Democrat Fishing Report 10/20
Posted: October 20th, 2006, 8:34 am
Fishing report
Apalachee Bay and Big Bend rivers
Trout are being caught in the St. Marks River, on the West Flats from Big Pass to Patty Island, and on the East Flats out from Black Rock and down along the coast. In the river, use a trolling motor to work the shoreline with a jig all the way to the San Marcos Fort. Another approach is to anchor near the oyster bars and cast a live shrimp into the current. Other good spots include Four-Mile Creek, Big West Bayou and the oyster bars at the mouth of the East River. Trout and redfish have been caught at all of these locations. On the West Flats set up a drift in 3 to 6 feet of water over spotty bottom. Use a shrimp or a Gulf jig with a Cajun Thunder. Pop the float with a crisp tug on the rod to attract the fish. On the East Flats try drifting between Cobb Rock and Peter's Rock where anglers are finding sea bass, mackerel and bluefish along with trout. In both areas, chum will help bring in the fish. The creeks all the way to the Aucilla are holding plenty of big redfish. Offshore anglers trolling the barge near Intracoastal Marker 24 have been boating keeper grouper and big lizard fish. With cooler weather, these fish will move into shallower water. To the West, anglers are finding grouper at the 35-foot mark off Dog Island. The St. Marks and Wakulla Regional reefs are producing plenty of sea bass, triggerfish and Spanish mackerel.
- Scott Paterna, Jerry's Bait and Tackle
Lanark Village/Carrabelle
Fishing has been good on days when the winds are calm enough for anglers to get out. Gag grouper have moved into areas of live bottom in 45 to 50 feet of water. Live pinfish is the grouper bait of choice. Inshore, there are still plenty of alewives in the bay that have drawn the attention of big Spanish mackerel. Anglers can find mackerel by watching for working birds. Redfish and trout are being caught around the mouth of the Carrabelle River.
- Millard Collins, C-Quarters Marina
Apalachicola Bay and River
Windy conditions interfered with the fishing most of the week. Anglers seeking sheltered water at the head of East Bay have found redfish, stripers and a few flounder. Trout fishing has been slow, with a few caught around the dry bars. Because of high surf, beach anglers have managed to land only a few whiting but no mackerel or pompano. A north wind this weekend should improve the surf fishing. There's been a few sheepshead caught off the piers along with only a scattering of whiting and redfish. Cooler temperatures will likely improve the sheepshead fishing. Offshore anglers who managed to get out early in the week found a mix of snapper and grouper along with plenty of sea bass at the St. George Island Artificial Reef.
- Rex Pennycuff, Fisherman's Choice
St. Joe Bay
In general fish are moving toward the Intracoastal Canal. Flounder are being caught in Lighthouse Channel. Redfish and trout are still holding in the potholes on the grass flats along with a few big Spanish mackerel. A DOA fished in conjunction with a Cajun Thunder has been effective. Some kingfish have been caught in the bay, with bone-colored Top Dogs proving to be the lure of choice. Redfish are still hanging around Pompano Point on the inside of the peninsula. Anglers fishing the Stump Hole on the outside have been catching whiting, flounder and a few pompano.
- Kyle Erickson, Presnell's Bayside Marina and RV Resort
Lake Talquin
Speckled perch are gathering in the mouths of the creeks and are biting on minnows. Although it's late, there are still a few shellcracker beds being discovered. Bream are biting on worms and crickets just off sandy areas. Bass fishing has been slow, although you can still catch a few in the backs of the creek mouths where they are chasing shad. A few stripers are showing up near the dam.
- Dallas Johnson, Ingram's Marina
Apalachee Bay and Big Bend rivers
Trout are being caught in the St. Marks River, on the West Flats from Big Pass to Patty Island, and on the East Flats out from Black Rock and down along the coast. In the river, use a trolling motor to work the shoreline with a jig all the way to the San Marcos Fort. Another approach is to anchor near the oyster bars and cast a live shrimp into the current. Other good spots include Four-Mile Creek, Big West Bayou and the oyster bars at the mouth of the East River. Trout and redfish have been caught at all of these locations. On the West Flats set up a drift in 3 to 6 feet of water over spotty bottom. Use a shrimp or a Gulf jig with a Cajun Thunder. Pop the float with a crisp tug on the rod to attract the fish. On the East Flats try drifting between Cobb Rock and Peter's Rock where anglers are finding sea bass, mackerel and bluefish along with trout. In both areas, chum will help bring in the fish. The creeks all the way to the Aucilla are holding plenty of big redfish. Offshore anglers trolling the barge near Intracoastal Marker 24 have been boating keeper grouper and big lizard fish. With cooler weather, these fish will move into shallower water. To the West, anglers are finding grouper at the 35-foot mark off Dog Island. The St. Marks and Wakulla Regional reefs are producing plenty of sea bass, triggerfish and Spanish mackerel.
- Scott Paterna, Jerry's Bait and Tackle
Lanark Village/Carrabelle
Fishing has been good on days when the winds are calm enough for anglers to get out. Gag grouper have moved into areas of live bottom in 45 to 50 feet of water. Live pinfish is the grouper bait of choice. Inshore, there are still plenty of alewives in the bay that have drawn the attention of big Spanish mackerel. Anglers can find mackerel by watching for working birds. Redfish and trout are being caught around the mouth of the Carrabelle River.
- Millard Collins, C-Quarters Marina
Apalachicola Bay and River
Windy conditions interfered with the fishing most of the week. Anglers seeking sheltered water at the head of East Bay have found redfish, stripers and a few flounder. Trout fishing has been slow, with a few caught around the dry bars. Because of high surf, beach anglers have managed to land only a few whiting but no mackerel or pompano. A north wind this weekend should improve the surf fishing. There's been a few sheepshead caught off the piers along with only a scattering of whiting and redfish. Cooler temperatures will likely improve the sheepshead fishing. Offshore anglers who managed to get out early in the week found a mix of snapper and grouper along with plenty of sea bass at the St. George Island Artificial Reef.
- Rex Pennycuff, Fisherman's Choice
St. Joe Bay
In general fish are moving toward the Intracoastal Canal. Flounder are being caught in Lighthouse Channel. Redfish and trout are still holding in the potholes on the grass flats along with a few big Spanish mackerel. A DOA fished in conjunction with a Cajun Thunder has been effective. Some kingfish have been caught in the bay, with bone-colored Top Dogs proving to be the lure of choice. Redfish are still hanging around Pompano Point on the inside of the peninsula. Anglers fishing the Stump Hole on the outside have been catching whiting, flounder and a few pompano.
- Kyle Erickson, Presnell's Bayside Marina and RV Resort
Lake Talquin
Speckled perch are gathering in the mouths of the creeks and are biting on minnows. Although it's late, there are still a few shellcracker beds being discovered. Bream are biting on worms and crickets just off sandy areas. Bass fishing has been slow, although you can still catch a few in the backs of the creek mouths where they are chasing shad. A few stripers are showing up near the dam.
- Dallas Johnson, Ingram's Marina