Democrat Fishing Report 4/2
Posted: April 2nd, 2004, 9:33 am
Apalachee Bay
Anglers feasted this weekend on trout, mackerel and the first cobia keeper of the year, caught near Black Rock. Reports have trout all over the flats, in shallow water, and mackerel caught from shore casting spoons and live shrimp. Hot lures for trout and mackerel have been Sureketch pearl-firetail jigs; Bone Diamond jigs or Bass Assasin glow jigs under a Cajun Thunder; and glow twitchbaits. Monday's full moon should bring many trout into the deeper flats beyond the present two-foot mark. In freshwater, this is a perfect weekend to walk the St. Marks Refuge embankments to catch bream and bass on crickets and worms. Try the Wakulla River on U.S. Highway 98 for shellcrackers on earthworms. These fish are bedding and aggressive right now.
St. Joe Bay
Fishing is getting better by the day. Spanish mackerel being caught are bigger than they have been in recent days and are now up to two pounds. Most productive spots have been in the mouth of the Bay and off the sea wall by the Port St. Joe Marina. Try speckled perch rigs or plugs. Trout to 4.5 pounds and redfish are between Block's Island and the end of the Bay. Start in 3-5 feet of water over dark grassy bottom. Best lures have been gold glitter grubs and green-silver topwater plugs. Pompano are along beach as are whiting.
Apalachicola Bay
Fishing is good with the East End of St. George Island the hottest for Spanish mackerel. Try Ny-lures or silver spoons. Lots of redfish reported inside the island for anglers wading around the islands and oyster bars. In the surf, whiting are good, but pompano are still scattered. Trout are to be found at the dry bars when the wind lets you get to them. Sheepshead are still being caught around structure and in the Cut. Few anglers are getting offshore to report catches.
Lanark
With a brand-new ramp that will allow two boats at a time and boats up to 28 feet, anglers are taking advantage of great fishing. Spanish mackerel around Dog Island are "thick as thieves". Most anglers are trolling mackerel rigs or banana spoons. Others are casting any shiny lures. Redfish are actively hitting live shrimp or artificials. Trout fishing should continue to improve as the water gets warmer and more baitfish enter the bay. Pinfish are there, but pilchards have not yet arrived. Reports of cobia being seen, but none yet caught. Offshore, good grouper catches of 6-12 fish have come from 50 feet of water.
Anglers feasted this weekend on trout, mackerel and the first cobia keeper of the year, caught near Black Rock. Reports have trout all over the flats, in shallow water, and mackerel caught from shore casting spoons and live shrimp. Hot lures for trout and mackerel have been Sureketch pearl-firetail jigs; Bone Diamond jigs or Bass Assasin glow jigs under a Cajun Thunder; and glow twitchbaits. Monday's full moon should bring many trout into the deeper flats beyond the present two-foot mark. In freshwater, this is a perfect weekend to walk the St. Marks Refuge embankments to catch bream and bass on crickets and worms. Try the Wakulla River on U.S. Highway 98 for shellcrackers on earthworms. These fish are bedding and aggressive right now.
St. Joe Bay
Fishing is getting better by the day. Spanish mackerel being caught are bigger than they have been in recent days and are now up to two pounds. Most productive spots have been in the mouth of the Bay and off the sea wall by the Port St. Joe Marina. Try speckled perch rigs or plugs. Trout to 4.5 pounds and redfish are between Block's Island and the end of the Bay. Start in 3-5 feet of water over dark grassy bottom. Best lures have been gold glitter grubs and green-silver topwater plugs. Pompano are along beach as are whiting.
Apalachicola Bay
Fishing is good with the East End of St. George Island the hottest for Spanish mackerel. Try Ny-lures or silver spoons. Lots of redfish reported inside the island for anglers wading around the islands and oyster bars. In the surf, whiting are good, but pompano are still scattered. Trout are to be found at the dry bars when the wind lets you get to them. Sheepshead are still being caught around structure and in the Cut. Few anglers are getting offshore to report catches.
Lanark
With a brand-new ramp that will allow two boats at a time and boats up to 28 feet, anglers are taking advantage of great fishing. Spanish mackerel around Dog Island are "thick as thieves". Most anglers are trolling mackerel rigs or banana spoons. Others are casting any shiny lures. Redfish are actively hitting live shrimp or artificials. Trout fishing should continue to improve as the water gets warmer and more baitfish enter the bay. Pinfish are there, but pilchards have not yet arrived. Reports of cobia being seen, but none yet caught. Offshore, good grouper catches of 6-12 fish have come from 50 feet of water.