Steinhatchee Fishing Report 1999 Archives
This Week's Steinhatchee Report 8/25/99
I've been busy with the scallop season still going strong and with Chaeli, my daughter, learning to crawl and teeter on her feet.  Fishing has definitely increased.  The spotted sea trout are being caught between Marker 1 and the Inter coastal Marker 18 in approximately six foot of water.  Captain Walt Carlson's charters have been landing quite a few nice size ones using live shrimp.  Also being caught are some nice bluefish, Spanish mackerel and a few Cobia.  Offshore trolling for grouper has been spectacular!  Many 20+ pounders have been seen on the fish cleaning tables this week.  Last week, Captain Carlson's dive charter saw many, and they said many, nice grouper and red snapper at the 'Crack'.  For coordinates for markers and the Crack click here.  Two more weeks of scallops - still plenty out there!
This Week's Steinhatchee Report 8/3/99
Well the fishing had been slow but it seems to be picking up even though the temperature is still so hot!  Lots of Sandtrout are being caught around marker 18 using Greedy Guts white with red shrimp tail.  Also working well is the Mann's Sting Ray white with pink tails.  Some customers also landed a few Spanish Mackerel and Redfish in the same area.  Redfish are also being caught around the oyster bars near the mouth of the river using live green backs.  Offshore Grouper are being caught pretty much everywhere using everything.  One customer who went out to get Triggerfish and Pink Mouths brought in Grouper 10.5 miles out in 33 foot of water.  He was using frozen Thread Herring.  Further offshore, folks are still killing the grouper using stretch 30+ lures.  Everyone I sent to the Crack caught many nice size grouper.
This Week's Steinhatchee Report 7/19/99
I apologize for the lack of report. During the middle of one night we had a severe wind and I ran around securing window and in doing so I slammed the window down on the phone line that I temporarily setup to run from the kitchen to the baby/computer room.  I have been off-line entirely too long but I was always to tired after all the business the scallops are bringing in these days.  Scallops are still fantastic and most folks are still limiting out early in the day leaving plenty of time for fishing.  the Spotted trout and redfish seem a little scarce but then again, other species are popping up instead.  Flounder, Cobia, tarpon, and silver trout are all being caught frequently these days.  The shrimp are verrrrry scarce (we've been unable to get them live for 7 days now) and this also seems to affect the fish. They are being caught primarily one live minnows such as green backs or pinfish.  Grouper fishing has been awesome on and off but each trip has produced at least 2 or 3 big ones worth taking a picture of.  Well, I'm off to bed......
This Week's Steinhatchee Report 7/1/99 AT NOON
Well, scallop season is in full swing.  ALL the boats that left for the first catch of scallops limited out in less than an hour this morning.  Both the north and south areas are thick with scallops.  Most folks are snorkeling to get them but others are just plucking them out of the water with a long handle net while they drift in the boat.  Haven't had too many folks fishing due to the weather, but things are clearing up for the weekend and with the scallops being so plentiful, I'm sure there will be some afternoon fishing trips to get reports from.  Happy boating wherever you are this 4th of July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This Week's Steinhatchee Report 6/27/99
Well, the weather has been rainy but the fishing has been AWESOME!  Seems every boat that has gone out has reached some limit or two!  Inshore the Spotted Seatrout are being caught (some very nice size, I might add) using the Greedy Gut white red tail and Mann's white with pink.  The new pink jig heads from Greedy Gut are hot with these tails.  Some folks use this combination under a popping cork.  The sound of the cork really attracts the fish and you can regulate the bait/lure depth and not snag bottom or grass as often.
Offshore folks have been loading the boats with Grouper and Red Snapper.  About half are being caught trolling while the other have been caught on the bottom.  For bottom fishing, the Grouper have been landed best using pinfish (I don't sell these but hope to in the future) and the Snapper have been hitting the cut bait such as Sardines and Cigar Minnows.  Also caught were some very fine Cobia, Bonito, Flounder, and Spanish Mackerel, Silver Trout, and Black Seabass.  The scallop checking team is out as I type, so I will try to give a report upon their return....  See ya soon Danielle!
This Week's Steinhatchee Report 6/16/99
Well, I fear I have not much to report. Seems I either missed the boats coming in or maybe I was taking care of the baby during that time...I don't know.  I've seen a few (not a bunch) of very nice size trout.  Reports say the Zoom Super Flukes grub tails are working well along with the old stand bys, Mann's Sting Ray grub white with pink tail and Greedy Guts grub white with red shrimp tail. Trolling offshore has produced some very large Grouper and some very very large Kingfish.  I've seen more smiles over the kings than anything else this week.  Redfish are being caught near the channel with gold spoons.
This Week's Steinhatchee Report 6/7/99
Finally the weather subsided enough to allow fishing offshore. Captain Steve White caught all of his fish trolling stretch 30+, the pearl with the black back is the one he swears by.  On saturday he caught 8 grouper and his first mate caught a very nice Kingfish. Other boats reported catching grouper on the bottom with frozen Herring and Cigar Minnows. Other used live bait they caught with a Sabiki rig.  Inshore the trout haven't been overwhelming but I must say that no one came home without a fish.  The Zoom Fluke tails are working well along with the Saltwater Assassin tails in the colors of shrimp and electric chicken.  Reports say the scallops are already plentiful on the grass flats, so get geared up for the season opener in July.
This Week's Steinhatchee Report 5/31/99
The weather proved to be both good and bad for the holiday weekend.  It was good in that we did not have the rain and thunderstorms as expected but it did blow making the fishing off shore rather disappointing.  Inshore, the average fishing boat did not limit out on Trout or Redfish, but some very nice and large of each were caught.  I found that the fisherman who did venture to depths of 8' to 25' feet of water did better on both of the species.  I completely sold out of the Greedy Gut white with red shrimp tails, the Mann's Sting Ray white with pink tails, and the Gotcha white with curly fire tail.  I will be ordering in more and should be completely restocked by wednesday.  Sticking in near the shore line away from the wind produced some really nice keeper Cobia (and a some very smiley fishermen)! Also caught were some Spanish Mackerel, Black Sea Bass, lots of sharks, and a few King Mackerel rather close to shore.  We splashed our new floating docks which helped launch and store over 38 boats in wet slips for the holiday, Yeah!  Come check them out!  Our docks now make access to the store and facility more easy. We will be adding more docks very shortly which will include better access to our fuel dock.  Natural Lite was the best seller in the beer department!! Hee Hee!
This Week's Steinhatchee Report 5/27/99
The Starke Trout Tournament held last weekend was a real success. The winning Trout weighed in at 4.2 lbs.  I do not yet have the winner's name but I'm working on it.
Well, the report this week is slim.  The weather is blowing right now but should be beautiful for this holiday weekend.  Captain Steve White grouper fished on Sunday.  Since the GPS satellites are working intermittently, we are recommending fishing in a fashion a commercial fisherman recommend to me (his name is Filming of Filming Seafood - incase you don't catch the fish, you can buy it at his store across the river in Jena).  Troll Stretch 30+s or Stretch 25+s or Rapala lures out perpendicular to the coast.  When you get your first hit, throw a buoy.  Then troll parallel to the coast.  If you get additional hits, throw another buoy and then troll the same water depth around your buoys.  This work fine for Capt. White because he brought in some very large grouper.
Inshore, trout have been hitting Zoom Fluke grub tails, pearl and chartreuse.  I've also been selling large quantities of Mann's Sting Ray Grubs in the white with pink tail and the yellow with pink tail.  The Spanish and Kings are both being caught trolling.  Capt. White caught a very nice looking King on the Stretch 30+ on his way offshore.  I recommend using some
 MORE on This Week's Steinhatchee Report 5/22/99
The Starke Trout Tournament was a real success. I have not gotten the name and catch of the tournament winner but I heard mumbling about buckets full of 24" trout with some weighing more than 4 pounds.  Seems everyone was successful.  Capt. Paul Cronk limited out on trout today.  Captain steve White did fantastic offshore even though the seas were 4' to 6'.  His party landed 8 nice Grouper, a few Red Snapper, a Kingfish and lots of others such as Black Sea Bass, Pink Mouth, and Triggerfish.
This Week's Steinhatchee Report 5/22/99
The Starke Trout Tournament is going on right now and the weather and the fish are both cooperating for a change.  Yesterday, Capt. Paul Cronk limited out on trout with his party.  He caught most of his fish on Mann's String Ray grub tails, the white with the pink tails.  Captain Steve White caught a fair share of trout using shrimp and also caught some Black Sea Bass and sharks.  Others reported catching some nice Spanish Mackerel on shrimp and the Redfish are still being caught around the oyster bars with gold spoons.  A couple customers hooked up on some very large Cobia, but no one was able to land them.  For Cobia I suggest setting up one pole with 30+ lb. test line rigged with a 4/O or 5/O hook baited with a cut mullet or finger mullet or live pinfish or any other large bait along that line.  Some folks use a very large float to keep the bait near the surface while others tie a balloon to the line to get the same effect.  I suggest then to drift across the grass flats and fish for trout with your one pole assigned for the Cobia casted out and set aside in an out of the way place (be sure the pole is secure and will not go overboard with the first hit of the fish).  If you anchor up, you stand a chance that the first place the Cobia will go is around that rope.  Cobia are curious and like to seek shade under boats. If one approaches the boat, try casting your bait/rig in his area.  These fish are rather finicky, so try everything in your tackle box although large cut bait seems to work best.  The waters are busy this morning (Saturday) and  I've heard on the radio of plenty of persons catching trout already (8:30am).  I suspect today should be a great day to fish so get off the computer and get over to Sea Hag Marina --- GO FISH!
This Week's Steinhatchee Report 5/18/99
Well, I haven't had too many folks going off shore this week.  We expect that Kingfish should be offshore at this time.  The weather has just been too windy to find out.  Catch Kingfish by trolling Kingfish Rigs, Frozen Cigar Minnows dressed with a tinsel Duster, or just a rigged bait fish such as ballyhoo or a blue runner at about 6 knots.  Look for the bait pods and fish breaking the surface of the water.  It may also pay off to troll a few Rapala or Stretch 25+ or 30+ in hopes that you will land a Grouper as well.
Inshore, the fishing seems to be a little slow.  I have not seen a boat limited out with trout this week, but everyone has come in with some fine trout and their limit on Redfish.  All the Redfish were caught on Johnson Gold Spoons. Both models, Sprite and Minnow, are doing well in the 1/2 oz and 3/4 oz sizes.  The trout are hitting live shrimp, Heddon's Spit'N'Image lures, 5M Mirrolures, pearl color Zoom Tails (I'm trying to carry these now), and a variety of white body pink tail grubs carried by Gotcha, Greedy Gut, and Bass Assassins' Saltwater Assassin tails.  The curly, shrimp, and shad tails are all selling and doing good.  I've been told that the area north beyond Grass Key on the grass flats is a good spot or south to the flats surrounding Pepperfish Key.  The Redfish are being caught behind the oyster bars that line the Steinhatchee channel (on high tide of course).
Added Info to This Week's Steinhatchee Report
Found this nice report on the net by Captain Skipjack Edwin Reid
This Week's Steinhatchee Fishing Report 5/14/99
I apologize for the lack of reports.  We've been busy building docks and I just haven't found the time to type things up.  The Spotted Sea Trout have been good around Pepperfish Key.  The top bait has been the Gotcha white with firetail grubs and the Greedy Guts the same color with the shrimp tails.  New from Greedy Gut is the hot pink jig head that goes well with the firetail grubs.  They've been selling well.  I've heard much about the Top Dog Mirrolures, although I've yet to sell one. Thus I cannot give a true report other than to say someone said they are working good.  Redfish are being caught on the backside of the shoals north of the Steinhatchee channel.  Using live shrimp seems to work the best.  Lots of Cobia are being caught, some quite large in size.  Try checking around the markers on your way out.  Throw large cut baits such as finger mullet, cut mullet, or herring.  If the Cobia won't hit your bait, try throwing every lure you have it the boat at him. Offshore, things have been a bit too windy to make a trip pleasant although those who do venture out have been catching grouper by trolling Rapala Magnum Lures or Stretch 25+ or Stretch 30+.  Trolling is a great way to find new rocky bottom.  A few Spanish Mackerel are still being caught around the Steinhatchee Reef although more bluefish are hitting the baits first. Try trolling a silver spoon or a Spanish Rig equipped with tinsel and a spoon.
This Week's Steinhatchee Fishing Report 4/16/99
Just wanted to give a little more update for the weekend.  Currently, due to the 25 knot winds we had on Thursday night, the seas and surrounding bays are rather rough.  As I type (Friday 8:50am) the winds have calmed but the seas are still rough.  If the wind picks up again this afternoon, I suspect that the water everywhere would be too rough for comfortable fishing (you don't know how much it kills me to write that last statement knowing you are my bread and butter).  If it remains calm, the fishing in the flats will be fine.  However, I do not recommend offshore fishing this weekend. It's just too rough.
This Week's Steinhatchee Fishing Report 4/14/99
Well, last week I moved and have had no phone, so I've been unable to get on-line to update.  Sorry about not having a fishing report last week.  I must still say the fishing has been awesome!  The weather has not been too cooperative though.  Trout are being caught in and around the mouth of Porpoise Creek.  Captain Paul Cronk informs me that currently we are having spring tides, thus on the low tides he recommends going to marker 11 in the Steinhatchee River channel before turning south to get to the creek.  He also,  recommends only fishing in this area on the high tides.  For those of you newer to the area, it is always better to fish on the incoming tides so that if you do get yourself is low water, you can wait a few minutes and be floating shortly.  The trout are being caught on live shrimp using a 1/O long shank hook or lately I've been selling quite a bit of the Gotcha Clear Glitter Grubs, Hot Pink Curly Tail Love Lures, and the Big Fish Chartreuse Glitter Twin Tail Grubs.  I suggest using a 1/4 oz. jig head with the tails.  Surprisingly I've seen 3 flounder having been caught on squid in the same areas.  Seems our dock is producing some nice size Redfish.  Folks have been fishing with live shrimp and really having a good time from the river's edge.
If the weather shapes up (which is doesn't look like it will), look to find the Spanish Mackerel still around Marker 8(? I'm not sure anymore). Try trolling a silver spoon or a spanish mackerel tinsel rig just beyond the froth line of the boat.  I have not heard of any Kingfish in this area yet, but the water has been too rough for the offshore boats.  I have seen some very nice Sheepshead coming off the closer artificial reef areas. That's it for this week.  Hope to see you soon! And Good Luck!!! - Danielle (pronounced Dan'neel)

This Week's Steinhatchee Fishing Report 4/3/99
I'm real busy changing the store around so this will be quick.  The fishing has been awesome! Offshore Grouper have been plentiful as well, as some real nice Red Snapper are being caught in the same locations using cut sardines on a 2/O hook. I've seen a tremendous amount of Sheepshead this week.  I've heard the artificial reefs are a great place to catch those (I'll be adding the reef sites to our site soon) or check out the Sheepshead page on this site.  Everyone is catching the Sheepshead on shrimp.  I've also seen quite a few Spanish Mackerel which are being caught around Marker 18 by trolling silver spoons or Spanish mackerel rigs with the tinsel skirts attached.  A five pound trout was caught using the new Gotcha  grubtails. The hottest color is clear with glitter and chartreuse glitter.  I have a limited number of these in stock today but will restock by wednesday 4/7/99.  Also going well for trout are the Saltwater Assassin green salt and pepper which I am sold out of until tuesday or wednesday. They are catching these fish around Pine Log Island.  I will be posting a map with the islands and creeks soon.  A 20" redfish was caught right off our docks yesterday.  Thus it is safe to say the fishing has been great all the way around.  Before you ask, I have not seen any kingfish yet!