Big Bend Observations?

[Ty one on]

This post has me re-thinking the past. Here is some thoughts.

In 1995 and 1996 there was a lot of Ink Fish in our area. They so bad that sometimes you would foul hook them and it was near impossible not to get that purple die on you boat. (I have never seen them agian in this area.)

Also in 1996 we had a bad case of Red Tide. The first fish to die off were the hard head catfish, they seemed to be floating about every 25 feet. Then some sharks were showing up dead then came the game fish. It was a slow year for the Trout and Redfish that year. (It seems like it took the catfish a couple of years to recover.)

Then the case with the scallops. They were very thick in 1999 through 2001then disappeared untill last year. (Bottom always looked the same.)

Then the changing of the flow of the Spring Creek Springs last year and in 2006 when they appeared to stop flowing.

And don't forget that slim at Wakulla Beach just over a year ago.

What is really interesting about our big bend is the way some of the fish can move from location to location year after year and others return to the same spots every year. Also why some location have small fish year after year and others will hold big fish year after year even when the bottom looks the same.

Just some thoghts,

Too

[birddog]

Found these today.

[Jumptrout51]

A few months ago a Keaton Beach guide reported a Permit he caught in 2 feet of water near Spring Warrior.

[Littoral]

As of Feb 25, evidently the gators are not hanging around the salt marshes near Keaton.
(Birddogs dead Dolphin pic from his report)

[birddog]

They've probably died of old age as well.

[Mook!]

I've seen 2 dead porpoises in the last 4 weeks or so, second one in a lesser state of decay than the first so I know they weren't the same one (second one was at the lighthouse ramp attached to an FWC boat that appears to have pulled it in). I agree the trout were definitely not following the normal wintery patterns this year. I've seen some gator trout in the really skinny flats on my way in and out of creeks huntin reds, but just very few in general. Also seen lots of giant needle-nose gar over the last few weeks at least a few miles from 'fresh' water, which I don't recall seeing too often in the past. I still think the ~ 3 foot tarpon I landed momentarily at the fort fishing from shore is pretty unusual, but then they hung around that area for several months so I dunno.

[breeze]

About 3 weeks ago me and Welby almost hit a small manatee at the mouth of the Aucilla. I thought it odd to see one this time of year.

[Wadey]

Found these today.

Birddog.....What are these [mangroves?] and what is the relevance? please!

[birddog]

Wadey, I believe they are mangroves, the interesting thing is they are not typically found this far north.

[Littoral]

Nearshore, March 1st. Early for one this size?

[birddog]

Been seeing 'em like that on the grass flats at Keaton all February.

[bman]

Trout I cleaned from Sunday had some visible spaghetti worms.
I don't remember seeing them till late summer.

By the way I cut them out and we ate them

[striperguy17]

I have seen tarpon by the fort before. This winter and last winter I have seen a tarpon rolling by the marina south of shell island fish camp. Jon and I saw one a couple of weeks back actually hanging out by the real expensive fishing boats which never move. That water is fairly fresh but im sure theres some salt there too. Also I am no tarpon expert having only caught one little one in my life but aren't the waters around st. marks a little cold for them in the winter? The only thought that can come to my mind is the wakulla river temperature is regulated by a spring which does keep it a little warmer then the bay. I dont know but some interesting stuff.

Edit:

Also when we went offshore a couple of weeks back a big fish was following us around on one of the reefs beyond the channel markers. It was light brown and fairly elongated. Did not get a good enough look to really make a guess but it did not poke at a spoon.

[Reel Cowboy]

Trout I cleaned from Sunday had some visible spaghetti worms.
I don't remember seeing them till late summer.

By the way I cut them out and we ate them

Dem worms are a good source of protein and add a little crunch.

[Littoral]

Been seeing 'em like that on the grass flats at Keaton all February.

Is that true "most" years? I've not seen any to the west since Dec.