St Joe Bay

[Pirate]

Hey guys, We could use some help. We are going to fish St Joe bay for about a week. We have a Carolina Skiff, so we can fish shallow. The little I have fished there we just fished behind Blacks Island. Looking mainly for trout, Reds and Flounder. Could sure use some help in areas we might do some good. We really appreciate any help.

[Pirate]

Do I get the impression that nobody fishes SJB.

[Rhettley]

That's usually a good area. Find areas with a mix of grass and open sand. 3 to 5 feet is usually good but try other depths if no luck. Over towards Pigs Island, in the Eagle Harbor area, or the outside of the sand bar at the public ramp are all good areas. Look at a satelite picture of the bay and pretty much the whole thing is ringed by flats. Try different areas and different lures. It can vary by the day what is going on. Call the Cape Trading Post out on the cape and ask then about a guide. They know a few good ones or John or Todd can probably give you a fishing report. Ask at Half Hitch too. They get good info. If you get a guide do it early in the week and tell him you want to learn areas to fish. They can show you what and where to try for the rest of the week. Good luck.

[zload]

Fished the Bay for the first time last week, tough conditions bite wise. Caught a few trout and flounder in 2' -3' on the Hwy 98 side of Backs Island between the island and Presnell's(SP?)Marina. They were very oriented on small grassy depressions not really the sand potholes as much and caught most on topwater or subsurface hard lures mainly light colored as the water was very clear. Didn't get too many hits on gulp on a jig. My buddy caught a 23"+ trout at noon on topwater...

[Flint River Pirate]

There's not enough rocks in the bay for me.

[Pirate]

Thanks guys, This info will help me a lot. Are there other good areas near by that I might try in case we don't find good fish there?