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Fishing Report for the Florida Panhandle
Capt. Alex Crawford
January 27, 2002
Carrabelle - Saltwater Fishing Report
The running of the bulls!!! Bull redfish that is. Running in the barrier island passes off the Florida Panhandle's Forgotten Coast. For the obsessed winter angler who really likes to target giant fish, the Redfish is the fix. Depending upon your geographical orientation, the Sciaenops Ocellatus or Redfish has many colloquial names. Up north, Chesapeake Bay fisherman pursue the red channel bass. On the Outer Banks of North Carolina, surf fisherman cast peeler crabs and ocean clams to the Red Drum. Along the low country coast of South Carolina, reds are descriptively called spottail bass. Off the beautiful Georgia coast and down to the First coast of Florida, the noble redfish is, at times, referred to simply as bass. In most of Florida everyone knows what you are talking about when you are going fishing for REDS. Bottom line is that, regardless of the local names, they all belong to the same Family, Drums.
Included in this Family are the Black Drum, Croakers, Weakfish and all of the seatrout. Florida Redfish attain sizes upwards of fifty pounds. This angler's personal best was 42 pounds, 42 inches in length and 42 inches in girth. Specimens of 20 and 30 somethings are not uncommon in the Florida Panhandle. Pound for pound these bruisers give a very good account of themselves on any class tackle. When you hook up with a red, you know immediately it is not a wimpy spotted seatrout. These fish have shoulders.
Winter is prime time bull red fishing. Around my turf, starting in the east, try the East pass that separates Dog Island from Saint George Island. Or, try the Government Cut or West Pass between Cape Saint George and Saint Vincent Island. These copper-clad warriors will respond to many different baits, but my best experiences have been with poggies, finger mullet and large shrimp. Circle hooks are crucial, since this is strictly a catch and release fishery. The larger specimens do not make good table fare anyway.
Since the catastrophic crash of the fishery in the mid eighties, Redfish stocks have rebounded to record levels. Today, reds are the most dependable species that we target inshore. The bag limit is only one fish per angler per day in the slot between 18 to 27 inches. When reds reach about 30 inches, they weigh around 10 pounds and join the spawning population.
Reds have been known to live over twenty years. Fishery biologists are able to determine the fish's age by examining its ear bones, called otoliths. So the next time you catch and release a big Red, whisper in his ear, "have a good long life my friend". Your grandchildren will be very happy.
Until next tide, tight lines,
Captain Alex Crawford
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