A unique website dedicated to fishing information from Florida's Northern Big Bend. This includes the area from the Econfina River west to the Apalachicola River
Use this area to post inshore fishing reports from the area. Please try to include relevant information such as:
Location, date, time, water conditions, weather conditions, baits, techniques, species caught, etc.
Put in about 7:45 with my fish'n buddy Carl Vinson. We headed out into the fog and had no trouble getting out of the river. Stopped about a mile past the tripod and traveled a few hundred yards East and started a drift back to the West fishing for pin's for a while. After catching half dozen to start off with we headed out between the first two platforms and drifted back to the West across some spots I had marked. We were fishing live shrimp under CT's and on jigs off the bottom and drag'n a live pin off the back. Picked up two or three trout a few sail cats and one very fisty spinner shark about 4 or 4 1/2 ft on a pin fish. The trout seem to prefer the live shrimp under a pop'n cork trailed off the back at least while the breeze was with us. About 12 o'clock the wind laid (typical) and it got real warm. About 1:30-2pm it picked back up and started shifting around more towards the South and West. After the wind picked back up the bite did as well. We had to pattern our drift a bit different but eventually both picked up our limit of 16 to 18 inchers. We only had two shorts all day. One large lady fish, one lizard fish, one spinner, a bunch of sail cats, 2 or 3 hard heads. The trout seemed to prefer either a live whole shrimp or a combination of jig head, fishbite, chunk shrimp, short grub tail. all in combination. In other words... I took the jig, slid a small piece of fishbite against the head, then slid a 1/2 inch chunk of shrimp on the hook followed by a tail from a Space Guppy grub to finish the buffet. It seemed like the shrimp was the key. We could eliminate most any one item and still get struck as long as there was shrimp involved. We saw lots of action on top. Lots of glass minnows and some being chased by trout. Actually had some around the boat and sight cast CT's to them and caught trout. Tried mirror lure with no success. Off the water around 3:30-4pm. Tin Can will be shocked that I've made two trips out and back with no pieces lost (other than 2 CT's that are swiming around out there attached to something big! )
And Chalk forgets the ice..... But I forgot and left MY LUNCH in the fridge at home! .... That's when you find out just how good your fish'n partner is. Carl had two turkey sandwich's with him and came to my rescue. Good day all things considered and one of the best weather days on a weekend in a long time.
"Good Judgement" comes from experience, ... and a lot of that..... results from "Bad Judgement".
Sir Reel,
This is one of the better reports that I've heard on Econfina in a while. Congrats on a good day. How was the water clarity? I know that it has been really stained lately.
Thanks,
Hooked
I can't really say that I saw much change in the clarity from what it was 3 weeks ago. There seems to be a definate point between the tripod and the platforms where it starts to improve and that has seemed to be the case for quite some time. Its very stained up to 1/3 or 1/2 the distance to the platforms. Even around the platforms the visibility is better but you can still see a ton of suspended particles in the water even though the color is not as stained as it is in closer. I know we are all looking for improvement and it may be my imagination but outside the platform line it may have improved but I really don't think it has improved closer in. (Just my opinion).
"Good Judgement" comes from experience, ... and a lot of that..... results from "Bad Judgement".
How needs ice..were not going to have to stay that long 10 trout ten minutes right ...Nice report..I might have to slide down this week or I might get sick
I didn't fare that well, Saturday. Carl and I had 3 keepers, and my trolling motor quit. Nothing lasts any more. I think a decent trolling motor should last more than 15 years.
Nice job, Sir Reel.
Glad to hear o'L Icky is finally producing some good fish again. I guess we will head over that way next trip down. Did you get any trout on jigs?
CT rigs have been better for us, too. Mostly with live pins.
) 
.... That's when you find out just how good your fish'n partner is. Carl had two turkey sandwich's with him and came to my rescue. Good day all things considered and one of the best weather days on a weekend in a long time. 
10 trout ten minutes right 
...Nice report..I might have to slide down this week or I might get sick 
