Democrat Fishing Report 12/10

[Flats Rascal]

Posted on Fri, Dec. 10, 2004





Fishing report

DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER


St. Marks

Offshore anglers fishing out of St.Marks have been finding grouper plentiful in anywhere from 18- to 55-foot depths. Some are trolling and others bottom fishing with LYs and frozen pinfish when available. There still are reports of trout being caught in shallow water around Grey Mare Rock and near the mouth of the St.Marks River. The trout are hitting top-water and jigs fished below Equalizers. The orange-glow jig made by Bass Assassin has been effective. Redfish, mangrove snapper and sheepshead have moved into the deeper holes in the St.Marks River, and redfish also have been reported in the East River.

-Brett Shields, Shields Marina

Apalachicola Bay

Anglers have had to pick their days and spots carefully in Apalachicola Bay because of the changing weather, but there's been plenty of fish to catch when they get out. At least four big black drum, more than 40 pounds, have been caught in the head of East Bay. Smaller drum, up to 20 inches, and a few redfish have been caught around the old causeway and in the deeper holes near the new bridge. A few drum and sheepshead also have been caught from the piers. Sea trout still are hanging around Cat Point, Dry Bar and East Hole but are expected to move into deeper water with the approaching cold front. If the water temperature stays low, more fish will move up into the river system.

-Rex Pennycuff, Fisherman's Choice

Lanark Village/Carrabelle

Trout fishing has been very good in the Carrabelle River. Larger fish are being caught near the mouth of the river, with catches of smaller fish reported upriver as far as the pavilion. The fish apparently haven't moved above the bridge. Anglers also still are finding sea trout around the Lanark Reef all the way to Turkey Point. Redfish continue to bite around the docks in Lanark Village. Offshore, there were a few kingfish caught last week, and grouper fishermen have been doing well in 28- to 55-foot depths. The bigger fish actually have been coming out of the shallower water.

-Mike Hopkins, Lanark Village Mart

St. Joe Bay

Fishing has slowed some in St. Joe Bay, with most of the activity moving into the Intracoastal Canal. Sea trout, redfish and flounder are being caught in the canal all the way to Lake Wimico to the east and East Bay near Panama City to the west. The "T" where the Gulf County Canal meets the Intracoastal has been a "hot spot." Hybrids are being caught in the feeder creeks on Lake Wimico and where the Apalachicola River meets the Intracoastal Waterway. Black bass also have moved down into some of the tidal creeks below Lake Wimico. Offshore, grouper and black snapper are being caught in 55-foot depths and up, on both the artificial reefs and natural bottom structures.

-Capt. Trey Landry, Port St. Joe Marina

Lake Talquin

Not many people have been fishing on Lake Talquin the past few days and, of the ones that have gone, only a few are catching speckled perch. The best places to look for perch, because of the warm weather last week, are the mouths of the larger, deeper creeks. Other than that, only a couple of stripers and black bass have been reported. Even catfish fishing has been slow.

-Josh Ingram, Ingram's Marina

Lake Seminole

Perch fishing has been the talk of Wingate's landing this week. Most of the "butterballs" have been caught in 6- to 8-foot depths or on the bottom in the Flint River System. Chartreuse jigs have proven effective in the deep, somewhat dingy water. Bass fishing remains slow except for the small ones.

-Jack Wingate, Wingate's Lodge