Capt. Rick Davidson (grassflats2@yahoo.com), Editor
It's been a great July at the Sea Hag Marina. Crowds taking advantage of the one of the finest scallop seasons in recent history have been filling the cleaning station with tasty bivalves and taking advantage of the fine refreshments at the Tiki Bar. Sometimes the limits came so quickly that just relaxing in the boat and enjoying the people watching became a common pastime. On the last day of the month, Crisp Gatewood got 5 limits of scallops in about an hour 3 miles from the river. The fishing was excellent as well. Our own Scott Peterson and Danny Sheldon won the July Redfish Xtreme event with this fine pair of fish, and Captain Wiley Horton broke a longheld Gainesville Offshore Fishing Club record with this excellent red snapper. While the best fishing months for inshore enthusiasts are on each side of scallop season, fine catches of trout in deeper water, up to 8 feet, have been taken on a regular basis. Redfish have been in their usual haunts, just not as aggressive as they are in the fall and spring. Offshore, some excellent fish have been taken, including a giant Spanish mackerel that weighed 12 pounds by Tom Idoyaga, fishing with Captain Brian Smith. Kingfish and cobia have been common nearshore, and red snapper and grouper have been found in water deeper than 60 or 70 feet.
August Fishing Forecast
Scalloping has not slowed at all. Limits are still easily available both to the north and south of the river. The areas that have been most productive will be still worth visiting, specifically just south of the bars in front of Dallus Creek to the north, and the 4-6 foot water west of Rocky Creek. Additional areas that have been productive but not as crowded are the flats south of Rocky Creek to the south, and areas in front of Rock Point to the north. The season runs until September 10th, and as usual the inshore fishing will be more challenging until then with heavy boat traffic, floating grass, and high water temperatures. However, fishing deeper water for trout with jigs or cut bait should be very productive. Keep moving around, finding areas of mixed grass and sand. Redfish are usually caught early, or later in the day if there is good tidal movement. Offshore, work schools of whitebait for kingfish and Spanish mackerel, and head to your deeper numbers for grouper. And remember, you can get everything you need for scalloping or fishing at the Sea Hag Ship's Store.
Here are some reports from our guides…
Capt. Brian Smith www.bigbendcharters.com
When the weather and seas are favorable, which happen consistently in the heat of summer under the command of the Bermuda High set up off southeast Florida, seafarers, seeking large red grouper and red snapper, need to voyage outside of 70 foot. In local waters that means a one-way trip of approximately forty miles and some. Observing some relief on sonar is great but being able to interrupt electronic images as flat hard bottom reduces wondering in the marine wilderness and produces fish as well. For bait, frozen, fresh cut bait work well, while frisky live baits can be better at times. For smaller boats, remember a filled thirty-gallon livewell adds 240 pounds to your vessel, which reduces fuel economy; at least dump the livewell upon returning. Every little bit helps, at least for me. Going well offshore requires more planning than just going a bop or two over the horizon. The prepared angler will have a rod ready for both a fast show of 'chicken' dolphin or a pass by cobia couple. For dolphin, a trout outfit with a flashy jig is the ticket to a dolphin salad with friends. For cobia, a stout spinning rod with an appropriate leadered hook, ready to pin on a live bait or whole squid can lead to a memory fish. When you see one or the other, the first order of business is to toss out a handful of bait. It is a peace offering and keeps their interest while you or someone else baits the hook for the big show.
Large kingfish are a strong possibility during times well offshore. While going from waypoint A to waypoint B, try dragging shiny plugs or spoons. Or, while anchored, float off a free lined bait. The insurance policy, in all cases, is a wire leader. Number five mono-strand wire works under most situations. One good kingfish brings thrills and great steaks for the BBQ. For those not wanting to venture so far offshore, maybe wanting to do a fish/scallop combo trip, Florida snapper and black sea bass in the 30-45' depths will provide steady action for all on board and great eats later. Use lighter weight equipment to add fun to the fish harvest. As for bait, anything; try mini-marshmallows. For the cobia-aholics, like me, do the nearshore wrecks, artificial reefs, channel markers and unusual bottom contours and go catfish-style fishing. Now is the time to get a good one. Most fail to catch cobia because they are ill prepared for the incident or lack patience. For bait, dead or alive, it's like real estate--location, location, location.
Capt. Tommy Thompson www.saltwateranglersguide.com, www.flanaturecoast.com/capttommy
There are still lots of redfish and trout, but like smart anglers, they're up early and get cooler by mid- to late-morning. We've been fishing early and getting back to the dock just about the time the scallopers are rolling out of bed. And now that the scallops have migrated northwards toward Dallus Creek and Big Grass Island, the great shorelines to the south of Rocky Creek have become less busy--and the fish are less spooky. August will still be hot, and I plan to continue 6-hour fishing trips through the month and into September.
My new fishing guide book, The Saltwater Angler's Guide To Florida's Big Bend and Emerald Coast, is out and on sale. It's got LOTS of secrets, tips and trick, so don't forget to pick up a copy at the Sea Hag Ship's Store the next time you're at the marina. 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. I'm booking 6-hour morning trips until it cools off in October. And if you're interested in some more in-depth information about fishing our beautiful Big Bend, take a look at my weekly Fishing4Cast on the Florida Sportsman Magazine website at http://www.floridasportsman.com/4cast/bb/index.html or at the Florida Sportsman Big Bend Action Spotter column in each month's issue.
Captain Scott Peters, http://www.captscottjr.com/
As we make to the half way mark of scallop season, the report still remains 'best season ever'. Everyone is still getting their daily limits. The fleet of boats south of the river is targeting the areas of Rocky Creek and Bowlegs Point. Rocky Creek is located roughly six miles south of the Steinhatchee River. North of the river, my go-to spots have been in the area between Rock Point and Dallus Creek. Try to find spotty bottom mixed with the needle grass. If you're like me and still love to fish even though the dogs days of summer, the early bird gets the worm. The earlier you are on the water the better. I've been having some good redfishing days catching the rising tides. Targeting reds this time of year with an abundance of pesky pinfish, my go-to bait of choice is the 1/2 ounce Johnson gold spoon, and a Zara Spook as the tide starts pushing out the floating sea grass. We all have confidence in the Berkeley Gulp Shrimp, but you can also go natural: try using a piece of cut bait under a cork or a grunting pigfish as live bait. The trout this time of year are day to day. I've been sticking to the areas north of the river around the Little and Nine Mile Banks in 6 to 10 feet of water, bouncing a 1/8 or 1/4 ounce jig head on the bottom, with Bass Assassin 5-inch shads. In deeper flats there are still a few Spanish mackerel, flounder, sandtrout, ladyfish and blues still lurking around. Since you never know this time of year what you may see out there, always have that live bait rod ready, as I've still been seeing a few tarpon and cobia cruising these areas! Be safe and have fun, and we'll see ya on the water!
Captain Steve Hart, www.legallimitscharters.com (352) 498-0299
