Cape San Blas + late November + Canoe = Fish?

[Thom]

I will be visiting the Cape San Blas area during the week of Thanksgiving and was wondering where my sons and I might find a fish or two. We only have a canoe and trolling motor. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

[MudDucker]

Shore fishing at the stump hole. Put the canoe in the bay behind the rock pile/stump hole and fish those cuts and flats. The BP station down the road from the stump hole had bait, tackle and occasional advise. Put in along C30 into the bay and fish the area between and just the other side of the sandbar. Put in at the beach by the ramp in the State Park and fish the flats in that area. Just be sure you watch your weather.

[Rhettley]

Mud has it right. Also try the flats out in front of Eagle Harbor where the boat ramp is out at the State Park on the Cape. If it gets REALLY cold between now and then they will move up the ditch (Intercoastal, intracoastal, whatever you want to call it). Just be careful of the boat and barge wakes in a canoe up there.

[zload]

I've fished in the area around Pig Island and it would be a good area for a canoe as it would provide some shelter from the wind, wakes etc. It is SHALLOW... had two fat boys in the boat and we BOTH had to get out and push as I was hung up and had a falling tide... Not sure if you can access it from close by as there are houses in the area and I came from the PSJ side.

[Thom]

Thanks for the hints! Gotta ask how you folks define "really cold"? How cold does it have to get for them to leave the flats? If they do head to the ditch, can you suggest places for us to try?

[MudDucker]

Thanks for the hints! Gotta ask how you folks define "really cold"? How cold does it have to get for them to leave the flats? If they do head to the ditch, can you suggest places for us to try?

Why the ditch of course, although I would be a little leery of fishing the ditch in a canoe in really cold weather. There is a ramp into the ditch on the Mexico Beach side of the bridge over the ditch.

[Rhettley]

The BP or my buddies at The Cape Trading Post (850-229-8775) can tell you if the flats have fish or if they are up the ditch. The Trading Post has a full line of tackle, groceries, cooked pizza, liquor store, hardware, tourist stuff, etc. also. Check the reports on here too for fish moving up creeks and rivers or staging at the mouths.
The fish use the ditch like a river or creek to find warmer water. Like said, be careful in a canoe though. Boat wakes could easily swamp you up there. You can rent a boat at the marina or as here and at the Trading Post about a guide if you want.
I'm not sure what the magic temperature is that runs the fish off the flats but the low 60's and definitely when the water gets into the 50's the flats should clear out and the trout will go up the ditch. You can usually float and cast until you find them or find a group of boats and join in.
Some other options are the mouth of the marina. Sometime the mouth and docks will still hold fish. The sea wall at the park behind the marina can hold sheephead too.

[MudDucker]

The BP or my buddies at The Cape Trading Post (850-229-8775) can tell you if the flats have fish or if they are up the ditch. The Trading Post has a full line of tackle, groceries, cooked pizza, liquor store, hardware, tourist stuff, etc. also. Check the reports on here too for fish moving up creeks and rivers or staging at the mouths.
The fish use the ditch like a river or creek to find warmer water. Like said, be careful in a canoe though. Boat wakes could easily swamp you up there. You can rent a boat at the marina or as here and at the Trading Post about a guide if you want.
I'm not sure what the magic temperature is that runs the fish off the flats but the low 60's and definitely when the water gets into the 50's the flats should clear out and the trout will go up the ditch. You can usually float and cast until you find them or find a group of boats and join in.
Some other options are the mouth of the marina. Sometime the mouth and docks will still hold fish. The sea wall at the park behind the marina can hold sheephead too.

I didn't know they had full tackle now. They are sure nice folks!