A unique website dedicated to fishing information from Florida's Northern Big Bend. This includes the area from the Econfina River west to the Apalachicola River
Use this area to post inshore fishing reports from the area. Please try to include relevant information such as:
Location, date, time, water conditions, weather conditions, baits, techniques, species caught, etc.
Went down to the coast Saturday about lunchtime for a little saltwater therapy. My son slept in so I ended up fishing alone. I launched and ran to my first spot with no luck. Spot number two yielded two shorts and a hardhead. It was windy, but I decided to make another move. I ran a line of crab traps and saw one short tripletail that refused both of my offerings. Water was dirtier than the last time I fished and it was hard to see. I got to about 7 feet of water and decided to start fishing. I threw the twitch bait and on the second twitch - WHAM! Good fish on. It started to take drag and then went on a blistering run. I look up and the fish jumps- big tarpon! I start the boat and the race is on to catch him before I get spooled. I am looking at my last 15 feet of line when I palm the spool and put the boat on plane. I finally get some line back and the fish jumps three more times. I can't believe I am still hooked up on my trout rig. The fish then starts bulldogging and the slugfest is on. He ran under the boat several times and even got hung in the swim ladder once and still did not break me off. One hour and 15 minutes in, he finally rolls on the surface and I am able to grab him. Bass fishermen, trying to lip a 5-6 foot fish is a whole different rodeo. I got a few photos with my phone and some terrible video and then resuscitated the fish. Huge thrill to let him go to catch him again. Took a break and idled back in- I probably chased him a mile and caught a limit of trout before I ran in. Crazy day, but awesome
I went with my BIL last year to fish down south with him. He has been fishing there for over a year and had never hooked a tarpon. We had 5 crabs to pitch at them and I hooked one on my third cast. I hollered "Fish on" and he was mucking around in the back of the boat. I finally said to my SIL, tell him to fire up that motor or I am gonna be spooled! He had heard me, but thought I was joking. An hour later, we pulled him along side.
Ducks, turkeys, flats fishing. Who has time for golf?