Advice needed / fishing Alligator Point area end of October

minitauk85 · Post by **minitauk85** » September 29th, 2007, 6:25 pm

I am new to this forum, but not new to the Alligator Point area. I lived in AP to Carrabelle area for many years so I am familiar with the waters. I will be vacationing for a week, and am looking for advice on places to fish with my 15 foot Boston Whaler. I plan on mixing it up by trolling, and drifting live bait. I would love to try my luck at a Tarpon if possible. Are there any spots that might hold some legal grouper close to shore? How about some of the bigger gamefish? The size of my boat (and age of motor) limits me to smooth water and clear weather! Not big on taking risks in the gulf! Any structures reasonably close to shore? Oar reefs? I plan on launching at either Mashes Sands or AP near the public beach. Will probably take a morning or two and launch out of the Lanark village ramp also. Any advice/tips are greatly appreciated-haven't fished from a boat in the area for over 10 years and I miss it! -k

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » October 1st, 2007, 7:33 am

Hey There, Tarpon will be long gone. This thread addresses your A-Point Question:
http://www.bigbendfishing.net/phpbb/vie ... hp?t=15640

Team Bad Company · Post by **Team Bad Company** » October 1st, 2007, 11:38 am

Because of the different time of year and boat I don't think that the other thread will do you much good. There are some spots close to shore that hold grouper but your not gonna have much luck getting the #s. If you can get a good forcast your best bet would be to run about a mile S of WR1 and troll stretch 30s SW. Mark all of your bites and troll back over them. That time of the year the weather typically does not changed quickly so as long as its calm your good to go.

minitauk85 · Post by **minitauk85** » October 1st, 2007, 6:22 pm

I appreciate the responses guys! Team Bad Company- I wasn't looking for numbers, in fact the GPS I'll be taking is a little hand held Garmin unit that I'm just starting to figure out! I was just looking for some general ideas of what might be biting, and how to catch it! Pardon my ignorance but what does "WR1 and troll stretch 30s SW" mean? I am familiar with some of the inshore landmarks from Pelican Reef to Alligator Point. Any suggestions about trolling and drifting in general areas would be greatly appreciated, just dumb it down a bit for this rookie!
Littoral- I lived on AP across from the old KOA in a house that is no longer there, just before the seawall. I lived there in the fall and remember seeing tarpon schooling and flashing (rolling) in the early morning in Sept/October. I guess it must have been September if you say they are gone by now. Caught some nice reds from the shore there in the fall, some big bulls! Thanks again for the info- and keep the suggestions coming! Never fished the Bald Point area from a boat, how tough is it to navigate around the oyster bars? or is that a waste of time?

leonreno · Post by **leonreno** » October 1st, 2007, 8:01 pm

WR1 is probably a reference to a reef or wreck, probably on all public maps. Stretch 30s SW are Mann's Stretch 30 saltwater trolling lures. Link to Mann's Stretch 30s. Available locally everywhere.

Team Bad Company · Post by **Team Bad Company** » October 1st, 2007, 11:32 pm

A green can about 2 miles or so S of the Dog Island Reef in about 30'.

minitauk85 · Post by **minitauk85** » October 2nd, 2007, 4:16 pm

Now that's what I call dumbing it down! Thanks! I do much better with visuals! I located the buoy on a chart. What is it marking? Or are you using this as just a general reference point? Thanks again!

Team Bad Company · Post by **Team Bad Company** » October 3rd, 2007, 1:59 pm

It is just a navigational beacon for large vessels. However I have caught legal grouper off of it and the structure on the NE side of it. I was more using it as a reference point though.

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » October 3rd, 2007, 4:08 pm

minitauk85 wrote:Littoral- I lived on AP across from the old KOA in a house that is no longer there, just before the seawall. I lived there in the fall and remember seeing tarpon schooling and flashing (rolling) in the early morning in Sept/October.

I guess Oct is possible but I can't imagine targeting them.
But...

minitauk85 wrote:Caught some nice reds from the shore there in the fall, some big bulls!

I'd near count on that -especially at dusk.

minitauk85 wrote:Never fished the Bald Point area from a boat, how tough is it to navigate around the oyster bars? or is that a waste of time?

Difficult to fish in a boat.
I could also say there ain't no fish there but I might be lieing a fair bit if I did.