Democrat Fishing Report 11/3

[Flats Rascal]

Fishing report



Apalachee Bay/St. Marks

Anglers can't ask much more from Apalachee Bay these days. Redfish are simply everywhere including Wakulla Beach, Stony Bayou, and even up the St. Marks River past the power plant. The oyster bars between the Lighthouse and the Old Fort also have been productive including areas such as the East River, Big West Bayou and Four-Mile Creek. In the Wakulla River, reds were caught at the St. Marks Yacht Club and along the western grass line up to Shell Island Fish Camp. To the east, anglers working around the Rock Garden have found plenty of redfish action. Gold spoons, topwater lures and live shrimp are effective baits. Trout fishing on the flats has been hindered by winds, but the best reports have come from areas near the Lighthouse and the mouth of the East River adjacent to the Folly Bar. With Sunday's full moon, expect shrimp to move out of the creeks onto the shallow flats where trout will be waiting. The cool weather encourages trout to gather in schools, so when you catch one there are probably more nearby. Nearshore grouper fishing is heating up and nearing its peak time of the year. Trolling and fishing live bait has been productive at St. Marks, Wakulla Regional and Dog Ballard artificial reefs.
- Scott Paterna, Jerry's Bait and Tackle



Lanark Village/Carrabelle

Nearshore grouper fishing has turned on in depths as shallow as 30 feet. Anglers are fishing hard bottom and finding equal success with live or frozen baits. There are still a few kings and cobia being caught as well. Inshore, there are lots of Spanish mackerel around in places like Umbrella Cove and Dog Island Reef, and there are still a few pompano being caught. There are also plenty of trout on the flats, but some fish have also moved into the Carrabelle River. The best action in the river has taken place in the east channel where the river splits going under the Highway 98 Bridge. The fish seem to be holding around the bars on the west side of the channel.
- Mike Hopkins, Lanark Village Mart



Apalachicola Bay and River

Lots of white trout are being caught near the new bridge to St. George Island just off Cat Point. Use a piece of shrimp and fish near the bottom. Speckled trout and redfish fishing has been good around the dry bars and the mouths of the rivers flowing into East Bay. With the wind forecast this weekend, the deep holes in the St. Marks and East rivers may be the best option. If the water is murky use dark-colored grubs like watermelon with red flake or root beer. If the water is clear use white-and-pink or electric-chicken colors. White trout are also being caught off the East Point Pier. Sheepshead, trout and some redfish can be caught off both the East Point and St. George Island piers. Whiting fishing in the surf continues to improve, and there are still a few bluefish and pompano being caught, but that's likely to end with the next cold front. Whiting will remain all winter, however.
- Rex Pennycuff, Fisherman's Choice



St. Joe Bay

Cooler weather has pushed all variety of fish, including trout, redfish, and large flounder, into the potholes in the Middle Grounds and the southeastern portion of the bay. There are a number of black drum showing up in the Intracoastal Canal. Trout can be expected to move into the canal on the heels of cooler weather. There are also lots of jack crevalle hanging around the mouth of the canal. There's been a big run of “smokerâ€