The fishing has slowed a little for trout and mackerel and both species have been scattered on the flats. Both live shrimp and aritificials are catching some fish. Some top-water is being used along with bubble-gum or pearl-colored Sur-Ketch jigs. Grouper are being caught in 18 feet of water and out, but not everybody is finding fish. Trolling is difficult because of algae in the water that gets tangled in the gear. Flounder are being picked up at the nearshore artificial reefs such as St. Marks and Ochlocknee. Redfish are being caught around the rocks in the eastern part of Apalachee Bay on gold spoons and flies.
Lanark Village/Carrabelle
Offshore, grouper have been most interested in live pinfish. Kingfish remain scattered but are being caught. A few cobia have been picked up around offshore structures. Inshore, trout have been running large, but you may have to work some to find them. Redfish continue to hang along the shoreline and the flounder have been plentiful lately.
Apalachicola Bay
Fairly strong winds have slowed the fishing some in Apalachicola Bay, but with a forecast of calmer conditions for the weekend the fishing should pick up. Spanish mackerel are scattered throughout the area with some of the biggest fish being caught in front of Little St. George Island near the lighthouse. Before the winds picked up, pompano and whiting were being caught in the surf and should return as soon as the waves subside. Offshore fishing for grouper and snapper in the 60- to 80-foot depths has been excellent.
St. Joe Bay
Trout anglers are doing well with live bait, mainly menhaden and pinfish. The top-water bite is still going strong, expecially since there's very little floating grass in the bay. Red-and-white and green-and-silver Mirr-O-Lures and electric-chicken jerkbaits in the 5-inch-shad design have been the most productive. The trout are holding in shallow water, 2-3-foot depths, but always near a drop-off or pothole they can slip into when it gets hot. Lots of whiting are being caught on the outside of the St. Joe Peninsula. Pompano, mostly in the 2-pound range, have entered the bay in big numbers for the first time this year. Limit catches have been taken by anglers fishing around large pods of stingrays or bat rays. The rays stir up the bottom and the pompano trail behing taking advantage of the uncovered food.
There is also an interesting story on fly-fishing on the St. Marks River that was not available online when I posted this report.
