoy all that the waters of the Big Bend have to offer this Fourth of July weekend! Boat safely, just FISH!!"
ST GEORGE ISLAND
Captain Russ Knapp (850-653-5072) reports, “Well for once I can say the weather for the weekend looks good with seas forecast at 1 to 2 feet and wind from the South at 10 knots with the only kicker a 40 to 50 percent chance of rain. Keep a sharp eye out for nasty fast-moving squalls as they can come out of nowhere and as always recheck the forecast before you head out. Tides this week at the Cut feature a noon time low both Saturday and Sunday with a modest height change of only .4 of a foot both out going and in coming.
In the bay, Capt. Dan Fortunas (850-980-0101) has been catching fish in a variety of spots with Black Drum being found around the causeway, Speckled Trout on the flats, Redfish and Sharks around the Cut and Ladyfish where you see diving birds. The Black Drum have a slot of 14 to 24 inches with one fish over 24 allowed and a five fish bag limit, surprisingly Black Drum can live to be 60 years old so they can get rather large. Fish for them with live or fresh shrimp on the bottom and if you do catch a big Drum PLEASE carefully release it so it can reproduce, large Drum aren't at the top of food list and often a contain Spaghetti Worms so PLEASE don't kill it only to throw it away later. An interesting note about Spaghetti Worms is Drum only are an intermediate host for them as they are a parasitic tapeworm found in Sharks, it's a long strange story for you to look up.
"Capt. Dan is finding the Speckled Trout on the flats early and late in 4 feet of water and catching them by hanging a Gulp or Doa bait 18 inches under a Cajun Thunder popping cork. Ladyfish are a ton of fun to catch and make great bait for the Redfish and Sharks that you can find around the Cut, so look for diving birds and throw a silver spoon or bit of Shrimp in the mess for a quick hookup.
"Offshore, both Capt. Clint Taylor (850-370-6631) who fishes in Federal waters and Capt. Jeremy Willoughby (850-323-0769) who fishes state waters report a surprisingly slow first of the week. The fish are out there but for a reason known only to them they just haven't been very hungry however today (Wednesday), Capt. Clint says fishing did pick up a fair amount so things are looking up for the weekend. If you can't get live bait for your Red Snapper fishing, Capt. Clint suggests both Squid and Spanish Sardines will put fish in your box and he reminds you don't forget to put out a flat line for a possible big surprise of the good kind.
"Tip of the week -- it's 4th of July weekend which is most likely the busiest weekend of the year and there will be many unsafe boaters on the water sorry, but it's fact. So even though it's a repeat of last week tip pretending you are invisible to other boaters may prevent a damaged boat or worse. PLEASE be extra careful this weekend and remember you must stay well hydrated for a safe day."
MEXICO BEACH
Capt. Kevin Lanier of KC Sportfishing Mexico Beach, Fl (850-933-8804) reports, "We are in the last week of June and Red Snapper fishing is in full swing. The bite has been very good most days with a few slow ones mixed in. The best fishing has been outside of 30 miles offshore in the natural hard bottom areas. Most quality Depth Sounder will show you hard bottom if you know what to look for. Especially those who are running the 1kw transducers.
"If you watch your screen as you run out, you will notice a color change from a yellow to a deep red. The deeper the red color the denser the bottom. Once you arrive on your spot and drop your gear, you should feel a thud that will indicate a rocky bottom. Investing in good gear makes a big difference. It does not have to be the most expensive but, it should be quality gear.
"Snapper are biting everything you drop. Groupers are mainly hitting live bait. King Mackerel have showed up in force. Most of our Kings have come on our flat lines 50 to 100 feet away from the boat. Mahi Mahi are here as well. The panhandle is not known for big Mahi but, there are plenty of fish sandwich sized ones out there. When you see Mahi around the boat throw out some chum to hold them and toss bait or spoons to catch them
"This week looks like good conditions offshore so grab the opportunity to get out there. Be safe and Good Fishing."
LAKE SEMINOLE
Capt. Paul Tyre reports, “The Bass fishing on Lake Seminole has been GREAT through June despite the heat wave the area has been under this month! July is a great month to Bass fish on Lake Seminole. The Topwater action through will continue through July especially early and on cloudy days.
"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 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
The post new moon bite on Lake Iamonia has been on fire. Surprisingly, the bite has been best on the fringes of the pads during the midday major solunar feed periods with the bass lurking in the shade provided by the pads. The Zoom Speedvibes and Horny Toads were weaving magic when worked over the edges of the pads in water depths of 5 to 7 feet. Plus, there were some fine bream being caught during the new moon bedding stretch by veteran Iamonia anglers who target the bream.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Scallop season opens Friday, July 1, in the Big Bend
