Democrat Fishing Report 9/22
Posted: September 22nd, 2006, 9:00 am
Apalachee Bay
Saturday is the fall equinox, marking the first day of fall, and apparently fall fishing patterns have started right on time. In fact, fishing has been good all week in Apalachee Bay with numerous limits of trout up to 3 pounds taken on live shrimp. Places like the flats in front of the Lighthouse, the West Flats and Wakulla Beach have provided anglers with great trout action. Anglers also continue to find the redfish plentiful around the Rock Garden, East River, Little Pass, Wakulla Beach, Stony Bayou Creek and anywhere there are oyster bars. There are still plenty of shrimp present in all of the creeks. Live shrimp, gold spoons and topwater lures will work in all of these areas. One group of anglers trolling for nearshore grouper even happened upon a school of large redfish and a kingfish.
- Scott Paterna, Jerry's Bait and Tackle
Ochlockonee Bay
A cobia and a number of flounder have been caught off the seawall at Mashes Sands. Redfish and trout have moved into Hurricane Creek, Chairs Creek and around the oyster bars at the mouth of the Bay. They should remain in those areas for at least a month. Recreational shrimpers are still doing well in the bay.
- Stan Brown, Mashes Sands BP
Lanark Village/Carrabelle
Offshore fishing has picked up, with lots of gag grouper reportedly caught last week in depths of 45 to 60 feet. There's even been a couple of good catches in 35 feet of water. Alewives and northern mackerel (or chub mackerel) have been effective, although live pinfish will help if you get into a lot of short fish. Oddly, a few small sailfish have been spotted in the area. Inshore, trout fishing is still good in the stump hole on the front of Dog Island, in Umbrella Cove on the east end of Dog Island and the small cove on the bayside at the east end of St. George Island. For small boat owners, trout are being caught along the grass line on the inside of Lanark Reef, and redfish can be found around the docks along Lanark Village.
- Mike Hopkins, Lanark Village Mart
Apalachicola Bay and River
Overall, fishing has been very good in Apalachicola Bay. Redfish seem to be everywhere from Bob Sikes Cut to the mouth of the St. Marks and East rivers. Although some are still being caught over grass beds, trout have started moving toward East Bay, so more are being caught around the Cat Point Dry Bay and the East Hole Dry Bar. Shrimp are starting to come out of East Bay, so if you see birds diving, there are most likely schooling trout underneath driving the shrimp to the surface. One of the best spots recently has been underneath the eastern end of the Apalachicola bridge where anglers have been catching lots of redfish with a few trout and flounder mixed in. With the cooler weather and water temperatures, fish in general have started feeding on the tides instead of just morning and evening. High tide is usually best, especially off the piers and under the bridges.
- Rex Pennycuff, Fisherman's Choice
St. Joe Bay
Fish in St. Joe Bay will soon start moving toward the Intracoastal Canal. Already trout are being caught on topwater and electric chicken-colored grubs around Blacks Island and Town Beach. Flounder are being taken out of the potholes and along channel edges on bull minnows. Redfish are most active in the same types of places, particularly in Pig Bayou and Lighthouse Channel. There are also a few pompano beginning to show up in the bay around the sand bars.
- Kyle Erickson, Presnell's Bayside Marina and RV Resort
Lake Talquin
A number of quality bass over 6 pounds have been caught recently on Lake Talquin. For example, during the Quincy Bass Masters Tournament last weekend, lunkers of 8.14 pounds and 7.12 pounds were weighed in. The big fish appear to be holding in the creeks. Because of cooler temperatures, crappie are starting to bite. The best approach has been trolling Hal-Flies or similar lures in the creek channels. There are also plenty of catfish and bream still being caught around docks in the lake.
- Sarah Johnson, Ingram's Marina L
Saturday is the fall equinox, marking the first day of fall, and apparently fall fishing patterns have started right on time. In fact, fishing has been good all week in Apalachee Bay with numerous limits of trout up to 3 pounds taken on live shrimp. Places like the flats in front of the Lighthouse, the West Flats and Wakulla Beach have provided anglers with great trout action. Anglers also continue to find the redfish plentiful around the Rock Garden, East River, Little Pass, Wakulla Beach, Stony Bayou Creek and anywhere there are oyster bars. There are still plenty of shrimp present in all of the creeks. Live shrimp, gold spoons and topwater lures will work in all of these areas. One group of anglers trolling for nearshore grouper even happened upon a school of large redfish and a kingfish.
- Scott Paterna, Jerry's Bait and Tackle
Ochlockonee Bay
A cobia and a number of flounder have been caught off the seawall at Mashes Sands. Redfish and trout have moved into Hurricane Creek, Chairs Creek and around the oyster bars at the mouth of the Bay. They should remain in those areas for at least a month. Recreational shrimpers are still doing well in the bay.
- Stan Brown, Mashes Sands BP
Lanark Village/Carrabelle
Offshore fishing has picked up, with lots of gag grouper reportedly caught last week in depths of 45 to 60 feet. There's even been a couple of good catches in 35 feet of water. Alewives and northern mackerel (or chub mackerel) have been effective, although live pinfish will help if you get into a lot of short fish. Oddly, a few small sailfish have been spotted in the area. Inshore, trout fishing is still good in the stump hole on the front of Dog Island, in Umbrella Cove on the east end of Dog Island and the small cove on the bayside at the east end of St. George Island. For small boat owners, trout are being caught along the grass line on the inside of Lanark Reef, and redfish can be found around the docks along Lanark Village.
- Mike Hopkins, Lanark Village Mart
Apalachicola Bay and River
Overall, fishing has been very good in Apalachicola Bay. Redfish seem to be everywhere from Bob Sikes Cut to the mouth of the St. Marks and East rivers. Although some are still being caught over grass beds, trout have started moving toward East Bay, so more are being caught around the Cat Point Dry Bay and the East Hole Dry Bar. Shrimp are starting to come out of East Bay, so if you see birds diving, there are most likely schooling trout underneath driving the shrimp to the surface. One of the best spots recently has been underneath the eastern end of the Apalachicola bridge where anglers have been catching lots of redfish with a few trout and flounder mixed in. With the cooler weather and water temperatures, fish in general have started feeding on the tides instead of just morning and evening. High tide is usually best, especially off the piers and under the bridges.
- Rex Pennycuff, Fisherman's Choice
St. Joe Bay
Fish in St. Joe Bay will soon start moving toward the Intracoastal Canal. Already trout are being caught on topwater and electric chicken-colored grubs around Blacks Island and Town Beach. Flounder are being taken out of the potholes and along channel edges on bull minnows. Redfish are most active in the same types of places, particularly in Pig Bayou and Lighthouse Channel. There are also a few pompano beginning to show up in the bay around the sand bars.
- Kyle Erickson, Presnell's Bayside Marina and RV Resort
Lake Talquin
A number of quality bass over 6 pounds have been caught recently on Lake Talquin. For example, during the Quincy Bass Masters Tournament last weekend, lunkers of 8.14 pounds and 7.12 pounds were weighed in. The big fish appear to be holding in the creeks. Because of cooler temperatures, crappie are starting to bite. The best approach has been trolling Hal-Flies or similar lures in the creek channels. There are also plenty of catfish and bream still being caught around docks in the lake.
- Sarah Johnson, Ingram's Marina L