Carrabelle inshore advice?

[Tallybraska]

Hi everyone, just registered today. I'm originally from Nebraska but moved to Tallahassee about ten years ago, hence, "Tallybraska". After fishing with buddies for several years, in 2007 I decided I wanted more trouble and expense in my life and to accomplish that I would need to buy my own boat. When I got my own ride, I fished out of St. Marks for three years and I had finally gotten to the point where I felt like I had a decent working knowledge of the area that would give me at least a chance of catching something I wanted to catch. (though there were plenty of trips where I was reminded that the majority of that is still up to the fish).

If we wanted to fish offshore, my buddy and I would pull our boats down to Carrabelle and after doing that a few years, I decided that I wanted to move my boat to Carrabelle to stay permanently. I have kept it in the trailer lot at the Moorings since September last year. While offshore is still fun on the right day, I really prefer inshore fishing, the problem is, since moving my boat to Carrabelle, I have had no luck finding any spots where I can catch redfish, or anything really. A random trout will find me in the bay and last summer it was not that difficult to find pods feeding Spanish. I have drifted along the bayside of Dog Island on the sand/grass flats with no red luck. I did see a great looking red cruising around the curve of umbrella cove near the East end of Dog Island, but he didn’t want my live shrimp. I've seen literally hundreds of "V"s cutting through the water on the shore side of Lanark Reef, (they look like they might be reds, but not a single one has ever taken anything I have offered, does anyone know if they are reds, or just something else messing with me?) I did catch one juvenile red on frozen shrimp while sitting in a chair on the dock of Pirate's Landing marina with a line in the water drinking a beer, but, despite trying a lot of “spots that look promising” I don’t have much anything to show for it.

I have tried lots of lures and bait, I cast net live bait and get live shrimp, gulps, Aqua Dream Spoons, most everything, but haven’t had luck. I'm hoping some helpful folks on the board will be willing to offer me some advice that will put me on the right track to start posting a fishing report or two this summer.

I should add, I have a 22 ft Hurricane Center Console (one of the two center console versions Hurricane makes). It’s a little large for a skinny water boat, but it’s a crossover Deep V/deckboat so it’s really wide (9ft) and only drafts 10 inches and I am able to pushed her into some shallower water than some boats my size usually go.

Let me finish by saying thanks very much for any advice, tips, or help, it is all very much appreciated. While I know it takes years to learn a new area, you don’t get of the advice you are afraid to ask for. And please let me know if anyone wants to hear about what it’s like when you football team leaves the Texas Conference (Big 12) and moves to cold stadiums of the Big 10.

[Salty Gator]

Welcome aboard, sounds like your in the right spots. Dog island can be very productive. The wakes you saw in lanark were most likely reds or big mullet( which may have reds or troutwith them). You seem to be using a good variety of lures. Don't forget about topwater plugs. Watch the tides and try to fish when there is good moving water. Anywhere out there can be productive, look for potholes in the grass. Dog island, st George, lanark and turkey point are all great spots. Good luck

[Gulf Coast]

Welcome to the site-didn't know they had a football team out there !!

[SHOWBOAT]

And please let me know if anyone wants to hear about what it’s like when you football team leaves the Texas Conference (Big 12) and moves to cold stadiums of the Big 10.

Welcome aboard, and I imagine you'll find Big10 linebackers much more harsh than the cold stadiums. GO BUCKS!

[Jumptrout51]

Come get involved in the nfgfc tournaments and meetings to find out places to fish.
Next tournament is St.Joe Bay.
It is full of trout and reds.

[tallykenj]

Welcome. I don't have any tips other than keep trying. I'm somewhat new to fishing and I read a lot of forum posts. There are some great people on the forum who submit some great (and often funny) posts. The club meetings and tournaments are wonderful.

[redfishfun23]

Welcome ! I will give you one of my spots and you can take it for what it is worth since it is free. Just down past carrabelle beach (west of the river) there is a stretch of rip rap that ends at a house that looks like a barrel. Fish that area start at 6-7 feet and work you way in. I pulled 27 shorts 12-14 inches last weekend with a cajun thunder and gulp shrimp. Also further down at Yent bayou is a good spot, but it can get shallow quick. Hope it helps!

[Redbelly]

Move around the structure and spotty bottom till you find fish.

[Jumptrout51]

Welcome ! I will give you one of my spots and you can take it for what it is worth since it is free. Just down past carrabelle beach (west of the river) there is a stretch of rip rap that ends at a house that looks like a barrel. Fish that area start at 6-7 feet and work you way in. I pulled 27 shorts 12-14 inches last weekend with a cajun thunder and gulp shrimp. Also further down at Yent bayou is a good spot, but it can get shallow quick. Hope it helps!

Those are "Tourist Spots". everybody knows those and goes there.
Including Casey Cook.

[redfishfun23]

Well I guess that makes me a tourist!! Where are the "non tourist" spots?

[Tallybraska]

I'm happy to learn about even the tourist spots, I'll give everywhere I hear about a shot so feel free to keep sending the spots that everybody (except me apparently) knows about and thanks all for the advice so far.

Also, I'll look into joining NFGFC, even if it mostly for the meetings for now as I'm probably going to keep my efforts focused just on Carrabelle for a while.

But please, don't let me interrupt this interesting discussion about non-tourist spots.

[redfishfun23]

Glad to help Tallybraska. We are all "tourist" at some point in our learning curve! So I hope to see you around and we can give the secret " tourist" wave as we pass on the water!! Tight lines to ya!

[fishinfool]

Lanark Reef is a good area. Shore side can produce some nice reds. The inside of Big Bird Island and Little bird Island where the bottom is very uneven works for me. A gold redfin by Cotton Cordell works pretty good this time of year. Topwaters such as a Super Spook or Skitterwalk also is a good bet. Keep trying you will strike gold soon enough.
Keep an eye out for an old codger named JT51. He will claim you are fishing his holes and try to charge you rent.
FF