Fishing Report for the Florida Panhandle
Capt. Alex Crawford
May 2, 2002
Carrabelle - Saltwater Fishing Report
All winter we have waited impatiently for Spring fishing to arrive on the Florida Panhandle coast, aka the unforgettable coast and now IT IS HERE!!! All of the fun-to-catch species have arrived and we greet them with open fish boxes. King Mackeral have moved in close to shore. Snake Kings in the 5-10 pound class will eat cigar minnows either flat lined or trolled in 35 feet of water over rock bottoms. Remember, only one King per day per angler until it goes to two on July 1st. Spanish are running bait everywhere. Look for slow moving terns hovering over the fish. Fast moving birds normally mean football sized bonita gulping poggies on top. The smallest Hopkins lure or Clarks Spoon will get the little macks chomping. Try an ultrlight spinner with a tiny snap swivel on light wire and tach up to around 1500 rpms around the leading edge of the school. If you hook up a bonita on light gear, you will need to run after the fish or prepare to get spooled. Bonita can swim at 45 mph for short distances.
Cobia are on the nearshore wrecks. We had a 35 pounder this week, along with 5- 20 something amberjacks. Try a big Yo-Zuri jig or a diamond jig to get the big jacks turned on up in the water column. Drop a hardtail jack down and prepare to test your rotator cuff. Big jacks were designed after the Sea Wolf Nuclear Sub and are totally hydrodynamic. You pull hard on these strong critters and they will pull back.
Gag and Red Groupers are hungry and catchable in 50 feet of water. Pinfish are moving inshore and, along with hardtails, are the premier grouper baits. Red, gray, lane and vermilion snapper are spawning now and they are starving for your offering. Small squirrel fish will catch larger red snapper and cigar minnows will handle the schoolies. Snapper fishing is absolutely wide open right now. Best in years. What are you waiting for? Come get ya some!
Until next tide, tight lines and solid hookups,
Captain Alex Crawford
Proud Member Florida Outdoor Writers Association
Proud Member Florida Guides Association
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