Capt. Rick Davidson (grassflats2@yahoo.com), Editor
'Better late than never' is an appropriate description of the fishing/weather continuum this spring. The coldest winter in many years has resulted in everything being moved back about a month. Instead of April showers, we were getting 'in like a lion' with not much 'lamb'. Temperatures moderated well, but inshore the grass has been delayed in regrowth in the shallows and in the usual deep flats. Without grass, the pinfish stayed off their usual locations until they suddenly started appearing mid-month . However, the trout this month were behaving in an unpredictable manner. There were some large trout available in close to shore last month and early in April, but as the temperature warmed they moved exclusively to deeper water than usual . The inshore guides with larger boats found them fairly consistently in 4 to 8 feet of water, while the usual locations in the 3 foot flats were empty until very late in the month. Redfish, however, were plentiful, and they became more plentiful later in the month. The sheepshead bite was consistent, although we didn't see as many large fish as past years, which will likely bear watching. Offshore, just as with trout fishing, finding larger fish was the challenge. One offshore captain guessed he caught one keeper for every 15 short fish he found. The occasional kingfish and cobia have shown up, but not as many as we would expect by May. They are here, however. The winning cobia in the Perry Optimist Tournament weight over 47 pounds. Amberjack were plentiful and were a frequent target, but consistently windy weekend weather was a challenge for the offshore captains, who all had to cancel trips the last two weekends of the month, with 4 to 6 foot seas.
I had several great trips this month. Very early in the month, Doug Barrett and I found some great trout and redfish. Doug caught two 5-pound trout on two consecutive casts, one shown below. I took Vance and Martin Elshire out for a repeat trip, and Vance scored on this fine trout while his father landed this fine redfish. The next weekend was ominous, with high winds forecast. On Saturday I took out Paul Hibel and Jeff Marks from Jacksonville, and although we couldn't find any larger trout, we did find 9 redfish, anchored by Paul's 10.5 pounder, which was caught on a small crankbait. Jeff also landed an oversized fish before finally finding one for dinner.
May Fishing Forecast
Inshore the grass will continue to fill in on the flats and the trout will be found on the shallower flats. Look for areas of mixed grass and sand, and fish the sandy areas and potholes carefully. Live shrimp will be an option; but more and more people will be using Gulp or DOA shrimp, which are a bit more substantial when pinfish swarm. Fish the shrimp, real or fake, under a Cajun Thunder or popping cork on a ¼ oz. jighead, with a fluorocarbon leader, somewhere between 18 and 24 inches in length, based on the depth you are fishing. You want the bait to be suspending just above the grass, and jerking the cork will make the shrimp jump up and then sink. Most of your fish will be caught as the shrimp is dropping toward the bottom. As you drift across the flats, use a GPS mark when you find some fish. When the bite stops, run back and re-drift the successful areas. Redfish are schooling in the shallows and around structure and offshore rocks. Fish with topwater plugs, gold spoons, crankbaits, and live or cut pinfish fished on the bottom. Offshore, the grouper bite may require somewhat deeper water depending on the temperature. If you have known spots, fish squid or live pinfish on your numbers. If you don't, head at a 240 degree heading from marker 1, and be watching your bottom machine when you hit 35 feet. Most fish this time of year will be found deeper, however, and the best fish will be in 50-plus feet. The best way to find productive spots in areas of good hard bottom, even if there's no relief, is to troll lipped plugs in the Stretch series and mark the spots when you hook up. Kingfish, cobia and Spanish mackerel are migrating and will show up in good numbers this month. Look for bait pods from 15 to 50 feet of water to fish kingfish. Spanish mackerel can be found around many of the offshore bars, such as 9 Mile Bank, northwest of the channel. Troll jigs or Clark spoons, or anchor up and chum, fishing live shrimp or jigs for non-stop action. This is a great way to fish with kids, because the chum will attract a lot of fish this time of year, including blue runners, small cobia, jack crevalle, sharks, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel. And of course, catfish. But if it pulls, most kids are excited. Make sure you use wire leader in this setting, because mackerel will cut through all but the heaviest mono leader.
Finally, several of us have noted scallops, many in some areas, two months before the season opens, and that frequently is a predictor of an excellent season. Scallop season is an important time in Steinhatchee, and we need to watch carefully what will happen to the oil leak that is threatening Pensacola at this time. Let's get together and help out, if the occasion presents itself, and hope and pray our estuaries and shorelines are not damaged. We've got a lot of fish to catch and lot of scallops to eat!
And a few words from our guides:
Capt. Tommy Thompson
(352) 284-1763
www.flanaturecoast.com/capttommy
I always thought that March winds brought April showers and April showers brought May floweres! I guess not. Actually, we had very little rain in April (Which was good for water clarity and salinity!), but boy did we get the wind instead! At least the reds and the trout haven't minded, and there are lots of fish on the near shore flats I fish. These hungry fish are eating almost any sort of topwater bait you can throw at them, and they really like the slow sinking plugs like Heddon Swim 'n Images and MirrOlure Catch 2000's. Now's the time to get a big spinning rod stored on the boat just in case a stray cobia swims by while you're trout fishing. A rod and reel in the 20-pound class is fine, with 60-pound fluorocarbon leader and a rubber eel of some sort.
My award-winning fishing guide book, The Saltwater Angler's Guide To Florida's Big Bend and Emerald Coast, might be a help to you if you spend lots of time at Steinhatchee (or anywhere from Chassahowitzka to Pensacola). It's got LOTS of secrets, tips and tricks, so don't forget to pick up a copy at the Sea Hag Ship's Store the next time you're at the marina. You can learn more about the book at www.saltwateranglersguide.com
If you're interested in a 'catch-and-release hunting for big fish' trip, please give me a call or check out my Web site, www.flanaturecoast.com/capttommy And if you're interested in some more in-depth information about fishing Florida's Big Bend, take a look at my weekly Fishing4Cast on the Florida Sportsman Magazine Web site at http://www.floridasportsman.com/4cast/bb, the Florida Sportsman Big Bend Action Spotter column in each month's issue, or read my posts as the Gainesville Fishing Examiner.
Captain Brian Smith, www.bigbendcharters.com
It is good to bring good news! The harsh winter delayed spring, but it has finally arrived. I saw the first offshore bait pods last week and the flying fish are bursting out the surface taking beautiful flight. The sign of spring is here. The grouper action has improved. We've taken some trolling, but most have come off the bottom. Frozen bait has produced well, but live bait gets taken quickly. The problem with the frozen bait is red snapper. If they get stirred up, you have to move off to the next honey-hole. No, I don't understand the red snapper regulations. Laws are passed by people so far from removed from reality of course the laws are ridiculous. Red snapper are more abundant than they ever have been in our area.
Cobia and a few kingfish have been brought to the dock. I've watched some cobia, but they ignored me. I believe a couple more weeks of warm weather will put that fishery on fire. Super-sized black sea bass and Florida snapper are swarming hard bottom in and around 45 feet. I suggest taking an hour or so and putting some meat in the fish box. The fish are excellent table fare. Reef donkeys, a.k.a amberjack, are large and in charge at their typical haunts. You'll need an hour of physical therapy for each fish you land. Amberjack are fun. The winds are the only thing that keeps the offshore action down. When the wind lets up, boogie offshore for some fine spring action.
Captain Steve Hart, www.legallimitscharters.com (352) 498-0299
Grouper season is open, the weather is warming up, and life is good in Steinhatchee. The fishing overall has been good. The grouper at this point are still been pretty scattered out. Go to your best area of good hard bottom and keep moving and looking if the bite is slow. Be prepared to catch an abundance of short fish in the process. I have fished in everything from 45-75 feet and the best range seems to be in the 65 foot area using live pinfish and frozen herring, along with some cut bait. If you are looking to get your string pulled the amberjack have been pretty active using live bait and plugs and I have seen a few cobia showing up but have not yet caught one this year. The Florida snapper and sea bass are plentiful in the 40-50ft range and don't forget that the red snapper season will open June 1. I look forward to seeing you at Sea Hag Marina in beautiful Steinhatchee.
