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Fishing Report for the Florida Panhandle
Capt. Alex Crawford
August 3, 2001
Carrabelle - Saltwater Fishing Report
When I was a young man growing up, my father would make a big deal out of the preparation and planning for one of our saltwater fishing trips. I was overcome with a severe case of being “journey proud.” This condition was created by the overwhelming anticipation of being on the big pond, chasing big fish and collecting some for the dinner table. Being journey proud meant sleepless nights awaiting the new day sun.
It was just that way for me again a few weeks ago when we planned an offshore marlin trip way south into the vast expanse of water called the Northern Gulf of Mexico. This day’s plan was to go out 54 miles to some promising contours and well-formed sargassum weed lines in search of the big man in the blue suit, Mr. Marlin, Makaira nigricans.
Mr. Sunshine was way off the stern as we ran south in the new 30 Grady. Captain David Giddens was at the wheel, with crew including Willie Luberto III, Kate Hanson, Reggie Giddens and this “journey proud” writer/Captain. The ballyhoo were rigged, the hooks were sharp, the International 30 drags were preset and all we needed was Mr. Blue. The spread was standard stuff. At 8 knots, we pulled a big, noisy teaser off the starboard cleat close in. A center rigger was way back in the middle. Horse ballyhoo were on the outriggers and some outsized Black Bart artificials bubbled and smoked on the flat lines.
Well, hours of boredom, followed by minutes of sheer pandemonium never materialized this day. Only action was Ocean Bonita, chicken dolphin and cudas. So, when life serves up only lemons, you make your best lemonade. Plan B was to get on some large wrecks and drop 12 ounce diamond jigs on the massive Ajs.
One forgets the pain over time of cranking on deep water Amberjacks. These denizens of the deep were undoubtedly the naval architect’s prototype for the Sea Wolf nuclear submarine. These boys are stronger than garlic. Young and strong Reggie pulled up a 45 pounder, while I was happy only 20 somethings ate my jig. Envision trying to yank a Volkswagon out of 385 feet of water.
When we could get a cut bonita through the voracious Ajs, we could catch some nice scamps and snappers. The trick was a pound of lead to fire the baits down past the jacks.
One technique that I have learned over the years is to park the boat in a large sargassum patch, float with weeds and catch some chicken, peanut dolphin that is. This is fun! Pitch bait the fish on 12 pound spinners and watch out for the high flyers that may just jump into the boat. There is one compromise here. You will spend some time cleaning up the bloody boat, in exchange for broiled mahi-mahi. Life is full of these difficult trade offs. Oh yea, it is worth it!
Another successful tip I will share is to cut belly strips out of a bonita or little tunny. These make outstanding trolling baits that everything will eat and they don’t wash out like minnows and ballyhoo. Just cut them out of the white belly meat in the shape of a bass pork rind lure with forked tails.
Even though we did not raise marlin, our trip exceeded my “journey proud” expectations with a great catch of overgrown Jacks, plus yummy scamp grouper and tender young dolphin fish. Bottom line is always get you some while you can.
Until next tide, tight lines
Captain Alex Crawford
Captain Alex is a full-time, professional fishing guide out of Apalachicola
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