Trout fishing is red hot in the bay right now in both shallow and deep waters. Anglers using lures and live shrimp are finding big trout, including some pushing the 30-inch mark, along the shoreline and in water as deep as eight feet. A 5-pound, 10-ounce trout was the largest recorded this past week. It was fooled by a jig. An angler fishing from shore at Wakulla Beach managed to land a 40-pound cobia after it ate a chunk of cut mullet.
Ochlockonee Bay
Anglers are finding sea trout and redfish around the oyster bars near the mouth of the river. Electric chicken and Sur-Ketch jigs have been effective, along with live shrimp. A few Spanish mackerel are being taken as well. Charter boats have been catching their limits of grouper offshore. Frozen chub mackerel and live pinfish soaked on the bottom have been most productive. Catch limits of amberjack are also routine.
Lanark Village/Carrabelle
Inshore fishing has been very good along this section of the coast. Trout are being caught on live shrimp, jigs and top-water lures such as Chug Bugs, MirrOLures and Spittin' Image plugs in front of Lanark Reef and along grassy shorelines. Gold spoons or live shrimp, fished near docks in the early morning, are also producing nice catches of redfish. Farther offshore, at 75 feet, is the magic zone for grouper, with several parties coming back with limits of gags and reds. Frozen baits are catching some, but live pinfish are seldom refused. Pinfish are also excellent offerings for kingfish.
Apalachicola Bay
Boaters have to run to deep water to locate keeper fish offshore, but the inshore action is rebounding thanks to the changing moon phases. Electric chicken plastic lures and top-water or suspended plugs have been the best artificials for trout on the grass flats. Small redfish are congregating in the head of the bay, but bigger reds have been cruising the backside of Little St. George Island. The surf has been the most productive zone for whiting, trout and flounder.
St. Joe Bay
Live bait is producing good numbers of trout in St. Joe Bay. Menhaden is the first choice, followed by pinfish and shrimp. Anglers having the best luck are working the drop-offs near the edge of the flats or along channels. Soak the baits on the bottom using a slip sinker and a short section of monofilament leader. Schools of redfish are hit-and-miss along the peninsula near Pompano Point. Some big Spanish mackerel have been landed this week, along with hefty bluefish. Sharks are also around in fair numbers, and flyrodders will have a blast working roving schools of ladyfish.
