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Apalachee Bay

Redfish and flounder have moved into the lower St.Marks River. Look for both species around the edges of the oyster bars and along the marsh, especially between Four-Mile Creek and the lighthouse. Trout are still active all over the flats and happily taking plastic grubs and live shrimp. Offshore, in 20 to 30 feet of water, anglers are catching lots of black sea bass, grunts, triggerfish and small grouper. A little cold weather should bring larger grouper into these areas.
-Brett Shields, Shields Marina

Lanark Village

Because of high winds, fishing has been slow in the Lanark area. A lot of decayed fish killed by red tide has recently washed up on shore. Offshore, one commercial fisherman caught a big load of grouper in 150 feet of water. It's hoped that the approaching cold front will improve conditions.
-Mike Hopkins, Lanark Village Mart

Carrabelle

Weather and sea conditions were looking good by the middle of the week but few people were taking advantage. Schools of Spanish mackerel were reported in East Pass between Dog Island and St.George Island. The buoy line leading out to East Pass has been holding tripletail. Anglers have also been catching redfish around the dock pilings between the Carrabelle River and Lanark. The best action was on Top Dogs and live shrimp. Castnetters have also been finding plenty of mullet to fill their nets.
-Millard Collins, Carrabelle Marina

Apalachicola area

Fishing has been good in East Bay, which is above the bridge between East Point and Apalachicola. The white-shrimp run is under way and anglers are catching trout over the oyster bars between the bridge and the grass line. Try drifting a couple hundred yards above the bridge. When you find fish you can ease an anchor over the side and keep fishing. The St.Marks and East rivers, which flow into East Bay are holding trout, redfish, sheepshead and hybrid striped bass. Concentrate on the holes near the mouth of both rivers. Those unfamiliar with navigating in East Bay, which has some broad, shallow areas, can stop by Fisherman's Choice in East Point for advice and directions.
-Rex Pennycuff, Fisherman's Choice

St. Joe Bay

The red tide has lessened in St.Joe Bay and the fishing has improved. Anglers are catching a little bit of everything including Spanish mackerel, bluefish, pompano and sea trout. The best fishing has been in the potholes south and southeast of Blacks Island. Use live bait, top-water lures or a popping cork with a grub suspended below it. Set up a drift across the shallow grass and concentrate your casts on every sandy hole or depression that comes within range.
-Eckley Sander, Presnell's

Bayside Marina and RV Resort

Lake Talquin

Fishing has slowed on Lake Talquin the past couple of weeks, with dedicated crappie fishermen only turning up a few fish each day. Small bream can be found around the edges of the lake and around the docks, where they'll hit crickets. Even the catfish bite has been slow. The approaching cold front should put fish on the move and may allow anglers to target some of the deeper holes once the water temperature drops.
-Josh Ingram, Ingram's Marina

Lake Seminole

Speckled perch are moving into shallow water. Numerous good catches have been made in depths of 2 to 5 feet. Most of the specks being caught are still small but larger fish should move in soon. Some specks are still hanging in slightly deeper depths of 10 to 16 feet in small pods about the size of a small pickup. Jigs should be fished slightly above the fish to allow them to come up to it. A 1/32-ounce jig is a good choice for these conditions. Largemouth bass have moved into shallow grassy areas. One party did well using a Skeeter Bug and another angler boated 18 bass using a Zoom Speed Worm over light grass.
-Jack Wingate, Wingate's Lodge

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Posted on Fri, Sep. 09, 2005






Apalachee Bay


The bay has been largely unaffected by the red tide and fish kills that are occurring farther to the west. Big schools of bait, including mullet and glass minnows, are keeping redfish, trout, Spanish mackerel and cobia all feeding actively. Pinfish are thick on the flats as well. Redfish have been the top catch of late, with live shrimp, top-water plugs and Capt. Mike's gold spoons all effective offerings. Shorelines and oyster bars from Wakulla Beach to the Econfina River are the prime redfish zone.

- Scott Paterna, Jerry's Bait and Tackle

Ochlockonee Bay

Red tide is really hurting the offshore fishery. Many charter boats are canceling trips, and the only action is coming from the V Tower and beyond. The situation is not as dire inshore, however. Trout and redfish are scattered throughout the bay along the shoreline and bars. Cast-netters are starting to find shrimp up the river and in some of the tidal creeks, so the run should be starting soon. There haven't been any reports of shrimp in Mud Cove as of yet.

- Stan Brown, Mashes Sands BP

Lanark Village/Carrabelle

With the red tide now infiltrating the bay, few anglers are venturing out. A few dead trout have been spotted, but no redfish, flounder or cobia. Most of the floating dead fish are grouper, snapper, grunts and triggerfish. Two charter boats did go out over the holiday weekend and did well on grouper and snapper in 110 feet and also as shallow as 45 feet. Frozen alewives were the top bait. Inshore, trout and redfish are biting well on live shrimp, especially near Lanark Reef.

- Mike Hopkins, Village Mart

Apalachicola Bay

Good numbers of trout and some redfish have been caught off the old bridge on the Eastpoint side. Redfish were also biting well under the Apalachicola bridge, along with the occasional drum, and on the backside of St. George Island, although dead fish reports were coming in by Sunday. Live shrimp and gold spoons have been producing, together with white/pink grubs.

- Rex Pennycuff, Fisherman's Choice

Port St. Joe

Scallops are still plentiful inside the bay, although the season closes September 11. Fishing is good for snapper and grouper in deeper water offshore. Anglers are finding consistent action with trout and redfish in the bay using DOA shrimp, MirrOlures, live shrimp and bull minnows. Bream are hitting crickets in Lake Wimico, while bass prefer bandit crank baits or flies. Catfish are responding to stink baits in the Apalachicola River.

- Chuck Tharpe, Bluewater Outriggers

Lake Talquin

Bass have been doing well the past week, especially on red shad-colored plastic worms rigged Texas-style. A 9-pound 10-ounce largemouth was boated by a junior angler over the weekend. Catfish continue to respond to stink baits, while the bream bite has slowed. Several stringers of shellcrackers have been landed using wigglers or big red worms. The water is slightly stained in the river, but the rest of the lake looks good.

- Rusty Leverette, Talquin Lodge

Lake Seminole

The Labor Day Bass Tournament produced several nice limits of fish, along with a 10-pounder that was landed while pre-fishing. Bream are bedding all over the lake and catfish are actively feeding as well. The lake is down six inches but remains definitely fishable.

- Jack Wingate, Wingate's Lodge